NYC Pride Pier Dance Moving Indoors; Pier Not Structurally Sound

Heritage of Pride is moving the Pier Dance after an environmental review revealed that Pier 54, where it has been held for several years, is no longer structurally sound.

It's being moved to the enclosed Pier 57, according to organizers. The organizers say that  it will allow them to do much more in terms of overall production. Because there is no longer a need for a sound permit they will be shifting the hours to go from 8pm - 2am.

Said Chris Frederick, Managing Director. “We believe this will usher in a new era for these events. The spaceis significantly larger, which will allow for easier access to bars, restrooms, and social spaces. It is our intention to create an entirely new experience for our attendees. Considering these two events represent more than halfof our annual fundraising efforts, their continued success and appeal has become the organization’s primary focus for the year.”

Organizers add that Rapture on the River’s new time will be 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 23, an hour longer than 2011’s event. The Dance on the Pier will run from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. starting Sunday, June 24, a later start and endtime than in 2011.

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 4 and can be purchased online at nycpride.showclix.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Village Apothecary in the West Village and Delphinium Home in Hells Kitchen. There will be no change to previously announced DJs.

I'll Have What She's Having: VIDEO

The most famous orgasms in the movies get the dubstep mash-up they've always deserved.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Dharun Ravi Defense Team Wants Hate Crime Convictions Dismissed

Dharun Ravi's defense attorneys filed a motion yesterday to have his hate crime convictions dismissed, saying there is not enough evidence, the Star-Ledger reports:

The 33-page brief filed in Superior Court in New Brunswick contends evidence presented at trial showed Ravi was not guilty of invading the privacy or intimidating his roommate, Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide in September 2010 by jumping off the George Washington Bridge soon after discovering the webcam incident. Ravi was not charged in Clementi’s death.

On the bias intimidation counts — Ravi faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced May 21 — the attorneys contend the law was misapplied. On some of those counts, the jury acquitted Ravi of intending to intimidate Clementi and the other man, but convicted him on grounds Clementi felt intimidated and felt Ravi’s actions were purposeful.

"There has been no evidence of bias nor evidence of intimidation," wrote the lawyers, Steven Altman and Philip Nettl, who represented Ravi at trial. Neither was there evidence Clementi felt intimidated, they wrote. "A person cannot be intimidated under the statute unless they were the recipient of intimidating behavior ... Here there was none."

Dharun Ravi defense team seeks to have hate crime convictions dismissed [star-ledger]

Anti-Gay Troll Theatre: VIDEO

Troll Theatre took the comments thread under the video for the Electric Six "Gay Bar" video and created a droll mini-drama on sexuality from selected barbs.

Watch (warning: language), AFTER THE JUMP...

Boehner and House Republicans Intervene Yet Again in Military Benefits Case Challenging DOMA

House Speaker John Boehner and Republicans in the form of The House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group have filed a motion to intervene in another case challenging DOMA, one brought by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network on behalf of gay and lesbian servicemembers, veterans and their spouses.

MetroWeekly reports:

The move is similar to BLAG's action in a similar case brought by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Cooper-Harris v. United States, in which equal veterans benefits are being sought. BLAG, which is controlled by the House Republican leadership, has intervened in several DOMA challenges to defend the 1996 law after the Obama administration stopped defending the federal definition of marriage in February 2011, when Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder concluded the law was unconstitutional.

In a statement today, SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis said, "Speaker Boehner's request to defend this case in the wake of the ongoing harm done to military families by these discriminatory laws is reprehensible and callous." 

The Washington Post reported:

The suit also challenges provisions of federal code regarding spouses that lawyers said bar gay couples from accessing benefits provided by the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those benefits include military identification cards, access to bases, recreational programs, spousal support groups and burial rights at national cemeteries.

The suit's lead plaintiffs are Massachusetts Army National Guard Maj. Shannon McLaughlin, 41, and her wife, Casey, 34. Five other troops and two veterans are also involved.

This is the 12th case challenging DOMA in which Boehner has intervened, adds Think Progress.

New PPP Survey on NC 'Amendment One' Gives it a Shrinking 14-Point Lead; Opponents Have Cash Advantage

Some new numbers out from Public Policy Polling on Amendment One in North Carolina, which appears on the ballot on May 8:

There has been no movement on North Carolina’s proposed marriage amendment since PPP last released a poll a week ago.  Likely primary voters are still planning to vote for the amendment by a 14-point margin, this time 55-41, rather than 54-40.

Opposition is rising slightly with Republicans, independents, and African Americans, from 17% to 21% with the GOP, from 43% to 46% with independents, and from 39% to 43% with black voters.  Democrats on the whole are opposed by a 54-42 spread.  Reports of strong youth turnout in parts of the state could be a good sign for opponents; voters under the age of 30 oppose the amendment by 26 points, while the elder age brackets all support it by spreads of nine to 24 points—though that is down from margins of 16 to 32 points last week.

The good news for the amendment’s opponents is that more voters are now aware of the amendment’s consequences, and if all voters were informed of those consequences, the amendment would fail by a 38-46 margin, the same as last week.  A 40% plurality now knows that the amendment would ban both same-sex marriage and civil unions, versus 36% in the previous survey.  Those who know what the amendment would do are against it by 22 points, but they are outweighed by the strong support from the uneducated.

As part of the overall 22-point shift, Democrats move 21 points, Republicans 24 points, and independents 16 points against the amendment when told it would ban both marriage and civil unions for gay couples.

Let's hope the momentum continues to push in the right direction.

Amendment One would establish marriage between a man and a woman as the only legal union in North Carolina, and bar legal recognition for civil unions, and domestic partnerships. It would also harm children by taking away some health insurance and jeopardy the safety of domestic violence victims.

Opponents have an almost 2-1 money lead:

The anti-amendment Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families reported raising nearly $2.3 million through April 23, with a little more than $2 million coming in since Jan. 1. Vote FOR Marriage NC reported raising almost $1.2 million since it was formed, with all but about $13,000 arriving since the first of the year.

The Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families said it's spent nearly $2 million and had $293,500 on hand entering the final two weeks of the campaign, according to its report. Vote FOR Marriage reported spending nearly $1.1 million and had $121,300 on hand. The money has been enough to hire staff and organize and run the all-important but expensive television ads. Both sides have been on the air for the past week.

Meanwhile, the idiot who shot the Amendment One sign with his shotgun the other day got a visit from police:

Cabarrus County deputies spent more than an hour at the teen’s home after learning about the video. If Wiles was looking for attention, he got it. The video was spotted by opponents of the amendment who shared the link on Twitter. Then, dozens of sheriff’s deputies showed up at his home.

“Our biggest concern was public safety. We had to make sure this wasn’t someone who planned to go out and hurt someone,” said Sgt. Tessa Burchett.

Deputies said they don’t think Wiles intends to hurt anyone, but they do believe Wiles took the sign to shoot it.
At this point, he has been cited with injury to property.

To help expand the ad buy to defeat Amendment One, please click HERE.