Mississippi Gov: Everyone Should Be Allowed To Marry, Except The Gays

The state of Mississippi found itself facing its past when a predominantly white church, First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, last month refused to marry an African-American couple.

Gov. Phil Bryant was asked about the scandal this week and said that he believes everyone should be allowed marry, and that the church in question was in the wrong. So, what about same-sex couples, who are forbidden to tie the knot in Mississippi? Well there the answer changes.

From The Mississippi Press:

Bryant said the denial of a wedding for a black couple at a traditionally white church has "tainted" Mississippi's image nationwide.

"I'm sure there are very good people of Crystal Springs and in that Baptist church that don't feel that way and are supporting that effort," Bryant said of the Wilsons' desire to marry in the church.

"Look, when people want to get married, we ought to let them get married," Bryant said. "We have enough people that won't go and get married. I want to make every opportunity I can for any couple that wants to, to go get married."

Even gay couples?

"I wouldn't say gay couples, no," Bryant said. "I'd say a man and a woman. Let me make sure, let's get that right. When I say couples, I automatically assume it's a man and a woman."

His conservative politics are so deeply ingrained that they won't even let his imagination meander into the realm of same-sex love.

Congress Puts Kibosh On Westboro's Military Funeral Protests

Hateful Westboro Baptist Church's protests at military funerals may soon be a thing of the past. The Senate today passed an "Honoring America's Veterans" bill that includes an amendment barring protests two hours before and two hours after military funerals.

The Huffington Post offers more details:

According to "The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012," which is now headed to President Barack Obama's desk, demonstrators will no longer be allowed to picket military funerals two hours before or after a service. The bill also requires protestors to be at least 300 feet away from grieving family members.

This aspect of the legislation was introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who, at the urging of a teenage constituent, proposed new limitations on military funeral demonstrations as a response to a 2011 Supreme Court case that ruled such actions were protected under the First Amendment.

The bill also expands reporting policies for sexual assaults at VA facilities, extends home loan guarantees for surviving spouses of fallen soldiers and guarantees better treatment for soldiers with severe brain injuries, according to Stars and Stripes.

Unfortunately there's no way to ban Westboro from protesting other funerals, like Elizabeth Taylor's.

Watch Chick-Fil-A Supporters Sing 'God Bless America:' VIDEO

There are no words other than the facts: throngs of people showed up to a Chick-fil-A in Knightdale, NC, to support the company's anti-gay politics.

Inspired by their feat of fast food activism, they without warning broke into a rendition of "God Bless America."

You can watch that indescribable rendition AFTER THE JUMP...

(h/t BuzzFeed)

Texas Gay Activist Arrested Again After Being Denied Marriage License

No, you are not having deja vu.

Texas-based activist Major Jiminez was arrested again this afternoon after he and partner Beau Chandler were denied a marriage license.

Both men were arrested last month in an action that highlighted the Lone Star State's anti-equality marriage laws, and were in court this morning for a hearing on that matter. It was postponed, leaving Jiminez and Chandler time to go to the marriage counter and ask for a marriage license. Again they were denied.

GetEQUAL, which worked with the men on their protest, provides more details:

While Beau elected to comply in order to ensure the he would keep his job, Major elected to sit down and refuse to move -- resulting in a second arrest. At this time, the charges against Major are not known.

"Yesterday, people came out in force to eat chicken and support hatred," said Major Jiminez. "Today, I am being thrown in jail because of who I love. How can our lawmakers and courts sit by and do nothing?"

The original action and GetEQUAL helped inspire similar protests around the nation today. Activists from Albuquerque to Tampa headed to their local marriage counter and requested licenses the government keeps for heterosexual couples. There are apparently more actions on the way.

Image via GetEQUAL's Facebook.

Towleroad Guide To The Tube #1179

'DISGRACEFUL JUDAS': NOM's Rev. Willie Owens lays into President Obama.

'FOR SURE': Ryan Lochte's greatest hits.

FERNWOOD FLASHER: Lighten up with a classic moment from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

OHM: Government explains the science behind yoga.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Michael Phelps, Singularity, Kofi Annan, 'Pseudo Libertarian'

Michael Phelps results... find out AFTER THE JUMP.

Rumor has it that Brad Pitt is now pursuing a gay role "with fresh zeal" after his mother came out against marriage equality.

Ghostbuster 3 is a go, less Bill Murray, says Dan Ackroyd.

Gov. Chris Christie is reportedly more popular than President Obama in New Jersey.

Has the Singularity, that hypothetical time when computers are meant to overcome human intelligence and control, already happened? Or is it never going to happen? New Scientists suggest the latter: "The singularity isn’t near. In fact, it might be said that it’s an idea whose time is finally over. It’s not future-facing to be a singularitarian. At this point, this film is a true story about the past."

Ryan Lochte's mother says the Olympic swimmer is too busy to have a serious relationship, so he has one-night stands instead. Practical.

Olympic diver Greg Louganis sat down with CNN's Piers Morgan recently and discussed what it was like to find out he was HIV positive in 1988, when he was 28-years old. "Back in 1988 when I was diagnosed with HIV, we thought of HIV as a death sentence... Honestly, I didn't think I'd see 30." He also addressed the Chick-fil-A brouhaha: "Who eats that stuff? I mean, you know, I kind of like my arteries...I like the blood flowing."

This really is random nerd nostalgia, and it's wonderful.

Is this Victoria Beckham's microphone for the Olympics' closing ceremony?

Openly gay Italian politician Nichi Vendola announced his candidacy for the prime ministership. "It's time for change," he said, sound a lot like another history-making politico.

Nineteen-year old gay man admits eating at Chick-fil-A and explains why: "As a gay man, I say let [Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy] not support gays. When the gay community and gay activist groups push on anti-gay people and organizations to change their minds and opinions via bullying or forced involvement, I fear it would make whatever accomplishments taste cheap like a greasy coin."

The gay-straight alliance at University of Alabama is trying to boot Chick-fil-A from their campus.

Village Voice journo Michael Musto on the right wing claims that they're supporting Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy's free speech, rather than religious extremism: "But in defending the hate mongering Chick-Fil-A, these people can hide behind their flag-waving, pseudo libertarian crap while backing an organization's bigoted views that just happen to mirror their own.Do they have a right to say that? Sure. And I have a right to yell bloody murder."

Bad news for Democrats: "The Senate is likely to assume an even more conservative tenor come January as a crop of insurgent-minded Republicans replace some of the GOP's old guard in the upper chamber. A transformation within the Republican Party that was first set in motion during the 2010 midterm elections appears set to continue in the Senate, following in the path blazed in the House during this term of Congress."

The New York Times offers corrections on gay writer Gore Vidal's obituary. The best bit: "...Mr. Vidal’s relationship with his longtime live-in companion, Howard Austen, was also described incorrectly. According to Mr. Vidal’s memoir “Palimpsest,” they had sex the night they met, but did not sleep together after they began living together. It was not true that they never had sex."

Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner says he's "feeling better" about the GOP maintaining control of the House.

Me on the media's relationship with Washingotn.

In a surprise move, Kofi Annan stepped down from the UN's Syria Envoy. "It is impossible for me or anyone to compel the Syrian government and also the opposition to take the steps to bring about the political process. As an envoy, I can't want peace more than the protagonists, more than Security Council or the international community, for that matter," he said.

Matt Bomer, partner Simon Halls and their three kids were spotted by paps strolling around New York City.

SPOILERS

So, as for Phelps, since so many people were upset with spoilers, here it is: The swimmer bested Ryan Lochte in the 200 individual medley. It is his 16th gold medal

And, a patriotic congratulations to Gabby Douglas, gold medal winner for Women's Gymnastics Individual All-Around in London.