Outing Closeted Russian Politicians

A Child's Letter to Justice Roberts on Prop. 8

French Assembly Passes Marriage & Adoption Equality

From Think Progress:

The French National Assembly just voted to approve both marriage equality and same-sex adoption with a vote of 329-229. This is perhaps not surprising given the support for the bill’s most essential article earlier this month. It now proceeds to the Senate, which is similarly controlled by the Socialists that took power last year. A poll conducted last month shows that 63 percent of French voters support the freedom to marry. France and the United Kingdom are racing to be the 12th and 13th countries to legally recognize same-sex marriage. The British House of Commons advanced similar legislation last week with a 400-175 vote.

"Catholic Charities" Vows To Discriminate

Using religion as an excuse to discriminate is still discrimination.

Is Virginia For Lovers?

I am a strong supporter of Virginia. I was born, raised, and educated here. Virginia is home to the capitol of Hokie Nation. We voted for Barack Obama twice. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner represent us in the Senate. It has absolutely beautiful scenery from the sea, to the fields, to the mountains. There are so many things about the Commonwealth to love.

But...

Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA)

I really must take issue with this phrase: "Virginia is For Lovers." The problem with this slogan is that it fails to disclose that Virginia is not really for lovers, specifically the gay ones. When you take a look at the policies in place, the anti-gay animus becomes glaringly obvious.

Shortly after taking office in 2010, Governor Bob McDonnell signed an executive order prohibiting discrimination by state agencies for a host of reasons, not including sexual orientation or gender identification. This rescinded a similar executive order made by his predecessor Governor Tim Kaine which did cover sexual orientation and gender identification. Governor McDonnell also signed a bill passed by the General Assembly allowing private adoption agencies to discriminate against potential parents for being gay under the guise of a "conscience clause." Only one other state (North Dakota) has such a law in effect.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R-VA)

Even more anti-gay than Governor McDonnell is current Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who is currently campaigning to succeed McDonnell in the 2013 gubernatorial election. In 2010, Cuccinelli sent a letter to Virginia's public universities telling them to end policies that protected against anti-LGBT discrimination. Such a move, which besides increasing the likelihood of anti-LGBT discrimination with impunity, makes it less likely that a perfectly qualified LGBT professor, will take a faculty position in one of the Commonwealth's public universities, especially if this person has a long-term partner. In fact, in Virginia generally, there is no employment non-discrimination policy in place that protects the LGBT community. Employers across the nation have noted that anti-gay policies of various sorts, including and especially employment non-discrimination laws that fail to protect LGBT citizens, make it harder to attract good employees.

Then there is the marriage. In 2006, the citizens of the Commonwealth passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between one man and one woman. No marriage equality here. No civil-unions or domestic-partnerships either. Even if you are a same-sex couple married in a state that has marriage equality, that marriage will still not be recognized in Virginia‘s governmental institutions. This leads to a plethora of legal issues for same-sex couples here including health care coverage, medical decisions, inheritance, much more. The fact that same-sex couples have to file their taxes separately instead of filing jointly - like their heterosexual counterparts - constitutes a de facto “gay tax” here in the Commonwealth.

The ways in which the LGBT community are treated as second-class citizens in Virginia are disturbingly sweeping. The people, institutions, and government of the Commonwealth must do a significant turnaround on these important issues before Virginia can say it is truly for lovers.

Study: Gays As Good At Parenting as Straight Parents

From Science Daily:

High-risk children adopted from foster care do equally well when placed with gay, lesbian or heterosexual parents, UCLA psychologists report in the first multi-year study of children adopted by these three groups of parents.

 ~

The psychologists found very few differences among the children at any of the assessments over the two-year period following placement. On average, children in heterosexual, gay and lesbian households achieved significant gains in their cognitive development, and their levels of behavior problems remained stable. Their IQ scores increased by an average of 10 points, from about 85 to 95 -- a large increase, from low-average to average functioning.

"The children showed meaningful gains in heterosexual, gay and lesbian families," said Justin Lavner, a UCLA doctoral candidate in psychology and lead author of the study. "Their cognitive development improved substantially, while their behavior problems and social development were stable."

~

"There is no scientific basis to discriminate against gay and lesbian parents," Peplau said.

Asked whether children need a mother and father, senior author Jill Waterman, a UCLA adjunct professor of psychology, said, "Children need people who love them, regardless of the gender of their parents."

Romney Clueless About Gay families

From The New Civil Rights Movement:

“I didn’t know you had families,” remarked Romney to the group, according to Wilson.

The offhanded remark underscored that Romney, the governor of the first state prepared to grant same-sex marriage, hadn’t taken the time to look at what the landmark case was really about. By this point the plaintiff’s stories had been widely covered by national media — in particular, Julie Goodridge’s heartrending tale of how her then-partner, Hillary, was denied hospital visitation following the precarious birth of daughter Annie. It was the ignorance of these facts — and Romney’s inaccurate, insensitive answer to her parting question, that pushed Julie Goodridge to her breaking point.

“I looked him in the eye as we were leaving,” recalls Goodridge. “And I said, ‘Governor Romney, tell me — what would you suggest I say to my 8 year-old daughter about why her mommy and her ma can’t get married because you, the governor of her state, are going to block our marriage?’”

His response, according to Goodridge: “I don’t really care what you tell your adopted daughter. Why don’t you just tell her the same thing you’ve been telling her the last eight years.”

Romney’s retort enraged a speechless Goodridge; he didn’t care, and by referring to her biological daughter as “adopted,” it was clear he hadn’t even been listening. By the time she was back in the hallway, she was reduced to tears.

Again, why should anyone vote for this unsympathetic, heartless robot?

TYT on Pat Robertson's Adoption Comments

I could have sworn that part of the conservative mantra was "Think of the children." I guess Robertson doesn't give two craps about the children, and wants others to do the same.

Pat Robertson: Don't Adopt Weird Foreign Kids

Tony Perkins' Feet to the Fire

In case you missed the much talked about exchange between Chris Matthews, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, here it is for your viewing pleasure. Spoiler: it's pretty epic and Matthews finally (after all these years) calls Perkins on his crap.

Th Wrap-Up: May 14, 2012

Here you can see a bit of Michelle Obama speaking at the Commencement ceremony of Virginia Tech (LET'S GO HOKIES!!!).

Tony Perkins' Thursday was...less than stellar (which in the grand scheme of things is probably good).

Speaking of Mr Perkins, when he of all people says a homophobic "joke" goes too far, it's gone WAY too far. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) should take note of that fact.

Bristol Palin had the temerity to give President Obama parenting advice after saying that his interactions with his daughters' friends helped him "evolve" on marriage equality. Some needs to be taken down a peg...or three.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is taking on a diabolical enemy: the Girl Scouts.

Mitt Romney flip-flopped on same-sex adoption in record time, even for him.

Hopefully, this leaked memo to GOP operatives signifies a coming change in Republican policy. Ironically, it comes after GOP strategist Ed Gillespie said Republicans would be campaigning in "traditional" marriage (after President Obama's announcement).

How might marriage equality affect in presidential race in 2016?

And lastly, MSNBC's Tamron Hall lays the smack-down on one of Mitt Romney's surrogates.

The Wrap-Up: February 9, 2012

The last known veteran of World War I passed away this weekend.

The Washington House has voted in favor of marriage equality. Hopefully, Governor Gregoire takes her sweet time in signing the bill though.

About Mitt Romney's record on jobs as governor...

After catching a bad case of "Foot-in-Mouth Disease," CNN has suspended contributor Roland Martin.

The conservative position on cancer screenings: they're bad.

Speaking of silly conservative positions, the so-called Family Research Council is anti-Girl Scout cookies, and it has nothing to do with the calories...

...while CPAC is pro-white supremacy. Talk about ass-backwards priorities.

Dear climate change deniers, please explain!

Homophobia has a cost. In the case of anti-gay adoption policies here in Virginia, we know what those costs are.

You know that feeling when you're about to do something you know is wrong but you do it anyway only to regret it in very short order? Well, Komen for the Cure knows that feeling also.

The battle for marriage equality opens a new front: Illinois.

And lastly, some (read: many) Christians are choosing to boycott the boycott on Starbucks. Yes, I wrote that sentence correctly.

The Wrap-Up: January 25, 2012

President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Who the Hell gives more money to the church than they pay in taxes? Why, Mitt Romney of course!

Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican president (1953-1961) and Supreme Allied Commander during World War II would be appalled by today's Republican party.

I'm sure no one is surprised that North Carolina conservatives are lying in order to fight against marriage equality in the state.

Rick Santorum was glitter-bombed...again. I definitely don't support Santorum, but I also don't support acts like these: they just make the perpetrators look crazy and it turns people like Santorum into "victims," giving them undue sympathy.

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)

I know that Republicans tend to be more pro-gun than Democrats, but seriously? In elementary schools?

As New Jersey may be on the road towards marriage equality, Governor Chris Christie says it should be put on the ballot...because voting on the rights of the few usually has a good outcome right?

A Virginia state senator has moved to counter a discriminatory decision made by the state's Board of Social Services regarding adoption policy.

And lastly, Jon Stewart takes on Newt Gingrich. Seriously, he's better at political punditry than the so-called experts.

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The Wrap-Up: January 20, 2012

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)

Hours before last night's debate, Rick Perry dropped his bid for the GOP nomination. I'm sure you're all surprised.

Last night's GOP debate on CNN was sponsored by (prepare to be ill before reading)...

Advocate.com has pinned an op-ed about Karen Santorum's remarks regarding the gay community's dealings with her husband.

So, about opposite-sex couples being better parents than same-sex couples...

A study shows a relation between a state's tax rate and the well-being of the state's children that the GOP probably won't like.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Speaking of debunking myths, here is one for all my fellow males who think they're better drivers than women.

SOPA & PIPA over the last few days have lost a lot of legislative support (including some former co-sponsors).

According to Rush Limbaugh, a victim is someone who asks for an open marriage with the women he's married to/cheated on (i.e. Newt Gingrich). And people take Limbaugh seriously because...?

Anti-discrimination laws are under assault in Nebraska.

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)

The GOP has made their choice on who will respond to President Obama's "State of the Union" address next week. I'm not yet sure if there will be another Tea Party response by Michele Bachmann.

As of yesterday (before the debate), there was some good news for Newt Gingrich.

Is Governor Christie (R-NJ) still for vetoing marriage equality?

Small business owners have an overwhelmingly negative view of the Citizens United decision.

And lastly, marriage equality in Washington has gotten a few more boosts.

The Wrap-Up: December 16, 2011

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins

Apparently, U.S. postal offices have a ban on Christmas caroling. Cue the outrage from Tony Perkins.

A Virginia board has officially given adoption agencies license to discriminate based on, among many other things, sexual orientation.

It was reported earlier this week that most of NOM's money comes from a handful of large donors (making it NOT a grassroots organization). That, combined with other financial issues, has apparently pressed NOM to plead for more donations.

Those controversial provisions of the NDAA may have been insisted on by President Obama.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

Tax holidays, which politicians propose in order to help with job creation, don't create jobs. Ad this to the list of things Republicans don't know about economics, as if the list wasn't already a mile long.

The European Union is  not looking to kindly on some anti-LGBT moves made by Russia. 

Herman Cain thinks he would be a great Secretary of Defense. I get that he ran Godfather's Pizza, but seriously...

Governor Jerry Brown (D-CA)

Do you know anyone with homophobic parents? Do you have homophobic parents? Have them give this a read.

Republicans beware! Anti-incumbent sentiment is at an historic high. 

What does Governor Jerry Brown (D-CA) have to say about climate change deniers?

And lastly, Jon Stewart took aim at Lowes, TLC, the Florida Family Association, and Islamophobia on "The Daily Show."

The Wrap-Up: December 2, 2011

Current Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA)

Larry Sabato of UVA's Center for Politics has a rundown of the Senate races for the 2012 election.

Virginia's 2013 gubernatorial race may get a little cannibalistic on the GOP side. Given the likely players, that suits this Virginia boy just fine.

A Russian group has begun airing this ad to counter a proposed anti "gay propaganda" measure.

The Colombian government is using  false pretense to keep a gay dad from his adoptive sons.

Here is a video so good, it went viral...TWICE!!!

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

Just as his star starts to rise in this election cycle, Newt Gingrich says something like this. He really loves America's youth (at least the ones with trust funds).

As if there had been any questions about it before, John Boehner has announced he is NOT an economist. Given his positions on economic issues, I'm pretty sure everyone had assumed as much. 

To clarify, raising taxes on millionaires is bad. Raising taxes on the middle-class? That's another story...

Two separate attempts to extend the payroll tax, one from each party, both failed in the Senate. It looks like some of these Senators have been listening to Grover Norquist.

Daniel Craig

In some shocking news, there is a Republican in the Senate for ending all of those tax loopholes for the wealthy. Call me a skeptic, but I'll wait until I see how he votes on such a measure.

One of the most well known conservative pollsters seems to think that Democrats talking about taxing the rich will help them win...mainly because it would (and is).

Why does the New Hampshire Republican want to keep young people from voting?

And lastly, Daniel Craig pretty much spoke for me in this assessment of the Kardashian herd.

The Wrap-Up: November 23, 2011

In last night's GOP debate on national security, Rick Santorum flexed his intellectual muscle.

Speaking of last night's debate, CNN did a little fact-checking into some of the statements made.

It looks like Newt's campaign staff pulled a bit of an oopsie.

So much for Swiss neutrality, at least when it comes to this one and same-sex couples adopting.

Contrast his statements with those of actual professionals in the United Kingdom.

A plan by Pennsylvania's governor to rig the state in next year's presidential election may be dead...maybe.

Social conservatives have started meeting in Iowa to stop Mitt Romney's campaign dead in its tracks.

In Maine, where a pro-marriage equality measure may be on the ballot next year, television ads will start airing around Thanksgiving featuring, among other people, religious leaders.

'Tis the season to give, but be careful to whom you give.

Remember that story I mentioned where NOM may have advocated spitting on a lesbian couple? It appears the story has an update.

In another update, while reporting on the win by Spain's "Popular Party" (which is also an anti-gay party), this happened. Now that's how you protest. (h/t Joe My God)

David Wright of the New York Mets.

An Occupy Wall Street protester had a message for President Obama...and hand-delivered it right to him.

A new Major League Baseball labor agreement will include protections based on sexual orientation. Since I mentioned baseball, I guess that means I can add a completely gratuitous picture of:

It seems like more conservative lawmakers in North Carolina are uncomfortable with the state's proposed anti-marriage equality amendment.

Tomorrow being Thanksgiving and all, I'll be in too much of a food coma to do a Wrap-Up, and I'd expect you all would be in too much of a food coma to read it anyway. Happy Turkey to all!!!

The Wrap-Up: October 28, 2011

Linda Harvey

It looks like a battle is shaping up between Wayne Bessen of Truth Wins Out (which, in part, debunks ex-gay reparative therapy) and Linda Harvey, an arch-homophobe and conservative radio host. She has threatened to sue him over quoting her verbatim. In the latest salvo, TWO has posted a list of quotes and audio attributable to Harvey. Ain't she sweet?

Just when the one out rugby player from the United Kingdom retires, another one comes out of the closet. This begs the question: are U.K. athletes braver than American athletes or is it merely a difference of culture?

The House Blue Dogs (conservative leaning Democrats) were worse than decimated in to 2010. Facing another tough election next year, they're cranking up their fundraising efforts.

Stuart Walker

An arrest has been made in the brutal murder of Stuart Walker in Scotland.

And about those allegations that Stuart had molested a child? Yeah, turns out they were false and the source was very unreliable.

Despite the FACT that Republicans want to gut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, education, and every other form of government spending that isn't defense or subsidies to big oil while at the same time giving massive tax cuts to their corporate overlords, they are claiming to be the ones saving the social safety-net.

Why do Republicans keep switching front-runners for their party's nomination? Cenk Uygur explains.

Speaking of Cenk Uygur, HERE he is talking about Oakland's pandering/tone-deaf mayor and the behaviour of Occupy protesters.

Kirsten Gillibrand

When even a super skeptical Koch brother funded scientist finds that the world is warming rapidly, THE WORLD IS WARMING RAPIDLY!!!

Apparently marriage equality will destroy America, despite the fact that it has done no serious damage to Holland which has had it for a decade.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has introduced a bill to end adoption discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The Religious Wrong: Think of the Children

Apparently Matt Barber prefers these children being denied both instead of being "denied" one or the other. The fact of the matter is that there are not enough opposite-sex couples out there who are willing and able to take in all of the children in this country that need to be adopted. If same-sex couples are not allowed to legally adopt, many would not be adopted at all. They would not only be denied parents, they would be denied extended family and they would be denied the safety net that comes with all of that which so many of the rest of us take for granted on a daily basis. There are same-sex couples (as well as potential single parents) who are willing and able to adopt, and they should be allowed to do so.

The only thing that is tragic about this is that people like Barber are fighting against adoption rights, and it's the children who suffer.

The Religious Wrong: Think of the Children

I think that what is really sad is that these kids are being kept from having the families they need because of the ignorance and prejudices of these adoption agencies. Instead of children going to families who can and will take care of them in every way that a child needs to be taken care of, they get nothing. 

From a legal standpoint, many of these adoption agencies are agents of the state, meaning that they work for the state. Think about this: if you are not doing the job that you were hired to do, what would happen to you? You would be fired. That is something virtually all of us can relate to in some way. So, because these agencies make the choice to not do their jobs and follow the guidelines of their employers, they will most likely end up fired as well.

From a Constitutional standpoint I don't know why federal funding is going to faith-based organizations of any kind. Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?

From a practical standpoint there are not enough opposite-sex couples who are willing and able to adopt. With so many children in need of homes and families it makes zero sense to deny any couple who is willing and able to adopt to do so.

This issue is not about equal rights for same-sex couples, it is about the needs of the children. Because of their dogmatic anti-gay stances, these children are being denied the families that they need. What do they think will happen to these un-adopted children when they reach adulthood and have no family safety-net to rely on? How will they afford college? Who do they turn to when they need advice? Who do they turn to when they need help? I know it may be impossible for people like Chuck Donovan to fathom, but same-sex couples are as able to provide all three (and more) as opposite-sex couples. That is what the studies truly say (remember that clip I posted of Senator Franken in the RFMA hearing...twice).