Happy Halloween from the Republican Party

Anti-abortion activist and National Equality March protester Randall Terry is parading around Capitol Hill with a bloodied Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in chains, Think Progress reports:

"Today, he and his followers are on Capitol Hill 'with signs and costumes, talking to House Staffers as they enter work,' and they plan to visit Pelosi 'and discuss with her child-killing in healthcare and ‘the wrath to come.’'"

EArlier this week, Terry launched a contest to see who could produce the best "Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid BURN IN HELL video". He also produced a video on the topic.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Texas, Lance Bass, New Brunswick, Scholastic, Curry

GLAAD announces inaugural GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising. Top TV winner was Orbitz commercial featuring Human Rights Campaign logo.

Lance Bass and his latest guy.

Scholastic backtracks on gay-themed book Luv Ya Bunches, says it will carry the book in its book fairs.

Two gay candidates vie for spot in Illinois General Assembly, and nobody's talking about their sexuality.

Adam Lambert and Katy Perry go on a Michael Jackson date.

Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis speaks out about Paul Haggis defection: "In his first extensive interview since the resignation, Davis says Haggis’ letter is based on a series of misunderstandings. The church’s San Diego branch was erroneously named as backing Prop 8, he says. And he argues that his comments on CNN about disconnection have been mischaracterized. He declines to say whether, in light of his explanations, he believes Haggis might become reconciled to the church."

Morrissey returns to the stage.

Crowd of more than 1,000 turns out in New Brunswick, New Jersey to counter-protest six members of the Westboro Baptist Church

Jonathan Capehart: Harry Reid "crazy like a fox" with Hate Crimes bill.

CHART: Does policy trail public opinion on gay rights?

Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival winners announced: "The Man Who Loved Yngve," directed by Stian Kristiansen, wins Best Feature Film.

Curry spice found to kill cancer cells.

Someone poured scalding water into Channing Tatum's wetsuit on the set of his latest film, but he's ok.

Fort Worth police appoint LGBT liaison: "[Sarah] Straten, who serves as the liaison in addition to her full-time job as a neighborhood police officer in the far north part of town, hopes the position will become an official, full-time one. She’s made it clear that she wants the job."

Alan Ball offers some spoilers for the upcoming season of True Blood.

Judge Tena Callahan talks about the courage she needed to summon in order to declare Texas' ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional and proceed with a gay divorce case: “I was sitting at my dining room table and I was thinking, I’ve got to make this decision, I’ve got to rip this Band-Aid off and I’ve got to make this decision. My dad always used to tell me that a billion people can believe in a bad idea, and it’s still a bad idea. And that man taught me to have the courage of my convictions and to do what’s right — it’s always the right time to do the right thing. And as I’m sitting there and all this is going through my head, I’m looking at the back of this bag, and I went, ‘Oh my God, I just got my answer.’"

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #560: Lieberman Filibuster Edition

JOE LIEBERMAN: Says he'll join Republican filibuster against public option.

RACHEL MADDOW: On the Lieberman filibuster plans, with Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake.

KEITH OLBERMANN: Slams Lieberman.

JOHN MCCAIN: Suggests Lieberman might be "bribed" to vote for public option.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Harry Reid: Health Care Bill Will Include Opt-Out Public Option

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announces that an opt-out public option is in the health care reform bill, AFTER THE JUMP...

As Obama Cools to Senate's Public Option Plan, Progressives Target Him in New Ad

UPDATED

Obama's apparent preference for a "trigger" option in health care reform rather than the more progressive option with a state opt-out clause has Senate Democrats bewildered and left fighting for the most fundamental health care reform the nation has seen in decades on their own.

HuffPost: "President Barack Obama is actively discouraging Senate Democrats in their effort to include a public insurance option with a state opt-out clause as part of health care reform. In its place, say multiple Democratic sources, Obama has indicated a preference for an alternative policy, favored by the insurance industry, which would see a public plan 'triggered' into effect in the future by a failure of the industry to meet certain benchmarks. The administration retreat runs counter to the letter and the spirit of Obama's presidential campaign. The man who ran on the 'Audacity of Hope' has now taken a more conservative stand than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), leaving progressives with a mix of confusion and outrage. Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill have battled conservatives in their own party in an effort to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Now tantalizingly close, they are calling for Obama to step up."

Said a Democratic source to the Huffington Post: "He's been so convinced by his political people from the beginning that we can't get a bill with a public option, he's internalized it. Even though it's now become obvious we can get a bill without selling out the public option, he's still on that path."

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/24/leaderless-senate-pushes_n_332844.html

The White House's curious stance on the issue appears to hinge on Obama's concern for a bipartisan bill and the reelection of Blue Dog Democrats. It has also made the President the target of an ad and petition by the  Progressive Change Campaign Committee, warning him not to compromise.

Talking Points Memo notes: "The spot will air at least 100 times in Maine, augmented by an online fundraising drive. The group's recent ad targeting Snowe helped them raise over $100,000."

UPDATE: The White House has issued a statement regarding these reports. "A rumor is making the rounds that the White House and Senator Reid are pursuing different strategies on the public option. Those rumors are absolutely false. In his September 9th address to Congress, President Obama made clear that he supports the public option because it has the potential to play an essential role in holding insurance companies accountable through choice and competition. That continues to be the President's position. Senator Reid and his leadership team are now working to get the most effective bill possible approved by the Senate. President Obama completely supports their efforts and has full confidence they will succeed and continue the unprecedented progress that is being made in both the House and Senate.

Watch the ad, AFTER THE JUMP...

Mormons Play Victim, Claim Threats by Gays Like Treatment of Blacks in the South During Civil Rights Movement

Elder Dallin Oaks, a high-ranking Mormon, delivered a speech on Tuesday at Brigham Young University claiming that backlash by gays against the Church of Latter Day Saints following the passage of Proposition 8 was like the treatment of Blacks in the South during the civil rights movement.

Watch a FOX 13 report and interview with Equality Utah and Mormon Elder Dallin Oaks, AFTER THE JUMP...

FOX 13 reports:

"Elder Dallin H. Oaks refers to gay marriage as an 'alleged civil right' in remarks prepared for delivery at Brigham Young University- Idaho, a speech church officials describe as a significant commentary on current threats to religious freedom. In an advance copy provided to The Associated Press, Oaks suggests that atheists and others are seeking to intimidate people of faith and silence their voices in the public square...In an interview Monday before the speech, Oaks said he did not consider it provocative to compare the treatment of Mormons in the election's aftermath to that of blacks in the civil rights era, and said he stands by the analogy. 'It may be offensive to some -- maybe because it hadn't occurred to them that they were putting themselves in the same category as people we deplore from that bygone era,' he said."

Asks Dan Savage: "How many Mormons were lynched after Prop 8? how many Temples were firebombed?"

Adds John Aravosis: "It really is the height of arrogance, and rather un-American to boot, for the Mormons to spend their money freely, in state after state, in an effort to force Americans to live under Mormon law, and then suggest that no one in America is permitted to even disagree with what the Mormons are doing, lest we oppress their efforts to oppress."

In related news, Senate Majority Leader and Mormon Harry Reid, who has been surprisingly outspoken as of late in his support for gay rights (he penned a letter publicly endorsing last weekend's National Equality March), struck out at his own church last week, criticizing the LDS for backing Proposition 8, saying they should have stayed out of it.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports: "Three organizers of the past weekend's National Equality March said Reid brought up the topic during a conversation in his office. 'He said that he thought it was a waste of church resources and good will,' said Derek Washington, a Nevadan who worked as the outreach director for the march. 'He said he didn't think it was appropriate.' Reid spokesman Jon Summers would not discuss the private meeting, but he didn't deny the conversation took place. 'While Senator Reid agrees with his church that marriage is between a man and a woman,' Summers said, 'he also believes that the resources that went into the Proposition 8 effort could have been put to better use.' LDS Church officials declined to comment Monday."

Watch a FOX 13 report and interview with Equality Utah and Mormon Elder Dallin Oaks,
AFTER THE JUMP...