The Funny Papers

Jim Morin, Joe Heller, Nick Anderson, David Horsey, Randy Bish, Rick McKee, Darrin Bell, Nick Anderson, Randy Bish, Mike Lucovich

The Funny Papers

Virginia Is For Anti-Gay Lovers

The state’s tagline used to be “Virginia is for lovers” though now I think it should also say “*Some restrictions apply.”

You know, like if you’re one of The Gays; one of the legally married Gays.

The Cooch

From the desk soon-to-be-out-of-a-job Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who has spent most of his time in office trying to legislate vaginas and gay sex, the Virginia Department of Taxation will not allow legally married same-sex couples to file joint federal tax returns.

No, now those legally married folks will have to commit perjury on their tax forms when they file them as unmarried individuals because, you know, they’re gay and stuff and that’s just nasty. In addition, Kenny “Asshat” Cuccinelli, AKA The Cooch, has asked that the department of taxation prevent small businesses from claiming deductions on the benefits they offer to same-sex couples.

Virginia wants to punish The Gays and anyone who offers benefits to them as well.

The Cooch’s order is contradictory to the new policy of Internal Revenue Service, which recently announced that it would accept joint tax returns from married same-sex couples, regardless of the laws of the state in which they live, as long as they were married in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages.

The tax officials say they will be following Virginia law, where the state constitution defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and forbids the state's recognition of any other relationship as a marriage.

“It’s not a tax issue. It’s a constitutional matter. An administrator can’t go against his or her state constitution.”—Joel Davison, a department spokesperson

“Bull sh*t.”—Bob, blogger

But the good news is that The Cooch’s latest anti-gay edict might be short-lived. LGBT advocates are hoping, even pushing, for governor-elect Terry McAuliffe to follow the lead of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon who has ordered his state’s Department of Revenue to require all married Missouri couples who file joint federal tax returns, regardless of sexual orientation, to also file jointly with the state.

But, and ain’t there always a but, the specific, discriminatory, anti-equality language of Virginia’s constitutional amendment could prevent McAuliffe from pursuing the same course, and McAuliffe has not yet decided on a formal response to the issue.

Virginia is for lovers.

Of hate.

source

Random Musings

I’ve said it before: I am an Awards Show Whore™. I love ‘em all—well, for the most part … I think there are far too many country music awards and the Kid’s Choice? Oh honey, no—but I love a good show and a good host; or hosts.

And so this is why I was rolling out the red carpet to the news that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler — who killed at The Golden Globes last year — will be back hosting in 2014 and again in 2015.

I’m as giddy as a schoolgirl!

Ted Nugent, faded rock star, gun nut, Teabagger and serial baby-maker has said he might run for President.

His own proposed campaign slogan — and this is real y’all … it came straight from Nugent’s ever-running piehole: 

“Hi, I’m Ted Nugent. I have nine children from seven women and I’m running for president.”

He really just ought to run for sperm donor. On second thought …. Ick.

Greg Louganis traded his Olympic Gold Medals for a band of gold.

He’s married. Greg married his partner, the adorably hot Johnny Chaillot last week in Malibu:

"It was amazing because I have so many people from all facets of my life here tonight and they are all here and celebrating it is all wonderful, I already feel different. The ceremony was so reflective and representative of who we are." 

The two men — and it’s still a rush to say “the two men” when speaking of newlyweds — are asking for donations to charities like the Human Rights Campaign and Mending Kids International, in lieu of a traditional wedding registry:

"We are both in our mid fifties and don't need another blender so we really wanted to give back."—Johnny Chaillot 

Congrats to the happy, cute couple.

I loves me some Nashville, even before they added the closeted gay country star played by hottie-in-tight-jeans Chris Carmack.

That show really plays to its gay audience with some of the hottest men around, like …

Michiel Huisman , who plays Liam, the renegade record producer and Rayna’s new love interest, and blond beauty Charlie Bewley, who joined the show last week as Juliette’s new love interest.

I’m also interested.

In other same-sex wedding news …

Indiana's first openly gay countywide official, Zach Adamson, will be making history once more by marrying his longtime partner Christian Mosburg in Washington D.C. this week.

"It's important that people see this doesn't have to be the wedge issue or the divisive issue that it is often portrayed as. We are just doing what other people do."—Zach Adamson

He added that the positive reception he and Christian have received as an engaged, same-sex couple “speaks to how far we've come."

We’ve still got a way to go, but each couple that married breaks down the walls.

Congrats.

What’s this, North Dakota? You now have a tax form for married same-sex couples even though you don’t recognize such marriages?

Well, since the IRS announced in August that it would allow same-sex couples to file as married couples if they were legally married in a state that allows such marriages, even if they live in a state that doesn’t, North Dakota saw that as a problem.

But Lorie Bowker, of the North Dakota tax department, says the answer lies in a new form: ND-1S, which allows for the divvying up a couple’s federal tax filing so they can file as individuals in North Dakota.

Bowker said, like the federal government, there is a “marriage penalty” built into the North Dakota tax code, so filing as individuals could be beneficial to same-sex couples who would then save on their tax debt.

All well and good, but some advocates for same-sex marriage say the discrepancy between federal and state tax filings could be grounds for lawsuits based on the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

And that would mean … channeling Oprah … Everyone gets a marriage. You get a marriage! And you get a marriage!

So, the new TV season is basically in full swing, although I am awaiting the return of Grimm ­— with the delicious David Giuntoli — and the start of Dracula — with the oozing with sex appeal Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Loving:  AHS: Coven.
Also loving: The Crazy Ones, especially the adorable, and funny, James Wolk.

Liking ... for now: Sean Saves The World.

Beginning to loathe: Trophy Wife and Hostages

Annoyed: It took three weeks to bring Brody back to Homeland, and then when the episode aired it was dull, dull, and dull.

And you? What do you love, like or loathe?

File this under It’s About Freakin’ Time:

The Harvey Milk Foundation has announced that the United States Postal Service will issue a stamp in honor of LGBT political icon Harvey Milk.

This makes Harvey Milk, who made history as the first openly gay man to win political office in California when he was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977, the first openly LGBT official ever featured on U.S. postage.

“Harvey Milk’s legacy is alive and well. His historic run paved the way for a new generation of LGBT leaders who can be open and honest about who they are, and it’s encouraging to see the U.S. Postal Service honoring his legacy of perseverance and pride today.”— Chuck Wolfe, President and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute

The stamp is expected to be introduced in 2014, and though I rarely snail mail any more, you can bet I’ll be lignin up for the stamps and whatever else I can get.

It’s about time an LGBT icon and hero was recognized.

The Houston Chronicle has come out and apologized for endorsing Ted Cruz for political office in light of Cruz’s recent descent into egomaniacal insanity:

Does anyone else miss Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison? We're not sure how much difference one person could make in the toxic, chaotic, hyperpartisan atmosphere in Washington, but if we could choose just one it would be Hutchison, whose years of service in the Senate were marked by two things sorely lacking in her successor, Ted Cruz. When we endorsed Ted Cruz in last November's general election, we did so with many reservations and at least one specific recommendation - that he follow Hutchison's example in his conduct as a senator. Obviously, he has not done so. Cruz has been part of the problem in specific situations where Hutchison would have been part of the solution. We feel certain she would have worked shoulder to shoulder with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in crafting a workable solution that likely would have avoided the government shutdown altogether. But we'll never know.

Suh-nap!

Oh, Tax Day! Why You Gotta Make Folks Lie?

Well, my taxes are done, a refund received, and all is right with the world.
Not so much for gay married couples.
See, although there several of these united states that allow gay couples to marry, the, capital letters United States does not recognize gay marriage, and so thousand of gay, legally married couples, have to commit perjury when they file their tax returns.
Thom Watson of Marriage Equality USA said: “It’s that crazy time of year again when the IRS requires you to affirm under penalty of law that you have been completely truthful on your tax forms, while simultaneously the Defense of Marriage Act actually mandates that some US couples lie on their tax forms."
And, while those legally married gay couples are forced to lie on their tax returns, and then sign it , thereby affirming that everything on it is true, these legally married gay couples get charged more than their straight counterparts.
Yup.
The more complicated procedure has further cost implications, Thom Watson added: “Because of the additional requirements and complexity, most same-sex couples are forced by the government to spend more money and time to do their taxes than similarly situated opposite-sex couples.”
It costs more to be legally married and gay, and yet gay married couples do not reap the benefits under the law that straight married couples do.
Something's gotta give...............


via Pink News

We Don't Pay No Stinking Taxes

from MoveOn:
 
So, on April 15, or maybe April 18, since we had a little holiday in there, Americans, most Americans, paid their, ahem, fair share of taxes.
Right?
Well, not really. Some Americans, or American corporations, thanks to corporate tax cuts and loopholes, paid little or no taxes.
Seriously. Take a look: