Gay Men To That!!

The alleged sexual misconduct occurred when former Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert was a high school teacher and wrestling coach. Via LA Times: “It goes back a long way, back to then,” the source said. “It has nothing to do with public corruption or a corruption scandal. Or to his time in office.” Thursday’s indictment described the misconduct “against Individual A” as having “occurred years earlier."  Asked why Hastert was making the payments, the official said it was to conceal Hastert’s past relationship with the male. “It was sex,’’ the source said. The other official confirmed that the misconduct involved sexual abuse. Hastert has not responded to requests for comment. Representatives of his lobbying firm declined to comment.

Hate Monger Bryan Fischer wearing a really gay shirt Bryan Fischer is an ultra-extreme right winger who hates the gays with a passion. He is so extreme, he was fired from the certified hate group The Family Research Council. As usual, the "blame the gays" idiots come out of the woodwork with every natural disaster. A delusional caller on his radio show tried to link the recent severe weather in Texas (yes, Texas) to Witchcraft and Homosexuality. What the caller doesn't realize is that the devastating storms and flooding hit Austin right when the GOP dominated legislature was attempting to pass anti-gay legislation  in the states Capitol. If that's not a sign from God, I don't know what is! h/t to JoeMyGod:

I would be very happy in that pool as well!  It seems that Northern European gays are the happiest gays in the world. Via The Advocate: The Post   reports   Planet Romeo , an Amsterdam-based dating and community site and   app , collaborated with Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Germany to carry out the online poll. Researchers combined rankings on public opinion, public behavior and life satisfaction — specifically, how gay men feel about society’s view on homosexuality, how gay men feel they are treated by other people, and how satisfied gay men are with their own lives, respectively — into one worldwide ranking, which they call The Gay Happiness Index.  Coming in at number one in all the world as the country where gay men are the happiest is Iceland, followed by Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Uruguay, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg (where the country's out prime minister  earlier this month became the first nat...

No one explains the true essence of Fundamentalist Christianity quite like Betty Bowers. The self-professed best Christian in America explains Religious Freedom to a group of ISIS members. She feels at home with such similar beliefs. My favorite line is "you kill gay teens directly. We're more civilized. We shame them into suicide." Spot on, Betty. H/T to TowleRoad.

JOSHDUGGAR VIA INSTAGRAM Update 1: Josh has resigned from the hate group FRC since the allegations have surfaced. Josh Duggar, One of the countless Duggar children was accused of sexually assaulting young girls, including his sisters, when he was a minor. His father waited a year to report this to the authorities. Josh is currently employed by the anti gay, certified hate group Family Research Council. Via The Daily News: The Duggar family might have dug themselves into a shocking scandal.   Josh Duggar, 27, the eldest son in the famous reality TV family, was investigated for underage sexual abuse in 2005 after his father Jim Bob turned him in to Arkansas police, In Touch magazine reported this week.  According to the publication, the “19 Kids and Counting” patriarch went to police after he caught his son leaving a young girl’s bedroom and “learned something inappropriate happened,” a source said. Josh, who was a minor at the time of the alleged incident, ...

Earlier this week, Queerty outed anti gay  Reverend Matthew Makela by showing his profile on the gay "hook up" app Grindr. Apparently, he is a top who likes to cuddle.  Now, we hear from a gay teen from Reverend Makela's Church.  Via CBS affiliate in Flint MI: SAGINAW, MI (WNEM) - A mother came forward with new accusations against the local pastor who resigned after being outed as gay. Jennifer Kish is angered over the recent revelation that Matthew Makela might be gay, not because of his alleged sexual preference, but because of how he treated her son while they were parishioners at his church. S he said what that pastor told her son nearly drove him to suicide. Makela is a Midland pastor who resigned after being outed by a website. The website said it outed Makela because of his outspoken stance in recent years against homosexuality, a stance one woman said was particularly harmful to her family. J ennifer Kish said her then 17-year-old son Tyler suffer...

Robert Gates via Wikipedia Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who now heads the Boy Scouts has called for an end to the ban on Gay Leaders. Via BuzzFeed: The president of the Boy Scouts, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, told the organization Thursday that its current blanket ban on gay leaders “cannot be sustained” and called on the group to revise the rule “sooner rather than later.” Gates was at the helm of the Pentagon at the end of “don’t ask, don’t tell” and is now leading the Boy Scouts as it addresses its ban on gay members. In 2013, the scouts ended its ban on gay youth members but maintained its ban on gay adult leaders. According to his  prepared remarks , Gates said that “events during the past year have confronted us with urgent challenges I did not foresee and which we cannot ignore.” Gates also said some local councils already are “in open defiance of the policy” — specifically referencing the actions of the Greater New York Council, on which Bu...

Cher at 1988 Oscars  Photo: WJLA Cher turns 69 today! Happy Birthday, Diva!! Here is a personal favorite "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" Available at iTunes

Public opinion has been consistently increasing in favor of Marriage Equality over the past few decades.   Via Huffington Post: Support for same-sex marriage has reached an all-time high, according to recent polls. A new  survey from Gallup  shows a record 60 percent of Americans now say they approve of legalized same-sex marriage. The trend measured by Gallup closely matches results from other polls that have been measuring public opinion on same-sex marriage. An  ABC/Washington Post poll  conducted in April found that 61 percent of Americans approve. Similarly, a  Quinnipiac University poll  from the same month measured approval at 58 percent. Approval of same-sex marriage has grown at a rapid rate in the last two decades. When Gallup first surveyed Americans on the issue in 1996, only 27 percent approved. Nineteen years later, that number has more than doubled, growing 5 points in the last month alone.

Marriage Equality Supporters via Irish Times Ireland could be the first country to approve Gay Marriage by popular vote on May 23rd. Via The Daily Buzz: For Ireland to get this far is nothing short of a phenomenal achievement. Homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1993; the Civil Partnership Act passed in 2010. The dedication of LGBT rights groups has changed hearts and minds. And now,  Ireland is staging a referendum  that enjoys support from all major political parties and the majority of the public, something unimaginable just a decade ago. Recent polling shows those is favor of marriage equality leading. Here is a wonderful "yes vote" video. 

Gambia President Yahya Jammeh  via wikipedia Gambia President Yahya Jammeh is an extreme anti gay bigot. These are the words of a truly evil person. These words literally kill. I am glad that the U.S. is condemning this hate speech.  Via Washington Blade: “If you do it [in Gambia] I will slit your throat,” Jammeh reportedly said. “If you are a man and want to marry another man in this country and we catch you, no one will ever set eyes on you again, and no white person can do anything about it.”  The remarks are the latest action from the Gambia leader enabling anti-gay violence in the country. In October, Jemmeh signed into a law making “aggravated homosexuality” punishable by life in prison. As defined under the law, “aggravated homosexuality” includes “serial offenders” of homosexuality as well as engaging in homosexual conduct with a minor or while having HIV.  Here is   National Security Advisor Susan Rice's statement of condemnation: Tomorro...

Dan Savage via Huffington Post Right wing homophobes love to hate Dan Savage. He is very provocative with no remorse for calling them out on their hatred. They have been attempting to get the show canceled before it even airs. It looks like ABC is picking up the pilot and the preview video below looks very funny! I'll be watching. Via ABC on youtube:

  screenshot from johndiehl.org Update: The speaker has resigned from his leadership position and his seat. Here is another hypocrite to add to the very long list of politicians forcing their "religious beliefs" on everyone else while violating those beliefs in their own lives. He is the Missouri House Speaker. Yes, he filed an anti gay marriage amicus brief defending "traditional marriage." Gee, I wonder what else he could have done...or, not done, to defend traditional marriage? Via Daily Kos: Missouri House Speaker John Diehl is facing a lot of uncomfortable questions this morning after the  Kansas City Star  released screen shots of inappropriate texts: The texts show occasional efforts by Diehl and the intern to meet in person. They range from mundane chatter, about boring meetings and dreading speeches, to the more sexually suggestive. A sample of the exchanges: At one point Diehl texts her “God I want you right now,” to which she replies “I ...

Texas conservatives are in high gear when it comes to anti-gay legislation. This is all in the name of protecting "Religious Liberty."  In this episode, they are trying to protect child welfare service providers who subject children to harmful and discredited "gay conversion therapy." Via Huffington Post: Texas House lawmakers are expected to consider a measure as early as Wednesday that could be used to protect child welfare service providers who want to force kids into discredited gay conversion therapy programs. The bill also protects providers who deny minors access to birth control or abortions. The  bill , co-authored by nine Republicans, aims to protect child welfare service providers who get taxpayer dollars from losing government funding or benefits if they take actions motivated by religious beliefs. This covers providers who offer counseling, assistance to abused children, and foster and adoption services.

Rep. Cecil Bell (Facebook) It is amazing that Conservative Republicans are constantly on the wrong side of history. They stick their heads in the sand, refuse to acknowledge cultural shifts and then whine that they're not allowed to discriminate.  Via MSNBC: On Tuesday, the Republican-dominated Texas House of Representatives is scheduled to consider  HB 4105 , otherwise known as the Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act. If enacted, the legislation would prohibit state or local government employees from recognizing, granting, or enforcing same-sex marriages. It would also prohibit state or local funds from being spent on “an activity that includes the licensing or support of a same-sex marriage.” How does the bill's chief sponsor  Republican Rep. Cecil Bell  justify his actions? By citing the Dred Scott decision.  “If you simply say the Supreme Court should be upheld – period – you have to say that Lincoln was wrong,” he said, presumably refe...

There are some pretty funny bits in this trailer. But, check out Chris Hemsworth (Thor) towards the end. He's packing some pretty impressive pole. Not Safe For Work

Well, isn't this a hoot!! According to this poll , more people would be comfortable with a Gay President than an Evangelical one.  The times are truly changing for the better!  Via Raw Story : In a segment that, were we actually on TV, we might totally be tempted to call “Suck It, Bible-Thumping Right Wingers,” we offer the fact that more Americans now say they would feel comfortable with a presidential candidate who is gay or lesbian than one who is evangelical Christian. That’s right: In a newly released poll sponsored by NBC News and the definitely-not-liberal Wall Street Journal, 61 percent of respondents said they would be “enthusiastic” or “comfortable” with an LGBT presidential candidate. Just 52 percent of respondents said the same about an evangelical runner.

Yes, I am offering anecdotal evidence. If you want to see the many studies supporting how bad Abstinence-Only education is, just use the google. Via Addicting Info: A Republican lawmaker who promoted legislation to teach “abstinence-only” sex education in schools announced that his own unmarried high school-aged daughter has gotten pregnant. Bill Cassidy, a state Senator from Louisiana released a statement to  NOLA.com  announcing that he was to be a grandfather and expressing his support for his daughter during this “challenging” time: Cassidy has made a name for himself as somewhat of a “abstinence-only” crusader. Last year, he co-sponsored the  Abstinence-Only Reallocation Act , which would award grants and special funding to public and private schools which stuck to teaching only abstinence instead of a more comprehensive lesson plan on sexual behavior. Now, he is a US Senator... Yea for us!! Via Huffington Post: An outbreak of chlamydia at a hi...

Via NBC : A total of 58 percent of Americans said that they favor a high court decision to eliminate bans against same sex marriage, with 44 percent of those saying they strongly favor such a result. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they oppose a court ruling in favor of the case's LGBT plaintiffs, with 29 percent said they strongly oppose it.  The video below shows how out of touch most Republican Presidential candidates are on this issue

Senator Lindsey Graham with his "Bitch, Please!" face. Suspected closet case  and soon to be Presidential Candidate Lindsey Graham seems to be "moderating" his views on Gay Marriage. At least he is distancing himself from the Mike Huckabees of the world. Via JoeMyGod Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is due to join the GOP 2016 clown car, said yesterday that if the Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage, it will be "time for us to move forward as a society." Graham added that he doesn't see any way for a federal ban on same-sex marriage to be passed.

My, oh my! How times have changed! Via Deadspin : Back in 2000, two women were  kicked out of Dodger Stadium for kissing . The team and the world have changed since then. Between innings of Saturday’s game, the stadium’s Kiss Cam team found two men, not as a joke, but a couple. (It’s at the 0:28 mark.) It’s cool that this wasn’t the still-prevalent homophobic gag of forcing two platonic male friends to awkwardly recoil at the thought of  kissing another dude . It’s also cool that the reaction from the crowd was a genuine cheer. Reader Steven, who was in the ballpark (but didn’t film this video), says he was “proud of the loud, enthusiastic response from the crowd. Not one person around me groaned or made derogatory remarks, and seemed genuinely pleased with the moment.” The Dodgers have held LGBT nights in recent years, and while it’s great to publicly announce that everyone’s welcome, there’s nothing quite like being normalized by dorky in-stadium entertainment t...

Just like Gay Marriage, this is another example of Christian Fundamentalists forcing everyone to practice their religion. Here's a novel concept. If you are against birth control, don't use it.  Via Raw Story :  Late Thursday night, the House of Representatives voted in favor of “H.J.Res. 43: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014.” If enacted, the legislation would make using employer-based health insurance for in vitro fertilization or birth control pills a fireable offense in Washington, D.C. Planned Parenthood has been mobilizing its network against the bill. “ Your boss shouldn’t be able to fire you for using birth control ,” the organization states.