Rachel Maddow: "Uganda be kidding me" (video)

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow exposes the American Christian extremists behind Uganda's "Kill the Gays" bill.

On Thursday night's show, my favorite lesbian went over the details of Uganda's murderous legislation and exposes the hateful evangelical preachers who inspired it.

When asked to comment on the bill, the cowards back-peddled, saying the proposed law is too harsh. One even went so far to say that Uganda is simply trying to quell the influence of Europeans and Americans on Ugandan society and culture. Uganda's prime minister and other proponents of the bill claim that gay rights activists and tourists exploit young boys on the streets. Who knew Uganda had tourists?

Apparently the Ugandan government only minds being influenced by certain Europeans and Americans, like those pesky human rights workers. They don't mind at all being influenced by America's lunatic fringe, as long as that it justifies homophobia.

As for European influence, this is how Hitler's Holocaust got started. In an effort to unify the German people after the crushing defeat of World War I, the Nazi party passed laws that effectively demonized Jews, gays, gypsies, the mentally and physically handicapped and foreigners in order to purify German society. The gestapo went house to house rounding up undesirables at all hours of the day and night and sent them off to the death camps.

It's happening again.

Rachel says that there are US law makers with enough power to stop all this if they choose. She promises to name names on upcoming shows.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

"Family Ties" star Meredith Baxter Comes Out (video)

In an effort to head off being outed in the tabloids, 80's TV mom and star of every movie on the Lifetime Channel, Meredith Baxter has publicly come out as a lesbian to People Magazine and the Today Show's Matt Lauer.

Baxter tells People that she first started dating women about seven years ago and has been in a relationship for the last four years with building contractor (I know, don't say it.) Nancy Locke. Baxter says the couple has been living a very out life in LA and even took an all lesbian cruise.

Watch the Matt Lauer interview below.

New York Senate Votes Down Marriage Equality

Image by arimoore via Flickr

In a crushing defeat, the NY state senate voted against same-sex marriage on Wednesday. The Huffington Post Reports:

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have made their state the sixth to allow gay marriage, stunning advocates who suffered a similar decision by Maine voters just last month.

The New York measure needed 32 votes to pass and failed by a wider-than-expected margin, falling eight votes short in a 24-38 decision by the state Senate. The Assembly had earlier approved the bill, and Gov. David Paterson, perhaps the bill's strongest advocate, had pledged to sign it.

After the vote, Paterson called Wednesday one of his saddest days in 20 years of public service and he criticized senators who he said support gay marriage but "didn't have the intestinal fortitude to vote for it.

Senate sponsor Thomas Duane, a Manhattan Democrat and the Legislature's first openly gay member, expressed anger and disappointment. "I wasn't expecting betrayal," he said.

 In response to the news, over 200 LGBT New Yorkers braved the cold and rain to express their outrage at a demonstration in Times Square.

This Queer Little Planet: Have your same-sex wedding on Mt. Everest

Image via Wikipedia

You might have missed this one, I know I did. While we've been duking it out here in the states over ballot initiatives and legislative successes and failures, the tiny Himalayan country of Nepal approved same-sex marriage last month. Now, thanks to Nepal's first openly gay member of parliament, LGBT couples from around the world can now get married on the slope of Mt Everest.

According to the web site sify.com, "Nepal's first and only openly gay member of parliament Sunil Babu Pant has started the republic's first travel agency by, for and of the gay community that is asking homosexual, lesbian and transgender couples worldwide to come and get married in Nepal as well as enjoy their honeymoon in the midst of adventure sports, breathtaking sceneries and the country's colourful gay community." 

Pant says, "For gay couples who want a memorable wedding, we are offering to hold it at the Everest base camp. Or it can be in Mustang" (Nepal's northernmost district that was once part of an ancient Tibetan kingdom).

"We are offering lavish bridal processions on elephant back and a glittering package for the bride that includes exotic bridal gowns as well as makeup."


Read more at sify.com.

LGBT Rights Group Roanoke Equality Meets Tonight

Calling all Roanoke area LGBT activists and budding activists!

Roanoke Equality, the valley's only LGBT rights activist organization, needs your input. Join us tonight at 7:30 at the Metropolitan Community Church, 806 Jamison Ave., SE in Roanoke, in the upper chapel, for an organizational/focus meeting to share your ideas. We are dedicated to eradicating homophobia and discriminatory laws in the Commonwealth.

Flash mobs, demonstrations, letter writing, phone calling or any other ideas you may have for real world activism are welcome. It's great to follow the blogs and join FaceBook groups, but it's not enough. We need to make our voices heard and our presence known.

A wise man once said, "Equal rights are never handed down from on high. They are fought for from below."

Join us in our fight for full and equal protection under the law for all Virginians..

NY Assembly Passes Marriage Equality Bill for 2nd Time

Towleroad reports this morning that the NY State assembly once again passed a same-sex bill, which now moves to the state senate for approval. The bill is sponsored by Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell (yes, Rosie's brother).

Late last night, the New York Assembly passed the marriage equality bill again (it was passed once before this year, in May), the Empire State Pride Agenda reports in a release:

"Just a few moments ago, the New York State Assembly passed marriage equality legislation for the second time this year in a bipartisan vote of 86 to 51. By taking a vote in what is called an 'extraordinary session,' the Assembly has removed any obstacle to the bill being sent to the Governor for his signature if the Senate votes on the bill when it reconvenes tomorrow to conduct business. 

The Pride Agenda gives special thanks to the New York State Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Sheldon Silver, that has now voted and passed the marriage equality bill three times. Our thanks also to the legislation’s prime sponsor Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell for leading the successful effort again on the floor. It is anticipated that forces opposing marriage equality may be coming to Albany tomorrow to put pressure on the State Senate to take no action on the bill. We continue to expect the Senate to give this issue the respectful debate and vote it deserves."

New Wave Wednesday: The Cars, "Shake it Up" (music video)

DC Marriage Equality Clears First Hurdle

On Tuesday the DC City Council voted 11-2 giving preliminary approve to a bill that will allow same-sex marriage in the nation's capital. The vote clears the way for a final vote on December 15. DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has said he will sign the bill into law when it gets to his desk.

Despite opposition from religious groups in the city, public turnout for the vote was relatively small compared to the over flowing crowds that turned out for a vote earlier this year when the council voted to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries.

The two opposing votes were cast by council members Yvette Alexander and former mayor-for-life and convicted crack-head Marion Barry.

DC Agenda reports:

"This bill is the next step, a logical step, in the progress we have made in significantly expanding our domestic partnership law over the last 17 years,” said Phil Mendelson, chair of the Committee on Public Safety & Judiciary, which shepherded the bill through the Council.

“I don’t think it’s a giant step,” he said. “It’s a final step in a process in a steady march since 1992 as the District of Columbia, as a matter of public policy, has proceeded toward full equality regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.”

What makes this marriage equality effort unique is that, just as with opposite sex couples,  there will be no residency requirement for couples seeking to marry in the District of Columbia, which could open the door to challenges to discriminatory marriage laws in other jurisdictions when those married in DC go home.

"Viking Zombie Boyfriend", by Jeremy Rizza, 12-01-09

Rorik just loves his new job and his new coworker. As usual, he shares just a little too much about his life.

Today's post includes a message from VZB creator, Jeremy Rizza.

"Here’s the latest news: Paco up there is the strip’s newest supporting character! He’s a painfully shy young bear who hasn’t spent much time around other gay dudes.  That’s going to change.  He’s kind of a loner right now, and he mainly hangs out with his sister.  She’s a beautician who does fun things to his hair.

In other news: Supercool dude Yannick Laisne translated my strips into French! How amazingly wonderful is that?" 

Posted with the permission of the artist. Visit vikingzombieboyfriend.com for past strips, character back stories and cool VZB merchandise. 

Author reveals "The Family" Behind Ugandan Anti-Gay Legislation

Author Jeff Sharlett reveals in his new book, "The Family", that a Capital Hill group of Evangelical Christian lawmakers is behind the proposed ant-gay legislation in Uganda. Homosexuality is already punishable by life in prison in the African nation, however, the pending legislation imposes a death sentence against "aggravated homosexuality", which includes, "repeat offenders" and people with AIDS. Uganda's citizens would be compelled to report know homosexuals to authorities or face three years in prison.

RawStory.com reports:

As if that were not shocking enough, a U.S. author is claiming that a secretive group of American politicians appear to be a driving force in seeing the proposal become law.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, heavily supported by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, was first read in October, triggering a wave of condemnation. According to the gay blog Queerty, Joann Lockard, public affairs officer at the Kampala, Uganda embassy, said the law would "constitute a significant step backwards for the protection of human rights in Uganda."

She added: "We urge states to take all necessary measures to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests, or detention."

 In a recent interview with NPR's Terry Gross, Sharlett says:

"[The] legislator that introduced the bill, a guy named David Bahati, is a member of The Family," he said. "He appears to be a core member of The Family. He works, he organizes their Ugandan National Prayer Breakfast and oversees a African sort of student leadership program designed to create future leaders for Africa, into which The Family has poured millions of dollars working through a very convoluted chain of linkages passing the money over to Uganda."

 Sharlett revealed how he discovered the connection to the secretive group:

"You follow [the] money," he said. You look at their archives. You do interviews where you can. It's not so invisible anymore. So that's how working with some research colleagues we discovered that David Bahati, the man behind this legislation, is really deeply, deeply involved in The Family's work in Uganda, that the ethics minister of Uganda, Museveni's kind of right-hand man, a guy named Nsaba Buturo, is also helping to organize The Family's National Prayer Breakfast. And here's a guy who has been the main force for this Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda's executive office and has been very vocal about what he's doing, in a rather extreme and hateful way. But these guys are not so much under the influence of The Family. They are, in Uganda, The Family."

Hilary Stands Up to Ugandan Anti-Gay Legislation

I knew I should have voted for her. Proving once again who's got the balls in the White House, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton called on Uganda to abandon proposed legislation that would criminalize homosexuality in the African nation.

From Advocate.com:

On the eve of World AIDS Day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday made the strongest statement yet by an administration official that the United States will not tolerate efforts to criminalize homosexuality among countries that receive U.S. funding to combat HIV/AIDS.

“Obviously, our efforts are hampered whenever discrimination or marginalization of certain populations results in less effective outreach and treatment. So we will work not only to ensure access for all who need it but also to combat discrimination more broadly,” she said during a press conference in which officials also announced that the XIX International AIDS Conference, set for 2012, will be held in United States — the first time the conference has been held here since 1990. “We have to stand against any efforts to marginalize and criminalize and penalize members of the LGBT community worldwide.”

Read the full story here.

Joy Behar: Coming Out For the Holidays (Video)

Joy Behar hosted out comedians Jeffery Self, Judy Gold and Kevin Meaney, on her HLN show last week. The three shared their coming out stories with hilarious results:

Gay Ugandans Could Face Life in Prison or Death Penalty

Legislation currently being considered in Uganda would make homosexual acts punishable by a minimum life sentence in prison and the death penalty for repeat offenders or people with AIDS accused of engaging in gay sex.

The Guardian reports:

Life imprisonment is the minimum punishment for anyone convicted of having gay sex, under an anti-homosexuality bill currently before Uganda's parliament. If the accused person is HIV positive or a serial offender, or a "person of authority" over the other partner, or if the "victim" is under 18, a conviction will result in the death penalty.

Members of the public are obliged to report any homosexual activity to police with 24 hours or risk up to three years in jail – a scenario that human rights campaigners say will result in a witchhunt.Ugandans breaking the new law abroad will be subject to extradition requests.

"The bill is haunting us," said Mugisha, 25, chairman of Sexual Minorities Uganda, a coalition of local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex groups that will all be banned under the law. "If this passes we will have to leave the country."

 Read more at Guardian.co.uk

Blogger Lyndon Evans: "Get A Game Plan For LGBT Rights"

Syndicated LGBT Rights blogger, Lyndon Evans calls on our leaders for a more aggressive national game plan for achieving full equality.
From Focus on the Rainbow:

What we need in regards to the pursuit of LGBT Rights is less “feel good” and in my view “poofy footing around” politics when it comes to issues and taking on our enemies.

While politics are played in the head offices, when it comes to the playing field, race track or court, the gloves are taken off and it’s mono e mono. And that’s what we need when it comes to DADT, Same-Sex Marriage and any number of other issues.

What we need are less “poofy politicked” leaders and doers and more over-testosteroned champions, both male and female to get the troops rallied and a game plan of getting down in the mud with the opponent.

Read the full story here.

DC City Council Set to Vote on Same Sex Marriage Tuesday

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The DC City Counsel is set to vote on the District's proposed same-sex marriage legislation tomorrow. Despite heavy opposition from city church leaders, particularly the Catholic church, which has threatened to end its Catholic Charities services over the issue, the council will move forward with the vote. The 10-2 pro-equality majority is expected to approve the legislation which will recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and allow gay and lesbian couples to marry on DC, without a residency requirement.

Congress does have the power to intervene and overturn DC laws, however there has been no interest in doing so on Capital Hill.

Read more at OnTop.