Levi Johnston Wedded to the Palin Family by Fear

Last night, Levi Johnston appeared on Larry King Live along with his mother and his sister, and it's clear they live in fear of the Palins. Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Perez Hilton vs Dennis Prager on Marriage Equality

Larry King hosted Perez Hilton and Dennis Prager for a debate on marriage equality as a follow-up to the Miss USA brouhaha that erupted after she lost her crown because of her answer to a question from Perez about same-sex marriage. Prager is a conservative radio host.

Matt Rettenmund at Boy Culture has an excellent post up on the reactions to Perez' question and his subsequent efforts to draw out the conversation. Whatever opinion you may have of Perez, he was able yesterday to elicit statements of support for same-sex marriage out of Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, and Heidi Montag. While those celebrities may not mean so much to some, their statements of support certainly help to build support in undecided (Christian and younger) spheres.

Watch the Larry King segment, AFTER THE JUMP...

 

Dr. Laura: Same-Sex Commitments 'a Beautiful Thing, a Healthy Thing'

Dr. Laura Schlesinger appeared on Larry King Live on Wednesday night and was asked about the recent marriage equality victories around the nation. Schlesinger, who nearly ten years ago called homosexuality a "biological error" (among other things) and was the target of nationwide protests for it, said she still believes marriage is between a man and a woman.

Said Schlesinger: "I'm very big on human beings finding love, attachment and commitment and being faithful to it, because there's more to benefit when there is real true commitment and faithfulness to it. I still believe, as just every president has, and all the people who ran for office, that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman. So not calling it marriage works for me. But that two people would have that sort of commitment to me is very healthy and very positive thing in their lives and society as a whole....That's a beautiful thing and a healthy thing."

In a separate question on gay parenting (she has a new book In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms) she was asked if she would praise a stay-at-home mom if that mom was in a committed relationship.

She answered: "Children need the contact of their parent, whether they are a lesbian or not. They need their mommy there. In that situation, the child is bereft of a dad. Dads are important, too."

You may also remember that Dr. Laura came under fire in May 2007 when a repulsive MySpace page linked to her son Deryk was unearthed.

Watch the Larry King clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

Joel Osteen 'Not Knocking' Gays, But They Shouldn't Get Marriage

It must be religious bigotry week on Larry King Live. Monday night was Pastor Rick Warren, and last night megachurch pastor Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria. King asked Osteen about the recent victories in the marriage equality battle. Osteen has a tough time getting his head around it.

They honestly don't want to see homosexuality as anything less than a perversion. They're just well-coiffed and more polite versions of Michael Savage, essentially.

Clip and transcript, AFTER THE JUMP...

Rick Warren: 'I am Not an Anti-Gay or Anti-Gay Marriage Activist'

Pastor Rick Warren appeared on Larry King Live last night and King asked him about the controversy that erupted when Barack Obama asked him to deliver the invocation at the inauguration.

Said Warren: "You know, Larry, there was a story within a story that never got told. In the first place, I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. I never have been, never will be. During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never -- never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going. The week before the -- the vote, somebody in my church said, Pastor Rick, what -- what do you think about this? And I sent a note to my own members that said, I actually believe that marriage is -- really should be defined, that that definition should be -- say between a man and a woman.

"And then all of a sudden out of it, they made me, you know, something that I really wasn't. And I actually -- there were a number of things that were put out. I wrote to all my gay friends -- the leaders that I knew -- and actually apologized to them. That never got out. There were some things said that -- you know, everybody should have 10 percent grace when they say public statements. And I was asked a question that made it sound like I equated gay marriage with pedophilia or incest, which I absolutely do not believe. And I actually announced that. All of the criticism came from people that didn't know me. Not a single criticism came from any gay leader who knows me and knows that for years, we've been working together on AIDS issues and all these other things."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Biden Defends Rick Warren Pick on Tonight's Larry King Live

In a pre-broadcast transcript, Vice President-Elect Joe Biden defends Obama's choice of anti-gay pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at Obama's inauguration.

KING: There has been much controversy over the selection of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the inaugural. He's been a guest on this show an awful lot, and he supported California's Proposition 8, a measure that outlaws gay marriage. He is also very opposed to abortion. I know the gay community in America appears to be up in arms. What do you make of this?

BIDEN: Well, I'd make of it [as] Barack Obama keeping his commitment. Barack Obama said you've got to reach out. You've got to reach a hand of friendship across the aisle and across philosophies in this country. We can't continue to be a red and blue country. We can't be divided like we have been. And he's made good on his promise. And I would say to the gay and lesbian community, they have nothing to worry about. Barack Obama, every aspect of his life, every aspect of his public life, and every commitment he's made relating to equality for all people, will be things that he will stick with and that they should view this in the spirit in which he offered the opportunity to -- to Mr. Warren."

Biden will appear on Larry King Live at 9 pm EST.

Biden made similar remarks yesterday on This Week with George Stephanopoulos:

"Barack Obama...has a stellar and outspoken record in support of equality for all Americans, including gay and lesbian Americans. But he also has made a judgment, I think correctly, that in order to heal the wounds of this country and move this country forward...that he was going to reach out. He made it clear there are parts of the positions taken by the Reverend that he strongly disagrees with, but there's also some very positive things about what he did. He's giving invocation. He's not making policy. He's not part of the administration."

Earlier
Rick Warren Defends Inauguration Invite, Engages Melissa Etheridge [tr]