Another year, and another time I’ll use my blog as a blog. This year I’ll be talking about the whole of Pride weekend, marriage equality coming to Pa. and all the related stories to it.
In case you missed it, NPH (who won the Tony for this role, along with his co-star, Lena Hall) performed “Sugar Daddy” from the show I went to NYC to see (which won for best musical revival). This was how it was performed at the Belasco, complete with carwash, making out with audience members (this time, his fiance) and lap dances:
The US teen pregnancy rate has fallen to historic lows! Which is great news (except it’s still way high compared to other developed nations), but it’s because of access to birth control, women’s health clinics and abortion services and comprehensive sex ed. Imagine that.
So John Oliver set out to save Net Neutrality, and in doing so, released the Internet Trolls, which brought down the FCC’s comment page:
Garfunkle and Oates, one of my favorite comedy bands, have a new show coming to IFC which will debut in August!
The (designated hate group) AFA is telling members to return to sender any mail using the Harvey Milk Stamp. I prefer the Ken Jennings (of Jeopardy fame) idea of using both Milk and Charleston Heston stamps on the same envelope with little hearts around them both.
Alright, pretty big update nope, fighting with coding and software, so let’s see if I can get half of this published, let’s see what we have today. First up, the fail that was American Spring:
What if Buffy was a 90’s LucasArts game? Check it out.
A new demonstration of the Google self-driving cars, which I find fascinating:
I’m very sad about the annihilation of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. I’m still excited about the new movies, but sad that it looks like we’re losing Mara, Thrawn, Jacen and all the rest.
Dustin Lance Black, screenwriter of “Milk” and boyfriend of Tom Daley (not really important, they’re just cute together), was recently asked to speak at his alma mater’s graduation.
However, once they realized there naked pictures of him on the internet, they rescinded the offer, citing their previous sex scandals and not wanting to draw attention to those issues. Well, guess that backfired, since now it’s back in the forefront of everyone’s mind.
We’re quickly getting to the point where no one running for political office won’t have naked pictures somewhere on the Internet. Teenagers (and adults) have cell phones with cameras, it’s going to happen.
The pictures were lifted off Black’s ex-boyfriend’s computer, and he won in court after suing them, because of how they were procured.
For too long now I’ve sat silent on this issue. That ends here and now and with this sentence: I did nothing wrong and I refuse to be shamed for this any longer…
And yes, we were doing what gay men do when they love and trust each other, we were having sex. I have never lied about my sexuality. If you invade my privacy, this is what you will find. I have sex. It brings me joy, fosters intimacy and helps love grow. I hope anyone reading this can say the same for themselves and for their parents…
With this cruel act, PCC’s Administration is punishing the victim. And I ask you this: If I was a heterosexual man or woman with this same painful injury in my past, would PCC’s Administration still be rescinding such an honor?
I think it’s a good response, and it’s nice to see. I hope it makes other organizations think twice about things like this in the future.
Geoffrey McGrath, along with other adults, started a Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop at the Rainer Beach United Methodist Church, an inner-city church in Seattle.
This church had never had Scouting units before, and they quickly signed up 15 youth between the two, most of them kids who had never had any experience with the Scouts. The kids like the camping, and programs and the community service opportunities.
McGrath is a gay man (we’re friends on Facebook through our work with Scouts for Equality and I’ve been living vicariously through him and his husband’s pictures from their recent trip to Italy), and RBUM knew this. And was happy to have him.
The national BSA office revoked his membership, but he continued to work with the kids, refusing to let the units fold, lest the kids not have a chance to experience the program.
Well, on (Good) Friday, national revoked the charters from the church, because the church refused to kick out McGrath.
Yes, you read that right, national decided that those fifteen youth, those two units (it’s all about the numbers, believe me), should all be kicked out, because they want to discriminate against one gay man, even after the city council and mayor of Seattle (which I believe includes the President of the Board of the Chief Seattle Council) sent a letter to national taking them to task for revoking McGrath’s membership.
The story exploded on Facebook, was picked up by news outlets all over the country, including Time Magazine.
In the meantime, Pack and Troop 98 are now working to find another program (since they aren’t allowed to use the BSA program, advancements or uniforms), and they are looking into if they can transfer into other units.
Most people realize that this adult policy will not be around for much longer. This is going to be looked back as one of the ugliest incidents BSA every choreographed.
Today, the ACLU announced that they submitted a motion for the trial for marriage equality in Pennsylvania to move it to summary judgement. Basically what that means is both sides have agreed that the case can be decided by the judge on the briefs submitted. No witnesses, although the judge may decide to ask for opening statements.
This moves up the entire timeline. The deadline to appeals to the motion are due by May 12, so anytime after that date, we could have a decision from the judge. Originally arguments were set to take place in June, so this really is moving things up significantly.
As of right now, marriage equality is batting 1,000 since the Supreme Court decisions last summer, but every single time a stay has been issued.
So, my thinking is now that we’ll have a decision by the end of May, a stay, and hopefully a failed appeal by the end of the summer.
The other side of the coin, Corbett, who is in a precarious position for his reelection could choose not to appeal. I think he will appeal, but he may want to try to gain some votes, even at the expense of losing some of his base. If that is the case (which again, I don’t think will happen), most likely some right-wing group will try to swoop in and claim standing to keep the appeal going. If that happens, my guess is it will take a while for the courts to decide if they have standing or not, further delaying the process.
