Twitter Smackdown: Annise Parker 1, Texan 4 Liberty 0

Anise Parker, Houston’s openly gay mayor, shoots from the hip and takes no prisoners, which is refreshing for a politician these days. And right after her fellow citizens of Houston voted for discrimination against LGBT people — using fear as a weapon, of course — one Twitterer decided to mock Parker … 

But Mayor Parker wasn’t playing …

And neither were other Twitterers …

Anise Parker for the Win!

NCRM

I Didn't Say It ...

Cardinal Fernando Aguilar, appointed by Pope Francis just last week, on The Gays:

"A lot of people complain and don't tolerate it but with all respect I say that homosexuality is a defective way of manifesting sexuality, because that has a structure and a purpose, which is procreation. We have a lot of defects in our bodies. I have high blood pressure. Am I going to get angry because they tell me that? It is a defect I have that I have to correct as far as I can. Pointing out a defect to a homosexual is not an offense, it is a help because many cases of homosexuality can be recovered and normalized with adequate treatment. It is not an offense, it is esteem. When someone has a defect, the good friend is the one who tells him. It is one thing to show welcome and affection to a homosexual person and another to morally justify the exercise of homosexuality.”

So, being gay is like having high blood pressure?

Then, by this bassackwards logic, does Obamacare cover The Gay?

Chris Kluwe, former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, on if he’ll file a lawsuit if the Vikings' lawyers don't uncover any instances of homophobia or an antigay locker room environment:

“I haven't ruled out a lawsuit. I would really prefer not to have to do a lawsuit, because I loved my time on the Vikings, and I still have a lot of friends on the team and I love the organization. But if that's what it takes — if that means getting people on the stand with the threat of perjury, then something that will have to happen, because I made very serious claims, and they need to be backed up.”

I’d like to see him follow through on this, if only to show the homophobia in professional sports that makes it hard for gay athletes, and gay-friendly athletes, to come out.

David Silvester, councilor for Britain's United Kingdom Independence Party, on The Gays being responsible for the rains in the UK:

"The scriptures make it abundantly clear that a Christian nation that abandons its faith and acts contrary to the Gospel (and in naked breach of a coronation oath) will be beset by natural disasters such as storms, disease, pestilence and war. I wrote to David Cameron in April 2012 to warn him that disasters would accompany the passage of his same-sex marriage bill. But he went ahead despite a 600,000-signature petition by concerned Christians and more than half of his own parliamentary party saying that he should not do so.  It is his fault that large swathes of the nation have been afflicted by storms and floods."

Wow, we can send flooding rains to England — not to mention hurricanes to New Orleans et al — but we can’t just snap our fingers and marriage equality the law of the world?

Like most dimwits in politics Silvester gives us far too much power.

Mitt Romney, also-ran and has-been of the GOP, on the marriage battle in Utah:

"I have the same position that I’ve had when I was governor and when I ran as president. I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman. We’ll see how the courts deal with this, but that’s the position I have and will continue to have."

And will continue to have as private citizen, and flip-flopping nitwit, Romney because, let’s face it Mittsy, you’ve proven on more than one occasion that you are unelectable.

Now sit down.

L. Brooks Paterson, Michigan GOP official, in an interview about Detroit:

"Anytime I talk about Detroit, it will not be positive. Therefore, I’m called a Detroit basher. The truth hurts, you know? Tough shit. I made a prediction a long time ago, and it’s come to pass. I said, ‘What we’re gonna do is turn Detroit into an Indian reservation, where we herd all the Indians into the city, build a fence around it, and then throw in the blankets and the corn.’”

Paterson says the interviewer was out to get him, which explains why he went all racist and bigoted and, well, asshatted.

Typical GOP, walking their racism back.

Dan Patrick, Texas State Senator, on Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s marriage:

“I am not shocked that Mayor Parker decided to elope to California for a marriage that is unconstitutional in Texas. This is obviously part of a larger strategy of hers to turn Texas into California.”

Typical GOP bull shiz.

Parker wanted to get married and she went to a place where her marriage is legal. Why is it when straight people get married it's for love, and when gays folks do it, it's because they have an "agenda"?

Asshat.

Annise Parker, on the criticism by homophobe Dan Patrick:

"Dan Patrick’s running a political campaign. And he wants to make the gay community a whipping boy in that political campaign. And he thought I was an appropriate target. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. And I don’t think that’s unusual.... You don't commit 23 years of your life to someone to make a political statement...I took four days off. I had to leave my home state and make a little wedge of time to marry the woman I love. They can get over it."

Snap!

Andy Markle, openly gay Republican candidate for the Indiana House, on quitting the party after GOP speaker Brian Bosma switched the marriage equality ban bill to a new committee because it seemed doomed to fail before the House Judiciary Committee:

“It deeply saddens me to see the state that I have called home for the past 8 years plunge into a debate over a minority group's civil rights. It is with a heavy heart but with a clear conscience that I announce the end of my run for Indiana State House of Representatives, District 99, as a Republican. With today's announcement by House Speaker Brian Bosma, that he is using extraordinary and unprecedented rules to change House Joint Resolution 3's committee assignment, I have no choice but to resign my candidacy as a Republican. As an openly gay male and a conservative, I find it deplorable that the state would choose to take such extraordinary measures to disenfranchise me and my fellow LGBT brothers and sisters. In an era where my party declared that it was the party of "small government" and "less intrusion", it has been confirmed that it is not the party of small government or less intrusion. I am not leaving the Republican Party; the Republican Party has left me.”

Nice stand, Andy.

And for a Republican, yet. Hopefully others will follow suit but …. It is the GOP, you know.

Random Musings

I know it’s Flori-duh, but, seriously, what is wrong with the politicians down there?

Joshua Black, a GOP candidate for the Florida House, posted a little something to his Twitter account calling for Barack Obama, the President of the United Sates, to be hanged.

Oh, but he did.

And it generated a lot of buzz, from reTweets, angry response Tweets, a lot of new Twitter followers, an article in the Tampa Bay Times, a call from Anderson Cooper's guest booker, TV interviews and, most importantly, a little visit from some folks I like to call the Secret Service.

Black says that Secret Service representatives were waiting for him at his house while he taped a TV interview, but he insists his Tweet was not a threat, and that saying ‘I’m past impeachment. It's time to arrest and hang him high’ was just his way of expressing outrage over the president killing U.S. citizens with drone attacks and without due process.

At the request of county chairman Michael Guju, Black resigned from the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee, but dismissed the idea suggested by Florida Governor Rick Scott that he withdraw  his candidacy to represent families of Pinellas County.

"I do not take orders from the governor, I'm staying in the race."

I wonder what he’ll do when he loses.

I’d like to ask y’all — or at least those of you who do it — to stop LOLing.

Seriously. Stop with the Tweets and the Facebook updates and the blog comments where you feel the need to LOL.

I seriously don’t believe that anyone who LOLs is actually Laughing Out Loud at that moment.

It’s on in Russia.

Pavel Lebedev, a protester of Russia’s anti-gay laws, was arrested in Voronezh as the Olympic torchbearer made his way through the city because he ran into the road waving a rainbow flag. Lebedev was taken to the police station "to clarify the circumstances of the incident." Lebedev, a longtime activist against Russia's anti-gay law, who attempted to marry in St. Petersburg last June, may be fined for "violating public order".

Like I said, it’s on.

So, Phil Robertson, that dick from Duck Dynasty, spewed his racist, homophobic venom and folks got outraged by what he said, A&E suspended his show, and then the right backed him up and A&E backed down and then, when the new shows began airing last week they received the lowest number of viewers in its history.

Snap.

The premiere of Duck Dynasty season 5 had 8.5 million viewers, which is kinda huge for a cable show, but down nearly 30% from its record-setting fourth season debut.

The people have spoken by changing the channel.

Good news!

Houston Mayor Annise Parker and her partner of twenty-three years, First Lady Kathy Hubbard, were married last week in Palm Springs.

 “This is a very happy day for us. We have had to wait a very long time to formalize our commitment to each other. Kathy has been by my side for more than two decades, helping to raise a family, nurture my political career and all of the other ups and down and life events that come with a committed relationship. She is the love of my life and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life married to her.”—Annise Parker

Congratulations!

Goldie Hawn is an idiot.

She met the president of Nigeria, who signed a law making the fact that you're gay a crime, and where people are asking to stone The Gays to death, and called him “wonderful”.

Indeed.

You gotta hand it to One Million Moms [OMM]. They protest everything from JC Penney to the Rose Parade to TV shows, and their protests are paying off.

See, the OMM — and really there are about 45,000 of them — recently began protesting the ABC Family show The Fosters, which features a biracial lesbian couple with a household of foster children.

And as a result of their protest, at least according to the people behind The Fosters, that criticism helped the show get off to its strongest start yet when its second season premiered last week.

"A stamp of disapproval from One Million Moms is like a critic’s pick. I'm incredibly grateful for their attention."— Peter Paige, executive producer of the show along with Jennifer Lopez

So, thanks for badmouthing the show, OMM; it helped draw viewers in.

Speaking of TV, we have officially given up on CBS’ new show Intelligence. I started watching the show because it starred dreamy  beefy hot Josh Holloway, but that wasn’t enough to sustain my interest, sadly.

So, I’ll stick with Episodes, on Showtime, and it recent addition of Chris Diamantopoulos as the clinically insane, though terribly hot TV executive; and with PBS’ Sherlock, though not because of the Cumberbatch but because of the cute as a button Martin Freeman. And, I’ll be checking out Starz’ new pirate show, Black Sails simply because of the hothothot pirate Toby Stephens.

I’m shallow like that.

The NRA tends to stay silent in the immediate aftermath of a high-profile shooting incident because, well, what can you say about people being gunned down in colleges and movie theaters that makes any sense at all. But, the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday was a different story; that day called for an NRAS statement.

The NRA enlisted the help of black “commentator” Colion Noir to deliver a video message about how much King loved guns. Noir shifts his message to gun control, pointing out the fact that he was granted a concealed handgun license, while historical record shows that King applied for one and was denied. And then he says some nonsense about how King, even though he “surrounded himself with people with guns” it didn’t stop him from being gunned down by James Earl Ray.

Of course, Noir doesn’t explain how King, if he had been granted a permit to carry a gin, would have survived the shot.

Asshat.

Both California and New Jersey have passed legislation banning gay conversion therapy for minors and it looks like similar legislation is being presented in Virginia.

Delegate Patrick Hope, a Democrat, introduced legislation that would ban so-called “reparative therapies” but also said his ban would not affect religious counseling that does not involve licensed therapists or adults who seek out the therapy on their own. It would bar professional therapists from practicing conversion therapy, which the American Psychiatric Association opposes, on children younger than 18.

Similar bills have been introduced or are forthcoming in Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.

And speaking of Virginia, its GOP anti-gay former Governor Bob McDonnell has been charged with accepting illegal gifts from a local businessman; his wife Maureen was also charged.

Authorities allege that for nearly two years, the McDonnell’s hit up executive Jonnie Williams Sr. again and again, lodging near constant requests for large loans, clothes, trips, golf accessories and private plane rides.

In exchange, authorities allege, the McDonnell’s worked in concert to lend the prestige of the governorship to Williams’ struggling company, a small former cigarette manufacturer that now sells dietary supplements. They said the first couple arranged access for the CEO to top state officials, allowed the historic governor’s mansion to be used for a launch party for his company’s new non-FDA approved pill and attended events designed to boost the company’s prestige with university scientists who might research the company’s product.

The McDonnell’s face 14 felony counts including wire fraud and lying to a financial institution and Maureen McDonnell is additionally charged with obstruction of justice. Naturally McDonnell issued a statement of his innocence:

 “My fellow Virginians, earlier today federal prosecutors notified my attorneys that they have filed criminal charges against me and my wife Maureen, alleging that we violated federal law by accepting gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams, the former CEO of Star Scientific. I deeply regret accepting legal gifts and loans from Mr. Williams, all of which have been repaid with interest, and I have apologized for my poor judgment for which I take full responsibility. However, I repeat emphatically that I did nothing illegal for Mr. Williams in exchange for what I believed was his personal generosity and friendship.”

He wants off because, while he admits to accepting the illegal gifts, he paid them back once people began investigating.

It’s like the time I robbed a bank, and as the police were coming to arrest me, I gave the money back.

Yeah, that didn’t work either.

More from Virginia? And good news?

Well, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring has announced that the state's gay marriage ban is unconstitutional and says he will not defend it in court.

"After a thorough legal review of the matter, Attorney General Herring has concluded that Virginia's current ban is in violation of the U.S. constitution and he will not defend it."—Spokesman Michael Kelly

Herring, who campaigned in part on marriage equality, is planning to a file a brief this week with the federal in Norfolk, where one of the lawsuits is being heard, as notification of the state's change in position in the case.

There are currently two federal marriage equality cases in Virginia; the American Foundation of Equal Rights [AFER] and Ted Olson and David Boies have taken the lead of one case; the other is being handled by Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU].

Thanks Mr. Herring, for standing on the side of equality.

I Didn't Say It ....

Robbie Rogers, LA Galaxy openly gay soccer player, says no gay players have reached out to him:

"I've received phone calls and I've spoken with all my friends here in the UK and around the world that have supported me, but I haven't had one message from a [gay] footballer. It reminds me of the fear that I had - you remember that atmosphere and how it made you feel. It just shows there's a huge problem. What do you do to change that, do you try to support them to create an environment that would support them to come out and they would feel comfortable in? It's really tough."

Juts shows that we still have much more work to do towards acceptance and tolerance and understanding.

Rachel Maddow, on the  federal court ruling striking down Utah's same-sex marriage ban.

"And so the ruling came down surprising everyone by 2:00 in Utah. And by 3:00 people were marrying in that state!...Does this Utah decision today just feel like it's a different decision than all the others because - forgive me - it's freaking Utah! Or is the fact that this is a federal court ruling - does that mean that this is just more than the next step - that this could be a harbinger that anti-gay laws around the country are more done than we thought they were?"

I think she’s right.

My first thought, too, was U-freaking-tah!

Gary Herbert, Utah governor, expressing his dismay and vowing to continue the fight to protect traditional marriage:

"I am very disappointed an activist federal judge is attempting to override the will of the people of Utah. I am working with my legal counsel and the acting Attorney General to determine the best course to defend traditional marriage within the borders of Utah."

Um, Gary, we don’t let the majority rules on the Civil Rights of the minority in this country where all men, gay and straight, are created equal.

Annise Parker, openly gay Houston mayor, on  Robertson and the controversy surrounding his anti-gay comments and suspension from Duck Dynasty.

"I have never watched 'Duck Dynasty,' so I don't think about it much at all. I've been a gay community activist since the mid-70s. It was a very different time. We were fighting to keep people out of jails and mental hospitals. What some redneck wingnut has to say about the GLBT community is completely irrelevant."

And, like Robertson, who has the right to his opinion, Parker has the right to hers.

And I agree with her.

Seth Anderson [right] who was legally married to Michael Ferguson last week in Utah:

"Today, December 23, Republican Governor Gary Herbert has declared the State of Utah will go before a judge to 'defend traditional marriage within the borders of Utah.' I don’t know how he can say that as a Utahan and as a Mormon. Traditional marriage in Utah is non-traditional. How delightfully ironic that today, December 23, Mormons will remember the birthday of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, a man who had 34 wives, 1/3 of whom married Joseph while simultaneously married to other men and 1/3 of whom were under the age of 20. The founder of Salt Lake City and colonizer of Utah, Brigham Young, had 55 wives and 34 children. 21 of his wives had never been married, 16 were widows, 6 were divorced, and 6 had living husbands."

Doesn’t sound like Utah really has a stake in so-called one-man-one-woman marriage.

Mama Grizzly Bore™, supporting Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson and trotting out the “unnamed” gay friend stance:

"In fact, a friend of mine who happens to be gay, she emailed me to say she is outraged at A&E for the hypocrisy here, for the things that they air on their program that she finds offensive, yet A&E doesn't fire a star or somebody involved in their programming based on what they said but they would  when it comes to Phil on Duck Dynasty and this friend, she said that she would boycott A&E and that network, and uh, um, she's not the only one."

First off, if you’re gonna be a spokesman, learn to speak. This rambling, incoherent, cracked out mess of a statement makes no sense.

And for the love of the goddess, quit saying “my gay friend” because if you really had a gay friend who really supported Robertson you’d be sayin’ her name and winkin’ and smilin’ and aw shuckin’ yer ass all over town.

I Didn't Say It ....

John Barrowman, on gay TV characters:

“America has the most gay men represented on television than any country in the world. The only thing I wish they would do more often is not stereotype those gay men and women. It’s always the same type they choose. Rather than seeing camp, flouncy, girly men and butch heavy women, it would be nice to see other types. There are “lipstick lesbians,” pretty girls. There are butch guys, guys who are into sports.”

I agree 100%.

We don’t all look like Kurt from Glee, or flounce like Kurt from Glee. In fact, a great many gay men look like Kurt’s dad.

Annise Parker, openly gay mayor of Houston, on gay Republicans:

"I do think it's important for GLBTs to stay engaged in both parties. But not at that at the price of your self-respect and dignity. And it is great to be a gay Republican and to say, 'My party has left me behind. I can't support it this time until they get on the right track. I support this, this and this issue as a Republican, but until they treat me personally, and my relationships, fairly, I can't support them.' Anything else is, frankly, self-hating."

I understand politics, and differing views, Republican and Democrat, but I have a hard time with people who choose a party which blatantly seeks to deny them equality.

It just doesn’t make sense.

I understand conservatism, but not self-loathing.

Nick Cassavetes, film writer and director of Yellow, about a woman's incestuous love affair with her own brother, compares incest to gay marriage:

“I have no experience with incest. We started thinking about that. We had heard a few stories where brothers and sisters were completely, absolutely in love with one another. You know what? This whole movie is about judgment, and lack of it, and doing what you want....Who gives a sh*t if people judge you? I’m not saying this is an absolute but in a way, if you’re not having kids--who gives a damn? Love who you want. Isn’t that what we say? Gay marriage--love who you want? If it’s your brother or sister it’s super-weird, but if you look at it, you’re not hurting anybody except every single person who freaks out because you’re in love with one another.”

I am so tired of people equating being gay to being a pedophile or a dog-f**ker, or like screwing your sister. Two loving people, unrelated, of legal age, who choose to be married, is nothing like a brother and sister involved in a sexual relationship.

Emmett Burns Jr., member of the Maryland House of Delegates, asking Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti to stop Brendon Ayanbadejo from talking about marriage equality: 

"I find it inconceivable that one of your players, Mr. Brendon Ayanbadejo would publicly endorse Same-Sex marriage, specifically as a Raven Football player. Many of my constituents and your football supporters are appalled and aghast that a member of the Ravens Football Team would step into this controversial divide and try to sway public opinion one way or the other. Many of your fans are opposed to such a view and feel it has no place in a sport that is strictly for pride, entertainment and excitement. I believe Mr. Ayanbadejo should concentrate on football and steer clear of dividing the fan base. I am requesting that you take the necessary action, as a National Football League Owner, to inhibit such expressions from your employees and that he be ordered to cease and desist such injurious actions. I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing."

Um, Emmett? Ever heard of Free Speech?

It’s kind of a “thing” in this country. Just like you being able to utter these idiocies, Ayanbadejo has the right to utter his opinion, football or whatever.

Brendon Ayanbadejo, on Emmett Burns, Jr., and his statement:

 "For somebody to try to take [Freedom of Speech] away from me I was pretty surprised, from a politician especially. People get fired for saying the things that the delegate said. People lose their jobs for discrimination...I think that whoever voted for him has their right to vote for who they believe represents their values. And if he represents their values, he's the best person for the job. If Obama represents the best values for the country, he deserves the job."

Um, Emmett? See that? Freedom of Speech. Learn it.

Chris Kluwe, of the Minnesota Vikings, on Emmett C. Burns Jr.:

"I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life. They won't come into your house and steal your children. They won't magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster. They won't even overthrow the government in an orgy of hedonistic debauchery because all of a sudden they have the same legal rights as the other 90 percent of our population—rights like Social Security benefits, child care tax credits, Family and Medical Leave to take care of loved ones, and COBRA healthcare for spouses and children. You know what having these rights will make gays? Full-fledged American citizens just like everyone else, with the freedom to pursue happiness and all that entails. Do the civil-rights struggles of the past 200 years mean absolutely nothing to you?"

While I chuckled at “lustful cockmonster” I applaud Kluwe and his thoughtful response. It’s nice to see another professional football player stand up, not just for marriage equality and LGBT rights, but for Free Speech.

Emmett Burns Jr., backing down from the asshattery:

"Upon reflection, he has his First Amendment rights. And I have my First Amendment rights. … Each of us has the right to speak our opinions. The football player and I have a right to speak our minds."

Duh.

You should’a thought about that before you exorcised your First Amendment Rights.

Anderson Cooper, on why he decided to come out:

"It just got to the point where—I’ve been torn for a long time between a desire as a reporter to just do my job and be known as a reporter—and at the same time I do think visibility is important. I do think that the tide of history only moves forward when everyone is fully visible....I didn’t want to send a message that there was anything I was ashamed about or unhappy about or not comfortable with. That was the main thing for me. I appreciate all the support I got and all the encouragement. I am the same person I always was, I do the job just the same way."

Nicely said. There are some who say he came out for publicity for his daytime talk show, or maybe some free publicity for his nighttime show.

I don’t care. I’m glad he’s out, I’m glad when anyone comes out because when we hide it makes it seem like even gay folks don’t like themselves, or think we deserve equal treatment, so how can we expect anyone else feel otherwise?

Ryan Jones, professional hockey player, on gay athletes:

"I don't think [one's sexual orientation] would change a thing in the locker room. We have guys from all over the world, of different races and sexuality [and it] would be no different. If a player can help the team and is a good person, who they choose as a partner is irrelevant. I participated in the You Can Play Project to honour a friend and member of 'the brotherhood', Brendan Burke, but most importantly because I believe in equality. You Can Play is doing ground breaking work in athletics. LGBT athletes are out there, and for a long time it was something that was pushed to the background. It's important for people to be able to live 'openly' no matter what their sexual orientation is and You Can Play is fighting for that."

Once again, while we struggle for equality, we need the help of our straight allies, and it’s nice when they step forward so eloquently.