News: A-Rod, Ballot Measures, Rio, The Universe, Cubs, Uganda

NYT: Six tests for equality and fairness. "Three jurisdictions — New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia — seem tantalizingly close to securing legislative approval for measures ending the hurtful and unjustifiable exclusion of same-sex couples from civil marriage. But in Maine, Washington State and Kalamazoo, Mich., voters are being asked on Tuesday to strip away vital rights and protections."

Adam Lambert and Ferras glam it up on Halloween in West Hollywood.

A-Rod's art collection? "He was so vain. He had not one, but two painted portraits of himself as a centaur. You know, the half man, half horse figure? It was ridiculous."

West Hollywood woos gay tourists.

LGBT liaison Dani Lee Harris wears uniform in Atlanta Pride parade: "Harris's decision comes after this week announcing she wouldn't wear her uniform due to backlash from some in the LGBT community over having the police represented in such a high-profile manner during the Atlanta Pride parade after the controversial police raid of gay bar the Atlanta Eagle.

This is the average color of the universe.

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) urges Hillary Clinton to condemn bill proposed in Uganda that would increase penalties for "aggravated homosexuality" up to and including the death penalty. Here are some of the details on the community discussions of that bill. France slams proposal.

Hugh Jackman turns down offer to host the Oscars for a second year.

Chicago Cubs become first major-league sports franchise with lesbian owner, Laura Ricketts: "On Oct. 30, the Ricketts family were announced as the new owners of the Cubs, buying the team, Wrigley Field and a share in Comcast SportsNet Chicago for $845 million from the Tribune Co, according to MLB.com. Pete, Todd, Tom and Laura make up the board of directors, with Tom as chairman, NBC.com added. "

Study: "Illegal" music file-sharers spend more money buying music.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 video game spot pulled after outrage over "FAGS" acronym.

Gay groups to protest Focus on the Family conference in Birmingham, Alabama. In related news, James Dobson is exiting the group in February.

Robert Pattinson does Vanity Fair.

Male model fix: Matt Loewen.

NYT's Deborah Solomon interviews Maine governor John Baldacci.

Dan Savage: A Halloween tale about why we're winning.

One million celebrate rainy Pride in Rio.

NYT on Referendum 71 in Washington and the attempt by Protect Marriage Washington to keep private the names of signers of the petition to get it on the ballot: "The case, legal experts say, could chart new territory well beyond Washington State. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which had ordered the release of the signatures, said the case presented 'novel questions of whether referendum petition signatures are protected speech under the First Amendment.'”

World's largest cruise ship sets sail from Finland, heads for Florida.

Ethan Hawke praises Madonna for speaking out for Romania's Gypsies: "She transcended being a pop star. She drew international attention and shone the spotlight on a level of racism and the need for greater education."

White House visitor logs opened... BBC: "The White House put some 480 visitor records online on Friday in response to specific requests for information. The newly-released data covers a period from 20 January to 31 July and includes about 100 meetings with Mr Obama. From December, all visitor records will be posted, as part of President Obama's pledge on greater transparency."

In Cash Crunch, Focus on the Family Hands Off 'Ex-Gay' Events

James Dobson's Focus on the Family, short on funds, has made a plea to investors and ceded control of its "ex-gay" confabs to another right-wing religious organization:

"Focus on the Family, founded by child psychologist James Dobson, is on pace to fall $6 million short of a $138 million budget for the fiscal year that began last October, spokesman Gary Schneeberger said...Focus on the Family also announced Tuesday it would no longer stage 'Love Won Out' conferences across the country. The events drew both participants and picketers for their promise to 'help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome.' The events will go on, instead staged by Orlando, Fla.-based Exodus International, a network of ministries whose core message is 'Freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.' Schneeberger said it made strategic sense for Exodus, which is expanding its work with churches, to take over the conferences starting in November."

The American Psychological Association announced the results of a two-year study on "ex-gay" therapy last week, saying it doesn't work, and urging doctors to tell patients to "explore possible life paths that address the reality of their sexual orientation."

FOF's James Dobson is Going Completely Mad Over Hate Crimes

Right Wing Watch posted a new video of James Dobson (he said he was going away in February), who has reemerged to bail water out of the sinking ship of the religious right. Dobson returns with a message for his minions.

It says, in part: "As I'm recording this video greeting, there's a so-called hate crimes bill that's working its way through the congress that contains no adequate safeguards to protect the preaching of God's word. Because the liberals in Congress would not define sexual orientation, we have to assume that protection under the law will be extended to the 30 sexual disorders identified as such by the American Psychiatric Association. Let me identify some of them: bisexuality, exhibitionism, fetishism, incest, necrophilia, pedophilia, prostitution, sexual  masochism, voyeurism, and bestiality. Those are just a few. And I have to ask, have we gone completely mad?"

In related news, the NYT writes about the hate crimes legislation: "In addition to providing more resources, the act would serve an important public education role, underscoring the seriousness and horror of these crimes. In a particularly ugly moment in last week’s House debate, Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina, declared that Mr. Shepard’s death was 'a hoax,' repeating a right-wing canard that he was not a target because he was gay. Luckily, Ms. Foxx is part of a dwindling — if still too vocal — minority."

Watch Dobson, another voice in that minority, vocalize AFTER THE JUMP...

Fundies Orchestrate Anti-Gay Coup of Women's Group in Singapore

A Singapore lawyer, Thio Su Mien, has orchestrated a coup of a major women's advocacy group in Singapore because of her concerns that it had become too "pro-lesbian" and "pro-homosexual".

A reader writes:

"I'm writing to to ask for support as well as to highlight a situation that is unfolding rather dramatically in the island nation of Singapore. It involves a hostile takeover of a women's advocate group by Christian fundamentalists linked with Focus on the Family who have been actively and successfully preventing any progression of basic gay and women's rights in Singapore. Earlier in March, Singapore’s most prominent, oldest and only women’s advocate group, AWARE, held their Annual General Meeting. Members were to vote and elect a new executive board. It turned out to be a hostile takeover. The group essentially organized supporters of their cause (through church links) to oust long serving members of the group from the executive committee. They did this by getting people who had previously no interest in AWARE's activities to sign up as members sympathetic to the fundamentalist rhetoric right before the elections were to be held. The old executive committee had no idea what hit them until the election was well under way."

The Straits Times: "Dr Thio, 71, a born-again Christian who runs her own law firm, is the mother of Nominated Member of Parliament Thio Li-ann and her nephew, Dr Alan Chin, is married to new Aware president Josie Lau.She was the first woman dean of the Law Faculty at the then-University of Singapore, from 1969 to 1971. Disturbed by what she saw as signs that it was promoting lesbianism and homosexuality, she began urging women she knew to challenge Aware's attempts to redefine marriage and families. On Thursday, the new Aware leaders said that they and their families had been threatened and even received death threats, and they have reported them to the police."

A group of news links chronicling these events can be found here. An online petition has been started to oppose the new group.

If you watch the disgusting video of this woman's daughter, Thio Li-Ann, mentioned above, presenting her anti-gay agenda to parliament, you can see where they're coming from. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

James Dobson Says Religious Right Losing Culture War

In a Focus on the Family farewell speech, James Dobson told his followers that the religious right is losing the culture wars.

"The battles that we fought in the 80's now, we were victorious in many of those conflicts with the culture...trying to defend the unborn child, trying to preserve the dignity of the family an the definition of marriage. We fought all those battles, but really it was a holding action."

He urged them not to give up:

"We are awash in evil and the battle is still to be waged. We are right now in the most discouraging period of that long conflict. Humanly speaking, we can say we have lost all those battles...Humanly speaking, we can say that we have lost all those battles, but God is in control and we are not going to give up now, right? The world has turned colder for the family in recent years and there is such hostility to anyone who holds to a faith and we're going to take the heat. But I have been assured by the board and by many of you that we're not going to cow, we're not going to be discouraged. We're going to continue to express the love for the Scripture and the principles that we find there and if we are made fools for Christ, that's okay too because our purpose is to serve him and that he be pleased." 

Dobson announced he was stepping down as chairman of the organization in February.

Listen, AFTER THE JUMP...

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."