Episcopal Church May Soon Bless Same-Sex Marriages

Good news out of the Episcopal Church, via The Los Angeles Times:

Sixteen years after allowing gays and lesbians to become priests, the Episcopal Church appears poised to introduce a rite that would specifically bless the unions of same-sex couples.

If the liturgy is approved, which is expected, Episcopalians will become the first major denomination to endorse such a ritual for homosexual couples.

On its face, the blessing seems similar to that of a marriage rite -- including “I do,” “we have gathered together today” and an exchange of rings. Notably absent are the words “husband,” “wife” and “marriage.”

The committee says that while the liturgy is not called "marriage," there are "significant parallels." A hearing on the liturgy will be held on Saturday, but no vote is set as of yet.

Catholic Canadians Protest Ontario's Gay-Straight Alliance Law

Lawmakers in Ontario, Canada, last month passed a law requiring schools allow students to form gay-straight alliances that almost everyone can agree helps build understanding, self-esteem and general community for LGBT and heterosexual students alike, thereby reducing anti-gay bullying.

Note I said, "almost everyone." Catholic and other religious groups always opposed the bill and are now trying to start their own kind of clubs, "respecting difference clubs."

Canada's The Observer reports:

The director of Parents as First Educators said Thursday they won’t stand for the province bullying them into creating gay-straight alliance clubs in Catholic schools.

“We’re calling upon Ontario Catholic Trustees to implement ‘respecting difference’ clubs as the responsible solution to bullying in schools,” Teresa Pierre said.
...
They said they wanted to create respecting difference clubs, which would still address issues of students who were being bullied, but stayed true to traditional Catholic teachings on sexual behavior and values.

“PAFE is requesting the trustees to continue to implement these clubs in all Catholic schools in spite of the passing of Bill 13,” Pierre said.

Basically PAFE's proposed clubs are exactly the same, save for the explicitly LGBT-inclusive name. Meanwhile, The Observer reports that Catholic schools can reject any club they feel tarnishes their religious character, so this protest really end up being for naught.

Iowa Too Keen On Marriage Equality For Right Wing

Iowa conservatives have been plotting to win back the state legislature and subsequently reverse that state's marriage equality law.

ABC News reports, however, that that homophobic ship may have already sailed.

Conservative lawmakers are watching public opinion move away from them on the gay marriage issue, and now fear that voters might not approve a ban even if the GOP can put one on the ballot by winning control of the Legislature in the November elections.

The shifting views come as a bitter disappointment for the state's prominent Christian conservative community which has long bridled at Iowa's status as a gay rights haven in the heartland — the only place outside the Northeast where gays can marry.

"People are getting comfortable with it and that's a shame to tell you the truth," said Susan Geddes, an Iowa Republican and social conservative organizer who worked for Mike Huckabee's 2008 presidential campaign in the state.

The Des Moines Register poll conducted last February found that 56% of Iowans oppose a ban on marriage equality. Meanwhile, a survey from 2009, the year Iowa's Supreme Court ruled a ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, found only 40% of Iowans opposed such anti-gay prohibitions, so clearly people are getting more than "comfortable with it."

Towleroad Guide To The Tube #1159

BOMB?: Failed presidential candidate Rick Santorum thinks President Obama will bomb Iran to win in November.

ABUSE?: Rodeo cowboys shocking horses to make them buck.

'WEREWOLF': Fiona Apple singing track from her latest album.

NO 'REBELLION': Bryan Fischer claims American Revolution was not a "rebellion" because the Founding Fathers were religious and all religious people know that Roman 13 says rebellions are an abomination, or something.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Swimming Gays, Spidey's Cash Flow, Lou Engle, Female Veep?

Jordan Catalano wears his geography on his chest.

Six members of Britain's Out to Swim group are within sight of France's shore after embarking on a journey across the British Channel.

Pro-equality group Freedom to Marry is reaching out to young conservatives who want to fight for same-sex couples' rights.

Sure, The Amazing Spider-Man broke box office records, but Bruce Wayne is still far richer than Peter Parker.

Today in ridiculous right-wing delusions: Evangelist Lou Engle claims he and 100,000 can pray HIV/AIDS away.

Here, because the world demanded it, is an Alexander McQueen dress made of 50,000 gummy bears.

Where were the bells and whistles for Michael Musto, the journalist who came out long, long ago? "Openly gay was the only way to go, and it did cause problems along the way, but I still wouldn't have even considered being in the closet... I stood my ground, but the gay groups paid it no notice, preferring to reward either closet cases or the types of gay who are tastefully out--i.e., they mention it once in an interview, then never again, certainly not while on camera."

Listen to rapper Nas and the late Amy Winehouse's collaboration, "Cherry Wine."

Congrats to Chloe Sevigny, again the face Miu Miu after 16 years.

According to Ann Romney, wife of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, her husband is looking for a female running mate, because that worked out so well in 2008.

On a related note: Romney reportedly broke GOP records by bringing in $100 million in donations last month.

56% of the continental United States is now officially in a drought.

A Florida judge reset George Zimmerman's bond at $1 million after calling Trayvon Martin's alleged killer back to jail over he and his wife lied about their finances.

Just a few months after asking for forgiveness for consistently bashing gay people in his music, Reggae artist Beenie Man offers this comment homosexuality: "I cannot, I do not support a gay lifestyle, because it’s not wholesome to mines. But I don’t have the right fi tell a man say, 'Your decision is wrong.' I don’t have the right if tell a man say, 'Who you love is the wrong person.' It’s not my right. None at all whatsoever."

Following their success with the movie Game Change, about John McCain and Sarah Palin's doomed 2008 White House run, HBO is reportedly looking to produce a biopic about Fox News overlord Roger Ailes.

"The fish with its genitals on its head." 'Nuff said.

And congratulations to Prince William, who just became Knight of Thistle. Quick, let's get into distress and let him save us!

Anti-Gay from the Family Research Council Tony Perkins offers his freedom-loving thoughts on 4th of July: "The Laws of Nature that our Founders invoked also compel us to recognize marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

Roanoke Athletic Club Changes 'Family' To 'Household' Following Gay Discrimination Suit

Clearly feeling the pressure from Will Trinkle and Juan Granados's anti-gay discrimination lawsuit against them, Virginia-based Roanoke Athletic Club announced via Facebook today that it is changing its "family membership" to "household membership," thereby tacitly saying two things: one, that they'll accept same-sex couples and, two, that family is still straight.

Our goal has been, and always will be to encourage and inspire health and wellness among all members of the communities we serve.

In keeping with this goal, and in recognition of the many contemporary households that can benefit from our facilities through discounted membership fees, we are pleased to announce that we have expanded our Family Membership into a new Household Membership with the following criteria:

Household Membership:

A household consists of a primary member and up to one additional household member that permanently lives in the household, and any of their dependent children under the age of 22 who also reside in the household on a permanent basis.

Club dues will not change; dues for the Household Membership will be the same as the Family Membership it is replacing. There is no requirement to amend your membership, but should this change be advantageous to you, please contact our sales office. If we may answer any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

ABC News asked the club specifically if they will extend the discount to same-sex couples, to which a spokesman replied, curtly, "It is really defined on Facebook… That is definitely what it says -- for public knowledge."