I Ain't One To Gossip But ....

Miley Cyrus is trying so hard to reinvent herself that she’s gone back to the past on us.

Apparently Miley thinks it still nineteen-ninety-something because she’s dressing like some chick out of a 90s music video, and she’s ALLEGEDLY druggin’ like it’s twenty years ago.

See, it seems that pot isn’t Miley’s only vice. Guests at last May’s Met Ball are now saying that they saw Miley snorting something suspicious in the ladies’ room, in full view of partygoers! How very Sex and the City when Carrie meets Big's model girlfriend in the loo of her.

One source—and you’d know it was Lohan if she wasn’t locked up and if Anna Wintour would ever allow her within a hundred yards of the Met Ball—says, “I went into the bathroom and saw four girls trying to squeeze into a shall. They door was open, so people could see. They were screaming and laughing and being so loud. Miley put her finger over one nostril, bent down over the back of the toilet, and snorted a white powder off it. I watched her do it.”

Could be true, you know, and could maybe not be true. What is true is that after twenty-some minutes in the ladies room, Miley and her chain-smoking, white powder snorting friends were asked to leave.

Snorting a line … off a toilet. On the bright side, I guess now we know what Miley means when she sings “trying to get a line in the bathroom” off her new song, ‘We Can’t Stop.’

I’m having a flashback to the 90s so what is Miley doing there?

Lindsay Lohan is in the third rehab she’s tried in her latest stab at sobriety and she’s talking again about how she wants to switch just one more time.

She claims she’s off Adderall, a drug she once vehemently denied she ever took, and when she gets out of hiding she want to, um, I quote, “go deep into hiding.” Which I think means a private room at Chateau Marmont.

Sources close to Lindsay—you know, the ones who make their living off Lohan, like her Momager Dina and her fame-whore daddy, Michael—say that Lindsay now realizes she’s been powerless in combating her addictions, and says cities like New York and L.A. only feed her demons, so she wants to get out of there and fast.

Lindsay says she plans to move somewhere in the US where there are no paparazzi.

I’m thinking under a bar in a backroom at the Shrangri-La room in Akron’s Howard Johnson Motor Lodge because you know the minute she gets out next month she’ll be clubbing and partying and denying until the next time a judge sends her packing, then unpacking, then packing, and unpacking, and packing again.

Heads up square states, Lindsay’s coming at ya!

Jennifer Lopez is a whore. Not the sex kind of whore, but the money kind of whore. She’s also a big-assed hypocrite.

It seems Jello—as Carlos calls her—earned about $1.4 million last month performing at a birthday celebration for the president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

Seriously? That’s his name? Whatevs ….

But Human Rights Watch describes as Turkmenistan “one of the world’s most repressive countries” where Internet use is severely restricted—social media is completely outlawed—and all electronic and television communication is monitored. In addition, Turkmenistan does not allow freedom of thought or religion, homosexuality is punishable by law, and the authorities have been known to demolish homes and forcibly evict residents without any form of compensation.

But hey, it’s the big guy’s birthday and JLo needs some spending money so, why not?

Though now Jello is claiming she knew nothing about Turkmenistan, and is insisting she’d never have performed there had she known. But, um, Jello? Doers no one in your camp have a brain, and do you severely restrict Internet usage so that your peeps had no idea what you were doing and for whom?

Or, as is probably the case, was it just about the money? Which you gave to charity right?

:::crickets:::::

This is nothing new for Lopez. Last year she also performed in Russia at the wedding of an Uzbek businessman. ALLEGEDLY for $1m, and for Azeri oligarch Telman Ismailov, ALLEGEDLY for another $1.4m. Before each of these performances[?] Jello refused to discuss the country’s human rights situation during a phone-in interview, saying, about the jailed punk band Pussy Riot, “I don’t like to talk politics, to be quite honest.”

To be quite honest, she just wants to make as much money as she can and doesn’t care from where it comes.

Whore. Hypocrite.

Who knew Martha Stewart was such a, well, in her words, tart?

While appearing on Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen played a game called ‘Did Martha Do It?’ with Maggie Gyllenhaal. Maggie answered questions about Martha before Martha herself confirmed whether or not Maggie was correct.

Maggie said no to the sexting question, but Martha shook her head, confirming that she does love to send some X-rated texts.

More importantly, though, Martha hinted that she may have had a threesome before and I'm thinking Rosie and Donald Trump, which explains their feud.

I wonder if Martha corrects the grammar in her incoming sexts?

Just sayin’.

Oh Alec Baldwin. Ever since his last, or better yet, most recent, tirade, he’s been getting all sorts of bad press and is now whining about it.

Y’all remember he went all homophobic on Twitter last week when a  reporter suggested Baldwin’s wife, the aptly named Hilaria, was Tweeting during James Gandolfini’s funeral.

Well, Baldwin apologized—sort of—for his bad temper, and deleted his Twitter account, and now says he’s going to give up Twitter altogether.

Because James Gandolfini would have wanted it that way. Huh?

“I went to Jimmy Gandolfini’s funeral, and when I was there I realized Jimmy Gandolfini didn’t have Twitter. Jimmy Gandolfini was so beloved as a person, and he was so admired as an actor, and he didn’t give a f**k about social media. I really learned a lesson at the funeral. I said to myself, ‘This is all a waste of time’. Meaning it’s fun sometimes, but less and less and less. It’s just another chink in your armor for people to come and kill you. I stopped and said to myself, ‘I’m going to try where I just don’t do this anymore’.”

Seriously, Alec?

Um, Twitter can be fun, but Twitter isn’t fun when you use it to threaten and bully folks you don’t like, so don’t play this all on Gandolfini. You aren’t on Twitter because you’re a bully with anger management issues and you might find your career in the toilet if you keep it up.

So, like I said last week, STFU.

50 Cent, AKA Curtis-s-s-s Jackson, has been charged with attacking his ex-girlfriend, and baby mama, and ALLEGEDLY trashing her apartment. He has been charged with domestic violence and four counts of vandalism and could face up to five years in jail and $46,000 in fines.

During an argument, the woman told police, Jackson began destroying her property before she locked herself into her bedroom. She said Jackson kicked open the bedroom door and kicked her, causing injury. Police said they estimated about $7,100 in damage to the woman’s home. Jackson had already left when officers arrived.

50 Cent couldn’t be reached for comment.

Seriously, who does he think he is, Chris Brown?

Dina Lohan, Momwhore of the Year, says Lindsay will be moving back to New York to live with her once she gets out of her rehab lockdown.

I guess that whole go somewhere where there’s no press thing is over, huh?

Still Dina says a lot of things, and most of the time she’s drunk or high, sigh, ALLEGEDLY, so who knows if any of this is true, but, Lindsay living with Dina?

Dina who never met a bottle of chardonnay she didn’t want to make love to? Dina, who was, no matter how she spins it, drunk as hell on Dr. Phil? Dina, who, again ALLEGEDLY, beat and cut Lindsay during a coke-fueled and alcohol-riddled limo ride from an NYC club back to Long island? That Dina?

Yeah, this bodes well for sobriety.

Jamie Foxx, Oscar winner—and what the hell kind of oxymoron is that?—is ALLEGEDLY furious that he is being by his “White House Down” co-star, and owner of the most glorious ass in cinema today, Channing Tatum, and he is not happy.

Tatum and Foxx have worked nonstop to promote the film, but Foxx has played second fiddle to rising star Tatum, who’s been deluged with questions about his skyrocketing career and new baby girl. And, also ALLEGEDLY, fans at the premiere in Washington, D.C., were practically shoving Jamie out of the way to get a picture with Channing.

Ouch.

Jamie feels that he should be the star of the show everywhere he goes and yet now all the questions he get start off with, ‘What’s it like to work with Channing?’ or ‘Have you seen Channing’s new baby yet?’ or ‘Can you ask Channing to take his pants off?’

Okay, that last one may have been my question.

Still, after three top box-office films in a row—21 Jump Street, The Vow, and Magic Mike­—Tatum is the one people want.

Better luck next time, Jamie. Maybe a movie with Mel Gibson? Then reporters will wanna talk to you.

About what it's like to work with Mel Gibson ...

Random Musings ... Delayed for the Holiday

Boy oh boy, say what you will about the Good Old US of A—even on this day after her birthday—but it sure beats living in Russia. If you’re one of The Gays, or The Gay Allies, that is.

This Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Russia's national bill against "gay propaganda" into law. The law will introduce fines of up to 5000 rubles—AKA $150.00—for individuals who promote information ‘directed at forming non-traditional sexual setup’ in minors; it is also now illegal in Russia to say gay relationships are equal to straight ones.

Luckily, if you’re gay and just visiting Russia, you won’t be fined for breaking the law, you’ll just be arrested and jailed for fifteen days and then deported.

Best to just stay home and feel the Pride here.

Torchwood, Arrow, and Doctor Who actor John Barrowman and his partner Scott Gill took advantage of California's new marriage laws and tied the knot this week.

"Thank you Supreme Court. About time you made it legal!"—John Barrowman.

The only thing I don’t like about this story is that Barrowman didn’t marry me!

If I had a nickel for every time I was on trial for shooting a young man to death and got a case of the giggles in court, well, I’d be just about the richest man ever. Or not. But George Zimmerman, on trial for murdering Trayvon Martin, found just such a moment during his trial this week.

On the stand, U.S. Army Capt. Alexis Francisco Carter Jr. told a Florida court that Zimmerman had been “one of the better students” in a Criminal Litigation course he taught that included the state’s “stand your ground” self defense law.

Defense attorney Don West asked Carter to explain how the self defense claim worked in Florida: “On the issue of injuries, though, when you talk about that with the class and your understanding of the law is that the focused is what’s going on in the person’s mind, not whether they have actually been injured. It’s the fear of the injury, is it not?”

“It’s imminent injury,” Carter explained. “Or imminent fear. So the fact alone that there isn’t an injury doesn’t necessarily mean that the person did not have a real apprehension of fear. The fact that there were injuries have a tendency to show or support that that person had a reasonable apprehension of fear.”

“You don’t have to wait until you’re almost dead until you can defend yourself?” West asked.

“No, I would advise you probably don’t do that,” Carter replied.

That response prompted several seconds of laughter from George Zimmerman.

On trial for murdering a young boy.

UPDATE

I first posted about this HERE.

The Colorado Civil Rights Division has ruled in favor of 6-year-old Coy Mathis, whose school barred her from using the girls' bathroom at her Fountain elementary school because she is transgender. Coy was born with male genitals, but as soon as she was able to express herself at around 18 months, it became clear to her parents that she thought of herself as a girl.

"This is huge for Coy and every transgender child throughout the state. We told her and she was completely thrilled. Her eyes got all bright and she jumped up and down and said 'So, this means I can go to school and make friends again.'"— Kathryn Mathis, Coy's mother

Mathis' parents filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division after Coy was denied access to the girls' bathroom at Eagleside Elementary School in Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8; after filing the complaint, the Mathis family removed Coy from classes.

The decision marks the first ruling in the nation holding that transgender students must be allowed to use bathrooms that match the gender with which they identify, and the most comprehensive ruling ever supporting the rights of transgender people to access bathrooms without harassment or discrimination.

The march goes on, people.

Up there in Delaware, state Senator Karen Peterson, a co-sponsor of that state's marriage equality bill, married her partner, Victoria Bandy, last Monday, becoming the first gay couple to wed in Delaware.

"Never, ever. I still can't believe it. Who would think at 63 I'd be getting married, you know?"—Karen Peterson

Congrats to all the gay couples in Delaware who are doing the same today, including ….

Ron Tipton and Bill Kelly, who married in Delaware in July 3^rd.

It was an important date for the couple as it also marked their 49^th anniversary together.

Forty.Nine.Years. And finally a bridegroom.

Congrats to Ron, of Retired In Delaware blog-fame, and his husband Bill!

I loves me some Hugh Jackman. And his Huge Ackman.

But, alas, I am getting tired of the nearly yearly event in which Jackman and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, come out and complain about people saying Huge, er, Hugh is gay.

Last week the couple appeared on Australia's 60 Minutes to once more complain about how tired they are of the gay rumors that follow Jackman.

"If I was [gay], I would be...It's to me not the most interesting thing about a person anyway, but I do get frustrated for Deb, because I see Deb go 'Ah, this is just crazy'."—Hugh Jackman

"It is just wrong, it's like, it's a lie...It's just offensive. If he was gay, fine, he would say he's gay. It has gotten so out of whack … it's stupid, and yeah, it's annoying, because it's not true."— Deborra-Lee Furness

I can see it might be annoying, but, if you aren’t gay, then who really cares? If Hugh and ‘Deb’ know that he’s straight, then what does it matter if a bunch of gay men, and gossip sites, around the world think otherwise. It might just be wishful thinking on my part. You know. 

And, is being called gay really such an awful thing? It isn’t. So, Hugh? While I love you, I’d like to ask that you just stop with the ‘don’t call me gay’ foot stomp.

And Deb? Lots of things in life are stupid and annoying but most folks just keep moving. If you know the truth then who cares that I loves me some Huge Ackman and dream a little dream … ?

We just started watching Under The Dome, based on a Stephen Kill story, or something he wrote on a napkin. So far it’s pretty good, and so far, it has some deliciously hot looking mens to whet my, er, whistle:

Alexander Koch [left] plays the creeper [dreamy?] Junior, while Mike Vogel [center] plays the killer-slash-good guy Barbi, and Nicholas Strong [right] plays the cool radio dude.

It’s worth watching, and not just for these three.

Robert Knight, of the laughably-named American Civil Rights Union, and a former member of the virulently anti-gay Coral Ridge Ministries, is calling for southern California to break away from the dirty gay-loving northern half of the state. 

Robert Knight: “By accusing backers of traditional marriage of being motivated only by animus against homosexuals, the U.S. Supreme Court has become the most prominent hate group in the country. Judge Walker’s ruling applies only to the Northern District of California, leaving the rest of the state’s law intact. This gives Southern Californians more incentive to push secession. For years, sensible Southland folks have wanted not to reside in a state represented in Washington by Rep. Nancy Pelosi or in Sacramento by Gov. Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown. There would have to be a gerrymander, with Hollywood joining the north, but politicians are good at this. I hope they can pull it off, but I wonder where the rest of us are going to live when mere belief in the biblical definition of marriage is grounds for civil action and eventually criminal prosecution? It’s not as if we can trust the courts to give us justice.”

Oh, LA and Hollywood would be in Northern Homo-fornia? I guess Knight thinks there ain’t no queers in San Diego.

Carlos and I recently caught World War Z and, while I am not a fan of zombies—I mean, seriously, they walk so slowly how are they a threat?—but I loved this movie. These zombies run, and hurl themselves at you, and, well, several times I jumped in the theater.

I also really liked Brad Pitt. Even scruffy, with a bad haircut, he’s a good looking man, but I began wondering that, had WWZ been a Tom Cruise movie it would have been entirely different.

First, I’d never see it because I don’t go to Tommy’s movies.

But, you just know that he’d look perfect, not a hair out of place, and barely a scratch on him. It would have been ridiculous. 

Sure, Pitt played the hero who worked hard and solved the problem of the zombies—or so we think because there is talk of a sequel—but he looked beaten up while doing so.

And hot while doing so, too.

I caught a snippet of Big Brother—for the record, I loathe the show—and saw some guy who had the IQ of a pencil—he was a California beach lifeguard, so that stereotype remains intact—and just about hurled. It’s not a reality show, it’s a show where people with nothing better to do, go on TV to act the fool and show their true colors.

But, Big Brother has a 24-hour live feed from CBS, and it’s there that the troubles started. Even though the show isn’t airing, it is being filmed and some of the houseguests have a tendency to let their racism, and bigotry and homophobia show, like:

• GinaMarie, who said that, because of her income level, she receives “n***** insurance” and then said that Helen, who’s Asian, “should be kissing our ass and serving us some f-cking rice.”
• Aaryn said of Andy, “No one’s gonna vote for whoever that queer puts up,” and then suggested he’d win MVP because “people love the queers.” Spencer called Andy “Kermit the f-g”; Amanda called him “F-ggoty Ann.” Katilin, on the other hand, said she likes gay people but they’re “untrustworthy in a game like this.”
• Aaryn, who apparently is all kinds of stupid bigot, said, of Candice, who’s black, “be careful what you say in the dark; you might not be able to see that bitch.” And then David, the aforementioned ousted dumbass lifeguard, talking about sheets that smelled bad, said they were that way because “black Candice” was on them, and then admitted, “that was totally racist.”
• Jeremy, who calls the house’s women “bitches,” said of Katilin, “I did touch her vagina today. She didn’t act like she was happy. I like to feel around to see what’s she’s working with. See if it’s a nice meat wallet … I know she’s on her period.” Spencer refers to women as “c****.”

Now, do not give me the ‘they forgot they were on TV’ bull. These people know they are on TV and yet they still utter this crap like it’s a joke. Sure, maybe some of them do it because it might get them more camera time, but it’s disgusting none-the-less and CBS should be ashamed of themselves for airing this in any way shape or form. But, they did release this statement:

“Big Brother is a reality show about watching a group of people who have no privacy 24/7 — and seeing every moment of their lives. At times, the Houseguests reveal prejudices and other beliefs that we do not condone. We certainly find the statements made by several of the Houseguests on the live Internet feed to be offensive. Any views or opinions expressed in personal commentary by a Houseguest appearing on Big Brother, either on any live feed from the House or during the broadcast, are those of the individual(s) speaking and do not represent the views or opinions of CBS or the producers of the program.”

In other words, meh. That said, some folks are not happy with the blatant racism, sexism, homophobia and bigotry of these reality dickwads.

Turns out that racism gets you fired these days, as both GinaMarie Zimmerman and Aaryn Gries were fired from their day jobs:

East Coast USA Pageant, Inc., who employs GinaMarie Zimmerman, has fired her, saying they were shocked that she could “display such acts of hate and racism. … We are actually thankful that this show let us see GinaMarie for who she truly is. We would never want her to be a role model to our future contestants.”

Then we have homophobe, Aaryn Gries, who will learn, upon exiting the BB house that Zephyr Talent in Austin, Texas says they’ve seen enough and have dropped Aaryn from the agency because of her filthy mouth: “Aaryn, season 15 cast member of Big Brother, revealed prejudices and other beliefs that we (Zephyr Talent) do not condone. … We certainly find the statements made by Aaryn on the live Internet feed to be offensive. Upon much consideration, we have decided to release Aaryn from her contract with Zephyr Talent.”

The best part of these two women losing their jobs is that they have no idea it happened until they get off the show. So, if you ever get on a reality show with a 24-hour live feed and think that being a bigot or a racist or a misogynist or a homophobe will get you more air time and more fans, remember that it might also cost you your job.

Kinda not worth it. Just ask Paula Deen.

The Fabulous Beekman Boys—Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell—were married on June 28. The couple has been together since 2000, and just last year won the Amazing Race.

Martha Stewart broadcast the ceremony on her Sirius XM radio show, Martha Live, and contributed some 100 hard-boiled eggs to the potluck feast.

Hmmm, wonder it Martha would make tacos when I marry Carlos? Just sayin’.

What if Obama’s First Term Was Just Like Bush’s?

The Republicans make me giggle; all that shock and awe that Barack Obama was elected president, not once, but twice. And their continued need to vote to repeal and repeal and repeal and repeal Obamacare. Toss in a little made up Benghazi scandal and some IRS nonsense and well, it’s just wack-a-doodie GOP these days.

But, as I found while glancing through Forward Progressives, What if Obama’s first 4 years were almost identical to George W. Bush’s first 4years?

Imagine if you will ….

• His very first election, he’s “elected” President when the United States Supreme Court overrules Florida’s Supreme Court call for a statewide recount, thus becoming President of the United States—even though he lost the popular vote.
• 8 months after he took office we experienced the worst terrorist attack in United States history, and there was solid evidence presented that he had intelligence saying that a terrorist group was planning on attack on United States soil—but did nothing.
• Video was shown of his reaction to being told that the United States was under attack, and he sat there for a few minutes with a blank look on his face—doing nothing.
• Our economy went from a balanced budget, and a budget surplus, back to deficits—every year he had been President.
• The longest period of economic growth in American history—came to an end.
• We started a war with Iraq.  About 2 months after the start of the war he then decided to land on an aircraft carrier (in a flight suit) to declare “Mission Accomplished.”  Yet 2 years later, over 2,000 American soldiers had died and not a single weapon of mass destruction had been found.
• 4 years after the 9/11 attack, Osama bin Laden had still not been captured.
• Reports, and photos, of abuse by the U.S. Army against Iraqi prisoners surfaces at the Abu Ghraib prison.
• We saw 5 different attacks on American embassies.
• Attorney General John Ashcroft appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss the first leaked pieces coming to light of communication within the intelligence community about the authorization of torture on prisoners of war to extract information (Bush later admitted he authorized torture and would do it again).
• Told Iraqi insurgents to “Bring it on.”

And even with all that to ponder, that’s not all about W; those are just, well, since the GOP is so gun happy, and so in the pocket of the NRA, those are the main “bullet” points.

If the GOP is “shocked” by some of the events that have occurred during Obama’s first 4 years—most of which had nothing to do with President Obama and were completely right-wing fabricated controversies—just imagine what they would be like if Obama pulled the same kind of crap Bush did in his first 4 years.

They’d have worked to re-elect him.

I Didn't Say It ...

Joe Biden, praising the Supreme Court's ruling on DOMA:

"I think we're on the verge of seeing America move even further. I think we'll see the day when it is no longer a debate about whether or not same-sex couples can be married and whether or not they deserve every single civil right every other married couple deserves. This is a great day...for every gay and lesbian couple and it should be a great day for every straight couple in America. Now we can look each other in the eye and say: We're on the road to absolute fairness and equity."

I like that Biden says this is a great day for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation.

As Dr. Martin Luther King said, ‘No one is free until we are all free.’

And we are on the march.

Andrew Sullivan, on the Catholic fear of The Gays and same-sex marriage:

“Jesus himself only said one thing about marriage, which was that you can’t divorce. And we live in a country where countless people are divorced, and that doesn’t seem to threaten the religious liberty of Catholics, and it’s as fundamental an issue. So if Catholics can live with religious liberty with divorced people, they should be perfectly able to live with gay people, as married–as a civil marriage.”

Where are all those Holy Rollers on the divorce issue? They seem to think Jesus spoke against The Gays when he didn’t but his words on divorce fall on deaf ears.

Phil Gingrey, Republican Congressman from Georgia, wants gender stereotypes to be taught in schools because it will stop the push for same-sex marriage: 

"You know, maybe part of the problem is we need to go back into the schools at a very early age, maybe at the grade school level, and have a class for the young girls and have a class for the young boys and say, you know, this is what's important. This is what a father does that is maybe a little different, maybe a little bit better than the talents that a mom has in a certain area. And the same thing for the young girls, that, you know, this is what a mom does, and this is what is important from the standpoint of that union which we call a marriage."

See, in every family around the world, Daddies are the same. They do the same things in the marriage and the Mommies do the same thing in the marriage, so kids need to know this so they will push for Mommy/Daddy marriages.

In short, Phil Gingrey is a tool.

Brian Sims, Pennsylvania congressman, and hottie, introducing a marriage equality bill in the statehouse:

“About two hours ago, I shopped around a co-sponsorship memo for a marriage bill, and I’m going to introduce an LGBT marriage equality bill helped light the fire under my colleagues to do it now. The co-sponsorship memo, which is sent out to House members for additional support, notes it “would re-define the definition of marriage as a civil contract between two people who enter into matrimony, and eliminate the current prohibition against same-sex marriage in our Commonwealth. It is important to note that this bill provides protections for religious organizations and entities that do not wish to sanction, perform, or in any way recognize such marriages.”

Hot. Smart. Compassionate. Gay.

And in politics.

We need more like him.

James Haskell, British rugby star, on being Attitude magazine's coverboy: 

“I’ve got a big gay following on Twitter so it’s an honour for me to be in Attitude. I’m surprised that across all sports more people haven’t come out because going by sheer statistics there have to be lots of gay sportsmen, right? I hate the idea of people feeling they can’t just be themselves and personally I wouldn’t give a s**t if any of my team-mates were gay."

Another one who is hot and smart and compassionate and an LGBT ally.

And, yeah, hot.

Eric Holder, Attorney General, on the Supreme Court’s ruling that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional: 

“The Department of Justice will continue to carefully monitor jurisdictions around the country for voting changes that may hamper voting rights. Let me be very clear: we will not hesitate to take swift enforcement action — using every legal tool that remains available to us — against any jurisdiction that seeks to take advantage of the Supreme Court’s ruling by hindering eligible citizens’ full and free exercise of the franchise. Like many others across the country, I am deeply disappointed with the Court’s decision in this matter. This decision represents a serious setback for voting rights - and has the potential to negatively affect millions of Americans across the country.”

SCOTUS did some great things last week, and they also did this.

If the GOP starts using this as a means to steal elections, then we’ve all lost.

Sean Patrick Maloney, out gay Congressman from New York, on last week's DOMA and Prop H8 rulings:

“I called my partner, Randy, of 21 years to tell him about the decision and to congratulate him and I really couldn’t get the words out. And I realized in that moment that it was the first time in 21 years, 20 of those years spent raising our 3 amazing children, that I wasn’t talking to him as someone who was seen as less than in the eyes of my own country’s laws.”

I understand that many straight people don’t understand this, but when you’ve lived many years in a loving and committed same-sex relationship, and then you hear your president say you deserve equality, and then the Supreme Court says you deserve equality, it’s a really big deal.

Rachel Maddow, calling on the GOP to prove it isn't racist and save the Voting Rights Act:

“So which is it now, Republican party? Are you Paul Broun, stuttering and apologizing and saying you never meant any offense? Taking it back? Or are you Paul Broun introducing a stealth amendment in the middle of the night trying to kill the Voting Rights Act? Are you every single Republican in the United States Senate voting to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act, standing proudly by with your Republican president, as he signs it? Or are you the 33 House Republicans who that same year voted no, voted to kill the Voting Rights Act?”

I’m betting they’re just going to shrug on this and say, ‘Well, the Supreme’s ruled so ….’

Trouble is, they won’t have that same response about SCOTUS kicking DOMA and Prop H8 to the curb.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Republican Representative from Florida, on turning the tide in the Sunshine State toward marriage quality:

"In light of the court’s rulings in support of civil marriage for same-sex couples, Florida should begin to evaluate the decision that was made five years ago. The path to removing our state’s ban on the freedom to marry will be very challenging, and will take time to do so thoughtfully and with respect for everyone’s beliefs and opinions. It is wrong to deny LGBT Floridians the basic rights enjoyed by so many other Americans. We must actively, and authentically, engage our fellow citizens to ensure that the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution are extended to all Floridians."

Y’all know I do my share of Republican loathing on this here bloggy thingy, but every so often we get a Republican like Ros-Lehtinen, who reminds me that not all members of the GOP are cut from the same cloth.

She’s a keeper.

Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, in the U.S. Department of Education's It Gets Better video:

"I really believe we can't just say 'It gets better.' All of us have to work right now to make things better today, not tomorrow. If you're a 14-year-old or a 15-year-old, asking you to wait four or five years for things to get better, that can seem like an eternity, like a lifetime. And so you shouldn't have to wait that long. So I wanna be very clear. All of us have the power now to make things better today, not tomorrow."

And, in my mind, that means coming out. If more LGBT Americans came out, these young kids would have someone to look up to, to admire, to make them feel less different, less ‘less than.’

Their march toward self-acceptance would be better, and easier, because they see someone who lit the way.

Kevin Swanson, “pastor’, on God setting Colorado on fire because of The Gays and metrosexuals:

"When you have a state where the House leadership is performing a homosexual act on the front page of the Denver Post two months ago? Does God read the Denver Post? Do you think He picks up a copy of the Denver Post? He gets it. God gets the Denver Post. How are we going to repent of the sexual sin that is paraded in front of us in the wider culture? Why do we have to submit to theses sexual sins again and again? How many young boys are running out and doing the metrosexual thing with the skinny pants and the little fairy shoes? They’re working on the gender blender for themselves and they don’t want to look like a man and God is just so upset, He hates it when men are not manly in their approach."

The picture he’s referring to, and it’s probably the same picture he keeps under his mattress at night, to view in one hand while the other wanders beneath the sheets, is one of House Speaker Mark Ferrandino kissing his partner Greg Wertsch goodbye after the passage civil unions in the state.

That said. God reads the Denver Post?
Last I checked she was not finished with Fifty Shades of Grey.

Happy Fourth!

What are you doing in here?

Go on.

Go outside.

Have fun.

See ya tomorrow!