White House Suggests NY Dem Congressman Needed to 'Man Up'

A White House official told Politico that Rep Anthony Weiner (D-NY) should have "manned up and run against Michael Bloomberg" in a defense against criticism that Obama had misjudged races around the country, particularly William Thompson's run against the NYC Mayor, offering only "lame words of praise."

John Aravosis notes the slur: "And if you don't think it's a slur against women or gays, then imagine the White House saying that Barbara Boxer or Barney Frank need to 'man up' - never gonna happen. It's a slur used against men who supposedly act like women or homosexuals."

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Anti-gay sign investigated as hate crime in Maine: "A hand-painted, plywood sign that had a threat directed at homosexuals was found nailed on a tree in the front yard of a Route 156 residence on Friday, police say."

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A look at Ultimate Fighting, its gay-friendly and not so gay-friendly fighters, and its gay fans: “Any guy involved in grappling is the furthest thing from homophobic in the world. I honestly think it would have no impact whatsoever with not only our fighters or our fan base. The guys in the UFC, everybody is so cool, it’s great sportsmanship, everybody has respect for each other. I honestly, it wouldn’t be a big deal to me and most of the guys I know in this sport, it wouldn’t be a big deal for them either.”

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Miss Gay America crowned in St. Louis.

Minor league hockey player Justin Bourne: End the gay slurs. "In my days as a hockey player, I did nothing but contribute to hockey's culture of homophobia and prejudice against gays. I used gay slurs more times than I'd like to admit. Six months after I left my last professional locker room, I felt a twinge of regret, followed by a full-out, stomach punch of regret. And by the time I finished the first draft of this column, I was disgusted with myself."

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Dancing with the Stars' Derek Hough: I'm not gay, but I almost played one on Cougar Town: "It would have been perfect. With all the rumors going around, I thought it would be really funny because it's just not true. But I was like, you know what? If that's what you want to see."

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Minnesota pastor quits over Lutheran position on gay clergy.

Mariah Carey nearly takes spill on Jay Leno.

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Conservative Washington Times highlights Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway's opposition to lifting ban on gays in the military: "But Gen. Conway has gone further than others in stating his opposition to a change in policy, according to the former official, who has been privy to private conversations on the matter. "He feels very strongly that [removing the ban] would be disruptive, and he opposes it," said the former official. Gen. Conway's private remarks stand in contrast to public utterances by other service chiefs, who have restricted themselves to repeating a well-rehearsed mantra: If Congress introduces a bill to repeal the ban, they will discuss it with the chain of command. If Congress changes the law, they will follow the law."

KC Chiefs Cut Punishment for Larry Johnson's 'Fag' Slur in Half

The Kansas City Chiefs saved Larry Johnson about $315,000 after cutting his punishment for directing anti-gay slurs at reporters and a fan in half. According to the AP, the Chiefs were afraid of losing in arbitration:

"The Chiefs issued a terse announcement saying they had made the settlement in conjunction with the NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association. Originally, they suspended the former two-time Pro Bowler two weeks, which would have cost him about $630,000. He will still miss the game at Jacksonville this week and not participate in team activities until Nov. 9. The Chiefs had said the suspension was for conduct detrimental to the team. Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Associated Press on Saturday the agreement had been tentatively agreed to. Schaffer said Monday that as far as he knew, Johnson would remain with the Chiefs. He needs just 75 yards rushing to become the team leader."

The punishment stems from an October 26 incident in which Johnson told two members of the media in the Chiefs locker room, "Get your faggot asses out of here." He later directed the same language at a fan on Twitter.

Johnson's agent Peter Schaffer later made the ridiculous claim to TMZ that neither he nor Johnson knew that "faggot" was offensive. Said Schaffer: "We know the N-word is unacceptable, that's not disputable -- but f*g? I'm learning that there's a segment of our society that finds it offensive and that it should not be used. I didn't realize that, but I do know now..."

The Chiefs have refused comment throughout the incident.

Georgetown University Sees Third Anti-Gay Hate Crime in a Week

Two students at Georgetown University were targeted in anti-gay assaults this week, The Hoya reports:

"According to a DPS Public Safety Alert, a male suspect repeatedly asked the victim, 'Are you a homo?' before physically assaulting the victim. The victim was taken to the emergency room of Georgetown University Hospital by GERMS to be treated for injuries sustained in the assault. The PSA e-mailed to campus Sunday afternoon said the incident was reported at about 1:32 a.m. Sunday morning, but did not specify when the incident took place. The suspect was described as a white male wearing red and white face paint and a black leather jacket. DPS notified the Metropolitan Police Department and an investigation is in progress, the PSA said. A female student was allegedly physically assaulted on Canal Road last Tuesday by two unknown males after being taunted on the basis of her perceived sexual orientation. She said she was wearing a T-shirt expressing support for gay rights at the time."

Georgetown students rallied against the incidents in Red Square on Sunday night. (image the hoya)

Additionally, an anti-gay slur was written across the door of the school's LGBTQ Resource Center.

The University sent out an email: "As a Catholic and Jesuit university, we are committed to fostering a community that is welcoming to all and values understanding, tolerance, inclusion and respect. Over the past week, we have seen several incidents take place on or near campus that are especially troubling because they have targeted members of our community with homophobic language and disrespect. Two incidents were off campus assaults and today a written slur was posted on the door of the LGBTQ Resource Center. These acts are unacceptable. We take these incidents and the safety of our campus community very seriously and are taking steps to address the needs of our students at this time."

Watch a report on the attacks from MyFoxDC, AFTER THE JUMP...

Who Doesn't Know the Word 'Faggot' is Offensive?

Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson and his agent Peter Schafer, or so Schafer claims:

"We know the N-word is unacceptable, that's not disputable -- but f*g? I'm learning that there's a segment of our society that finds it offensive and that it should not be used. I didn't realize that, but I do know now..."

Johnson received a one game suspension for directing the slur at members of the media and a fan on Twitter earlier this week. He is appealing the punishment.

Larry Johnson to Appeal One-Game Suspension for 'Faggot' Slur

Kansas City chiefs running back Larry Johnson received a two-week suspension (which actually only amounts to a one-game suspension) for telling two members of the media to "get your faggot asses out of here" in the locker room on Monday. Johnson directed similar language at a fan on Twitter.

The AP reports: "Agent Peter Schaffer said the game check and other lost revenue would amount to about a penalty of about $600,000 for the former two-time Pro Bowl player. In a three-sentence release, the Chiefs said Johnson would be suspended until Monday, Nov. 9 for conduct detrimental to the team. The Chiefs are on their bye week and will not play again until traveling to Jacksonville on Nov. 8."

Schaffer says they will appeal the punishment: "We will be filing an appeal on behalf of Larry tomorrow. While we respect the Chiefs' ability to try to discipline a player, we disagree and respectfully disagree that the punishment they propose is warranted by the facts or allowable by the collective bargaining agreement. Hopefully, we will be able to work out a mutual and positive resolution with the Chiefs short of a hearing. If we don't, then this will go to an arbitrator."

Johnson's father told the Kansas City Star that he was hurt by his son's behavior, saying "he remembers his childhood in the Jim Crow South and understands the daggers of inequality and the tarnish of discrimination." Said the elder Johnson: “That’s just not who we are and not what we believe. It’s not how he was raised. It’s tough for me as a father.”