Keith Olbermann on McCain and John Hagee

Finally, the MSM is getting on McCain about John Hagee and McCain's pastors. Thank you, Keith Olbermann.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson Talks to Matt Lauer

Gene Robinson appeared on the Today show and spoke briefly with Matt Lauer about misinterpretations of the Bible and homosexuality, his disinvitation from the Lambeth conference and his plans to attend, the rift in the church, his plans to enter into a civil union, and the difficult time he had his partner and their two daughters (pictured) have gone through.

Said Robinson about why he wears a bulletproof vest: "When you try to love the world the way that God loves the world, you're going to get into trouble."

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Lesbian Methodists Hold Union Ceremony in Defiance of Church

Last week I posted about the anti-gay vote and subsequent 300-strong protest that went down at the United Methodist Church's convention in Fort Worth, Texas.

Methodist delegates voted to keep the statement that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, reject a measure that would have changed the church's definition of marriage to include same-sex unions, and approve a resolution opposing homophobia and discrimination against lesbians or gays.

As another act of defiance, 200 people attend the commitment ceremony of Julie Bruno, right, and her partner Sue Laurie, at a park across from the convention center where the vote was held.

The AP reports: "At the ceremony, some said that acceptance of gays in some churches encouraged them but that the denomination as a whole had a long way to go. No clergy member presided over the commitment ceremony of Julie Bruno and Sue Laurie of Chicago, a couple for 25 years, although about three dozen ministers attended...'The United Methodist Church has been and continues to be both blessing and burden to us,' said Julie Bruno, one of the women getting married. 'When the church turns her back on us, withholds blessing from us, does God withhold blessing? Does God stop loving us? We continue to be the church to and for each other. We continue to be the instruments of God's light and love.'"

Previously
300 Protestors Disrupt Methodist Convention Over Anti-gay Vote [tr]

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Ohio College Administrator on Paid Leave for Remarks About Gays

Crystal Dixon, the University of Toledo's associate vice president of human resources, was placed on paid leave after she published an article in the Toledo Free Press in April responding to a piece in the paper about gay rights, WTOL reports.

Said Dixon: "As a Black woman ... I take great umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are civil rights victims. I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman. Daily thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle."

She concluded: "My final and most important point. There is a divine order. God created human kind male and female (Genesis 1:27). God created humans with an inalienable right to choose. There are consequences for each of our choices, including those who violate God's divine order."

Said Rob Salem, UT clinical law professor and board member of Equality Toledo: "The problem for me is that this is somebody that is charge of a major department of a major institution. She talks about .... homosexuality being a choice. And those views are refuted by the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association."

Gay rights and wrongs: another perspective [toledo free press]
Gays not civil rights victims, UT administrator argues [wtol]

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300 Protestors Disrupt Methodist Convention Over Anti-gay Vote

Nearly 1,000 delegates at the United Methodist Church's General Conference voted on the church's gay policies, the Star-Telegram reports, opting to both discriminate and resolve to oppose discrimination:

"While affirming the existing guidelines about sexuality, delegates also approved a resolution Wednesday opposing homophobia. Numerous delegates at the crowded session spoke into microphones placed around the convention center floor. One man from Africa said that 'we love homosexuals, but we detest what they do.' Others said condemnation of homosexual behavior conflicts with Jesus' message of love and acceptance. The church must guard against 'denying companionship and intimacy in loving relationships just because there are differences of understanding,' a Texas pastor said...One man, who said he is gay, said the church is a 'safe place. ... That should not be sacrificed.' A woman suggested that the Social Principles should be modified: 'Let's just say we are all faithful Christians and agree to disagree.'"

Here's how the vote went: "Approved, 517-416, keeping the statement that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Rejected, 574-298, a measure that would have changed the church's definition of marriage to include same-sex unions. Approved, 544-365, a resolution opposing homophobia and discrimination against lesbians or gays."

This morning, 300 people entered the Fort Worth convention center in a "negotiated disruption" (aka a protest) of the proceedings over yesterday's vote: "The protesters -- some wearing arm bands or buttons with 'All means all' or other slogans -- walked down the center aisle in a statement arranged with conference leaders. Protest leaders and several bishops then went to meet in a private area for conference officials called "holy conferencing." It was not known how long the meeting would be or whether those meeting would issue a statement later today. Marcher Ed Hoar, 65 and retiree from Delaware, Ohio, said he works for a suicide hotline, 'I discovered what kind of pain we cause gay people,' Hoar said. 'They’re just regular people trying to lead regular lives. ...There was an opportunity to do the right thing, but the church didn't have the courage to do it.'"

Methodist delegates vote to reject same-sex unions [star-telegram]
300 protest at Methodist conference in Fort Worth [star-telegram]

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News: Ling Ling, Jake Gyllenhaal, MIT, Reichen, Kathy Griffin

Smith College students protest, defeat Ryan Sorba, author of The Born Gay Hoax.

One of Tokyo's most famous is dead at 22 (that's 70 in human years).

MIT takes no action against student who threatened LGBT group after receiving an email about the group's end-of-semester celebration. Said the student's email: "If you fucking fags send me something like that once again or contact me in any other way, I swear you won’t be able to study at Sloan for some time because you will spend it at resuscitation department. If this is what you want, go ahead." (email and response)

A new Nike ad directed by Guy Ritchie.

Anglican school council in Australia formally endorses ban on bringing same-sex partners to the school formal: "Up to eight students had wanted to take boyfriends and raised the issue with a senior staff member, who passed the request to Churchie headmaster Jonathan Hensman. At the time Mr Hensman said it was not appropriate for students to take a same-sex partner because escorting a young woman to a formal was part of the boys' education. But after reports in The Courier-Mail Mr Hensman referred the matter to the school council. A brief statement posted on the Churchie website yesterday said the council 'strongly supported the headmaster's position on the school's education programs in social settings'."

Reichen Lehmkuhl splits with model boyfriend Ryan Barry, writes up list of Hollywood dating tips.

Viral campaign for The Dark Knight issues 35 mm film trailers to 12 winners of its contest, each one individually defaced by The Joker.

Presbyterian church court issues conflicted ruling in same-sex union case: "A San Rafael minister who presided over several same-sex ceremonies didn't violate Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) rules, because same-sex marriages don't exist in the church, a church court ruled Tuesday. At the same time, the Permanent Judicial Council's ruling affirmed the right of same-sex couples to have unions, a ceremony that would theoretically have a distinct liturgy. The ambivalent ruling - affirming the rights of gays and lesbians to have their relationships sanctioned by the church but not considering them equal to those of heterosexual couples - is likely to disappoint both sides in the debate."

Tenant who lived in Austrian incest house heard knocking from the basement for 12 years but did nothing: "I wish to God that I could turn back the clock. The signs were all there but it was impossible for me to recognise them. Who would ever believe something so terrible was going on right under my feet? It is a regret I will have to live with for the rest of my life."

Street artist targeting NYC subway ads.

Kathy Griffin was fired from Hannah Montana because she told Jesus to suck it.

Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick is somewhere under the rainbow.

Gay books: Publishing Triangle awards handed out.

Hometown boy makes good: Portland paper profiles Chad White.

Jake Gyllenhaal is opening a restaurant: "The so-called ‘closet chef’ is said to be in the development stages of an organic restaurant project, for which he plans to travel throughout Italy collecting ideas...The actor has always said he planned to open a high-end dining venue by the time he was thirty (he has three years left), as long as his acting career had put him in a position that would make that possible."

Dusty Springfield to be played by...Nicole Kidman?

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Barack Obama Repudiates Reverend Jeremiah Wright

Press conference on the left, Q&A on the right, via Talking Points Memo.

Said Obama: I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday. I had been a member of Trinity United Church since 1992. I've known Reverend Wright for almost twenty years. The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met twenty years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate, and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church. They certainly don't portray accurately my values and beliefs. And if Reverend Wright thinks that that's political posturing, as he put it, then he doesn't know me very well. And based on his remarks yesterday, well, I might not know him as well as I thought, either.

Wright's comments at the National Press Club, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: David Blaine, Spiders, NFL Draft, Methodists, George Bush

Bush disapproval rating breaks Gallup poll record: "President Bush has set a record he'd presumably prefer to avoid: the highest disapproval rating of any president in the 70-year history of the Gallup Poll. In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday, 28% of Americans approve of the job Bush is doing; 69% disapprove. The approval rating matches the low point of his presidency, and the disapproval sets a new high for any president since Franklin Roosevelt."

Breathe: David Blaine to attempt record-breaking inhale on Oprah.

Queer Month at Rhode Island College plagued by vandals.

"Possesses a V-shaped torso with a well-defined upper body, good bubble, developed calves and good chest thickness." Craigslist ad or NFL Draft profile?

Gay joke ban rejected by British House of Lords: "The television stars Rowan Atkinson and Christopher Higgins, who is himself homosexual, are among the prominent figures to have spoken out against the proposal to create a new offence of incitement to 'homophobic hatred'. ...Peter Tatchell, the prominent homosexual rights campaigner, also spoke out against the measure, arguing that freedom of speech should be sacrosanct."

Brad Pitt is a ruff rider.

Gay-straight alliance challenged in Janesville, Wisconsin.

David Beckham to strip for Ellen Degeneres?

Market: Clay Aiken will premiere his new album to audience of housewives on QVC.

Plague of venomous spiders shuts hospital in Australia: "The black spiders with a red stripe, close relatives of the black widow, are about 2-4 centimetres (0.8-1.6 inches) long and common across Australia. Their bites can cause severe pain, muscle spasms and death, although no fatalities have been recorded since an anti-venom was introduced in the 1950s."

Methodists hold convention in Fort Worth, brace for debate on homosexuality: "...there will almost certainly be another round of heated debate and contentious votes over whether the UMC should change its official position that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching and withdraw its ban on noncelibate gay pastors. Recent General Conferences have seen protests by gay-rights supporters. Eight years ago in Cleveland, some 200 demonstrators, including two bishops, were arrested for disrupting proceedings. Still, most experts believe the big tent of the UMC will hold, however the winds blow in Fort Worth. Some even say the denomination has turned a corner toward unity."

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Christian TV Host Azariah Southworth: I'm Gay

Azariah Southworth, host of Christian TV show The Remix, has come out of the closet. According to Tennessee's Out and About newspaper, Southworth has been hosting the show, which reaches 128 million homes worldwide, for a year and a half.

Said Southworth: "This has been a long time coming. I’m in a place where I’m at peace with my faith, friends, family and more importantly myself. I know this will end my career in Christian television, but I must now live my life openly and honestly with everyone. This is my reason for doing this. I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community, and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ. I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian. We all know there are so many other gay people in the Christian industry; they’re just all scared. I was scared, but now I’m no longer afraid."

Good for Azariah!

See one of his promo clips for The Remix,
AFTER THE JUMP...

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Senior Anglican Minister Attacks Gay Australian Judge Michael Kirby

Openly gay Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby revealed at a forum on religious tolerance and homosexuality on Tuesday that he had been attacked by a senior Anglican minister over his sexuality:

"The rector of St Stephen's Church in Bellevue Hill, the Reverend Richard Lane, denounced the judge for calling himself a Christian Anglican while living in an openly gay relationship and warned as a 'messenger, watchman and steward of the Lord in the Anglican Church of Australia', he faced God's judgment. To call himself a Christian Anglican was a 'perversion of truth' and to continue to do so without changing his lifestyle would brand him, like Herod, a 'coward, a liar, a deceiver' and a 'lawless one'. 'I appeal to you to cast yourself on the mercy of Jesus … That is admit your sin, confess your wrongdoing and turn in humble repentance to the Lord Jesus, who alone can forgive you,' Mr Lane said."

Kirby replied that Lane had ignored the "central loving message of Jesus of the gospels". Said the judge: "To defy modern knowledge and to stick to uninformed interpretations is truly irrational. To do so selectively is specially so. It is a reason why the churches are losing rational adherents."

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UK Church Takes Gay Union Stand 'on the Side of Love'

North London's Newington Green Unitarian Church is standing up for same-sex couples by refusing to conduct any heterosexual marriages until the Civil Partnership Act is changed to allow religious content in civil partnership registrations. The church's committee voted unanimously to do so:

"The church in Islington suspended full wedding ceremonies from 30 March. The church describes itself as 'an inclusive, liberal religious community welcoming people from all traditions and perspectives'. It said it would continue to bar full weddings until the law was amended. [Minister Andrew] Pakula said: 'When we realised the extent of the injustice in the existing civil partnership law which completely prohibits any connection between religion and civil partnerships, we decided it just wasn't something we could take part in. We have at this point continued to do blessings and civil partnership blessings so anyone who has done the legal business in the town hall can come to us and do a gorgeous religious celebration...Historically churches have been major perpetrators of injustice for gay and lesbian people and as a church that welcomes people of all sexual orientation, as both members and clergy, we feel it is our duty to stand up on the other side. We are standing on the side of love here and that is our stance.'"

Gay rights church bans weddings [bbc]

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OK Rep. Sally Kern and Openly Gay Pastor in Easter Sunday Faceoff

On Easter Sunday, Oklahoma state rep. Sally Kern and openly gay pastor Scott Jones of the Cathedral Of Hope in Oklahoma City faced off on Oklahoma City's political chat show Flashpoint. Check it out AFTER THE JUMP...

At issue, of course, were Kern's now world famous comments about gay people. Kern did not offer any apologies, but the talk does show how vastly different interpretations of the Bible can be.

Kern argues that homosexuality destroys "the moral fabric" of society, but I'd argue that Kern's interpretation of the Bible is far more destructive than any gay person will ever be.

In related news, Ron Marlett, a 59-year-old social worker, announced he would be running against Kern for her seat in the fall. Said Marlett: "I've just been concerned for some time about the damage done by extremes. I abhor hatred. I abhor hatred of people, of groups. I think everyone is worthy of respect."

Watch the clips of Sally Kern and Pastor Scott Jones, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via pam's house blend)

you may have missed...
Judy Shepard Has a Message for Anti-Gay OK State Rep Sally Kern [tr]
An Update on the Anti-Gay Sally Kern Saga [tr]

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News: Madonna, Underoos, Grand Canyon, Colin Farrell, Tunisia

Researcher: Moses was high on psychedelic drugs when he heard God deliver the Ten Commandments and when he saw the 'burning bush'. "As far Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't believe either, or finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined Moses and the people of Israel under the effect of narcotics."

Madonna opens wide: "I really enjoy writing with Justin...We had psychoanalytic sessions whenever we wrote songs first. We'd sit down and we'd start talking about situations. And then we'd start talking about issues or problems or relationships with people."

MAPS of the electorate: "Survey USA's data shows both Clinton and Obama beating McCain on electoral votes, but they win in different ways."

Colin Farrell smokes up British GQ.

Anti-gay lawyer Robert Skolrood is dead at 79: "He fought against gay rights by helping to word an initiative on the Colorado ballot in 1992 that would have barred any special protection for homosexuals. The amendment to the state’s constitution passed but was struck down by the United States Supreme Court four years later. Mr. Skolrood helped to draft an amendment to the Cincinnati City Charter to similarly deprive homosexuals of specific legal protections; voters approved the measure in 1993. A federal appeals court upheld the result, and the United States Supreme Court in 1998 refused to hear an appeal."

'Underoos' for Men sales bulge: "It seems that the Y-front, bikinis, wild prints and Underoos style underwear has made a huge comeback in contributing to a $1.1 billion men's knit-underwear market. (Knit underwear excludes the traditional boxer) John Sievers, co-owner of International Jock, calls it an 'explosion' in his business in the last 3 years that has doubled his revenues."

Gay Malaysian pleads with Canada for asylum: "Amirthalingan moved to Montreal in 2003 and applied for refugee status in Canada on humanitarian grounds, arguing his life was in danger because his homosexuality made him a target of Malaysian police who detained him for five days, and abused him, physically and sexually. 'They were punching me, pushing me down to the floor and putting their leg on me to confess that I am a gay,' he told CBC last week. Being gay in Malaysia is difficult, and he is "a bit afraid for my safety" if he's forced to go back. 'I don't have family support too, because my brothers and sisters are against [me] because I'm gay.' Amirthalingan lost his refugee status case because the judge was not convinced he was gay. He filed for a humanitarian appeal and a pre-removal risk assessment, which were both rejected by the Quebec Immigration Board."

Capitol Hill offices receive letters containing photos of man standing in front of military recruiting station targeted in yesterday's Times Square bombing: "Happy New Year, We Did It."

Amy Winehouse now using her face as an ashtray.

Grand Canyon FLOODED in effort to recharge the ecosystem — PHOTOS.

Liev Schreiber's Sabretooth stalks Sydney.

San Francisco gift shop Given re-opens after month-long stint as its prior occupant, Harvey Milk's Castro Camera shop, with an art show.

HIV+ and gay in Tunisia: "'At the beginning, I was furious. I hated everything. But afterwards, I thought that it's better to be hopeful than crying.' He decided to face up to the illness, sensing that a positive mental attitude would translate into stronger physical health. Also, he is on anti-retroviral medication. 'I'm quite good. My health situation is stable. HIV-positives who can't move or even walk are people who refuse the fact that they're infected with HIV. They suffer because they're in very low spirits and not because of the virus. I have a principle in my life which says we must make the most of life while we still have its advantages. So, I still enjoy my life. I consider AIDS a flu.' He lives with his Tunisian boyfriend, who is uninfected. They have protected sex. 'I was sincere. I told him the truth and he accepted. His attitude really moved me,' said Karim."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #253

NANCY PELOSI: Talks to Charlie Rose about the race for a Democratic nominee and her party's efforts to end the Iraq war.

JANET JACKSON: The singer teaches Larry King a few dance moves.

RESPONSE to HILLARY CLINTON NICHOLSON ENDORSEMENT: A response to Jack Nicholson's Hillary Clinton endorsement.

FIRST AMENDMENT: Catherine Dent of The Shield taped this PSA for FirstFreedomFirst.org on the right to religious privacy.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Chuck Hurley and Keith Ratliff: Iowa's Dynamic Duo of Bigotry

The Des Moines Register profiles Chuck Hurley and Keith Ratliff, who have found a common cause in their quest to rid the world of same-sex marriage:

"Ratliff and Hurley have been two of the loudest voices in this legislative and cultural fight, organizing rallies against same-sex marriage and lobbying the Legislature to let Iowans vote on its legality. They take different approaches to the same argument. Ratliff's approach echoes the Old Testament: God has spoken, and His laws are etched in stone. 'It's in God's word,' Ratliff said. 'We feel this ends the discussion.' Hurley's tone is more New Testament. He speaks of the same-sex marriage debate in parables. He makes analogies relating the issue to the big picture of human salvation, framing the debate not around what two people do in their bedroom but around our culture's descent into a moral abyss. Their views often are expressed in sound bites that seem full of hate. But Hurley and Ratliff insist their argument has nothing to do with hate and everything to do with speaking the truth in love. 'It seems (hateful) at first blush because of their self- justification for their behavior,' Hurley said. ' 'Who are you to tell me I'm doing something wrong?' It's just kind of a visceral reaction.' Their dissonant approaches harmonize into one argument. What is at stake, Hurley and Ratliff believe, is nothing short of the destruction of humanity's first institution."

Hurley is the bigot who organized the "prayer walk" in mid-January to try and put pressure on Iowa's highest court to force the legislature to take up the anti-gay marriage amendment.

Hurley's and Ratliff's crusade originates from a primitive, ignorant place:

"And part of their argument also hinges on homosexuality being a choice. Sure, some people are predisposed toward homosexuality, Hurley and Ratliff believe. Here, they make an analogy with alcoholism. Some people are genetically predisposed toward alcoholism; each time they take a drink, however, they are choosing a destructive behavior. It's the decision to engage in the behavior — not the predisposition toward the behavior — that's the sin. This is where Ratliff becomes agitated. Gay-rights activists sometimes compare their movement to the civil rights movement. That, Ratliff said, is off-base. Blacks were discriminated against because they were born with a certain skin color. But homosexuality, Ratliff believes, is a behavior, not an innate human trait. And it's a behavior that, by choosing to follow the word of God, can be avoided."

In related news, a new poll from the Register found that 62% of Iowans feel that marriage should be between a man and a woman: "Thirty-two percent believe same-sex marriages should be allowed, while 6 percent were unsure. Iowans are split, however, on whether the state constitution should be changed to ban gay marriages. And more than half of Iowans who responded to the poll support Iowa allowing civil unions for same-sex couples. About four in 10 Iowans oppose civil unions, and 4 percent are unsure."

Unlikely allies fight same-sex marriage in Iowa [des moines register]
Iowans lean in favor of civil unions [des moines register]

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Barack Obama Tells Crowd that Homophobia is Not Christian

Ben Smith at Politico reports on a question and answer session at a Barack Obama rally in Beaumont, Texas yesterday:

"An interesting moment came when he was asked a question about LGBT rights and delivered an answer that seemed to suit the questioner, listing the various attributes — race, gender, etc. — that shouldn't trigger discrimination, to successive cheers. When he came to saying that gays and lesbians deserve equality, though, the crowd fell silent. So he took a different tack: 'Now I’m a Christian, and I praise Jesus every Sunday,' he said, to a sudden wave of noisy applause and cheers. 'I hear people saying things that I don’t think are very Christian with respect to people who are gay and lesbian,' he said, and the crowd seemed to come along with him this time."

Adds Smith: "The moment reminded me of a conversation I had recently with a senior figure in the national gay rights movement, who noted that Obama's deference to some black Christian discomfort with homosexuality — his refusal to dump the "ex-gay" gospel singer Donnie McClurkin from a tour — angered some gays and lesbians; but conversely, that his ability to sell gay rights in the black church is unique and appealing."

UPDATE — The video:

Selling Gay Rights [politico]

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Late Episcopal Bishop Paul Moore Jr's Daughter Reveals He Was Gay

Episcopal Bishop Paul Moore Jr., who died in 2003 and was the Bishop of New York for 17 years, had a secret. He was gay.

In next week's issue of The New Yorker, Moore's daughter writes about his service to the church, and his private life. While the full article is not online yet, the New Yorker has published an audio excerpt of the piece read by Honor Moore.

Page Six reports: "His daughter, Honor Moore, the eldest of nine children he had with his first wife, Jenny McKean, writes that six months after his death, 'the telephone rang. [The caller] had a confident voice. Andrew Verver (as I'll call him) was the only person in my father's will whose name was unfamiliar.' When Honor asked 'Verver,' who had traveled with Moore to the Greek island of Patmos the summer before, about her father's sexual life, he replied, 'I was his sexual life,' and, 'Of course, there were other men.' Then, Honor describes bringing 'Verver' on a touching visit to Moore's grave in Connecticut."

Moore, who made the cover of Newsweek in its 1972 issue published on Christmas, was the first Episcopal bishop to appoint an openly lesbian priest in the church.

Following his death, Mark Oppenheimer wrote in the New York Times: "With the death this year of Paul Moore Jr., the Episcopal bishop of New York from 1972 to 1989, America lost one of its last dashingly handsome, abundantly sexual WASP crusaders for social justice. Like his contemporary John Lindsay, the mayor of New York and a fellow alumnus of St. Paul's and Yale, Moore chose to put his social connections and magnetic charm in the service of the kind of people he was raised not to think much about: the poor, blacks, those on the margins of society."

Confessions [the new yorker]

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Charles Barkley Accused of Irrational, Anti-Christian Bigotry

The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission is calling on former pro basketball star Charles Barkley to apologize for comments he made to Wolf Blitzer regarding "fake Christians."

Said Barkley: "I think they -- they want to be judge and jury. Like, I'm for gay marriage. It's none of my business if gay people want to get married. I'm pro-choice. And I think these Christians -- first of all, they're supposed to be -- they're not supposed to judge other people. But they're the most hypocritical judge of people we have in this country. And it bugs the hell out of me. They act like their Christians. And they're not forgiving at all...they should read the part about they're not supposed to judge other people. They forget that one when it doesn't fit what they want it to say."

Said Chairman and CEO of the CADC Dr. Gary Cass: "We respect Barkley as an expert on basketball, but he is obviously not an expert on Christian moral theology. The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission calls on Barkley to apologize for his hateful remarks. We are hopeful that he will do the right thing. For Barkley to think that Christians cannot have an opinion about matters of public policy and personal morality is astonishing. Jesus forbids judging by hypocritical double standards, but he requires Christians to make just and sound judgments everyday according to biblical precepts. Ironically, Barkley engaged in the very activity of judging others that he condemned in conservatives. Barkley's words reveal an unfortunate, irrational anti-Christian bigotry."

Group Calls for Apology from Charles Barkley for Anti-Christian Remarks [earned media]

Previously
Charles Barkley Supports Gay Marriage, Slams 'Fake' GOP Christians [tr]

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News: Karen Carpenter, Egypt, Jason Rae, Tuxedos, Michelle Obama

The Advocate talks to Jason Rae, at 21 the nation's youngest superdelegate: "I have not yet come out to my parents. I’m realizing that tonight I may just want to call them and talk to them. I’ve been waiting for the right moment, and now just might happen to be that right moment."

Karen Carpenter's home in Downey, California soon to be in the path of the wrecking ball? Fan: "This house is our version of Graceland. When they photographed the 'Now & Then' cover here in 1973, the house was instantly immortalized."

HIV arrests widen in Egypt: "The latest arrests took place after police followed up information coerced from men already detained, HRW said. The Egyptian interior ministry has not responded to the allegations. In a joint press release, Amnesty International and HRW warned that Egypt's efforts to prevent the spread of the deadly virus could be seriously damaged by the arrests. 'This not only violates the most basic rights of people living with HIV. It also threatens public health, by making it dangerous for anyone to seek information about HIV prevention or treatment,' said Rebecca Schleifer, who works on HIV/Aids issues at HRW."

Beef recall: 143 million pounds. "'Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall,' Schafer said in a statement. A phone message left for Westland president Steve Mendell was not immediately returned. Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover video from the Humane Society of the United States surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts." Here's the video. Warning: images are extremely disturbing.

Lindsay Lohan recreates Marilyn Monroe's nude "last sitting" for New York magazine. (warning: NSFW)

Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law will all take over in Heath Ledger's final role.

Jake Gyllenhaal steps out of seclusion.

ABC picks up spec comedy from Will & Grace creators Kohan and Mutchnick: "The untitled sitcom follows two men — one straight, one gay — who are lifelong best friends and business partners. The pair have to balance their relationship when they each find romantic partners at the same time. This show is probably loosely (but likely) based off of the longtime friendship and working relationship between Kohan, who’s straight, and Mutchnick, who’s gay."

Washington House passes measure expanding benefits to domestic partners: "The measure adds domestic partners to sections of laws where previously only spouses were mentioned, including areas referring to probate and trusts, community-property and homestead exemptions, and guardianship and powers of attorney. The underlying domestic-partnership law, passed last year, already provides hospital-visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will."

Fleshbot liveblogs the GayVN (adult film) awards at the Giftcenter in San Francisco. (warning: site NSFW

UK arsonist sentenced to 10 years for lighting gay couple's home on fire as they slept: "Sonny Lockwood, 20, targeted his victims, Nicholas Hughes and Peter Cameron at their home in North Downs Crescent, New Addington, in retaliation to the pair testifying against him at an earlier Asbo hearing."

Newsweek: Who is Michelle Obama?

Oscar Men's Fashion Watch: "Fashion is reaching back to the classic look of old Hollywood and giving it a modern, sexy twist. Thanks to designs like Dior Homme's with its skinny cut, men look slimmer in luxury fabrics such as lightweight wool. This year, expect to see '60s-inspired velvet dinner jackets in rich purples or blues. There will be vests and regular ties instead of bow ties."

Five Anglican leaders to boycott once-a-decade world Anglican summit because the Episcopal church ordained a gay bishop: "Friday's announcement came from Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria, Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya, Henry Orombi of Uganda and Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone, which is in South America. 'There is no serious space for those of an orthodox persuasion ... to be themselves or to be taken seriously,' the archbishops said in a statement. They lead some of the largest or fastest-growing Anglican provinces in the world. 'The gathering will be diminished by their absence, and I imagine that they themselves will miss a gift they might have otherwise received' by attending, Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said."

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News from the Church: Repression Breeds Shame, Sin, Crime

Here are a few uplifting (not) stories off the wires:

A minister and former Christian college instructor in Canada was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young man who came to him for 'therapy': "In earlier testimony, the alleged victim, now 29, told court he started meeting Lewis for counselling sessions in early 2000 after his parents caught him viewing gay pornography on the family computer. Lewis — a family friend and minister — confided he had his own sexual identity issues and the two embarked on weekly counselling sessions designed to 'assist me to be straight and to live a straight life,' the man said. The man said Lewis started a program of 'touch therapy,' which included the two kissing and fondling each other and engaging in sexual roleplaying. 'He said I was to tell no one about it because no one would understand,' the man testified."

And in Texas a Catholic priest accused of sexually molesting children in two states is HIV-positive, officials say: "Last week, a leader in the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth heard someone mention that the Rev. Philip A. Magaldi has the virus that causes AIDS, said diocese spokesman Pat Svacina. The diocese leader then got verbal confirmation from Magaldi as well as a letter from his doctor who said he has HIV, Svacina said. Church officials said they believe he has been HIV positive since 2003. The diocese then alerted the alleged victims — at least five minors in two states — and the parishes where Magaldi served for nearly four decades, Svacina said."

A Methodist Church in DC has been criticized for recognizing committed gay relationships: "If they're not violating the letter, they're certainly violating the spirit of United Methodist standards...Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."

Previously
Adventures in Marketing [tr]

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Judge Rules Again for School District in Anti-Gay T-Shirt Suit

In a case that has been underway since 2004, U.S. District Judge John Houston ruled Tuesday in favor of school officials who pulled Tyler Chase Harper from class for wearing an anti-gay T-shirt.

"Tyler Harper sued the Poway Unified School District in 2004 alleging his freedom of speech and religion rights were violated when he was pulled out of class earlier that year. The self-described Christian wore a shirt during the school 'Day of Silence,' which is intended to promote tolerance of gays and lesbians. The shirt said 'I Will Not Accept What God Has Condemned' on one side and 'Homosexuality is Shameful, Romans 1:27' on the other. Harper was removed from class, but not otherwise disciplined. His suit was aimed at a school district policy aimed at eliminating 'hate behavior' that offended students in certain minority groups based on race, gender or sexual preference."

After Harper graduated, the case continued with his sister Kelsie as a replacement plaintiff.

In Tuesday's ruling, Houston "wrote that a school 'interest in protecting homosexual students from harassment is a legitimate pedagogical concern that allows a school to restrict speech expressing damaging statements about sexual orientation and limiting students to expressing their views in a positive manner.'"

The San Diego Union Tribune adds: "While the school district has won three previous rulings, lawyers for the students and free speech activists said Houston's ruling has the potential of greatly expanding school officials' power to censor student speech."

Poway again wins free speech decision over anti-gay T-shirt [san diego union tribune]

Previously
Tyler Chase Harper Finally Loses Anti-Gay T-Shirt Lawsuit [tr]
Tyler Chase Harper and his Anti-Gay Shirt are Back [tr]
Fashion Statement [tr]

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Adventures in Marketing

What do you think we're looking at here?

Find out, AFTER THE JUMP...

If you guessed the cover of a book on God, Gays, and the Church, you were right!

According to Pam Spaulding, this is what's inside:

* Pastoral Considerations for Homosexuality
* Post-Gay: The Transforming Power of God
* Post-Lesbian: My Testimony
* Same Sex Attraction. Is it innate and immutable?
* A Faithful Church: The Bible and Same-Sex Sex
* Civil Partnerships: Advice to UK Parishes and Clergy
* Unexpected Consequences: The Sexualisation of Youth

Expert contributions include chapters by Professor Joseph Nicolosi, former President of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, and Professor Robert A. J. Gagnon, author of The Bible and Homosexual Practice (2001).

Nothing like on the nose marketing (so to speak) to reach your target audience.

What’s Wrong With This Picture? [box turtle bulletin]
Anti-gay U.K. Anglicans' subtle marketing for new tome [pam's house blend]

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News: Mormons, Roy Scheider, Art Heist, Suicide Blog, Millionaires

Writer's to vote on agreement to end Hollywood strike: "The Writers Guild of America moved swiftly Sunday toward a resolution of its three-month-old strike, with guild leaders deciding to recommend a tentative contract to members and ask them to vote on a quick end to the walkout. By calling for separate votes on ending the strike and accepting the new three-year deal, the union cleared the way for the entertainment industry to return to work almost immediately. Membership meetings will be held Tuesday in New York and Los Angeles to allow writers to decide whether the strike should be brought to a speedy end, said Patric Verrone, president of the guild’s West Coast branch."

Jaws police chief Roy Scheider has died at the age of 75 (photo via slog).

Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger says the next season of the Bravo show may focus on gay millionaires: "There would have to be a gay person at the helm to consult with me. But attraction is attraction. When a guy comes in and he's flamingly queeny and he goes for butch, you can't give him another queen. Somebody wants their car door opened. Somebody wants to be called back. Somebody wants someone to pay the bill. It's not about the sexuality. You have to be able to hear what attracts somebody. The gay community has a lot of money because there's no second decision maker. They don't have an ex-wife or children. But what they're saying to me is that there's a whole subset of the gay community, where people are hooking up for real love. And that's why they want marriage."

"Spectacular" art heist in Switzerland sees theft of four paintings worth $163.2 million: " The robbery...occurred Sunday at the E.G. Buehrle Collection, one of Europe's finest private museums for Impressionist and post-Impressionist art, police said. Three masked men who entered the building with pistols are still at large. A police statement said the three robbers wearing ski masks and dark clothing entered the museum a half-hour before closing Sunday. While one of the men used a pistol to force museum personnel to the floor, the other two robbers went into the exhibition hall and collected the four masterpieces. The men were about 5 feet 9 inches tall and one of them spoke German with a Slavic accent, the police said. They loaded the paintings into a white vehicle parked in front of the museum. Police, asking for witnesses to come forward, said it was possible that the paintings were partly sticking out of the trunk as the robbers made their getaway."

Atonement wins "Best Film", Daniel Day-Lewis "Best Actor" at BAFTA's. Full list of winners here.

Sensing softening of attitudes, gay Mormon group Affirmation requests meeting with new church president Thomas Monson. Assistant executive director David W. Melson: "I would like for us never again to have gay individuals, particularly our young people, being told that they are not welcome in the church they grew up in."

Paris Hilton's film The Hottie and the Nottie bombed at the box office this weekend. To mark the occasion, her publicist Elliot Mintz showed up to her pre-birthday party as the Nottie.

Attention, artists! The South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement is seeking theme and logo submissions for its 2008 Pride celebration.

Aussie cricket team hits gay bar: no photos please.

CBS News host Bob Schieffer cuts "Brokeback Mountain" reference from tribute song to Sumner Redstone in wake of Heath Ledger's death: "Singing 'Mr. Redstone' to the tune of 'Mr. Goldstone' from the musical 'Gypsy,' Mr. Schieffer sang about the boss splitting up CBS and Viacom in 2006. 'You are the guru, and who would know but you what a little change in Viacom's name would do. Have an éclair, Mr. Redstone, buy some networks, make a movie, play a tune. Take a break now, Mr. Redstone, 'cause another deal will come along real soon.'...In the recorded version though, there was no claim that 'I don't understand this interlude.' Instead, Schieffer says, 'I ain't some Brokeback Mountain dude.'" Funny how we respect the dead more than the living.

Woman plans to kill herself in 90 days, and she's blogging about it.

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News: Vanity Fair, Matt Foreman, AIDS Self-Medication, Eric Dane

New Republic editor James Kirchik questions legacy of National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's outgoing executive director Matt Foreman: "He was an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq. He fought against privatizing Social Security. He stood foursquare against the erosion of abortion rights. But what any of these issues have to do with lobbying for gay rights -- presumably Foreman’s job description -- is beyond me. His job description, though, was the problem. Foreman, after all, is just a symptom of the larger problem with NGLTF: It's a garden-variety liberal interest group posing as a gay rights organization."

Rolling Stone on Spears: an American tragedy.

"100 Reverends" to march in Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade to apologize for the church's hostility to LGBT people, but not everyone's happy about it: "Not everyone who is part of that approves of homosexual people, they’re just apologising for the way the church has behaved.We’re listed but we’re not going to be one of the main ones because that could be seen as too narrow."

British Christian group lobbies against gays adopting children: "The decision to campaign against same sex adoptions comes after a city magistrate and CPA member, stood down over the issue. Andrew McClintock, 63, resigned from his position in the family courts after he was refused permission to opt out of cases that resulted in children being placed with same sex parents. Former city councillor Sid Cordle from CPA, said: 'People in Sheffield have a right to say if they were tragically killed in an accident and their children had to be adopted, then their children should go to a father and a mother.'"

Grey's Anatomy doc Eric Dane has skin cancer scare.

Two gay/bi men, Joshuah and Neil, join posse of 20-somethings for Big Brother 9.

Gay ball marks the end of Brazil's Carnival: "Thousands of onlookers gawked as men in glittering miniskirts, evening dresses, bead-studded lingerie and feathered headdresses shimmied down a wide avenue to the sounds of ABBA's 'Dancing Queen,' for a party that would last until dawn Wednesday. After a week that saw everything from a scandal over a planned Holocaust-themed float — later nixed by a judge — to a samba queen's quest to set a world record for the most plastic surgeries, revelers spent Carnival's last hours dancing the samba behind street bands."

Two Australian police officers may face prison after telling an inmate that his girlfriend was a transgender woman: "When he got out on bail he went around to her house and seriously assaulted her. Constables Tyrone Stacey and Brendan Ritson have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Back in September 2006 26 year old Jacobson was arrested under suspicion of theft. Constable Stacey looked up information on his girlfriend Brigitte Fell and discovered that her gender was actually male. Constable Ritson saw the screen and yelled out to Jacobson, 'You’re rooting a bloke.' When he refused to believe it the Police actually showed him written proof, saying, 'See, it’s a guy.'"

Vanity Fair cancels annual glam Oscar party amid writer's strike.

In rare sell-out appearance,