Newt Gingrich Says Religious Rights are Being 'Outlawed' by the Gay Movement: VIDEO

On a segment on gay rights on Meet the Press today, Newt Gingrich complained about Catholic adoption agencies being "outlawed" in some states where marriage equality laws take effect. MSNBC contributor Joy-Ann Reid pointed out that it was the Church's decision to withdraw its services.

GINGRICH: "What I'm struck with is the one-sidedness of the desire for rights. There are no rights for Catholics to have adoption services in Massachusetts. They're outlawed. There are no rights in DC for Catholics to have adoption service. They're outlawed. This passing reference to religion, we sort of respect religion, sure, as long as you don't practice it. I mean I think it would be good to have a debate over, you know, beyond this question of, 'Are you able to be gay in America?' what does it mean? Does it mean that you have to actually affirmatively eliminate any institution which does not automatically accept that, and therefore, you're now going to have a secular state say to a wide range of religious groups, Catholics, Protestants, orthodox Jews, Mormons, frankly, Muslims, 'You cannot practice your religion the way you believe it, and we will outlaw your institutions.' ... Let's just start with adoption services. It's impossible for the Catholic Church to have an adoption service in Massachusetts that follows Catholic doctrine.

JOY-ANN REID: But didn't the Catholic Church, particularly Catholic Charities in Boston, they affirmatively decided to withdraw adoption services. No one said they are not allowed to provide adoption services.

GINGRICH: No, they withdrew them because they were told, "You could not follow Catholic doctrine," which is for marriage between a man and a woman.

REID: I think the point is, is that you don't have the state attempting to tell religions what to believe. People, if they oppose the idea of gay marriage within their religion, have the absolute right to do so. The question is whether or not religious institutions can make public policy, whether they can enter the public policy--

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Esera Tuaolo and Brendon Ayanbadejo Discuss Gay Pro Athletes on 'Face the Nation': VIDEO

Gay former NFL player Esera Tuaolo and NFL free agent and LGBT ally Brendon Ayanbadejo joined Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation this morning to talk about Jason Collins' coming out and what it means for the future of LGBT people and pro sports.

Said Tuaolo:

"What kept me from playing to my full potential is what people need to realize. When you're in the closet and you're living with this crippling secret, you're living with depression, you're living with suicidal tendencies, you're living with blackouts, you're living with stress. That's what I played with, and it was very difficult to play to the best of my ability, to the fullest of my potential when you're carrying all of that with you. What Jason did was absolutely amazing. And I can relate with him when he said when he came out he felt complete. He felt whole."

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Howard Kurtz Apologizes, Gives Himself a Grilling Over His 'Inexcusable' Jason Collins Story: VIDEO

In a 15-minute segment on his CNN Reliable Sources show, host Howard Kurtz apologized for the Jason Collins accusations that preceded his firing from the Daily Beast, and allowed himself to be grilled by Politico's Dylan Byers and NPR’s David Folkenflik over his mistakes.

Said Kurtz:

"On Monday, I read the ‘Sports Illustrated’ article by Jason Collins, the first pro male-team athlete to come out publicly as gay. I read it too fast and carelessly missed that Jason Collins said he was engaged previously to a woman and [I] then wrote and commented that he was wrong to keep that from readers when, in fact, I was the one that was wrong...My logic between what happened between Jason Collins and his former fiance and what was and wasn’t disclosed — in hindsight, well, I was wrong to even raise that and showed a lack of sensitivity to the issue. Also, I didn’t give him a chance to respond to my account before I wrote it and in addition my first correction to the story was not as complete and full as it should have been."

Kurtz also said his exit from the Daily Beast was already in the works and that it wasn't because of the Jason Collins column.

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Gay British Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans Denies Rape, Sexual Assault Charges Following Arrest: VIDEO

Nigel Evans, the openly gay Tory Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, was arrested yesterday on charges of sexual assault and rape, the Guardian reports:

Detectives visited his home in Pendleton, Lancashire, on Saturday morning following allegations made by two men who were in their 20s at the time of the alleged attacks, which are said to have taken place at the property in July 2009 and March 2013.

The house and his car were searched by officers while Evans was held in custody at Preston police station. He was released on police bail until 19 June.

The prime minister, David Cameron, is understood to have been informed about the arrest of the 55-year-old, MP for Ribble Valley since 1992, one of the few Tory strongholds in the north. John Bercow, the Commons speaker, last night told the Daily Mirror: "It's been a total shock. Nigel is a popular and well-liked character. No one can quite believe what's happened."

Evans denied the charges in a statement to reporters on Sunday:

After being granted bail, Evans told reporters: "Yesterday I was interviewed by the police concerning two complaints - one of which dates back four years - made by two people who are well known to each other and who until yesterday I had regarded as friends.

"The complaints are completely false and I cannot understand why they have been made, especially as I have continued to socialise with one as recently as last week."

Watch Evans speak to reporters, AFTER THE JUMP...

No further details regarding the charges have been disclosed by police.

Evans said he would temporarily step aside as deputy speaker while fights the allegations, and thanked Facebook followers for their support.

Syrian Hackers Hijack E! Online's Twitter, Tweet News Item Claiming Justin Bieber is Gay

The Syrian Electronic Army took responsibility for hacking E! Online's Twitter account on Saturday and tweeting out a series of items which included news that Justin Bieber had come out, Mashable reports.

"Exclusive: Justin Bieber to E!online: I'm a gay" said the first tweet followed by "Angelina Jolie admits, in E! latest issue, that Jordan is to blame for the Syrian refugees' atrocious conditions"

The group responsible for the hack is aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and also took responsibility for hacking the AP last week, a hack which sent stock markets into a momentary plunge.

The 'True Blood' Season 6 Trailer is Here: VIDEO

All your favorite vamps and werewolves are back in the flesh in a new trailer for Season 6 of True Blood.

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...