Towleroad Talking Points: A Conservative Sesame Street

BY SAM GREISMAN

A look back at today's big stories

SPECIAL NOTE

As some of you may know, I presented my mother (Sally Field) with the Ally for Equality award at the HRC National Dinner this past Saturday night. If you missed the speeches, you can check them out here! I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who has reached out to my mom and me with such kind words. It really means a lot. I think it was a great night and I was glad to help put a face on the struggle for LGBT rights, even in my own very small way.

ELECTION 2012

The potential demise of PBS and Big Bird has become a talking point of late in the 2012 election. Mitt Romney wants to kill them both. Jon Stewart previews what would happen if the conservatives took control of Sesame Street. The Obama campaign tried to capitalize on Romney's plans by releasing an ad using Big Bird to mock the Republican nominee. Sesame Street, however entertained by the ad it might have been, asked the Obama camp to pull it as it is not a political entity.

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ENTERTAINMENT

I filed this under "entertainment" basically because there is no category for just straight up bizarre things, but Lady Gaga and Wikileaks' Julian Assange had dinner together last night. In a similar strange category us Lindsay Lohan's new movie featuring a porn star!

Check out this video of gay singer-songwriter Matt Alber performing with cellists in a live session in San Francisco. 

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GAY RIGHTS OFFENDERS

An intelligent, well reasoned, elegantly explained argument for voting for Romney. Or just some chick. 

A hateful Archbishop in Minneapolis recently told the mother of a gay son that she will burn in hell for not rejecting him. Just foul. Speaking of truly unpleasant people. Bay Buchanan recently spoke to a group of GOProud supporters and told them that Romney will definitely win the election. 

An LGBTQ youth group, named for a deceased deceased bullying victim, has been told there is no room for them at a Minnesota Halloween parade. So gross. Also John Boehner may be a defender of DOMA but he is campaigning for a gay Republican house candidate in Massachusetts. 

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VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Check out this powerful video from the Australian Prime Minister against sexism and misogyny in a crazy moment on the floor of the Australian parliament. It's a must-watch moment for sure. 

If you have a dog that will just not behave, maybe a YouTube dog shaming video is the way to go. 

Gay Wedding Video of the Day: Robert and Nathanael

Robert and Nathanael celebrated a September 8 wedding at The Mansion at Griffin Gate Marriott Resort in Lexington, Kentucky.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

The Advocate writes: "Video of the couple's wedding went viral on Twitter Tuesday, as some found it surprising that a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, a traditionally African-American fraternity, would get hitched with the support of family and friends. Brown confirmed on Twitter that only Gay is a member of the fraternity, but added that he's glad he could be an inspiration for others who have reached out to him."

Don't miss our other recent Gay Wedding videos...
Gay Wedding Video of the Day: JoAnna and Jenny [tr]
Gay Wedding Video of the Day: Kenton and Johnny [tr]
Gay Wedding Video of the Day: Jeff and Joe [tr]
Gay Wedding Video of the Day: Tim and Nic [tr]
Gay Wedding Video of the Day: Randy and Keaton [tr]

Elton John Demands Marriage Equality in the UK

Elton John, who in 2008 publicly criticized marriage equality advocates in California for fighting for the word "marriage" and not settling for civil partnerships, has changed his tune, writing in The Independent:

I know a lot of people, and perhaps especially religious people, will say that David and I should count ourselves lucky for living in a country that allows civil partnerships, and call it quits there. In most countries around the world, gay people aren't just disallowed from coming together in a legal sense; they are actually persecuted by governments because of their sexuality. Maybe we should just be happy that we at least have a civil partnership, and not push our luck.

Well, I don't accept this. I don't accept it because there is a world of difference between calling someone your "partner" and calling them your "husband". "Partner" is a word that should be preserved for people you play tennis with, or work alongside in business. It doesn't come close to describing the love that I have for David, and he for me. In contrast, "husband" does. A "husband" is somebody that you cherish forever, that you would give up everything for, that you love in sickness and in health. Until the law recognises David Furnish is my husband, and not merely my partner, the law won't describe the man I know and adore.

LGBTQ Youth Group Told it Can't March in Anoka, Minnesota Halloween Parade

Justin's Gift, the LGBTQ group in Anoka, Minnesota named for gay deceased bullying victim Justin Aaberg (below), has been told by organizers that its group of 30 kids can't march in the Halloween parade because there isn't enough room, Minnesota Public Radio reports:

Justin's Gift, a nonprofit group created to support gay youth after several suicides in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, received a letter dated Sept. 25 denying their request to walk in the Oct. 27 parade. The letter is signed by the parade chair, who included only her first name, Liz.

"At this time we are unable to accept your application for the parade," the letter said. "We have reached our maximum for walking units."

The parade's website lists a phone number for the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce as its contact number. A receptionist at the Chamber of Commerce said she is taking messages for parade organizers. The group did not respond to a message left Tuesday by MPR News. Parade organizers also did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Justin's Gift posted this message on its website:

Dear Justin's Gift Youth,

We regret to inform you that our application to participate in the Anoka Halloween Parade, as our favorite fairy tale characters, was denied and we are not being allowed to participate.  They stated that there were too many people already walking in the parade.  We know you were looking forward to this opportunity, but we encourage you to attend our Halloween Dance which will be a great night!

Anoka, Minnesota has a poor reputation for handling the needs of LGBT youth. As you may recall, the Anoka-Hennepin School District last March settled a federal suit filed in 2011 by civil rights groups and six student plaintiffs over a sexual neutrality policy blamed for bullying linked to the suicides of seven students over a two year period.

Anoka bills itself as the 'Halloween Capital of the World'.

The Chamber of Commerce's phone number can be found here. Other contact info here.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1226

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS: Modern irritations may seem irrelevant after watching people who don't even have enough water repeat them. Water is life.

THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE: The View ladies are split.

GMOs: The video Monsanto doesn't want you to see.

SIMCITY: The next generation.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Bill Rosendahl, Wasp, Jerry Sandusky, Depeche Mode

Jerry Sandusky gets 30-60 years in prison for child sex abuse.

Battle to oust Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins in Iowa seen as barometer on marriage equality: "The race is being watched not only as barometer of the public’s changing attitude toward gay marriage but as a message for judges who might take up similar cases in the future."

100 million-year-old spider attack found in amber. "This was a male wasp that suddenly found itself trapped in a spider web. This was the wasp's worst nightmare, and it never ended. The wasp was watching the spider just as it was about to be attacked, when tree resin flowed over and captured both of them."

VIDEO: Nun caught on camera shoplifting Four Loko.

Openly gay L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl won't run for reelection: "The 67-year-old will use the time to battle stage four cancer that started in the ureter, the tube that connects the bladder and the kidney. His condition caused tumors to grow on his spine."

Britney Spears films "top secret" video.

Paul Ryan trash-talks Joe Biden before debate: "If Mitt told me I'd have to spend three days with Joe Biden... No way." Ryan said at a Pontiac, Mich. fundraiser Monday afternoon. "It's only 90 minutes. So thank you..."

Chris Hemsworth bearded and seductive for Prestige.

Tom Daley back in a Speedo.

Daniel Craig's famous Bond swim trunks sell for $72,000 at auction.

Florida man dies shortly after winning roach eating contest: "Investigators reported that Archbold 'wasn’t feeling well and began to regurgitate' shortly after the contest's conclusion. 'He had consumed dozens of roaches and worms,' a sheriff’s spokesman noted."

Frank Bruni on marriage equality and dignity.

Spectacular comet headed by Earth: "Viewers in the Northern Hemisphere will get the best view as the comet blooms in the weeks approaching Christmas 2013. The comet could grow as bright as the full moon."

Depeche Mode plans an "exciting announcement".

Romney's foreign policy speech at the Virginia Military Institute may have been his most dishonest ever: "It was expected that he would distort President Obama into a caricature of Jimmy Carter. But it was astonishing to watch Romney spin a daydream of himself as some latter-day George Marshall, bringing peace, prosperity, and hope to a chaotic world—this from a man who couldn’t drop in on the London Olympics without alienating our closest ally and turning himself into a transcontinental laughingstock. To the extent that Romney recited valid criticisms of Obama’s policies, he offered no alternatives. To the extent he spelled out specific steps he would take to deal with one problem or another, he merely recited actions that Obama has already taken."

Brad Pitt shapeshifts for Steven Klein and Interview magazine.

New Hitchcock poster, first look.

Skyfall trailer adds Adele's Bond theme.

Gay protesters to picket Romney, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Mayor Don Robart, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio: "Shane May, of Akron, organized the protest via social media and said he's expecting protestors from local gay rights groups, like GetEqual of Ohio, to join him on the picket line for various reasons."

Obama tells supporters to be "obsessive" about election: "Most of you have contributed to the campaign, but there is more that you can do over the next 29 days," Obama said. "There's a phone call you can make. There's an e-mail you can send. There is a trip into Nevada you can do to knock on doors. There are cousins and uncles and friends in battleground states all across the country."