NOM Unveils 2015 Hate March Speakers

Not exactly the A-list, is it? In fact, there's only one elected official on the roster and that's Democratic New York state Sen. Ruben Diaz. Also curiously missing from the list is San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who spoke at last year's hate march and is currently fighting an internal Catholic revolt back at home.

Former New York Gov. George Pataki To GOP: Shut Up About Social Issues

Via New York State Of Politics:

In the ad released by Pataki’s PAC, the former three-term governor says indulging in a debate over abortion and LGBT rights can only help one person: Hillary Clinton. “It’s simple, if we allow social issues to dominate the conversation, we will elect Hillary Clinton President,” Pataki said. The ad, released by We The People Not Washington, comes as Pataki is preparing to make his eighth trip to New Hampshire as he considers making a bid for the White House. It is not clear how big the ad buy is or where it will ultimately air. Before it was amended, Pataki had blasted Indiana’s religious freedoms law, declaring “there’s no place for discrimination in America.”

Pataki visited a Chipotle on Thursday where he made sure photographers saw him leaving a $5 tip. Wingnut sites spent the last week mocking Clinton for not leaving a tip when her campaign ate lunch at a Chipotle.

TENNESSEE: Senate Kills Bill To Make Bible The Official State Book Because Satan

Via the Tennessean:

The Bible will not become the official book of Tennessee this year. Bolstered by opposition from Republican leadership, the Senate voted 22-9 to send the Bible to committee, effectively killing the bill a day after it was adopted by the House. "This isn't the time or place now in the full Senate floor to delve into that. We really need to look into it in committee," Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said about two hours before the vote. Norris led the effort to kill the bill in the Senate. He asked for the bill to be sent back to the Senate Judiciary Committee to address the Slatery opinion. The Senate agreed, supporting Norris and effectively killing the bill for the year. "I sure hope it won't pass. I think it'll be a dark day for Tennessee if it does," Norris said Wednesday. "All I know is that I hear Satan snickering. He loves this kind of mischief. You just dumb the good book down far enough to make it whatever it takes to make it a state symbol, and you're on your way to where he wants you."

The bill's House sponsor has vowed to bring it back in the next legislative session.

It Takeis Two - Episode Two

Local Pastors Have The Houston Sadz

"The ruling that the coalition fell 585 signatures short was a result of Judge Schaffer, who was supported in his election by the LGBT community, unfortunately accepting the constantly changing manipulations of the law by the City’s legal machine and Mayor’s team. We will not yield the safety and welfare, the voting rights and Constitutional freedoms of the citizens that have been stolen by the corrupt Parker regime. The law and the appellate courts in Texas are very strong in preserving voting rights so we are confident we will prevail. The fact that the city’s own numbers of how many valid signatures we had submitted materially changed nearly a dozen times since August illustrates how desperate they are to keep this off the ballot. The No UNequal Rights Coalition leadership confirmed they will review the decision in depth with their attorney and if needed to appeal the judge’s decision all the way to final determination by the Texas Supreme Court." - Houston Area Pastor Council, via press release.

Texas Values Has The Houston Sadz

"This result is evidence that the city government has made a mess of this issue and they have made the community more divided. Despite today's ruling, we stand united with the people of Houston against this divisive and oppressive ordinance. It's been clear throughout this lengthy process that Mayor Parker will go to any length to shut the people of Houston out of this process and force residents to accept this LGBT special rights law against their will. Houstonians should be the ones to decide this issue, and we believe Texas' appellate courts will ultimately preserve the voting rights of the people. When the people finally get their say, this ordinance will be voted down." - Jonathan Saenz, head of Texas Values.

TRAILER: Batman Vs Superman

Via CNN:

A day after it was leaked online (and swiftly removed), director Zack Snyder has released what he calls the "not blurry, not pirated" teaser trailer for 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' via Twitter. Ben Affleck's Batman takes center stage in this first glimpse at Warner Bros.' 2016 superhero smackdown, following a montage of commentators wondering whether or not Superman is less a defender of mankind than a potential threat. While Jeremy Irons' Alfred talks about "the fever, the rage ... the feeling of powerlessness that turns good men cruel," we see the new Dark Knight fly and drive through explosions before, armored, staring down Henry Cavill's Superman and asking him whether or not he bleeds. "You will," promises Batman. The movie follows up on the events of 2013's 'Man of Steel,' with Cavill and Amy Adams returning as Superman and Lois Lane, respectively. In addition to Affleck and Irons, the sequel also introduces Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, though neither of the latter characters are hinted at in this teaser — but then, something has to be left for the main trailer, doesn't it?

HOUSTON: LGBT Rights Bill Will Stand

Via the Houston Chronicle:

Opponents of Houston's non-discrimination ordinance failed to gather enough valid signatures to force a repeal referendum, a state district judge ruled Friday, validating city officials' decision to toss out the petition foes submitted last summer. After separate rulings from both a jury and state District Judge Robert Schaffer, attorneys for both sides entered dueling counts of the valid signatures, adding and subtracting voters as Schaffer responded to motions. By early this week, the counts were closer together than ever before, fewer than 1,000 signatures apart. Ultimately, Schaffer on Friday ruled the final count of valid signatures was 16,684, leaving opponents short of the threshold required in the city charter of 17,249 signatures, or 10 percent of the ballots cast in the last mayoral election.

"The jury's verdict and the judge's ruling are a powerful smack-down against the forces of discrimination and intolerance," said Geoffrey Harrison, lead attorney for the city, in a statement. "And maybe, just maybe, they'll reconsider their misguided ways." The law, on hold during trial, is now in effect, according to a city spokeswoman. Mayor Annise Parker released a statement celebrating the verdict. "I would hope that the plaintiffs would not appeal, they lost during a jury trial and today they also lost with the judge's ruling," Parker said. "Now all Houstonians have access to the same protections." But opponents, largely conservative activists and pastors whose objections center on the protections the law extends to gay and transgender residents, say they will appeal the decision. Andy Taylor, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he remains confident they will ultimately take the law to voters.

Stand by for some epic sadz! Read the ruling.

HomoQuotable - Paul Kuntzler

"It was so revolutionary. It had never been done before anywhere in the world. We all wore coat and ties and we all had pseudonyms. I wasn’t scared. I was intrigued by the idea. But I was intimidated by all the photographers. I was only 23. And as they came across the street they started photographing us. Every time I approached the cameras, I hid behind my sign because I was unnerved by the whole thing. But I don’t think I was scared. I was very open and proud of being gay. People passed by in disbelief. It was written on their faces. It had never had happened before. My sign read, '15 million homosexuals protest federal treatment.' It reflected what I thought. We could not conceive then the astonishing progress we would eventually make as a community. The idea that gay people, gay men and women, could work openly in the government and serve in the military. It was beyond our imagination." - Paul Kuntzler, 73, speaking to ABC News about picketing the White House fifty years ago today on April 17th, 1965. That protest, which included future LGBT rights giants Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny, is believed to have been the first organized gay rights demonstration in American history.

FOTF Founder James Dobson: The "B" In LGBT Totally Stands For Orgies

RELATED: Dobson is also the founder of the Family Research Council, which began as a division of Focus On The Family in 1981 and separated in 1992.

Bill Donohue Has The IBM Sadz

"No one knew how anti-Christian IBM had become until it unleashed its fury against a religious-liberty bill in Louisiana. Its governor, Bobby Jindal, is a practicing Catholic, and he plans to sign a law that protects religious liberty from its enemies. Those enemies now include IBM.  If IBM wants to relocate from Louisiana, it should consider Cuba. But it needs to move fast: Cuba is showing signs of renewed respect for religious liberty, and if conditions improve, the capitalist elites may find themselves sitting to the left of the communists." - Bill Donohue, writing for the Catholic League.

PITTSBURGH: High School Students Wear Flannel To Mark "Anti-Gay Day"

It's probably no coincidence that this happened on the day before today's anti-bullying Day Of Silence. Via the Pittsburgh NBC affiliate:

A Pittsburgh-area school district is investigating allegations of harassment involving students. Several parents and students from McGuffey High School in Washington County have reached out to Channel 11 News voicing concern about a so-called “Anti-Gay Day” allegedly organized by some students. A group of students allegedly spread the news that if they were “Anti-Gay,” they were to wear a flannel shirt and write “Anti-Gay” on their hands. Below is a statement from Dr. Erica Kolat, the superintendent of McGuffey School District. “Yesterday afternoon, April 16, 2015, allegations of harassment were brought to the attention of our administration. McGuffey School District, along with school police officers, continue to investigate all allegations. We will follow our Student Code of Conduct, and file legal citations, as warranted. We resolve to ensure that all chi

The photo appears to have been taken from Instagram. (Tipped by JMG reader JB)

EL SALVADOR: Legislature Advances Bans On Gay Adoption And Marriage

Via the Associated Press:

A bill that would ban same-sex marriage in El Salvador has won preliminary approval from the legislature. A package of constitutional reforms approved Thursday night also would bar same-sex couples from adopting children. The reforms will not take effect unless they are ratified by a two-thirds majority in the next legislative session, which will open on May 1. That would mean the changes would have to win support from at least 56 congressional deputies. Last night, the bills were backed by 47 of the 84 members.

In 2009 similar bans failed to become law.

DC Pride To Celebrate 40th Anniversary

Fun clip. The schedule of events is here.

Huckabee To Announce On Fox Tonight

Tonight we'll see if this has just been another dragged-out book promotion.

Clinton Campaign Posts Clip Of Gay Man Thanking Her For SCOTUS Support

Cute clip. Twitchy is mocking this, of course.

Brian Brown Is Afraid

Just in via email:

Fear can be a tremendous motivator and I have to admit it has me very motivated. I am tremendously concerned right now that we will not raise the money we need to pay for the buses we have reserved to bring thousands of marriage supporters — willing to take time out of their weekend to stand up in defense of marriage — to the 2015 March for Marriage. So I'm extremely motivated to make a serious ask of you because if we can't raise the money we need very soon, I will have to call up the bus companies and cancel many of the buses we have reserved. And that would be a tragedy. I don't want to do it... I don't want to have to tell people who want to fight for marriage that they can't because they lack the financial means to attend... but I'm going to have to do it if we can't raise the money we need.

Such a shonda.

Maggie Gallagher: I Can't Support Sin By Attending A Same-Sex Wedding

In response to recent gay wedding questions posed to Sen. Marco Rubio and other GOP candidates, Maggie Gallagher has penned an open letter to a gay friend which we're sure totally exists. Via the National Review:

The problem for me in celebrating your gay wedding, as much as I love you, is that I would be witnessing and celebrating your attempt not only to commit yourself to a relationship that keeps you from God’s plan but, worse, I would be witnessing and celebrating your attempt to hold the man you love to a vow that he will avoid God’s plan. To vow oneself to sin is one thing, to try to hold someone you love to it — that’s not something I can celebrate. And I would be party to the idea that two men can make a marriage, which I do not believe. On your happy day you should be surrounded by people who can honor your vow and help you keep it. I can’t do that. 'Porneia' is a word in the Bible that has been much mistranslated. But I think it means a sexual relationship that cannot by its nature become a marriage. That’s why Christ said that marriage is forever, unless it is porneia. I understand that you might well want to rupture our friendship over this, my honest view. I choose to love you both and keep you in my life. But let us somehow against all odds find a way to love each other as we are, and not how each of us would wish the other to be.

From Wikipedia: "The Greek term porneia (πορνεία) which means 'illicit sexual intercourse' was translated as 'fornication' in the 1611 King James Version of the bible and has also been translated as 'whoredom'."

David Barton To Glenn Beck: We Can Still Criminalize Homosexuality In America

Listen closely at the end, but that's what he's saying.

Giorgio Moroder Featuring Sia - Deja Vu

Stereogum raves:

Italo-disco god Giorgio Moroder is coming back later this year with Déjà Vu, his first new album in forever. It’ll feature things like the Kylie Minogue-collab single “Right Here, Right Now” and Britney Spears covering Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner.” The album’s title track hit the internet today, and it’s got Sia tapping into some inner disco queen that I didn’t even know was there. It’s a big, bold, surging song with some truly sweet strings and handclaps on the chorus. Moroder hasn’t changed his late-’70s sound at all, but the rest of the world has come around to it, and that’s a beautiful thing.

MICHIGAN: Anti-Gay Christian Car Repair Shop Owner Has No Business License

Via Michigan Live:

The auto shop owner who posted on Facebook that he would refuse to serve openly gay customers does not have a city business license, according to Grandville administrators. Brian Klawiter earlier this year told the City Council that requiring a license violates his constitutional rights because it authorizes city inspectors to enter his property without a warrant. "This is a blatant and intentioned violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution," Klawiter told the council on Jan. 26. "I dispute your lawful ability to do what you claim. I will not sign the application. I cannot and will not give up my civil rights, especially when requested by a government entity for which the Constitution was designed to limit the power of. Would you sign something giving me the right to search your home as I pleased?"

Business licenses cost $100 and thus far the city has not attempted to enforce the law in Klawiter's case. He claims that his anti-gay stand has resulted in death threats, but none have been reported by the local media. The most recent post to his Facebook page has been edited since yesterday and now concludes:

I set some ground rules for how I operate my life; do I not have the right to do that? If we both have the right to our opinions at what point does it become acceptable to destroy someones reputation, and the reputation of everyone they know, threaten to kill and destroy because you disagree. The evil in this situation is clearly identifiable. Just read the comments below. I never threatened to intentionally put someones vehicle together wrong, use you sense, (although it may not have been the best way to elaborate) You need a bolt and a nut to hold something together, two bolts can not, and two nuts can not, you must have one of each, a male and a female. Get it now? To all of our supporters, there is a semi-local preacher of some kind rallying a protest tomorrow Sat. 12:00-2p, they are gonna "occupy" something near by. We invite our supporters to join us for some fellowship, we will roll out the grill (bring something for us to cook up for you, and byob) and we can enjoy a sunny afternoon together with our guns, our God, our freedom.

RELATED: Michigan is one of 28 states with no state-level anti-discrimination protection for LGBT citizens, however dozens of municipalities have enacted local ordinances.

Eighth Cativersary

Eight years ago this week I brought Shelley (formerly "Little Gray") home from the East Harlem ASPCA. She was 20 months old, very underweight, timid, and FIV+, the last of which might explain the "owner surrender" notation on her adoption papers. Shelley was so freaked out upon arrival in my apartment that she first tried to escape by climbing up the chimney, then spent the next three days cowering under the sofa. Today she's a healthy ten pounds, the friendliest cat I've ever worked for, and spends her days growling at pigeons and ensuring that the elderly German shepherd across the alley doesn't even think about climbing the fire escape. As I like to do on this date, I encourage you to visit your local shelter and consider adopting an adult cat. At this writing there are dozens of adult cats up for adoption at the East Harlem shelter.

RELATED: The ASPCA has a fantastic "cats over three are free" program for adult cats: "The Free Over Three adoption package includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations and micro-chipping. Adopters will also receive a certificate for free follow-up veterinary care at the ASPCA Animal Hospital within 14 days of adoption, a pet carrier and literature about cat behavior." The APSCA also supports a no-kill coalition of animal shelters all over the New York City area.

James Corden Remakes Basic Instinct

With help from Michael Douglas and Reggie Watts.

IRELAND: Anti-Gay Group Reveals Tactics For Stopping Same-Sex Marriage

A JMG reader writes:

The No side's strategy in Ireland has just been revealed in a video where the Iona [Institute] group's David Quinn explicitly links the campaign against same sex marriage to the campaign against abortion. The video (below) suggests that if Ireland votes to give uppity gay people equality in May then progressives will be emboldened and by 2017 might win an abortion referendum. So gays must be be roadkill to prevent that from happening. Gays have to be thrown under the bus to stop an even bigger development (abortion rights) later on. Plays the long game, David Quinn. The real point appears to be to stop ordinary Irish voters from thinking something profoundly dangerous like their voice (and vote) counts.

The first five or six minutes are quite telling. 

RELATED: A petition has been launched for the Irish government to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Iona Institute.

The Iona Institute market themselves as a charity interested in the promotion of Christian religion within Ireland. In reality the only thing the Iona Institute actually engage in is religiously motivated political lobbying. The Irish taxpayers are the ones footing the bill for this wrongly awarded charitable status. The Irish tax code does not support private companies that engage in religiously motivated lobbying for the influence of civil law and it should not be allowed to continue at the cost of the tax payer. Under Irish law an organisation can get tax exemption if it engages in one of the following: relief of poverty, advancement of education, advancement of religion, other acts of a charitable nature beneficial to the community. The Irish exchequer is subsidizing a private lobbying group by mistakenly treating the Iona Institute as a charity.

In the United States, anti-gay groups evade similar restrictions by operating their political campaigns under separate entities, usually ones with the word "action" in their names.

COLORADO: State GOP Invites Log Cabin To Share Booth At Right Wing Convention

Via the Denver Post:

The Colorado Republican Party has invited a gay GOP group that wasn't allowed to set up a table at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver to share its booth. Party Chairman Steve House, who took over in March, made the announcement Thursday afternoon, one day after a firestorm over the snub by summit organizers to the Log Cabin Republicans. "We're fine with the Colorado Republicans sharing some table space at the summit with all their affiliated groups. We're not fine with the shaming and bullying pressure tactics of Log Cabin Republicans' national office," said summit chairman John Andrews. The summit, which has become a must-attend for some of nation's best-known conservatives, will be at the Colorado Convention Center June 26 to 28. Speakers including several presidential hopefuls. It is put on by Colorado Christian University and its think tank, the Centennial Institute.

I'll update this post when Log Cabin issues a reaction. (Tipped by JMG reader TJ)

IRELAND: Pro-Marriage Students Will Go For World Record "Big Love" Formation

In a demonstration of the support for same-sex marriage, Irish students will attempt to break the Guinness world record for the largest crowd of humans standing in the shape of a heart. Guinness officials will on hand to film the attempt in Dublin next Saturday. Participants are asked to wear red. Details. (Tipped by JMG reader Gerard)

Editorial Of The Day

From the Pacific Daily News:

Gov. Eddie Calvo needs to retake civics after he passed the buck on the attorney general's legal memorandum on gay marriage to lawmakers and voters. Calvo could have made the courageous decision to end discrimination against homosexuals in Guam. Instead, he essentially abdicated his power to enforce our island's and our nation's laws to senators and voters. By choosing to ignore the AG's opinion and thus the 9th Circuit's ruling, Calvo is violating the oath he took to enforce the Constitution of the United States by permitting the same-sex marriage license ban to stand. Calvo should follow the lead of Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla. Padilla said Puerto Rico will no longer defend the Commonwealth's ban on same-sex marriage, months after U.S. District Court Judge Juan Perez-Gimenez dismissed a case that sought to overturn the ban.

Calvo was due to issue a decision on the AG's edict today, but local news outlets report that he is currently "off island." Guam would become the first US territory to legalize same-sex marriage.

IRELAND: Religious Groups Lose Battle To Insert Marriage "Conscience Clause"

Via the Irish Examiner:

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out any potential “conscience clause” being inserted in the referendum on marriage equality, despite claims that no voters may be encouraged to vote yes if the move is allowed. As reported in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, Muslim, Quaker, and Christian groups have sent a petition to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald for the clause to be introduced so that people opposed to gay marriage are not forced to legitimatise the changes through their businesses. The request was made after recent high-profile cases involving a baker in the North and a printer in the Republic which both refused to provide services linked to gay marriages. Those behind the petition — including a prominent member of the Quakers, the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, the Council of Imams, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church — have claimed that without a conscience clause these individuals will “risk prosecution” if they hold firm to their beliefs “in employment, worship, or social interaction”.

The bakery case in Northern Ireland has not yet been ruled upon. Ireland's referendum is May 22nd.

Today: GLSEN's Day Of Silence

GLSEN's annual anti-bullying Day Of Silence is today and as in years past hate groups nationwide are urging parents to keep their kids out of school. Save California is pitching this year's Day Of Silence as an opportunity for parents to "experience the joys and freedoms of homeschooling for at least a day."

IBM To Gov. Bobby Jindal: Stop RFRA

Big Blue has again waded into the RFRA battle, this time with a letter to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal:

IBM has made significant investments in Louisiana including most recently a technology services delivery center in Baton Rouge, creating new jobs for Louisiana workers. We located the center in Baton Rouge because we believe Louisiana has great talent and would continue to be a rich source of such talent. However a bill that legally protects discrimination based on same-sex marriage status will create a hostile environment for our current and prospective employees, and is antithetical to our company’s values. IBM will find it much harder to attract talent to Louisiana if this bill is passed and enacted into law. Our perspective is grounded in IBM's 104-year history and our deep legacy of diversity and inclusion - a legacy to which we remain strongly committed today. IBM is opposed to discrimination against anyone on the grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected categories. We urge you to work with the Legislature to ensure this legislation is not discriminatory.

Early this month IBM denounced the RFRA bills in Arkansas and Indiana. (Tipped by JMG reader Str8Grandmother)

FRC Deletes Marriage Fast Prayers

The Family Research Council apparently doesn't like the publicity garnered by its vicious 21-day marriage fast prayers, the last of which opened with a scripture that suggested that it might be better to drown gay parents than have children grow up in such a household. All of the prayers posted since the fast began have been deleted and replaced with this message: "Dear Friends, Please stand by while the 21 Days of Prayer for Marriage and the U.S. Supreme Court are being reedited. We want them to be picture perfect so that you will be eager to send them to your friends and help multiply prayer during the days ahead. Look for them to be up tomorrow. Thanks & God bless!" To see the deleted prayers, click on the FRC label in this post.

This Is An Ad For Something

Via AdWeek:

Star Wars: Episode VII doesn't hit theaters until December, but the parade of marketing around the movie has already begun. Quiznos today is launching a parody ad on YouTube that playfully mashes up the film franchise with another flick—the movie version of the HBO show Entourage due out in June. "There's such a big following with the Star Wars world," Chris Ruszkowski, vp of advertising at Quiznos, told Adweek. "Both Star Wars and Entourage are coming out this year, and we are excited about what we are going to be bringing this week as well." The brand's endeavor centers on "Startourage," a three-minute video spoof that humorously drops Entourage characters like Vincent Chase and Ari Gold into the world of Star Wars.

Hate Groups To SCOTUS: Gay Marriage Causes Slutty Girls And Violent Boys

A coalition of anti-gay hate groups has filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court which argues, among other reasons, that same-sex marriage must not be approved because otherwise the nation will be overrun with trampy girls and violent boys. From the brief:

Fathers tend to roughhouse and engage in stimulating play with their children, which helps teach them to avoid violence and control aggression—important lessons that in turn enable children to form healthy relationships with their peers. Fathers also discipline less frequently than mothers, but are more consistent in applying predetermined consequences for particular actions. Indeed, the mere presence of a father in the home significantly reduces the likelihood that boys will engage in delinquent behavior. For boys, fathers also serve as role models by engendering a healthy respect for femininity, and that respect discourages compensatory masculinity and associated aggressive and violent behavior. For girls, an involved father reduces the likelihood of early sexual activity and teenage pregnancy, promotes self-esteem and a positive body image, and decreases the risk of eating disorders.

Among the brief's "authorities" is discredited researcher Mark Regnerus. Signees of the brief include Focus On The Family, The Family Leader, the Indiana Family Institute, the Center for Arizona Policy, the Christian Civic League of Maine, the Florida Family Policy Council, Hawaii Family Advocates, and a jillion other nutbag groups with "family" in their names. Don't hold your breath for these groups to act against the millions of American households headed by all those single heterosexual parents.

Frothy Mix: Unlike Sen. Marco Rubio, I Would Never Attend A Gay Wedding

And we all heave a sigh of relief.

Regular Matt Barber Columnist Again Calls For Death Penalty For Homosexuality

"The Law of God, that says that homosexuals must be put to death, must be enacted against this evil. You say that this is inhumane, that it is cruel, but it is not. What is truly cruel is giving freedom to caretakers and disgusting parents the 'freedom' to force children to watch this sickness manifest before their innocent eyes. Any parent, or adult, who brings children to a sodomite event should be arrested and punished, for those that 'have pleasure in them that do them' 'are worthy of death' (Romans 1:32), as we learn from the sublime words of St. Paul. This is true love, to destroy evil where it stands, to cut it off before it grows like a weed and consumes all of the nurturing love of righteous truth. The state must be slaughter these wicked reprobates or else they will continue to flood the world with their gloomy darkness." - Theodore Shoebat, writing for his father's Shoebat Foundation.

Both Shoebats are columnists for BarbWire, the personal site of Christian leader Matt Barber, who is the vice president of the Liberty Counsel and an associate dean at Liberty University. Barber has published three BarbWire columns by the younger Shoebat in the last month. A few weeks ago Barber penned a World Net Daily column in which he proclaimed "disgust" at two previous BarbWire columnists who support putting gays to death. And then he went on to blame "virulent homosexual and atheist bloggers" for pointing out the columns in the first place. Both of the earlier BarbWire columns from gay death penalty advocates were deleted within 24 hours without any comment or apology on the site. It appears that since Theodore Shoebat only calls for the murder of millions of gay people on his own site, he will continue to be welcome to write for Matt Barber. Praise Jesus.

RELATED: Theodore Shoebat also enjoys compiling YouTube clips of gay men being brutally beaten by Christian mobs.

Matt Drudge: Hillary Clinton Is Hiding Bill

Google data must also show that the public doesn't want to see Matt Drudge with another man.

Garbage - The Chemicals

Released on 10" vinyl for Record Store Day.

INDIANA: Angie's List Head Resigns, Might Launch Challenge Against Gov. Pence

Via the Indianapolis Star:

Bill Oesterle is quitting as CEO of Angie's List, saying he wants to re-enter state politics and help repair the "shellacking" Indiana's image took from the passage of the "religious freedom" act. The news caught both the state's business and political communities by surprise, and some see the move as a direct effort to unseat Gov. Mike Pence over his handling of the controversial issue. Oesterle, 49, co-founded the online consumer review company 20 years ago and has been its only chief executive. He hasn't been involved in state politics since he managed two-term Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' first election campaign in 2004. Oesterle's announcement amounts to "an announcement of trying to unseat a governor," said Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics. "If you think about the individual positions that could have made a difference about this (RFRA), that's only one, that's the governor." "That is somebody who is saying either he is running for governor or is looking for somebody to run for governor," Downs said of Oesterle.

RELATED: NOM's month-old Angie's List boycott petition has stalled out at a whopping 4900 names.

TRAILER: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Headline Of The Day

But still no hate crime charges. Details.

Fallout Begins For Michigan Car Shop

Hillary Lauds Elizabeth Warren For TIME

"It was always going to take a special kind of leader to pick up Ted Kennedy’s mantle as senior Senator from Massachusetts—champion of working families and scourge of special interests. Elizabeth Warren never lets us forget that the work of taming Wall Street’s irresponsible risk taking and reforming our financial system is far from finished. And she never hesitates to hold powerful people’s feet to the fire: bankers, lobbyists, senior government officials and, yes, even presidential aspirants. Elizabeth Warren’s journey from janitor’s daughter to Harvard professor to public watchdog to U.S. Senator has been driven by an unflagging determination to level the playing field for hardworking American families like the one she grew up with in Oklahoma. She fights so hard for others to share in the American Dream because she lived it herself." - Hillary Clinton, writing for TIME's 100 Most Influential People series.

Pat Robertson: Totalitarian Gays & Hillary Clinton Want To Destroy Freedom

Neo-Nazi Murderer Of Gay Boss: I Hate Gay People And I Have Killed Before

Via Talking Points Memo:

Neo-Nazi Kenneth Morgan Stancil III admitted in an interview on Wednesday to killing his gay boss at a North Carolina college and said he hated gay people "with a passion." During the interview with WRAL reporter Mikaya Thurmond from a Florida jail, Stancil, 20, accused his victim, Ron Lane, of being a child molester and said he felt no remorse for killing Lane and in fact had done "the world a favor." When asked whether he hated gay people, Stancil said: "Yes, I do -- with a passion." He said the fact that Lane was gay was one of the reasons he shot him but not the main reason. Stancil also claimed he'd killed three other people and said he was never caught because he knew the law and knew how to "evade it." Pressed on details, however, he gave vague responses to the reporter. The sheriff's department told WRAL there weren't any unsolved homicides that matched Stancil's descriptions, the Associated Press reported.

Stancil claims that he killed Lane because he'd made a sexual advance on a relative, a claim that was denied by Stancil's own mother, who added that he "needs mental help."

Antonin Scalia Lauds RBG For TIME

"Ruth Bader Ginsburg has had two distinguished legal careers, either one of which would alone entitle her to be one of TIME’s 100. When she was a law professor at Rutgers and later Columbia, she became the leading (and very successful) litigator on behalf of women’s rights—the Thurgood Marshall of that cause, so to speak. President Carter appointed her to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1980, and President Clinton to a seat on the Supreme Court in 1993. Having had the good fortune to serve beside her on both courts, I can attest that her opinions are always thoroughly considered, always carefully crafted and almost always correct (which is to say we sometimes disagree). That much is apparent for all to see. What only her colleagues know is that her suggestions improve the opinions the rest of us write, and that she is a source of collegiality and good judgment in all our work." - Antonin Scalia, writing for TIME.

Liberty Counsel: If We Win At SCOTUS, We'll Repeal Marriage Laws In The States

MAINE: Sponsor Pulls RFRA Bill, Says Media Killed It From Getting Fair Hearing

Via the Bangor Daily News:

Maine Sen. David Burns will withdraw his ‘religious freedom’ bill because of scrutiny the bill has received and comparisons to the controversial Indiana law that drew national outcry over concerns it allowed for discrimination against gays and lesbians. Burns has said the bill, LD 1340, was about protecting Mainers’ right to free exercise of religion from unnecessarily burdensome state law.  While he played down comparisons to Indiana’s law, Burns’ bill is nearly identical in substance to the controversial religious freedom law passed recently in that state, which sparked national controversy and debate over whether religious conviction can justify discrimination, specifically against gays and lesbians. On Wednesday, Burns said his bill was not about discrimination and blamed his critics and the media for preventing even the possibility of a “fair hearing.” “Opponents of this bill and some in the media have poisoned the well of public discussion,” Burns, R-Whiting, said in a release Wednesday. “They have been guided by an unwillingness to discuss factual information and inaccurate comparisons to the events in Indiana.”

A group of pro-LGBT clergy was preparing to protest the bill outside the state house just as the news of its demise reached them. (Tipped by JMG reader Seth)

Matt Baume Launches New Podcast

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Breitbart Publishes Unsourced Claim Of Assault Over Indiana's RFRA Law

Citing an anonymous email, Breitbart columnist and hate group leader Austin Ruse is claiming that a gay housekeeper "assaulted" his 76 year-old employer because he was furious about Indiana's RFRA law. From the email, which was allegedly written by the woman's son:

John (not his real name) came to our home as usual to help clean the house. He comes every 2 weeks. My mother greeted him and was met with cursing, aggressiveness, and fury. John was very angry about the [Religious Freedom Restoration Action] just signed by Governor Pence. John yelled f-bombs and called my elderly mother a bigot and accused her and all “religious” people of discrimination. She called me after 15 minutes of his tirade and she was reduced to tears and horribly scared by him. I could hear him yelling obscenities in the background at her. John would not get on the phone and I told my mom to ask him to leave or I would call 911. He left. I raced home to find my mom still shaking. She suffers from heart disease, cancer, and can barely see. She is completely vulnerable.

Contrary to Ruse's headline, the email does not accuse "John" of actual physical assault and there's nothing about gay marriage in the email either. Hundreds of Breitbart commenters are reacting to Ruse's story as you'd expect, with only a few questioning its anonymous and unsourced nature. 

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Austin Ruse was fired by the American Family Association last year after a guest-hosting spot on their radio network during which he declared that liberal university officials "should all be taken out and shot." Ruse also claims that a Vatican priest once offered him absolution if he were to murder Hillary Clinton. Ruse is the head of C-FAM, the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute, which is a member of the World Congress of Families, the coalition working with NOM and others to export anti-gay hatred to foreign counties. During a speech at CPAC 2012, Ruse denounced the United Nations for issuing a resolution against the gay death penalty.

MICHIGAN: Christian Car Shop Owner Vows To Deny Service To Gay Customers

Via the Grand Rapids NBC affiliate:

The owner of a Grandville auto repair shop says he won’t hesitate “to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons.” Brian Klawiter, the owner of Dieseltec on Ottawa Avenue in Grandville, posted the statement to his company’s Facebook page on Tuesday because he says the voices of those who have Christian, conservative values are often overshadowed by those who do not. “I want to have a voice about this,” Klawiter told 24 Hour News 8 Wednesday. “I want to be heard about this. It’s challenging to decide to say I’m on the opposing side of what’s seen as the popular view.” The line that’s drawing the most conversation is the one that addresses “openly gay” individuals. “I would not hesitate to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons. Homosexuality is wrong, period,” Klawiter wrote. “If you want to argue this fact with me then I will put your vehicle together with all bolts and no nuts and you can see how that works.”

The Facebook post is here.

UPDATE: Here's the latest post on his Facebook page:

Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down, however, because of the ridiculous backlash I am requesting any supporters of ours that would be willing to stand with us to help secure my home and business. (There also seems to be a TON of confusion about one of my comments, the bolt and nut thing was a reference to physiology, bolt penis and nut vagina. I DID NOT threaten to purposely put a vehicle together wrong to harm someone.)

Prominent Catholics To Pope Francis: Replace Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone

Via the San Francisco Chronicle:

In an unprecedented move, more than 100 prominent Roman Catholic donors and church members signed a full-page ad running Thursday in The Chronicle that calls on Pope Francis to replace San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone for fostering “an atmosphere of division and intolerance.” The plea follows months of dissent within the archdiocese over Cordileone’s emphasis on traditional, conservative church doctrine — including asking high school teachers and staffers at Catholic schools to sign a morality clause that characterizes sex outside of marriage and homosexual relations as “gravely evil.”

In their open letter to the pope, Cordileone’s critics say his morality-clause push is mean-spirited and “sets a pastoral tone that is closer to persecution than evangelization.” The ad drew swift condemnation from the archdiocese, which said those who signed it don’t speak for San Francisco’s Catholic community.

The list of signatories includes Brian Cahill, the retired executive director of Catholic Charities, former city commissioner and Boudin Bakery executive Lou Giraudo, retired Swinerton Builders Chairman David Grubb, businessman and former political consultant Clint Reilly and his wife, Janet, San Francisco attorney Michael Kelly, and Charles Geschke, chairman of Adobe Systems and former head of the University of San Francisco Board of Trustees. Also on the list is Tom Brady Sr., father of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Cordileone is considered by some to be the "father of Prop 8" and he will again attend NOM's upcoming hate march at the Supreme Court. Hit the link for much more about the petition.

Marriage Rallies Planned Nationwide On Day Of Supreme Court Arguments

Click over to Unite For Marriage for a growing list of marriage rallies that will take place across the nation on the day that the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the cases out of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The rally outside the Supreme Court begins at 9:30AM on April 28th.  (Tipped by JMG reader Joe)

Right Wing Convention Bans Log Cabin

Via the Associated Press:

Organizers of a conservative conference in Denver this summer have told a gay Republican group it cannot have a booth at the event. The Western Conservative Summit is scheduled for June in Denver, where thousands of conservative activists will gather to hear Republican presidential hopefuls like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Pennsylvania Sen Rick Santorum speak. The event is organized by The Centennial Institute, a think tank affiliated with Colorado Christian University.

On Wednesday, the president of the Centennial Institute, John Andrews, said his group had returned a $250 registration fee that the Log Cabin Republicans had sent in to secure a booth at the three-day summit. Because the group advocates for gay marriage, it cannot have an official presence at an event that promotes traditional family structure, he said. "We'd love to have them attend the summit and be in the discussion. But we have to draw the line at a formal relationship between two organizations with diametrically opposed policy beliefs," Andrews said.

Log Cabin says they are "stunned" to be rejected. More from the Denver Post:

The summit is sponsored by Colorado Christian University in Lakewood and its think tank, the Centennial Institute. Summit chairman and institute director John Andrews said Wednesday that the Log Cabin Republicans "advocate contrary to our agenda and our core beliefs." "The Log Cabin Republicans exists to redefine the family," he said. "Log Cabin Republicans think gay marriage should be the law of the land, and Colorado Christian University doesn't believe it should be." Log Cabin Republican members have been told they can still purchase tickets and attend the summit, scheduled for June 26- 28 at the Colorado Convention Center. "It is a pretty common issue we face. They'll take our money but want us in the closet," said Denver resident Michael Carr, a former state Senate candidate and secretary of the state chapter of Log Cabin Republicans.

The Human Rights Campaign is calling on Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to pull out of the convention unless Log Cabin is allowed to have a booth.

Today's FRC Marriage Fast Prayer: Maybe It Would Better Just To Drown Gay Parents

The Family Research Council's 21-day fast against same-sex marriage is in its second week and today's prayer opens with a scripture which suggests that might be better to drown gay parents than have children grow up in such a household.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6. God, please intervene to protect the children who, if forced to grow up in same-sex households, apart from the true nurture and admonition of the Lord and with a distorted view of God, the Bible and the family. Have mercy upon those who are already in such circumstances (Gen 18:19; Dt 11:16-21; Jn 21:15; Eph 6:4). Preserve, protect and save these and yet unborn children who will be and already are being adopted into these unnatural households (Is 59:21; Mt 19:14; Jn 10:8-15) Protect all of our children and grandchildren, some who are already being taught in public schools that homosexuality is OK, that same-sex "marriage" is OK, even equivalent in value to natural marriage (Is 59:2-5; Jeremiah 9:3-6; Rom 1:22-32) Please intervene to stop the rush toward laws that give people special rights and benefits because of their sexual practices and identity. Stop the madness: fines and lawsuits against God fearing people who object because of their faith -- all of which will accelerate and multiply if the Supreme Court does not uphold historic, Biblical, traditional marriage -- all of which will impact children disproportionately! (Isaiah 59:15; Luke 18:1-8; Jude 1: all)

Charming, huh?

IRELAND: Sinn Fein Launches Vote Yes Campaign For Same-Sex Marriage

Via the Irish Examiner:

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has today appealed to voters not to try to punish the Government in the same-sex marriage referendum. Deputy Adams was speaking as his party launched their campaign for a Yes vote. They plan to distribute 500,000 leaflets and call to as many doors as possible. The Louth TD said that the issue is too serious to use as a protest vote against the Government. "People should not be using this issue to punish the government - this is bigger than any political party, it's bigger than any politician," he said. "This is just about giving a very modest and basic right of equality to people who are Irish citizens.

The referendum in May 22nd.

Marco Rubio: I'd Attend A Gay Wedding

Mediaite recaps:

“If there’s somebody that I love that’s in my life, I don’t necessarily have to agree with their decisions or the decisions they’ve made to continue to love them and participate in important events,” Rubio said. He compared it to attending “second marriages,” which are not strictly allowed the Catholic faith. “If it’s somebody in my life that I care for, of course I would,” Rubio reiterated on the question of attending gay weddings. “I’m not going to hurt them simply because I disagree with a choice they’ve made or because I disagree with a decision they’ve made, or whatever it may be.” “Ultimately, if someone that you care for and is part of your family has decided to move in one direction or another or feels that way because of who they love, you respect that because you love them,” he concluded. Again, he compared the union of a same-sex couple to the divorce of a straight one. “If someone gets divorced, I’m not going to stop loving them,” he said.

Harlem Hate Pastor Has A New Message

Photo by Jesse Melli.

TENNESSEE: House Votes To Make Bible The Official Book Of The State

Via the Tennessean:

The Holy Bible is the official book of Tennessee in the view of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Despite questions of constitutionality, lawmakers beat back an attempt to make Andrew Jackson's Bible the official book and voted 55-38 in favor of Rep. Jerry Sexton's original bill. "History's going to tell us where we stand on this. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to have the side that I'm on," said Sexton, R-Bean Station, after the vote. "It may be kind to me in the future and it may not be kind, and that's OK. I made a decision for today and I feel good about it." Although a GOP-led effort, House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, was one of 20 Republicans to vote against the measure. House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, and four Republicans abstained. Only six Democrats voted in favor of the bill.

Gov. Bill Haslam has declined to say whether he will sign the bill should it also be approved by the state Senate.

FRC: Same-Sex Marriage Violates The Separation Of Church And State

Brian Tashman writes at Right Wing Watch:

The Family Research Council announced today that it has partnered with Rick Santorum’s film company, EchoLight Studios, to produce a short film for churches to air during the April 26 event “Stand for Marriage Sunday: Religious Freedom at Risk.” In the film, which features appearances by Santorum and Mike Huckabee, the FRC warns that a Supreme Court ruling striking down bans on same-sex marriage would jeopardize religious freedom and undermine the separation of church and state. The film mentions cases in Oregon and Washington state where a baker and florist, respectively, were sued for violating their states’ non-discrimination laws — not marriage laws — for refusing service to gay customers. (The baker and florist both lost their cases).

See the full bullshit video here. An excerpt is below. And remember that although homofascists are "verbally killing Christians" and "persecuting Christians all over America," only six businesses have ever been fined for violating LGBT-related public accommodation laws since Wisconsin became the first state with such a law over 33 years ago.

Rep. Louis Gohmert: Intolerant Gays Are Persecuting Christians All Over America