Anti-LGBT pastor rants against ‘Adam and Steve’ in wild sermon straight out of 1987-New
pastor ranted against homosexuality in a sermon that seems to imagine Chris Farley’s motivational speaker character as played by Sam Kinison. “I’m trying to tell you that God created Adam.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6UzOr6Ftnw&feature=youtube_gdata
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Roy Moore Channels George Wallace In Stand Against Marriage Equality
Roy Moore Channels George Wallace In Stand Against Marriage Equality
WASHINGTON — By 1963, much of the United States was on its way to desegregation. It had been nine years since the Supreme Court issued its Brown v. Board decision finding segregation in schools unconstitutional, and five years since the Little Rock Nine integrated Little Rock Central High School in Alabama.
But in June 1963, then-Alabama Gov. George Wallace (D) was determined to carry out his inaugural pledge of “segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.” On June 11, Wallace stood at the entrance of the University of Alabama in an effort to prevent two black students from enrolling, despite a federal order allowing them to do so.
Wallace cited states’ rights as his reason for refusing to follow the federal order. He ultimately stepped aside when President John F. Kennedy’s administration called the Alabama National Guard to intervene.
For many Americans, the “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” remains an iconic image of Alabama and its stand against civil rights.
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore (R) has been doing his part in recent days to make sure the state does not lose that legacy.
In January, a federal judge ruled that Alabama’s ban on marriage equality was unconstitutional. Marriages were supposed to start Monday morning, but Moore ordered the state’s probate judges Sunday night not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, arguing that they were not bound to follow the federal ruling.
The U.S. Supreme Court, however, ruled 7-2 Monday morning not to stop same-sex marriages from moving forward, making Alabama the 37th state to legalize marriage equality.
“It’s raising a lot of memories of past history, where the state — rather than eagerly stepping forward to meet the civil rights question of the time — has been pulled along,” Human Rights Campaign spokesman Adam Talbot said.
University of Alabama Professor Joseph Smith, who studies judicial politics, agreed that there are “echoes” of Wallace in Moore.
“You have a statewide elected official standing up to a federal court and insisting that Alabama should be able to run its institutions the way it wants,” Smith said.
“[Moore] is trying to stand in the courthouse door as surely as Wallace stood in the schoolhouse door. Shame on him,” wrote Charles J. Dean, an opinion writer for the Alabama Media Group, in a column Monday morning.
Moore has defied a federal order before. In 2003, Alabama’s judicial ethics panel voted to remove Moore from office after he refused to follow a federal order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state judicial building.
This time around, there’s no federal order directed at him or the state Supreme Court. Because he is simply giving his opinion on what probate judges should do, Moore may not face the same disciplinary action as last time.
Monday morning, despite Moore’s order, some same-sex couples were able to wed.
Cooper and Jessie in Birmingham with son George – and their #marriage license after 26 yrs together! #ALMarriage pic.twitter.com/vL2bgSTp0B
— Equality Alabama (@equalityalabama) February 9, 2015
Couples are continuing to tie the knot in Big Spring Park #wedhsv #ALmarriage pic.twitter.com/QTdXX4IpCp
— Lauren Bale (@LaurenBaleWAFF) February 9, 2015
Rev. Ellin Jimmerson signs marriage license after ceremony of 1st same-sex couple in Huntsville #ALmarriage #wedhsv pic.twitter.com/QtUJZKqXX7
— Paige Heard (@chaplainheard) February 9, 2015
“At the end of the day, it’s still a very simple legal analysis: You’ve got a federal court order,” Jefferson County Probate Court Judge Alan King told The New York Times, explaining why he had not hesitated to issue the marriage licenses.
Other counties seemed to be holding out. In Tuscaloosa County, for example, gay couples looking for a marriage license were instead handed a summary of Moore’s order. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) said Monday said he would not take disciplinary action against any probate judges in the state.
Smith, the University of Alabama professor, said that Moore is probably considering electoral politics, similar to Wallace.
“We all know how this story ends,” he added. “The story ends with same-sex marriages being done in Alabama. At this point, any state official that refuses to go along with this is just sowing confusion and postponing what is going to happen and probably acting primarily out of concern for their next election.”
Which Alabama Counties are Not Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses?
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley 'Disappointed' Same-Sex Couples Are Marrying in His State
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley 'Disappointed' Same-Sex Couples Are Marrying in His State
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has issued a statement on the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses by probate judges in the state.
Said Bentley:
“The issue of same sex marriage will be finally decided by the U.S. Supreme Court later this year,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “I have great respect for the legal process, and the protections that the law provides for our people. I am disappointed that a single Federal court judge disregarded the vote of the Alabama people to define marriage as between a man and woman.
“I agree with the dissenting opinion from U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia when they stated, ‘Today’s decision represents yet another example of this Court’s cavalier attitude toward the States. Over the past few months, the Court has repeatedly denied stays of lower court judgments enjoining the enforcement of state laws on questionable constitutional grounds.’
“This issue has created confusion with conflicting direction for Probate Judges in Alabama. Probate Judges have a unique responsibility in our state, and I support them. I will not take any action against Probate Judges, which would only serve to further complicate this issue.
“We will follow the rule of law in Alabama, and allow the issue of same sex marriage to be worked out through the proper legal channels.”
Earlier today we reported judges in Tuscaloosa, Baldwin, Madison, Jackson, and Shelby counties were not issuing licenses to same-sex couples.
In Mobile County, meanwhile, attorneys for marriage plaintiffs Cari Searcy and Kim McKeand have asked a federal judge to hold Probate Judge Don Davis (pictured below) in contempt for refusing to issue licenses today.
The lawyers, Christine Hernandez and David Kennedy, at first urged patience as Davis huddled with lawyers to figure out how to respond to conflicting court orders from U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. “Ginny” Granade and Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore.
With Davis refusing to make a decision one way or the other, the office remained closed to couples seeking marriage license but eventually opened to people wishing to record deeds and conduct other business.
Finally, Davis took the bench, prompting Kennedy and Hernandez to ask Granade to hold him in contempt and take any enforcement action she deems appropriate. Henandez told reporters that remedies could include fines and even incarceration. “There’s a very real possibility somebody could be going to jail,” she said. […]
Hernandez said the “position of silence” adopted by Davis is no different that former Gov. George Wallace’s attempts to beat back integration.
“It’s no different than standing in the school door. It’s exactly the same as Governor Wallace. The only difference is that Judge Davis is not physically standing here.”
As for Moore himself, he’s busy on Facebook lamenting what’s going on in Alabama and posting Bible verses. What he really should be doing though is searching for a new job…
Kyler Geoffroy
Womble Carlyle Earns High Grade from HRC for Protecting Rights of LGBT Employees
Womble Carlyle Earns High Grade from HRC for Protecting Rights of LGBT Employees
www.wcsr.com/Insights/News/2013/December/Womble-Carlyle-Earns-High-Grade-from-Human-Rights-Campaign-for-Protecting-Rights-of-LGBT-Employees – Womble Carlyle is proud to stand …
"The Time Has FINALLY Come #BMore… You Have An ALL NEW Party In The City!!! The Grand Opening Of #FullyLoaded At #OxygenNightClub (10 S Calvert Street)… Don't Forget To Save The Date For NEXT Sunday, February 15th, #PresidentsDayWeekend For What Will
This Is How We Win
This Is How We Win
(Diriye Osman is photographed by Bahareh Hosseini)
I received an email a few months ago from one of my readers, a Somali teenager who was exploring her sexuality and was determined to come out to her parents and claim her space in the world.
This reader wasn’t seeking counsel. She had already decided on her path, psychic compass at the ready and was simply looking for someone to confide in — someone, not dissimilar to a therapist, who would allow her to state her truth and encourage her to tap to her own tune.
I sensed this and so I kept my responses as open-ended as possible. There were so many pieces of wisdom I wish I could have shared with this young girl, but I knew that what she wanted was not offerings of wisdom but to expel her fears by sharing them, by articulating them and then moving on to eat the world.
I didn’t mind this because I know the world is often a harsh, unforgiving place for LGBT youth. Still, when I didn’t hear from the girl again I wondered how she was. I wondered if she had ever come out to her parents or if she had headed down a different path. I wondered if she was safe. I wondered if she was hurt or healing. I wondered if her heart was broken by the realization that her parents, who were, she said, strict Muslims, might not forgive her for what they perceived as a presumably inexcusable transgression.
I sent a couple of cheery messages to the young girl enquiring about her health and wellbeing. She never wrote back.
To this day, I don’t know what became of her but if she’s reading this, I would say:
Wait. You may feel like your future is slipping from your grasp, that if you don’t rush now to greet your dreams you might lose out on them, but please wait. If you are coming from an unsupportive environment with regards to your sexual orientation, the best thing to do is to establish your independence. Make sure you have a support network of loving and loyal friends. Make sure you have somewhere to live. Make sure you have an income to sustain you. Place a premium on your life. Always, always place a premium on your life.
When all these elements have been configured and your psychic compass is at the ready, go forth in the knowledge that you’ve created a self-preserving future for yourself. Go forth in the knowledge that you have a safe space to call home. Go forth in the knowledge that not only are you kicking ass but you are kicking ass on a major scale. Go forth in the knowledge that not only are you winning at life but you have already won.
Diriye Osman is the Polari Prize-winning author of “Fairytales For Lost Children” (Team Angelica Press), a collection of critically-acclaimed short stories about the LGBT Somali experience. You can purchase the book here and you can connect with Osman via Tumblr.
Tori Sisson and Shanté Wolfe are First Same-Sex Couple to Marry in Montgomery
15 Gayest And Greatest Moments At The 2015 Grammys
15 Gayest And Greatest Moments At The 2015 Grammys
Sam Smith did the gays proud at the 56th annual Grammys last night, walking away with four trophies and the show thanks to a stirring performance with Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige. Let’s take a look at some of the moments that gave life and gave pause.
Here are the 15 gayest and greatest moments from the 2015 Grammy Awards.
Tony Bennett’s vs. Lady Gaga’s reaction to opening act AC/DC
Ariana Grande being the cutest pop star alive
Noted silver fox Tom Jones and his sequined tux
Nicki Minaj barely tolerating new BFF Miley Cyrus
Madonna’s human leg brace
The Grammys clearly didn’t listen to the song they nominated Jennifer Hudson for — this is her video for “Walk It Out.”
Annie Lennox taking Hozier to church…and then school. Hope he was taking notes.
Rihanna delivering her first solid live performance, well, ever. Also, this smoking, though.
Speaking of couture, can we talk about Kim K’s shoulders?
These two queens shutting everything down.
The moment Beyoncé realized she’s going to have to choke a bitch.
The moment we realized Kanye might actually have a sense of humor. But not really.
Kristen adding another Wiig to Sia’s performance.
Sam Smith winning his fourth Grammy and throwing the best shade in the world.
Bey conjuring up the Holy Ghost to smite the Recording Academy.
Les Fabian Brathwaite, much like Diana Ross, has never won a competitive Grammy.
Les Fabian Brathwaite
One Year After Coming Out, Michael Sam Is 'Not On A Team Because He's Gay'
One Year After Coming Out, Michael Sam Is 'Not On A Team Because He's Gay'
It was one year ago today that NFL prospect Michael Sam came out as gay.
The St. Louis Rams later drafted Sam in the seventh round, and he appeared in four preseason games before being cut. The Dallas Cowboys then added him to their practice squad before also cutting him.
Since then, Sam hasn’t gotten any calls from other teams, but he has applied for one of 100 spots at the NFL’s first veteran combine next month.
CBS Sports reports:
About a month ago, the NFL announced that it would hold the first-ever veteran combine in Arizona on March 22, to correspond with the location and timing of the NFL owners meetings, which will be held in Arizona from March 22-24 this year.
NFL director of football development Matt Birk sent out a memo in January in which he called the current free agent process inefficient and said, “There’s a void there. There was nothing for that guy out there who has one or two or three years in the league and is not with a team and is at the mercy of when the phone rings or when his agent gets him a workout. This will be a forum for these guys to showcase their talents and a service for our clubs instead of [what had been] an inefficient process.”
One of the players who hopes to be extended one of about 100 invitations is apparently former St. Louis Rams and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Michael Sam, who fits the description of the kind of player referenced in the league memo.
USA Today reports that if Sam isn’t invited to the veteran combine, he has a one-year contract offer from the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes.
Sam, 25, isn’t doing media interviews, his publicist, Chris Licata, said in an email. He most recently was seen publicly as part of a Coca-Cola ad during Super Bowl XLIX. He has not received another NFL contract offer, even though rosters expand to 90 in the offseason.
But Sam is expected to be back in the football spotlight soon. The former University of Missouri standout has applied for one of about 100 spots in the NFL’s first-ever veteran combine. The hope is that leads to an NFL contract offer and a chance to go to training camp. If not, a one-year contract offer from the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes is waiting for him.
Tear up the CFL for a year, and Sam could find a greater market south of the border, though not everyone believes the primary reason for his unemployment is that he hasn’t shown he can play.
In a long post at OutSports marking the one-year anniversary of Sam’s coming out, Cyd Zeigler explains why he believes Sam has been shut out of the NFL.
For example, Sam is the only prospect in the last 20 years who didn’t make an active NFL roster after being named Defense Player of The Year in a major college conference and being drafted. And he is one of two defensive ends, out of 20, who recorded similar stats in the preseason but did not make a season-long practice squad or active roster.
Ziegler told USA Today:
“A year ago, history was being made, and that history got put on hold,” said Cyd Zeigler, an advocate and co-founder of Outsports.com who has chronicled Sam’s story from the start.
“No one I talk to seems willing to tell me why. But I get the sense from everyone that they have a really good idea of why. And it’s not his performance in college, and it’s not his performance in the preseason. Nobody will say what the pink elephant in the room is.” …
“But they’re thinking the same thing,” Zeigler said. “Michael Sam is not on a team because he’s gay. If Michael Sam had never come out of the closet, he would be on an NFL roster today. Period.”
John Wright
