Rhode Island Marriage Equality Supporters Rally in Providence

Approximately 350 people rallied on Saturday at the Rhode Island State House calling for marriage equality: "Rhode Island is the only New England state that does not permit same-sex marriages. A bill allowing gay marriage has been proposed in the General Assembly but is not expected to pass this year. Similar legislation has died in past sessions amid opposition from legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Don Carcieri. That is expected to change since most of the Democrats looking to succeed Carcieri in 2011 support gay marriage and some potential Republican candidates also support civil unions, Kathy Kushnir, the executive director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, said."

A recent poll showed that 60 percent of registered voters in Rhode Island would support a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Ken Fish, a gay rights activist and retired state education officia, slammed Democratic Speaker William J. Murphy for refusing to let party members vote their conscience. He also criticized openly gay House Majority Leader for being cowardly: “Many of us were proud when Gordon Fox became Democratic majority leader. Many of us were proud when Gordon Fox came out. But Gordon Fox is part of the problem. When Gordon Fox goes along to get along, he drags us with him."

According to the Providence Journal, "State Rep. Frank Ferri, D-Warwick, a chief backer of the same-sex marriage bill, said 36 House members have signed on as co-sponsors, including 10 of the 15 members of the House Judiciary Committee, where the bill has been 'held for further study.'"

Fish also criticized Catholics: "At the rally Saturday, meanwhile, Fish castigated what he said was the undue negative influence of the Catholic Church on key legislators. Civil marriage of same-sex couples 'does nothing to change the Catholic Church' but would merely enable other denominations, already willing, to marry them legally, Fish said."

The Christian Broadcast Network is planning a story on the Rhode Island marriage debate, reports the Journal: "After poking around a bit, we discovered that CBN, which provides programming to stations in about 200 countries (in addition to a 24-hour “prayer line,” according to its Web site), also interviewed Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin; the Rev. Bernard Healey, a lobbyist for the Providence diocese, and Governor Carcieri, an opponent of gay marriage, among others. The governor’s press office did not note the interview on Carcieri’s daily schedule."

Carcieri is vehemently against marriage equality. Earlier this year he joined the National Organization for Marriage and appeared at one of its rallies.

Two NECN reports on the rally, AFTER THE JUMP...

'Traditionalist' Rhode Island Gov Joins Anti-Gay Marriage Campaign

The  anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (who are behind the hideous ad I posted earlier) have gone into high gear with an arsenal of robo-calls and campaigns across New England. This morning in Providence, Rhode Island, they held a launch for its new anti-gay campaign attended by the state's governor, WPRI reports:

"A group against gay marriage has a very prominent politician in its corner. Gov. Donald Carcieri and his wife, Sue, joined the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Organization for Marriage Wednesday morning at the State House as it launched its new media campaign. The campaign, which supports marriage between a man and a woman, will run in several states. It's being launched just as Rhode Island's General Assembly is about to consider legislation that would allow same-sex couples married in another state get divorced in Rhode Island. During the news conference, Carcieri called himself a 'traditionalist' and said the best upbringing for a child is in a home with a mother and father. He said he is not anti-gay, rather he believes the issue should be decided by voters, and not by courts or legislators."

News: Tom Brady, Gay Bashings, Obama Threat, Providence, XBox

Chicago man targeted Obama with letters containing HIV-infected blood?: "In the weeks leading up to Obama's inauguration, Saad Hussein, an Ethiopian refugee in his late 20's, sent an envelope addressed to 'Barack Obama' to offices of the Illinois government in Springfield, Ill., according to court documents. The envelope contained a series of unusual items, including a letter with reddish stains and an admission ticket for Obama's election-night celebration in Chicago's Grant Park."

A wealth of new Wolverine images.

Tom Brady says "I Do".

Skip Bayless stands by Troy Aikman gay rumor.

New York gay group expresses optimism over marriage equality chances this year.

Rihanna photographed in Mexico for first time following Chris Brown attack.

Same-sex marriage arguments heard in Providence, Rhode Island.

Openly gay Liverpool City Councilman Steve Radford speaks out about acquittal verdict in hate crime killing of teen Michael Causer: "The question has to be asked whether the 10-2 jury not-guilty verdict into Gavin Alker means Merseyside society thinks it’s acceptable to beat up gay people? Because, if the evidence was so clear and the people involved acknowledge their part in the attack, we need to ask if the real problem is in Merseyside society. This signals that being gay means you don’t have the right to be free on the street, that’s the sad fact."

Trial to begin for Jonathan Russell Gunter in brutal beating of gay man in Oak Lawn neighborhood of Dallas: "Dean, 43, is awaiting yet another surgery to repair and replace teeth, but perhaps the most devastating  impact of the brutal gay-bashing he suffered seven months ago has been psychological. Once a very active, fun-loving person, according to his friends, Dean said he now has little energy and suffers from depression. 'Anybody who’s been around me before and gets around me now is going to realize that I’m different,' Dean said recently...Jonathan Russell Gunter, 32, is charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison." 

Vigil set for Seattle gay bashing victim at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28 by the pillars on Boren Avenue and Pike Street.

Rehab for Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.

Microsoft stands by as lesbian harassed on XBox 360.

PBDs, McAllen, Texas gay bar, celebrates 25 years: "The bar, located at 2908 N. Ware Rd., has done some re-inventing since owner Drew Clark on February 18, 1984, choosing to brand it with the acronym for his nickname, poor baby Drew."

Fred Phelps and the WBC to be counter-protested at Chicago-area university this Sunday. Incidentally, River Forest is this blogger's home town.

Supreme Court ruling suggests Casper, Wyoming may never have to accept Fred Phelps' hateful Matthew Shepard in hell monument.

Karl Lagerfelt finger puppet does New York Fashion Week.

Pro-gay Catholic Brazilian priest suspended for supporting free distribution of condoms: "The Rev. Luiz Couto has been suspended from his work in the northeastern state of Paraiba. Archdiocese spokesman Eisenhower de Albuquerque says the church took the action because of Couto's public stance 'in favor of the use of condoms, his support of gay marriage and his opposition to priestly celibacy.' Couto spokesman Jose Moreira says the priest is not a gay-marriage advocate but is an opponent of discrimination 'including discrimination against homosexuals.'"

Homophobic workshop held in Uganda: "Stephen Langa, Executive Director of a Ugandan group, Family Life Network, has announced that his group will be holding a workshop from March 5th to 7th to provide insight on the causes and treatment of homosexuality; provide practical tips on how to prevent homosexuality behaviour in youth; expose the homosexual agenda, their tactics, strategy and methods of recruitment; and provide information and guidelines on how to respond to the homosexual agenda in an organization, community or nation."

News: Antarctica, Chris Brown, Facebook, Providence, Tim Gunn

NYT on the string of false arrests of gay men in NYC sex shops which prompted protests outside the mayor's house over the weekend: "Some of the arrests have been used by the city as evidence in 'nuisance abatement' lawsuits, a tactic used for many years to try to shut down businesses where unlawful behavior is taking place. The chief police spokesman, Paul J. Browne, said that the police were not singling out gay men but merely responding to complaints about illegal activities."

Tim Gunn: Project Runway show at New York Fashion Week will feature bunch of unknown designers. "I’m not sure anyone WILL be excited!"

Chris Brown says he's sad about beating Rihanna.

Gay rights lobbyists to descend on California capitol Tuesday: "Their goal: win support of lawmakers for a resolution opposing the legality of Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment passed by voters in November that bans same-sex marriage."

Many French straight couples choosing civil unions over marriage: "For every two marriages held now in France, one heterosexual couple chooses the solidarity pact, the Post reported, noting 92 percent of the 140,000 couples choosing to be united by the pact in 2008 were heterosexual."

The souls aboard Continental Flight 3407: 50 varied lives end on a cold, foggy night.

Zac Efron to play Jonny Quest.

HD: Simpsons gets first new main title revamp in 19 years.

538.com's Nate Silver releases predictions for this year's Academy Awards.

Facebook's frightening new terms of service: "Now, anything you upload to Facebook can be used by Facebook in any way they deem fit, forever, no matter what you do later. Want to close your account? Good for you, but Facebook still has the right to do whatever it wants with your old content. They can even sublicense it if they want."

The Tudors' Henry Cavill's new spot for Dunhill Black.

UK: Teen blames friend for murder of gay Liverpool teen Michael Causer. "Gavin Alker, 19, is alleged to have participated in the assault which left Mr Causer with a lethal brain injury and is charged with murder. But Alker, of Fleetwood Walk, Runcorn, yesterday told Liverpool crown court it was his friend James O’Connor that had carried out two separate attacks on Mr Causer. O’Connor, 19, formerly of Huyton, but now of The Brow, Runcorn, has already admitted murder."

A date with NYC's Banksy, Poster Boy.

Life thriving undersea at north and south poles: "'At least 235 species live in both polar seas despite an 11,000-km (6,835 miles) distance in between,' a decade-long international project to map the world's oceans , Census of Marine Life, has found. Species living at both poles include cold-water worms, crustaceans, sea cucumbers and snail-like pteropods. They make up two percent of the 7,500 Antarctic and 5,500 Arctic animals known to date, out of a global total estimated at up to 250,000."

MSNBC runs outrageous anti-gay DADT editorial.

Scientist stop the aging process in the liver with protein cleanse.

"Ragtag group of queers and allies, trans folks and brass band friends" takes to the streets in Providence to protest gay scene: "We are sick of the majority of queer spaces in our city revolving around consumerism and intoxication. We are sick of 'queer' meaning 'assimilated white gay men' when there are a whole lot of us who don't fit with that identity. We are sick of monogamous relationships being the accepted norm...Despite some aggressive invitations to suck dicks from drunk bargoers, some beer thrown by the queers in the club at the queers who can't afford the 7 dollar cover charge, and being called dummies and threatened with teargas by some pitifully incompetent providence police, (and learning firsthand that they 'don't care about killing people' after threatening to teargas a crowd of kids in a packed staircase), a great time was had by all. There were no arrests."

Boston Cop Under Fire for Providing Gay Porn Strippers Police Escort

A Boston police officer has been assigned to desk duty for using an official vehicle to provide a police escort to a Sacramento-based stripper couple, Aden and Jordan Jaric. The pair, who also work for Falcon Studios and go by the name "Brangelina," were headed to the Roxy nightclub on Tremont Street:

The Boston Globe reports: "Boston police brass became aware of the escort after the two men came under Providence police attention following a sexually graphic show they performed at Trixx All Male Revue, a male nude club on Allens Avenue in Providence, the sources said. Providence police investigated reports that the two men may have been escorted to the Rhode Island club by a law enforcement officer. The men took pictures of a police cruiser in one of Boston's tunnels and referred to the escort on a blog, according to the sources, who confirmed a report aired on WJAR-TV in Providence. The investigation was forwarded to Boston police when Rhode Island investigators determined the origin of the cruiser providing the escort. Boston police said yesterday that the incident is under investigation. The sources said that investigators believe the escort to the Roxy occurred a day before the show in Rhode Island, was limited to the trip from Logan to Tremont Street, and the officer did not accompany the performers to Providence."

Brangelina knows how to work their connections, apparently.

Here is Brangelina's MySpace page, and here's their blog (NSFW).

Watch a news report on the incident from Boston's WDHB, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Ian McKellen, Las Vegas, Arctic Ice Melt, Phoenix, Socks

Evil water lurks.

Vegas hit by biggest snowstorm in 30 years.

Here's what you might accessorize with if you were going on a date with the Burger King.

Phoenix votes for domestic partner registry, will allow hospital visitation: "The City Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to create a domestic-partner registry, following in the footsteps of Tucson, which launched a similar program in 2003. The registry guarantees only that domestic partners have the right to visit each other in Phoenix hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other health-care facilities." The Alliance Defense Fund spoke out at hearings against the measure.

Milk takes San Francisco Critics award. Screen Actors Guild awards announced — full list.

Manhunt male model contestant Matt Lanter joins 90210.

Man pleads guilty for October gay bashing in Georgetown: "Ruddad Abdulgader, of Alexandria pleaded guilty today to two counts, including felony assault with bias intent. He faces up to 5-1/2 years in prison when he is sentenced in February."

Sir Ian McKellen visits hometown school to deliver message against bullying: "Golborne High in Wigan has signed up to gay equality charity Stonewall's new education champions scheme. The programme allows councils to work with the charity and each other to promote safe and inclusive learning environments for youngsters and establish practical methods of addressing homophobia in schools. Wigan council is one of five founder members of the scheme. Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian, who was brought up in Wigan and is an active gay rights campaigner, toured the school and viewed photography work of Year Nine students."

Ecuadorean NY man slain in anti-gay, anti-Hispanic hate crime, is remembered in Queens: "Sucuzhañay's mother, her face contorted with grief, struggled to walk down the aisle of the packed church, supported by Jose's brother Diego. Black-clad mourners wore stickers emblazoned with the face of the slain man, whose coffin was draped in the Ecuadoran flag as it was carried out of the church. 'Jose, we'll always remember you,' Diego Sucuzhañay said. Jose Sucuzhañay's body will be flown back to his hometown in the Andes mountains for burial. Ecuadoran community leaders called him a martyr for immigrants from the South American nation." The killers remain at large.

Camilla Parker-Bowles attends the Olympia Horse Show.

Gay British man asks for help in finding son he says vanished with lesbian mother: "Michael Turberville, 41, has not seen seven-year-old Ashley Skinner since the boy's mother, Joanne Skinner, disappeared with him more than a year ago. The IT consultant has launched a public appeal to find him with the backing of Britain's top family court judge. There is evidence that Ms Skinner, 35, fled abroad. Mr Turberville believes she may be living with Ashley in Australia."

Scientists wonder if the arctic ice melt has passed the point of no return?

Clinton cat Socks dying of cancer.

Providence, RI protestors target car dealership for advertising with homophobic radio host John DePetro.

German Tourism Bureau unveils new gay travel portal.

Joe.My.God visits 'Our Passionate Struggle' at the GLBT Historical Society in SF.

Asteroid faces challenge from volcanoes as to what caused the death of the dinosaurs.

Canadian study: Gay teens at higher pregnancy risk. "The authors suggest the discrimination, sexual abuse and harassment that gay, lesbian and bisexual teens face may prompt them to indulge in more sexually risky behaviour like having sex without using condoms, starting to have sex before the age of 14 or having multiple sexual partners."