Colorado Springs Mayor, City Council Reject Resolution Condemning Anti-Gay Hate Crimes After Brutal Attack: VIDEO

Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach (below) and the City Council have refused a request for a resolution denouncing hate crimes based on sexual orientation following the July 3rd attack on five gay men, two of whom are soldiers.

Watch KDVR's report, AFTER THE JUMP...

Said one of the soldiers to KRDO after the attack: "[We] heard a lot of racial slurs [and] a lot of hatred slurs towards homosexuals...I ended up getting kicked in the head and in the ribs several times. I have six bruised ribs. And my right eye was completely swollen shut for about nine or 10 hours."

Another victim still has his jaw wired shut.

KDVR reports:

On Tuesday night, a resolution written by the El Paso County Democrats to renounce hate crimes against GLBT people wasn't even given a vote by Bach and the council.

Bach, who wasn't available Wednesday for an interview, released a statement to FOX 31 Denver. "There’s no place in our city for violence, discrimination or intolerance," Bach said. "I expect our Police Department will do a thorough investigation and prosecute any offenders to the fullest extent allowed by law. "I am committed to working with all members of our community. The Spirit of the Springs program will work diligently to bring people together to be proactive in finding ways to unify our city."

In late June, Bach refused to issue a Gay Pride proclamation when asked by the local LGBT rights group.

Watch KDVR's report, AFTER THE JUMP...

Colorado Springs Mayor Says 'No' to Gay Pride Proclamation

The Colorado Springs City Council may issue a Gay Pride proclamation after the city's mayor Steve Bach refused last week.

The Gazette reports:

"Before he was elected, Bach made it clear he wouldn’t issue such a proclamation. But the Colorado Springs Pride Center asked anyway. On June 23, Bach rejected the request. 'My priorities are to transform our city government so that it works for everyone again and lead the charge to facilitate job creation for our citizens,' the mayor wrote in a letter to Charles Irwin, the center’s executive director. 'Therefore, I will not be signing proclamations such as you requested,' he wrote."

Said Council President Scott Hente: “I want to encourage diversity. I want to encourage a feeling of welcomeness for everybody within Colorado Springs.”

A petition has been started to try to persuade Bach to issue a proclamation.

Focus on the Family 'Ignites' Massive National Anti-Gay Spending Campaign

Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family is behind a major spending campaign involving anti-gay state groups called  “Ignite an Enduring Cultural Transformation" in more than a dozen states supporting anti-LGBT initiatives, the Colorado Independent reports:

The campaign, which largely targets states where Republicans won control of legislatures or governorships, has garnered the support of Republican political superstars such as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.), Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Jon Kyl (Ariz.), and Rep. Trent Franks (Ariz.). The groups intend to pass anti-gay marriage amendments, curtail abortion rights and, in at least one case, ban “transgender bathrooms.”

Family policy councils — a creation of Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family in the 1980s — have launched the Ignite plan in 15 states. Each family policy council has a three-prong plan to achieve their legislative goals over the next two years: lobbying for legislation, mobilizing pastors and social conservatives and supporting candidates that have backed their initiatives. Each group has used a stock brochure containing nearly identical wording to explain their plan and to solicit funds. In many cases, an Ignite plan was launched with an anonymous matching-grant donor.

The Colorado Independent has many of the financial details regarding the plans going down in various states.

Ted Haggard Starting New Church in His Living Room

Ted Haggard is back in the church business:

"Haggard will hold his first gathering at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at his house at 1865 Old Ranch Road. He referred to it as a 'prayer meeting,' but said it would also be correct to call it a church. The gathering will include music and an offering to New Life Church. Haggard also will give a talk about the power of prayer. Although Haggard said just recently he had no plans to start a church, he changed his mind two weeks ago after talking to a friend in Florida who was involved in prayer meetings. Haggard anticipates that 10 to 20 people will show up, and said he has no expectations of building his new enterprise into something on the scale of New Life. 'For this prayer meeting, I have no goals,' he said. 'I have no secret hope that more people will come. I am not driven as I was. Before I focused on the Great Commission. Now I focus on helping other people.'”

Flashback...
Evangelical Leader Ted Haggard Steps Down After Gay Escort Claims [tr]
Ted Haggard Voicemails Analyzed; Pastor Admits to Indiscretions [tr]
Mike Jones Fails Lie Detector Test on Ted Haggard [tr]
Ted Haggard: Bought Meth, Didn't Use It; Received Massage, No Sex [tr]
Ted Haggard Letter: "I am Guilty...a Deceiver and a Liar" [tr]

James Dobson Resigns Chairmanship of 'Focus on the Family'

James Dobson, who stepped down as president and CEO of the Colorado Springs-based anti-gay group Focus on the Family six years ago, has resigned as chairman, the AP reports:

"Dobson notified the board of his decision Wednesday, and the 950 employees of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based ministry were informed Friday morning at a monthly worship service, said Jim Daly, the group's president and chief executive officer. Dobson, 72, will continue to host Focus on the Family's flagship radio program, write a monthly newsletter and speak out on moral issues, Daly said. Dobson's resignation as board chairman 'lessens his administrative burden' and is the latest step in a succession plan, the group said."

Said Dobson: "One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority, though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do."

GLAAD President Neil Giuliano released a statement in response to the news: "For more than 20 years, James Dobson has used his expansive, well-funded media platform to promote defamatory and false information about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. As Dobson resigns from his role as chairman, it is important to remember his history of false and defamatory claims about our community. GLAAD urges the media to not allow Dobson to turn today's news into yet another media platform for him to advance his intolerant divisive attacks on gay and lesbian Americans and their families."

News: Mongolia, Matt Lucas, Twitter, James Franco, Episcopalians

Jury out on Boy George.

Following the announcement yesterday of a forthcoming lawsuit from fired HR administrator Crystal Dixon, University of Toledo president Dr. Lloyd Jacobs reiterates the school's position with regard to sexual orientation in the Toledo Free Press.

Little Britain creator Matt Lucas got a new boytoy for Christmas.

Secret gay party outed in Mongolia: "On November 15, an intentionally hidden and exclusive party was held at Amazon Club, in Bayazurkh Palace. Gay men, lesbian women, bisexual and transgender individuals (LGBT), and friends of these minorities, congregated to socialize with one another and to celebrate their sexual identities. The main festivity was the annual 'Mr. Beauty' contest. With a pool of eleven male-to-female cross-dressers, judges determined who made the most beautiful woman through a sequence of swimsuit, gown, and talent competitions...The party’s secret location (which changes each month and is not released until a few days before the event) and the strict security guards, were not enough to maintain LGBT privacy in the insular capital. One week after ‘Mr. Beauty’, a post on a Mongolian website revealed the existence of the party, and disclosed names of attendees. Few positive, and many negative comments were posted in response."

Twitter turns down $500 million Facebook offer.

Gay City News: Gay men being targeted unfairly in arrest stings as justification to shut down adult-oriented shops in Manhattan.

Conservative Episcopal church leaders announce intention to found rival denomination: "Conservatives alienated from the Episcopal Church announced on Wednesday that they were founding their own rival denomination, the biggest challenge yet to the authority of the Episcopal Church since it ordained an openly gay bishop five years ago. The move threatens the fragile unity of the Anglican Communion, the world’s third-largest Christian body, made up of 38 provinces around the world that trace their roots to the Church of England and its spiritual leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury."

Nominees for the 2009 Grammy Awards announced.

Students at University of Colorado in Colorado Springs hold "safety" rally to battle back against verbal and physical harassment: "The rally was related to a recent rift between student body president David Williams and the campus' gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender group, Spectrum. Williams declined to sign off on a Spectrum funding request for a National Coming Out Day observance in October, citing his personal convictions."

Coming soon: RuPaul's Drag Race.

Gay organizations making recession-based staff cuts: "At Lambda Legal, 10 positions were cut last month. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation laid off several staff members Nov. 21. The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force has left open unfilled positions, and the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association recently reduced its national staff from seven to two. GLAAD President Neil Giuliano said the cuts at his organization 'touched all departments,' but did not reach 'double digits.'...He said a reduction in donations coupled with the nation’s ongoing financial crisis meant that GLAAD had to make job cuts to stay within budget and prepare for 2009."

Brody Jenner with his first two bromances.

James Franco is so hot he'd like to rip his own shirt off.

Noise pollution in world's oceans hurting wildlife.

Right Whale causes shutdown of Cape Cod Canal: "Authorities said the 45-foot whale swam into the Sagamore end of the canal at about 12:30 p.m. today. The Army Corps of Engineers — which operates the canal — ordered it closed to avoid a collision between the animal and a ship. The waterway was reopened at about 3 p.m. after the whale swam into Buzzards Bay."

South African writer to face Equality Court for homophobic Sunday Sun article: "The article equated homosexuality with bestiality, praised Robert Mugabe's oppression of gays and lesbians and encouraged the removal of the sexual-orientation protection clause from the constitution. In July, the Press Ombudsman ordered the Sunday Sun to apologise for the article but fell short of declaring the piece hate speech and refused to recommend any sanctions against Qwelane himself."

Charlie and Marcus from Survivor won't be pairing up on The Amazing Race till they're household names, apparently. Casting director: "With Rob and Amber, they met on the reality show, they were engaged. They were not at a crossroads, but they were getting married and they had a lot of issues to work out. And also they were household names. Let’s see, if Charlie and Marcus become household names, maybe. I think that’s the difference, too."