Towleroad Talking Points: LiLo, Soap & Cute Marines

BY SAM GREISMAN

A look back at today's top stories

GAY ISSUES

It appears the troubles are not over for the Washington State florist who refused to sell flowers for a gay wedding because of how much she loves Jesus, as she is now being sued by the state's Attorney General. Ari Waldman reminds us that the law is what is really behind the groundswell of political support for same-sex marriage. And the Republican National Committee will be meeting this week for its annual spring get-together and they are expected to vote on reaffirming their anti-gay marriage stance. 

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WINGNUTTERY

Jon Stewart examines why Virginia's Attorney General is so desperate to bring back his state's anti-sodomy law. Wacko Rick Santorum is all hot and bothered about being bumped from an appearance at a Michigan high school because he wouldn't provide an advance copy of his speech. What ever happened to free hate speech? 29 house Democrats walked out on a resolution vote in Oklahoma that went 84-0 in favor of keeping marriage between "one man and one woman".

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ENTERTAINMENT

Lindsay Lohan stopped by The Late Show with David Letterman last night to promote her latest trip to rehab. And congrats to Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent as they have announced their engagement. 

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VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Old Spice brings us what must be the first ever watermelon-related soap ad and check out a day in the life of our favorite super cute Marine couple. 

Uruguay Approves Marriage Equality in 71-21 Vote

Uruguay gave final approval to marriage equality tonight after its House voted 71-21 to pass the bill. President José Mujica says he intends to sign it.

Uruguay joins The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, and Denmark as the 12th nation to offer its citizens nationwide marriage equality.

Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S. offer it in parts of the country.

Montana House Votes to Repeal Law Criminalizing Gay Sex

The Montana House today voted 65-34 in a final vote repealing Montana's sodomy law, the Kaimin reports:

The bill, which now heads to Gov. Bullock's desk, removes language in the state's deviate sexual conduct law that makes criminal homosexual acts between consenting adults and subjects those found guilty up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

The law currently reads: "'Deviate sexual relations' means sexual contact or sexual intercourse between two persons of the same sex or any form of sexual intercourse with an animal."

The portion of the law was struck down by the Montana Supreme Court in 1997 and has since been unenforced, yet the law remained on the books.

Previously...
Gay Montana Lawmaker Makes Emotional Plea to Decriminalize Homosexuality — VIDEO

California Senate Panel Advances Bill That Could Strip the Boy Scouts of Tax Exempt Status Over Gay Ban

Back in February I posted about a bill introduced by openly gay California state senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) that would strip the Boy Scouts' tax exempt status for discriminating against members and leaders on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Today that bill passed its first legislative hurdle, the AP reports:

The Senate Governance and Finance Committee voted 5 to 2 to move the first-of-its-kind bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee for review.

The Youth Equality Act, sponsored by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, would deny tax-exempt status to youth groups that discriminate on the basis of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or religious affiliation.

Should the bill pass the BSA would be required to pay corporate taxes on donations, memberships, and all other sources of income.

Said Lara in February:

“Our state values the important role that youth groups play in the empowerment of our next generation; this is demonstrated by rewarding organizations with tax exemptions supported financially by all Californians. SB 323 seeks to end the unfortunate discriminatory and outdated practices by certain youth groups by revoking their tax exemption privilege should they not comply with our non-discrimination laws.”

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1344

JENN AND MEADOW: A highlight from the NYT 'Vows' section.

SUGAR RUSH: Epic Meal Time constructs a 100 lb. chocolate bar.

MIKA AND KRISTIN CHENOWETH: Singing "Popular" at Le Poisson Rouge.

RACCOON: A very, very clever raccoon.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Moldova, Laura Jane Grace, Anthony Weiner, South Africa

Wingnut: Satan's 10 Commandments to the Homosexual Lobby.

Anti-gay wingnut Matt Barber owns his movement's drive to make us unequal.

Popeye's Chicken excites her.

Chapel Hill, NC's Carolina Inn hosts its first same-sex marriage ceremony. "The wedding of Garrett Hall and Zachary Howell, held Saturday at the Carolina Inn, was the first same-sex ceremony in the hotel’s history."

Two suspects arrested in assault on gay teen in Sonoma County, California.

Anthony Weiner weighing run for NYC mayor: "In an interview with The New York Times Magazine, which was posted online Wednesday morning and is to be published in print on Sunday, Mr. Weiner cautioned that he did not know when he would decide about entering the race, and conceded that 'the fact that I don’t know tells me I shouldn’t run. Or I should not run now.' He also acknowledged that he would be 'the underdog in any race I ran,' citing a poll he commissioned earlier this year to gauge whether voters were prepared to forgive him and take him seriously as a candidate."

Music Video: Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack".

The punk rocker formerly Tommy Gabel details his journey to Laura Jane Grace. "One day, 13-year-old Tommy found an encyclopedia entry about Renée Richards, a transgender tennis pro in the '70s who was born a man but underwent sex-reassignment surgery to live as a woman. A light came on."

Gay detainee accuses immigration authorities of endangering his life.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi show off their ranch home to Elle Decor. "Their ranch getaway, nestled north of Los Angeles in Hidden Valley, Calif., has multiple structures, including two barns and eight cabins. The ranch house was originally owned by actor William Powell in the 1920s. In the time before DeGeneres and de Rossi got their hands on it, it had served as a rehab facility, monastery and horse lodging."

UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione attacks transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox: "Because she's not a he. He's a he... That is a lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak. And I mean that."

Adam Lambert to perform at Vienna Life Ball 2013.

Early photos of Madonna to go on display.

Ernst & Young is first national sponsor of the 2014 Cleveland Gay Games, witb $100,000 donation.

South Africa debuts single-dose AIDS treatment drug: "South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Monday the launch of a new single dose combination anti-retroviral drug that will cost just 89 rand a month ($10) per patient, potentially revolutionizing AIDS treatment in the country."

Vietnamese businesses embrace gay customers.

Is Moldova leading on gay rights? "In June 2012, the ECHR ruled that Moldova's ban on a 2005 gay-rights demonstration was a violation of human rights. This January, a sweeping anti-discrimination law came into effect, formalizing the protection of labor rights for LGBT members. And on February 14, a small group of activists quietly staged the country's first legal pride march, a milestone made all the more remarkable by the fact that it was conducted with full police protection."