Nutty PA Group Campaigns Against Marriage Equality in Maine

A Pennsylvania-based wingnut group that appreciates a fashion statement has traveled to Maine to campaign against marriage equality. Maine groups are currently battling a ballot measure that would overturn the state's recently passed marriage equality law. WCSH reports:

"The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property is based in Pennsylvania. This week the group is in Maine with signs and handouts about marriage. The group says gay marriage is harmful to society because children do not have a mother and father. They also claim that marriages performed at City Hall, without God present, are not really marriages. However the group is not arguing that issue while in Maine."

Video report, AFTER THE JUMP...

So your marriages also mean nothing if you're straight and weren't married at a church.

Props on the fancy red sashes, however, PA dudes. They really project to the world what total whackjobs you are.

(via americablog)

HRC & Servicemembers United Launch "Voices of Honor" Tour to Repeal DADT

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Servicemembers United announced today a national "Voices of Honor" Tour to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), a former West Point professor and Iraq War vet, is the lead sponsor of legislation to repeal the unpopular policy that bars LGBT people from serving openly in the United States armed services.

Murphy said, in part:

"Our president, President Barack Obama, has stated that If Congress can get a bill to his desk repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, he will sign it into law. It is now our job, and my job specifically, to quarterback this through the Congress of the United States to do just that. I can not tell you today how long it's gonna take. All I can tell ya is that paratroopers don't quit, and paratroopers get the job done. To remove  honorable, talented and committed Americans from serving in our military is contrary to the values that our military holds dear."

Video of Murphy's speech after the jump.

"Voices of Honor" will make stops in Philadelphia; Trenton; Virginia Beach; Phoenix; Kansas City, MO; Orlando and Tampa and will feature former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American soldier injured in Iraq, among others. CNN points out that some of those involved were chosen because they're straight, as outreach to other straight soldiers.

News: The Gloved One, Mrs. Slocombe, Big Brother, The Cubs

Neil Patrick Harris to host the Emmys?

Glove for sale.

NO! Mrs. Slocombe and her pussy died!

Also, choreographer Pina Bausch. And Karl Malden.

Same-sex marriage stalls in Rhode Island: "None of the bills legalizing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island advanced to a floor vote this session, continuing a trend begun in 1997."

Chaz Bono plays with the paparazzi.

Michael Jackson's will. No public viewing at Neverland. Funeral to be held at L.A.'s Staples Center.

Pennsylvania's Allegheny County passes law forbidding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Stampp Corbin on the Obama Pride reception: "There will be some who even will gather in the Capitol in October to protest your administration’s lack of attention to equal protection for LGBT Americans. You want pressure? We’ll give it to you in spades."

Hollywood gives up on ideas.

Meet Kevin, the gay Big Brother houseguest.

Beau Breedlove has sour grapes over his affair with Portland Mayor Sam Adams. Adams was cleared of wrongdoing last week. Now, because the Oregon AG said he no longer had credibility after posing nude for Unzipped magazine and getting paid for it, Breedlove seems to want revenge: "It really upsets me. It’s just lie after lie after lie until we’re at the end of the bowl and the last person to be burned from the situation is me."

Snippet: The Killers do "Hotel California".

DJ Earworm: My life would suck without you in my place.

Manhattan apartment prices plummet to just $760,000 to $849,000 in the median range.

Wentworth Miller broke out of prison, now he's going to Law & Order: SVU.

Homophobia alive and well among Chicago baseball fans.

Labor big Stuart Appelbaum outs himself.

Dallas Million Gay March to move out of gay ghetto into "more mainstream area" next year.

Gay resort opens near Tampa: "While open to anyone, the hotel caters almost exclusively to gay men. Photos of butt-baring hot guys adorn the walls — and are available for $169 apiece. The second-floor club has a darkened maze room and other "intimacy zones.'' The courtyard boasts a kumquat tree and a 50-man hot tub, possibly the largest in Tampa. If it sounds like a bathhouse, don't describe it that way to the owners. Technically, and according to the city, the Ybor Resort & Spa is a hotel and a men's health studio. Sex and nudity in public areas is not allowed."

PA Sen. Eichelberger Refuses to Apologizes for Anti-Gay Statements

Pennsylvania Senator John Eichelberger was confronted at his office yesterday by a group of activists and presented with a stack of petitions objecting to his statements in an interview earlier this month that gay couples are dysfunctional.

Eichelberger is sponsoring a bill to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

When asked in the interview, "Should our only policy towards [same-sex] couples be one of punishment, to somehow prove that they’ve done something wrong?"  Eichelberger responded: "They’re not being punished. We’re allowing them to exist..."

When asked if he would apologize, Eichelberger answered, "No. I think you know my answer to that."

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

PA Senator Eichelberger: 'We're Allowing Gay Couples to Exist'

On Friday, Pennsylvania Senator John Eichelberger, who is sponsoring a bill to ban same-sex marriage in the state, held a radio debate with Senator Daylin Leach, who is sponsoring a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. In the interview, Eichelberger said there's no reason to allow gay couples to marry and said that they're not being punished. In fact, he lauds the fact that gay couples are allowed to exist.

Listen, AFTER THE JUMP...

TRANSCRIPT

LEACH: How would he [Eichelberger] want to encourage stability in gay couples?

EICHELBERGER: I wouldn’t. I mean they can practice whatever sexual activity they like to practice, but there’s no reason to give them special consideration. We don’t give them special consideration in Pennsylvania for any reason. Why in the world would we allow them to marry?

LEACH: How would you encourage gay couples to be able to provide for their families?

EICHELBERGER: Well, I wouldn't.

LEACH: What would you expect of them?

EICHELBERGER: There is no reason to encourage that type of behavior in Pennsylvania...That comes back to the definition of family and that’s where we differ. We can call all kinds of things families. I mean, we can say a 3 party marriage is a family, or 7 or 8 people or marrying younger and younger children these days .

HOST: Are you saying that by their very nature homosexual relationships are dysfunctional?

EICHELBERGER: [Pause] Um. I guess I would say that. I would say that.

LEACH: Should our only policy towards [same-sex] couples be one of punishment, to somehow prove that they’ve done something wrong?

EICHELBERGER: They’re not being punished. We’re allowing them to exist, and do what every American can do. We’re just not rewarding them with any special designation.

Listen, AFTER THE JUMP...

Keystone Progress has a petition online demanding Eichelberger apologize online now.

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Lambda Literary Awards handed out in New York.

Quincy, Massachusetts Church of the Presidents has its rainbow flag stolen for the fourth time in nine months: "The flag was stolen last August, and again last September. Two months later it was burned, and this week it was stolen yet again. It’s a symbol of the congregation’s support for equal rights for [GLBT] persons."

Candy Spelling: Tori Spelling killed my husband.

Mixner: On becoming a civil rights movement.

Get a new free Pet Shop Boys song here.

St. Petersburg, Florida vetoes unmessaged rainbow flag: "They say the flag does not meet St. Petersburg's street banner policy, which states all banners must carry a written message."

Orlando Bloom celebrates Burberry Day!

New Yorkers plan weekend rally to pressure state senator George Onorato, who continues to refuse to meet with his constitutents on same-sex marriage.

T.R. Knight done with Grey's Anatomy? Looks that way.

Mom saves the day.

British soap EastEnders to feature gay Muslim storyline.

Gay Times: Cristiano Ronaldo is the sexiest man alive.

Pennsylvania court rules in favor of an accountant whose license was revoked following a hate crime conviction: "The panel, in a 2-1 ruling, ordered the board to impose a lessor punishment on Kevin Allen Ake, who was convicted of a felony in Chicago for leaving messages on the answering machine of a lesbian he believed had him kicked out of the YMCA for trying to start a Bible program."

Fred Hochberg sworn in as 23rd president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Porn actors Damien Crosse and Francesco D'Macho get married.

Senator David Vitter does not support the Uniting American Families Act.

Once Upon a Time: A significant Keith Haring mural turned 20 this week.

7 unanswered questions in the Angie Zapata murder case.

Harrah's Casino hopes you don't boycott Nevada because of its Domestic Partner bill-vetoing governor.

Schwarzenegger parole board appointee rejected for anti-gay comments: "Douglas Drummond, a former Long Beach City Council member, had been censured by the council for voicing support of Fidel Castro's sequestering of gays in Cuba, applauding the fact that same-sex couples don't reproduce and saying about gay political activity: 'How do we deal with it short of killing them?'"