News: 'We Do,' Zayn Malik, Italy, Outkast

Anti-gay activist Brian Brown is in France trying to stir up more homophobia in the nation's debate about marriage equality.

Former Smithsonian researcher Tim Gold and his husband Mitchell Gold, of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Furniture, hope to open an LGBT history museum.

The Campaign for Southern Equality will take its "I Do" campaign to Virginia next week, where same-sex couples will try to get marriage licenses to protest nuptial discrimination.

Italy's High Court ruled yesterday that same-sex couples can adopt.

The Vatican, predictably, is pissed. "Monogamous families constitute the ideal place to learn the significance of human relations and represent the social and anthropological environment in which the best type of growth is possible," bioethicist Adriano Pessina wrote in the Vatican's newspaper, clearly basing his argument on the homophobic assumption that same-sex couples are incapable of monogamy.

The world's 100 oldest living Oscar nomineees.

Dallas city officials recorded a 13-minute "It Gets Better" video.

"Why Is NBC Sports Sponsoring America’s Largest Gun Show?"

James Yeager, the man who promised to start killing people if President Obama tries restrict access to deadly firearms, has had his gun permit suspended.

Sorry, Star Wars fans, but the Obama administration says we can't afford the $850 quadrillion it would take to make a Death Star. Also, do we really need a device capable of blowing up planets?

Hot: Outkast (Andre 3000 and Big Boi) got back together to help Frank Ocean on his track "Pink Matter."

Paying it woofward: Dog teaches puppy how to walk down the stairs.

Sorry, but Johnny Cash did not write a song called "I'll Have The Wine," though I'm sure he wanted to...

Jeremy Renner shines fabulously at Hansel and Gretel premiere in Mexico.

Happy 20th birthday to One Direction singer Zayn Malik.

And congratulations to all the winners at the International Web TV Awards.

Canadian Blood Services wants gay men to be able to donate if they haven't had sex with a man in the past five years. The AIDS Calgary Awareness Association says that's not enough: the entire ban must be lifted.

A wonderful profile of openly gay boxer Orlando Cruz.

Only one-in-seven Americans approve of Congress. Shocking, I know.

Legacy: "George Prescott Bush is gearing up to run for a little-known but powerful office in a state where his family already is a political dynasty and where his Hispanic roots could help extend a stranglehold on power Republicans have enjoyed for two decades." That office? The Texas Land Commission.

British Catholic Priests Say Marriage Equality Bigger Threat Than 16th Century Reformation

Who should be more offended here, gays or protestants?

1,054 Catholic priests, 13 Bishops and assorted Catholic abbots have signed a massive open letter claiming that legalizing marriage equality in England is a greater threat to religious freedom in general, and Catholicism specifically, since the Reformation, the 16th Century split that led to the rise of Protestantism.

Here's a sample of the letter, via The Daily Mail:

After centuries of persecution, Catholics have, in recent times, been able to be members of the professions and participate fully in the life of this country.

Legislation for same-sex marriage, should it be enacted, will have many legal consequences, severely restricting the ability of Catholics to teach the truth about marriage in their schools, charitable institutions or places of worship.

It is meaningless to argue that Catholics and others may still teach their beliefs about marriage in schools and other arenas if they are also expected to uphold the opposite view at the same time.

It is germane to point out here that Martin Luther, John Calvin and the other 16th Century Reformers were protesting what they found to be a corrupt, archaic Catholic church. Their efforts were clearly successful, greatly reducing number of Catholics in England (Yes, Henry VIII played a role in the church's erosion of power by erecting the Anglican Church of England, but for far different reasons, though around the same time.)

So, now we have the modern - well, as modern as it can be - Catholic Church claiming that allowing fellow human beings to marry the people they love will somehow destroy their religion. It seems to be that the only thing destroying their religion is their consistent refusal to adapt to the times.

Christian Poll Shows Less Americans Think Being Gay Is A Sin

Very few of you will be shocked to hear that polling companies are, in many cases, partisan. That's why it's not surprising when a right-leaning operation like Rasmussen Reports claims someone like Mitt Romney will trounce Barack Obama, or when a "centrist" third way group like the Democratic Leadership Council finds that Bill Clinton is more popular than George W. Bush. Alright, maybe that latter one is a weak example, but you get the idea. You know how such polls are: often worthless.

But these these policy-aligned results come not only from a potential agenda, but from the people they poll. The voters in their database are often already on the side with the polling place in question. But that's not to say partisan polls can't serve a purpose.

They become useful, and even welcome, when their results go against their ideological grain, such as the latest findings from the Christian polling group Lifeway Research. They're showing that only 37% of their survey participants believe that homosexuality is a sin. That is down seven points from their last report, released only a few months ago, in September.

These numbers reflect other polls, such as Gallup's very promising finding this year that 54% of Americans, the highest ever, believe same-sex love is morally acceptable. Gallup's conclusion: LGBT acceptance is "the new normal".

While religious conservatives claim these numbers, and other matters also fought over in the culture wars, like birth rate declines or the fact that straight women are waiting longer to get married, point to some moral failure. But this Lifeway Research shows that those people are increasingly in the minority.

While the people most likely to call homosexuality a sin attend church once a week or define themselves as "Evangelical," it's clear that even religious Americans are joining Newt Gingrich and facing reality. Perhaps the most virulent on right will one day realize that this attitudinal shift isn't a decline in morals; rather, it's proof that Western society, for over a century lied to and taught that sex is bad and something that should exist only within specific parameters, is finally an overcoming sexual oppressive culture and realizing that all consenting adults have the right to live and love as they please, outside judgement like projected sins be damned.

[Image via San Francisco Citizen.]

News: James Yeager, Illinois, Manhattan, Princess

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee vowed to veto any legislation that tries to put marriage equality up to a popular vote. He wants to see state lawmakers pass a bill, instead.

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired their coach, the very LGBT-friendly Brian Burke, because the hockey team hasn't made the Stanley Cup playoffs since his tenure began in 2008.

Hateful anti-gay activist Peter LaBarbera from Americans for Truth About Homosexuality tells a mother who refused to let her gay son's boyfriend spend the night that she's doing the right thing because being gay is like being an alcoholic and shouldn't be enabled: "We don't give an alcoholic, we don't say, 'I love you so much I’m going to give you a bottle of scotch every month.' That's not true love. True love is what you’re talking about, it's defending godly values and praying for your son to be delivered out of that lifestyle."

Alexander McQueen, Autumn/Winter 2013.

Matt Bomer, Eddie Redmayne and other dashing men strutted their stuff at the People's Choice Awards last night.

Britney Spears and The X-Factor have parted ways.

Robert Downey Jr. wants to see Naomi Watts win best actress at this year's Oscars.

Those of you who enjoyed The Amazing Spider-Man starring Andrew Garfield will be excited to hear that the sequel starts shooting soon.

James Yeager, the CEO of a Tennessee-based gun company, said he will start killing people if President Obama tries to limit arms ownership: "I'm not fucking putting up with this. I am not letting my country be ruled by a dictator. I'm not letting anybody take my guns. If it goes one inch further, I'm gonna start killing people."

Vice President Joe Biden said today that he and his gun task force will have policy recommendations to President Obama by next Tuesday. The admittedly insane NRA, meanwhile, is "disappointed" by their talks with Biden.

A new generation of activists continues to expand the queer spectrum: "If the gay-rights movement today seems to revolve around same-sex marriage, this generation is seeking something more radical: an upending of gender roles beyond the binary of male/female. The core question isn’t whom they love, but who they are — that is, identity as distinct from sexual orientation." Love it.

If Prince William and Duchess Kate have a girl, she will not have to suffer the indignity of being a simple "Lady," like any old Crawley. No, Queen Elizabeth announced the child will be a "Princess." A boy would be a prince automatically, because, you know, sexism.

Pat Brady, the Illinois GOP party chairman who supports marriage equality, refuses to give into conservative pressure and step down. "If people want to throw me out because I took a stand on an issue of discrimination [as] the chairman of the Republican Party, the party founded by Abraham Lincoln, then that's – that’s up to them and they’re free to do it," he said. "But I'm not backing down."

President Obama has nominated Jack Lew to replace Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary.

Finally, enjoy Russian photographer Sergey Semenov's stunning new view of Manhattan. (Click to enlarge.)

Giglio: 'Agenda' Would Overshadow Inauguration Prayer

Rev. Louie Giglio has released a statement on why he stepped down from his position as the official inauguration pastor. According to him, a shadowy "agenda" threatened to distract from and "dwarf" his appearance.

Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration.

Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.

The inauguration committee, under fire for selection Giglio in the first place, has also released a statement, this one insisting they were unaware of Giglio's past anti-gay comments:

We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part for his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.

Sheesh, first Chuck Hagel and now Giglio. Obama's vetting teams are slacking in the post-reelection enviornment.

Anti-Gay Pastor Louie Giglio Removes Self From Inauguration Line-Up

ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl reports that Louie Giglio, the anti-gay reverend chosen to deliver the benediction before President Obama's inauguration, has been removed from the program. And apparently it was his decision.