Oldest Gay Bar West of the Mississippi Torn Down?

Salt Lake City's FOX 13 takes a look at The RC Lounge, which they claim was the oldest gay bar in the western U.S. until it was torn down a few weeks ago.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Utah Homophobe Senator Chris Buttars Doesn't Want Gays 'Stuffin' It Down His Throat All The Time'

The Mormon Church's endorsement of a Salt Lake City anti-discrimination ordinance that would protect gays and lesbians in matters of housing and employment has caused one of the state's biggest homophobes to ease in his positions on statewide rights for gays.

Following the suggestion that the LDS Church's endorsement could extend beyond Salt Lake's borders, "Buttars, a West Jordan Republican and fiery opponent of gay rights, said Wednesday he 'very well might' sponsor legislation in 2010 that would allow local governments to adopt such anti-discrimination measures for housing and employment -- but forbid them from going any further on gay rights. 'Maybe we ought to have a statewide bill that allows those things,' Buttars said, 'but that's all it allows. No creep.' Buttars said he opposes any 'legislative creep' toward gay marriage."

Hey wait, isn't Buttars the creep?

You may remember Buttars was removed from two committees in February for comparing gays to radical Muslim extremists and asserting that they are America's 'greatest threat.' He later said he stood by his remarks.

Watch FOX 13's interview, in which Buttars says, "I don't mind gays. I just don't want 'em stuffin' it down my throat all the time," AFTER THE JUMP...

LDS Official: SLC Anti-Discrimination Law Could Go Statewide

The Church of Latter Day Saints appears to have no problem with Salt Lake City's anti-discrimination ordinance extending beyond the city's borders:

"The LDS Church's unexpected endorsement of two Salt Lake City gay-rights measures has many observers wondering if another surprise could follow: a friendlier reception in the 2010 Legislature for such protections statewide. Even an LDS apostle -- continuing the string of stunners --thinks Salt Lake City's ordinances could be a model. 'Anything good is shareable,' Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said in an interview Wednesday, referring to Salt Lake City's new policy aimed at protecting gay and transgender residents from discrimination. He praised the efforts of Mormon officials and gay-rights leaders who sat down to discuss the issue before the church's endorsement. 'Everybody ought to have the freedom to frame the statutes the way they want,' he said. 'But at least the process and the good will and working at it, certainly that could be modeled anywhere and even elements of the statute.""

At hearings on Tuesday night, LDS representative Michael Otterson released a statement expressing support for the ordinance, which was passed unanimously, and extended protections in employment and housing to gays and lesbians.

News: London Cloud, Rock Hudson, United Airlines, Annise Parker

Signorile on Congress and Obama's LGBT agenda: Why is the "low-hanging fruit" still hanging? And here's the checklist.

Architectural "cloud" proposed in London.

America's Next Top Model's Miss J is the father of a 7-year-old boy: "A French lesbian had asked if we would be sperm donors. "So we thought, 'OK, you want me to do you?' And she was like, 'Ooooh, I'm not that talented.' So I said, 'Okay fine.' So we did a little test tube."

D.C. Council committee advances marriage equality bill: "A DC Council Committee voted 4 to 1 this afternoon to send a bill legalizing same-sex marriage to the full council for debate. Council member Phil Mendelson, chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary, said the legislation was 'both simple and monumental.' With the committee vote, the full council will take up the bill in early December. It is expected to easily pass."

Virginia lawmaker to introduce legislation extending protections to state workers who are gay or lesbian.

Celine Dion "no longer pregnant".

Opposition party in Australia drafts bill to keep single mothers and gay couples from accessing surrogacy: "Under the laws...introduced, only married and defacto heterosexual couples who have been together for at least two years would legally be able to have a child by surrogate."

First look at The Addams Family Musical.

American researchers "rebuild" sexual organs on rabbits, believe procedure could work on men: "Male rabbits given the implants attempted to mate within one minute of being introduced to a female partner, and 83 per cent succeeded."

REPORT: Rock Hudson's lover Marc Christian has died.

Goran Visnjic to star as Christopher Plummer's boyfriend in the Mike Mills film Beginners: "It’s a Gay-December romance for the ages!"

Houston mayoral candidate Annise Parker gets endorsement from opponent: “One candidate stands out with a 12-year proven track record of public service, particularly in terms of efficient, transparent government, the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and fiscal responsibility, especially important in these difficult economic times."

Ashleigh and Jakob were definitely the best part of So You Think You Can Dance last night.

Lady Gaga gossips about Gossip Girl.

Some photos by Dav.d Daniels from the Mormon testimony at the Salt Lake City LGBT ordinance hearings.

United Airlines pilot arrested for intoxication before boarding a flight full of passengers at Heathrow.

FireDogLake blogger Jane Hamsher talks about the DNC donor boycott: "If you're suppressing your base, and the other side is revving up theirs, and midterm elections are all about turning out the base, I sort of question what their strategy is here."

Ontario gym owner in transgender bathroom legal battle: "A fitness club owner in southwestern Ontario said Tuesday he has wasted tens of thousands of dollars fighting a legal battle with a transgender woman over which washrooms she should use, only to have the case thrown out by the Ontario Human Rights Commission."

Salt Lake City Council Passes LGBT Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Unanimously Following Surprise Endorsement from Mormon Church

The Church of Latter Day Saints this evening issued a statement at hearings on an ordinance that would extend housing and employment protections to gays and lesbians in Salt Lake City.

Watch a news report on the vote, AFTER THE JUMP...

The endorsement combined with passionate debate from citizens prompted the Salt Lake City Council to go ahead and vote on the ordinance, which they hadn't planned to do. The Council voted unanimously to approve it:

"Passage made Salt Lake City the first Utah community to prohibit bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the two new ordinances, it is illegal to fire someone from their job or evict someone from their residence because they are lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender. Utah lawmakers tend to quickly fall in line when the influential church makes a rare foray into legislative politics. So Tuesday's action could have broad reaching effects in this highly conservative state where more than 80 percent of lawmakers and the governor are church members. 'What happened here tonight I do believe is a historic event,' said Brandie Balken, director of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah. 'I think it establishes that we can stand together on common ground that we don't have to agree on everything, but there are lot of things that we can work on and be allies.'"

Here's the text of the Mormon statement, delivered by Michael Otterson, managing director of the LDS Church's Public Affairs at tonight's hearings:

"My name is Michael Otterson, and I am here tonight officially representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The non-discrimination ordinance being reviewed by the City Council concerns important questions for the thoughtful people of this community.

"Like most of America, our community in Salt Lake City is comprised of citizens of different faiths and values, different races and cultures, different political views and divergent demographics. Across America and around the world, diverse communities such as ours are wrestling with complex social and moral questions. People often feel strongly about such issues. Sometimes they feel so strongly that the ways in which they relate to one another seem to strain the fabric of our society, especially where the interests of one group seem to collide with the interests of another.

"The issue before you tonight is the right of people to have a roof over their heads and the right to work without being discriminated against. But, importantly, the ordinance also attempts to balance vital issues of religious freedom. In essence, the Church agrees with the approach which Mayor Becker is taking on this matter.

"In drafting this ordinance, the city has granted common-sense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations, for example, in their hiring of people whose lives are in harmony with their tenets, or when providing housing for their university students and others that preserve religious requirements.

"The Church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage. It is also entirely consistent with the Church's prior position on these matters. The Church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman.

"I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree – in fact, especially when we disagree. The Church's past statements are on the public record for all to see. In these comments and in our actions, we try to follow what Jesus Christ taught. Our language will always be respectful and acknowledge those who differ, but will also be clear on matters that we feel are of great consequence to our society.

"Thank you."

The gay and lesbian Mormon group Affirmation praised the church's actions. Said Affirmation Assistant Executive Director Micah Bisson: "We pray that the words spoken tonight are to be followed up with positive action. It is time to eliminate the heavy-handed church actions to defeat marriage equality and protections for transgender people. When LDS officials arrest gay people for public affection on Temple Square, we need to realize that all Mormons, and the LDS church itself, look small-minded to people who are outside the tradition."

Earlier today, the filmmakers behind 8: The Mormon Proposition said that Mitt Romney saw their film and put pressure on the LDS Church to "extend an olive branch to the gay community to try and deflate the anticipated negative press" that would come from its release, over concern with an anticipated 2012 Presidential campaign.

*****

Earlier...

The Salt Lake City Council is holding public hearings this evening on an ordinance involving housing and employment protections for gay and lesbian residents, the Deseret News reports:

 "The public can comment Tuesday during a Salt Lake City Council hearing on the ordinances, believed to be the first of their kind in Utah. The ordinances would make it illegal to fire or evict someone because of their sexuality. 'For the capital city to take this step is huge,' said Will Carlson, public-policy director for the gay and lesbian advocacy group Equality Utah. 'It would send a message, not only to residents, but across the country.' The ordinances would establish a process within the city for tenants and employees to file discrimination complaints based on sexual orientation."

Towleroad has heard from several sources that representatives from the Church of Latter Day Saints are going to attend the hearings and have a "monumental" announcement to make — which we've heard may be an endorsement of the ordinance.

Watch a news report on the vote, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Maine, Pete Wentz, South Park, Thomas Perez, Brokeback

Focus on the Family donated $115,000 to stop marriage equality in Maine. Check out how much the Catholic Church donated here (it was a lot more).

300 protest play featuring transsexual Jesus in Glasgow.

Was Adam Lambert's Halloween chum his new boyfriend?

Salt Lake City elects first openly gay city council member: "Stan Penfold, a gay man and the director of Utah Aids Foundation, has won the race to fill Salt Lake City’s District 3 council seat. Penfold outpaced Phil Carroll to represent the Avenues and Capitol Hill, replacing outgoing Councilman Eric Jergensen."

WaPo: Gay groups say Maine loss won't alter strategy. NYT: Gay rights rebuke may change approach.

Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, testified today on ENDA before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Here's his testimony.

Rue McClanahan hospitalized: "I'm currently having some maintenance on the old ticker"

Mariah Carey visits Ellen DeGeneres.

Dede Scozzafava opens up about campaign drop-out: "There were calls going that were calling me a child killer, there were pieces of mail that said I was a homosexual lover."

Pete Wentz got punched by some guyliner.

South Park runs "fag" episode.

Eastern Pacific Great White Sharks hang out in "shark café."

Brokeback Mountain author Annie Proulx donates early draft to New York Public Library: "The early draft shows that the story, which was later adapted into an Oscar winning hot film starring the late Heath Ledger, had early working titles such as Bulldust Mountain and Swill-Swallow Mountain."

Since God hates shellfish, why aren't right-wing religious conservatives in Maine boycotting the lobster industry?

Kathy Griffin celebrates her birthday at The Abbey.

Pat Buchanan thinks Charlie Crist has a gay rights problem.

150 people rally in L.A. on Prop 8 anniversary, including openly gay Los Angeles Police Commissioner Rob Saltzman: "Also among the rally speakers were Robin Tyler and her (legal) wife Diane Olson, and their attorney Gloria Allred, who has filed several marriage lawsuits on their behalf. Matt Weinstein from the US Department of Commerce also urged same sex couples and domestic partners to fill out the 2010 US Census forms when they come around – noting the historic change in policy of now including gay people."