Cubs Owner and NE Gubernatorial Candidate Pete Ricketts Unhappy the Team is So Pro-Gay

Chcago Cubs owner Pete Ricketts, a Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidate who is running against Annette Dubas (an outspoken supporter of marriage equality), is under fire from a conservative opponent who is using the Cubs' sponsorship of LGBT pride as a tool to take him down.

Ricketts agrees with conservatives and is trying to disavow himself of the team's position, blaming it on his sister Laura, an out lesbian who is also a Cubs co-owner.

The World-Herald reports:

For Ricketts, the fact that his sister — Laura Ricketts — is a key supporter of gay marriage hasn't changed his belief that marriage is meant for a man and a woman. He not only opposes same-sex marriage, but he said he also opposes a longstanding decision by the Chicago Cubs to sponsor a gay pride parade in Chicago. The Ricketts family owns the baseball team.

The Cubs' connection to the parade raised objections from a fellow Republican candidate, who said Thursday it called into question Ricketts' gay-marriage opposition. Republican Beau McCoy said that Ricketts should be held responsible for the fact that the Cubs are supportive of the gay community.

Ricketts said he had no involvement in that decision. He also said that despite some “difficult conversations” in his family, he and his sister remain family. “My sister is gay. I love her, but I disagree with her on this issue,” said Ricketts, an Omaha businessman.

Colorado Couple Files Suit Challenging State's Ban on Gay Marriage: VIDEO

Dr. Rebecca Brinkman and her partner Margaret Burd have filed a lawsuit challenging Colorado's ban on gay marriage, the Denver Channel reports:

The lawsuit alleges that Article II, Section 31 of the Colorado Constitution, which states that “only a union between one man and one woman shall be valid and recognized as a marriage,” violates the equal protection and due process guarantees of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Brinkman and Burd went to the Adams County Clerk and Recorder’s office and applied for a marriage license, Ogden said. The deputy clerk said they were not eligible to marry each other because they are both female, and instead offered them an application for a civil union.

"They rejected this offer because civil unions are more akin to a business relationship than to the expression of dignity, love, respect and commitment that married heterosexual couples enjoy because they are married," Ogden stated.

Watch their report, AFTER THE JUMP...

There are currently 30 same-sex marriage lawsuits in 22 states.

Charlie Crist to Announce Run for Florida Governor on Monday: REPORT

Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist will seek that office again, the Tampa Bay Times reports:

"Charlie Crist begins his comeback bid at 10 a.m. Monday, when he's set to announce he'll challenge Gov. Rick Scott. The event will be held at Albert Whitted Park in St. Petersburg. Public arrival is 9:30 a.m., according to an announcement."

Crist is now a Democrat, and is now for marriage equality.

President Obama 'Would Welcome' Marriage Equality in Hawaii; Hearings to Resume - Watch LIVE

The Hawaii House Committees on Judiciary and Finance is scheduled to hear continuing testimony on the marriage equality bill starting at 2:30 pm ET today after 14 hours of testimony yesterday.

You can watch it live HERE or HERE.

President Obama has released a statement in support of efforts toward marriage equality in the Aloha state.

Said White House spokesman Shin Inouye to the Star Advertiser:

"While the president does not weigh in on every measure being considered by state legislatures, he believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect. As he has said, his personal view is that it's wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships, and want to marry, from doing so. The president would welcome a decision by the state Legislature to treat all Hawaii couples equally."

Downton Abbey's Rob James-Collier: 'I Found It Easier' to Kiss a Man

British TV presenter Jonathan Ross spoke with Downton Abbey footman Rob James-Collier about his gay storyline on the series, and asked if he found kissing men harder than kissing women on screen.

Said James-Collier:

"I found it easier.The way I was thinking was that if you kiss a girl you worry about: 1) How big her boyfriend is; 2) Is he in the building watching and is he going to kick the s**t out of you?; and 3) What is my missus going to think of it? So we went to the BFI for a big unveiling on the cinema screen, and the missus knew it (the kiss) was coming, and we were all sitting watching it and I thought 'Nice one, she can't accuse me of anything', and the missus turned to me and said 'You've never kissed me like that'."

Baylor Student President Vetoes Proposal to Remove 'Homosexual Acts' from 'Sexual Misconduct Code'

Last week we reported that Baylor University's Student Senate voted to pass the Sexual Misconduct Code Non-Discrimination Act, which would remove "homosexual acts" from the Waco, Texas Christian school's "sexual misconduct code".

The Student Body President vetoed that decision on Thursday, the Waco Tribune reports:

Student Body President Wesley Hodges told the Student Senate Thursday that the university’s board of regents likely would not have granted final approval for the change to the policy, especially because the full student body had not had a chance to weigh in on the topic.

The senate did not achieve a two-thirds majority to override the veto during a vote in a closed session...

...“I truly believe that Baylor treats its students with grace, love and truth, and in doing that seeks to accept all students, but does not affirm all student behaviors,” Hodges said. “Simply because the university disagrees with your actions or lifestyle, does not imply that it is seeking to attack you.”

(image twitter)