John Hagee Videos Removed from YouTube

The Huffington Post reports that at least 120 videos featuring controversial pastor John Hagee have been removed from YoutTube:

"The timing was, perhaps, more peculiar than the move itself. Clips that had been online for well over a year were now being subjected to 'third-party' copyright infringement claims. And while Hagee had not been in the mainstream press since he and Sen. John McCain ended their official relationship a month prior, Hagee's Christians United for Israel annual summit is just days away, and at least one prominent McCain backer (Sen. Joseph Lieberman) is set to be in attendance."

The clips removed include Hagee's 1990 sermon in which the pastor said Hitler was acting on God's behalf in "hunting" the Jews so that they might establish the state of Israel.

Said Max Blumenthal: "Obviously Hagee's minions orchestrated this move to suppress bad publicity ahead of their July summit. This is a response to the McCain debacle and concern over bad publicity for Lieberman's appearance."

They did, however, miss Talking Points Memo's wrapup, of Hagee statements bashing Catholics and gays, which you can view AFTER THE JUMP...

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #318

PRESSING THE FLESH: Beefcake & politicians at NYC Pride.

PUNCH DRUNK: Troubled Amy Winehouse cracks, slaps fan.

NOTHIN’ MORE TO SAY: Frenchie Davis belts “One Night Only” at Chicago’s Gay Pride.

AS THE WOILD TOINS: A fun preview of Cyndi Lauper’s appearance on As the World Turns this Thursday, July 3.

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Pat and Lynn Mulder Take Spotlight to Fight Hate Crimes

Last week I posted a question for the upcoming Republican YouTube debate (below) submitted by Lynn and Pat Mulder, the parents of Ryan Keith Skipper, who was brutally murdered last spring in Florida.

This weekend, The Ledger profiled the couple, who since Ryan's death have become active, along with Ryan's brother Damien, in pushing for hate crimes legislation. They created a PSA for Equality Florida which I've posted above.

The Ledger reports: "Becoming public figures for gay rights was not something they hesitated to do - once Pat Mulder got over her fear of public speaking. 'Do we sit and do nothing or do we become advocates and make something good out of a tragedy?' asked Lynn Mulder, 49. Activism helps them heal and cope, Pat Mulder said. She admits to not taking much part in politics before her son's death, but the religion-based bigotry they have encountered - a protester in St. Petersburg told Lynn Mulder he was going to hell - as well as the lack of federal legal protection afforded to victims targeted for their sexual orientation spurred them to make the video Nov. 14. 'People can believe whatever they want to believe, but they shouldn't use it to jeopardize lives,' Pat Mulder said."

The couple's YouTube question has more than 15,000 views, a number they hope will increase the likelihood that it is chosen for inclusion in the November 28 debate.

Slaying of Gay Son Turns Auburndale Couple to Activism [the ledger]

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Parents of Hate Crime Victim Submit YouTube Debate Question

As a follow-up to the post below, here's another question submitted to the upcoming Republican YouTube debate (I featured one from former pro baseball player Billy Bean yesterday) by Lynn and Pat Mulder.

Lynn and Pat are the stepfather and birth mother of Ryan Keith Skipper. I posted about his brutal murder several times last spring.

Hopefully these questions will be aired. That will be far more important than hearing the lame-ass GOP answer that's sure to follow. The debate takes place on November 28.

Related
Two Held in Brutal Murder of Gay Florida Man [tr]
Florida Men Indicted for Murder of Gay Man [tr]
Florida Hate Crime Vigils Held for Gay Murder Victim [tr]
Exclusive: National Memorial for LGBT Hate Crime Victims Launches [tr]

(via HuffPost)

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Avenue Q Scribe Jeff Whitty Takes on Viral Video Stars

Here is a new series of webisodes from Avenue Q playwright and Jay Leno confronter Jeff Whitty and friend Jenn Harris, called "Meet the Casting Directors".

You may remember that Whitty took on Leno in April 2006, fed up with the late night comic's homophobic humor. Said Whitty in his letter: "Every single out-of-the-closet gay person has had to say, 'I am not part of mainstream society.' Mr. Leno, that takes bigger balls than stepping out in front of TV-watching America every night. I daresay I suspect it takes bigger balls to come out of the closet than any thing you have ever done in your life."

In this series, Whitty takes on the viral video stars of YouTube in mockumentary fashion. Enjoy.

(via americablog)

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Behind the Filipino Inmates' "Thriller" Video

I happened to catch I-Caught last night, a new ABC news show that looks at the backstory of some of the more popular viral videos found on the internet.

I thought it was a pretty good concept. Here's the first segment, explaining the Filipino inmates "Thriller" video that exploded over the internet last week.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #70

JAKE GYLLENHAAL: Promo for this Saturday's SNL episode with The Shins.

AIR FORCE ACADEMY PREP SCHOOL: Show off their hats.

KEITH OLBERMANN: Bush's Iraq missteps so far.

MIKA: The London Paper interviews pop's 'bright new hope'. Watch Mika explode in 2007.

Check out our past guides to the Tube here!

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News: Rosie O'Donnell, Gay Divorcees, Brazil and YouTube

In a dispute over $780,000, a State Supreme Court judge in New York has ruled that one couple's separation agreement is valid even if their marriage, performed in Massachusetts, is not.

Art attack: Rosie O'Donnell posts painting of "Him" on her website, and as Rosie returns from vacation the feud takes a new turn.

Alan Cumming and Grant Shaffer's civil partnership ceremony included a rented ice skating rink where the couple had their "first skate" and was attended by Rufus Wainwright, Sir Ian McKellen, Geri Halliwell, Neve Campbell, Jason Isaacs, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Monica Lewinsky, according to E's Marc Malkin. Said Cumming: "We'd like to thank everyone for their good wishes and messages of support—they mean a lot to us, not only as a celebration of our happiness but also a celebration that two men actually can get married and have the same civil rights as any straight couple. We really hope that soon gay people in America will be treated with the same respect as they are here in the U.K. America is really missing out. You know, the gays really know how to throw a party."

REPORT: French Vogue art director Fabien Baron dumped by Hugo Boss advertising campaign over excessive demands, such as "Baron's insistence that they travel in a black Range Rover for a shoot in Africa."

The first Presidential Debate of the 2008 cycle will be hosted by the South Carolina Democrats and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn on April 26.

YouTube banned in Brazil over MTV presenter's sex tape.

Conservatives at Agape Press, funded by the American Family Association, can't believe that retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili would come out against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" so they're calling his recent editorial on the topic a result of his recent stroke. Said one Servicemembers Legal Defense Network spokesman: "Even for Ms. Donnelly, her newest line of attack is an all-time low. To even insinuate that a four-star General is unable to reach his own conclusions about this issue is outrageous."

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