News: Million Muppet March, Atlanta Pride, Colbert, Mitt Myth

Scottish politician Gordon Wilson says that passing marriage equality would be a "step toward state fascism."

Stephen Colbert appeared on Meet the Press today and said he can't tell Barack Obama and Mitt Romney apart. "I'm not Ralph Nader. I don't think there's no difference... There is a difference. I don't know what the difference is, though." Video is here.

Singer Marsha Ambrosius has taken to Facebook to deny rumors that she is a lesbian, but still admits to having sexy dreams about the ladies: "I am not a lesbian! I am straight! I will never say I haven't fantasized or had sexually explicit dreams about women before! That would make me liar!"

The New York Times on the "moderate Mitt myth": "There isn’t really a Moderate Mitt; what is on display now is better described as Convenient Mitt. Anyone willing to advocate extremism to raise money and win primaries is likely to do the same to stay in office."

Kim and Khloe can't keep their hands to themselves.

A happy birthday to Roger Moore.

A stagehand is suing Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network after the company allegedly fired him following complaints that he pricked himself while injecting an actor's penis with TriMix, a prescription drug that induces an erection.

Useful information for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Los Angeles-based animation executive Michael Bellavia and Idaho college student Chris Mecham are organizing the Million Muppet March on November 3, three days before the election, to rally support for Big Bird and the other people and characters who would suffer should Romney and other Republicans get their wish: the end of federal funding to PBS.

Actor Stephen Amell looked attractive, of course, during a press appearance in Canada on Friday.

"At 0-32, gay-marriage forces seek 1st win at polls"

New bra designed to detect breast cancer.

The anti-gay American Family Association is now claiming that the 11-year old Mix It Up Day, a day when students are encouraged to eat lunch with people they typically don't hang out with, is an attempt by the organizers at the Southern Poverty Law Center to "promote a homosexual lifestyle." AFA leader Bryan Fischer claimed, "[This is] just another thinly veiled attempt to promote the homosexual agenda. No one is in favor of anyone getting bullied for any reason, but these anti-bullying policies become a mechanism for punishing Christian students who believe that homosexual behavior is not something that should be normalized.”

An estimated 200,000 people attended Atlanta Pride today.

Republicans used the Sunday talk shows to continue hammering Obama's Libya policies. Rep. Darrell Issa called the administration's response the recent attack on our embassy there Obama's "mission accomplished moment," while Sen. Lindsey Graham claims the White House has been "misleading" the American people with their various explanations of the attak.

Is This the Loch Ness Monster?

The myth persists, but this time a Scottish monster hunter is certain he's captured 'Nessie' in a new photograph:

"I was just about to return to Temple Pier (in Drumnadrochit) and I went to the back of the boat which was facing the pier and that’s when I saw it," said 60-year-old Mr Edwards, a lifelong believer in the monster.

"It was slowly moving up the loch towards Urquhart Castle and it was a dark grey colour. It was quite a fair way from the boat, probably about half a mile away but it’s difficult to tell in water."

After watching the object for five to 10 minutes, Mr Edwards said it slowly sank below the surface and never resurfaced.

"I’m convinced I was seeing Nessie as I believe in these creatures. Far too many people have being seeing them for far too long," he said.

Marriage Equality Coming to Scotland, Ministers Announce

After a massive response to a consultation on the issue, political leaders in Scotland have announced the framework for legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage there and say they will build in religious protections, the BBC reports:

Scottish ministers confirmed they would bring forward a bill on the issue. Political leaders, equality groups welcomed the move, but it has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland...

...Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.

The Scottish government said; it would work with UK ministers to amend equality laws, to ensure those views were protected, and a bill would be brought forward to the Scottish Parliament to bring in the change.

Said Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon: "We are committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we intend to proceed with plans to allow same sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships - we believe that this is the right thing to do. We are also mindful of the fact that the leaders of all of the other parties represented in parliament support same sex marriage and that there is significant parliamentary support for legislation. The Scottish government has already made clear that no religious body will be compelled to conduct same sex marriages and we reiterate that today. Such protection is provided for under existing equality laws.

NEWS: Mrs. Jackson Missing; Too Many Traitors; Bristol Palin Laughs At 'Faggot'

 Tripp Palin calls Auntie Willow a "faggot" -- mom laughs -- AFTER THE JUMP ... 

 Is Michael Jackson's mom missing or not?

 Michele Bachmann's search for Muslim Brotherhood infiltration of the American government nets ... Grover Norquist?

 The Paterno statue goes down. 

 Australia's ex-minister of foreign affairs on marriage equality, off the record.

 For some reason, a half-dozen Indian newspapers are reporting this weekend that Marilyn Monroe was a lesbian. 

 Growing up gay in the west of Scotland, the Church is no help at all:

After years of watching The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and the City and preferring the products of Habitat and Ikea to Adidas and Puma, you finally acknowledge that there may be trouble ahead. What to do, though? Even if you tell your parents gently that you are having issues with your sexual identity, you know that they will either pretend they didn't hear you or that you should seek counsel from the parish priest. You might as well tell him that all this time he thought you were human you were really a horse. If he's not actually gay himself he'll simply say: "Take two paracetamol and lie down until the feeling goes away."

  The 14 gay Olympians.

 Alexander Cockburn is dead.

 Boycotting Chick-fil-A? Why not Best Buy, Target, and Exxon, too?

 ... and what about Microsoft and Apple?

 A handful of advocates, armed with nothing more than their keyboards, have put many of the country’s largest retailers, including Apple, Microsoft, Netflix and Wal-Mart, on the spot over their indirect and, until recently, unnoticed roles in funneling money to Christian groups that are vocal in opposing homosexuality.

The advocates are demanding that the retailers end their association with an Internet marketer that gets a commission from the retailers for each online customer it gives them ... a share of the commission that retailers pay is donated to a Christian charity of the buyer’s choice, from a list that includes prominent conservative evangelical groups like the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family.        

Britain's Top Catholic Calls on Scottish Government to Hold Referendum on Gay Marriage

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's top Catholic, says that "intense public interest in the issue" warrants a public referendum on same-sex marriage in Scotland, as the government prepares to announce legislation on it, the BBC reports:

Scots ministers, who favour same-sex marriage, are to announce legislation this week after their consultation resulted in 80,000 responses.

Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold gay weddings in churches...

...Cardinal O'Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, said the marriage consultation received three times more responses than the government's consultation on the independence referendum, which saw more than 26,000 people share their views.

O'Brien already plans to fund a campaign opposing marriage equality to the tune of £100,000 through special church collections.

Decision On Scotland's Marriage Equality Process To Come This Week

The marriage equality debate is really heating up in Scotland, where lawmakers say they'll reveal plans for to proceed on same-sex nuptials this week, a move that will put further pressure on Parliamentarians in England.

"I would be surprised if marriage equality were brought in in Scotland but not in the rest of the UK," MSP Joe Fitzpatrick told Huffington Post UK. "The UK's going to have to catch up."

Hoping to put the brakes on any inclusive new laws, the Catholic Church in Scotland vowed this week to another £100,000 in what Cardinal Keith O'Brien called a "war on gay marriage."

"Marriage is under threat and politicians need to know the Catholic Church will bear any burden and meet any cost in its defense," he said.

Meanwhile, supporters of marriage equality will hold a mock gay wedding to show their support for legislative progress.

From the BBC:

Gay rights campaigners are to hold a mock wedding outside Holyrood as a sign of support for same sex marriage.
…
More than 100 guests are expected to attend the mock marriage, involving Jaye and Ruth, a Christian couple from Glasgow.

After the ceremony the couple will deliver a 10,000-signature petition and letter to First Minister Alex Salmond, urging the government to "announce equal marriage legislation without delay".

The government now has to decide how to proceed. If they use their powers to legislate marriage equality, they will then have to draft a bill that will be finalized and introduced into Scottish Parliament next year.