'MO NEWS 8/8/08

NOT SO CONSERVATIVE:  The Log Cabin Republicans begin Republicans Against Prop.8...Scott Schmidt:  "Marriage is a personal decision.  It's not up to the long arm of the government of when, where and whom you should get married to."

MAG HAG:  Radar reports on the unsung heroes of the child beauty pageant circuit:  gay men.

WINGNUT:  Randy Thomasson alerts against the horrors of 'Harvey Milk Day:'  

"This will harm children as young [sic] kindergarten. Every May 22, AB 2567 will positively portray to children homosexual experimentation, homosexual 'marriages,' sex-change operations, and anything else that's 'in the closet.' Governor Schwarzenegger should say no to this very inappropriate bill, which has nothing to do with academic excellence."

LAPTOP COP:  Canadian border agents confiscate laptop over gay porn:

"While the gay men watched, a CBSA agent sat in their truck and poked through the contents of the laptop. When he ran into locked material, he got the passwords from them. Rick and Shawn say that, in retrospect, it was a slapdash search. The laptop was combed, but not their cell phones, Shawn's Blackberry, or the loose burned CDs in the truck's glove compartment. The CBSA officers went into their office. Time ticked by as Rick and Shawn pondered what to do next. About an hour later, a CBSA officer came back with bad news. 'He came back and said 'We're going to have to confiscate the laptop.' I asked why. He said it had 'questionable material,'' says Rick." [towleroad]

REPEAL 377! Indian health minister Anbumani Ramadoss today came out against his nation’s ban on gay sex, telling officials at an AIDS conference, “Section 377 of the [penal code], which criminalizes men who have sex with men, must go.” [Hindustan Times]

» GAY REMAINS. San Antonio’s city council dropped a plan to rename Gay Street after a neighboring church complained about the mixed message. [WOAI]


BUT, I HEART YOU: Gay voters looking to show love for John McCain may face some hurdles:
The McCain campaign store, for $250, will customize a 3-by-6 foot outdoor banner, but as gay Democrat and McCain supporter Craig Brownstein of Washington’s Edelman PR learned, what goes on the banner is subject to “content approval” by the campaign. Brownstein was told that his selection, “A Proud Gay Democrat for John McCain,” was rejected.
The representative told him over the phone that the banner “could only be personalized with names.”
We wonder if Brownstein’s still feeling proud…


JUSTICE DELAYED. “The trial of the five men accused of the hate crime murder of former [South African] soccer player Eudy Simelane has been postponed for the fourth time… The trial was postponed until September 1 by Judge Betty Lesufi at the Springs Magistrate’s Court to give the state more time to compile its case against the men who have remained in custody… It is believed that she was targeted because she was a lesbian.” [Mamba]


SNUBBED. “Two of the 26 Republican state district judges on the Nov. 4 ballot in Harris County sought the endorsement of Houston’s gay political caucus — and failed to get it. The Houston Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Political Caucus’ all-Democratic endorsements late Wednesday night leaves political observers waiting to see whether the unsuccessful move by the two Republican jurists makes a difference in the vote results three months from now.” [Houston Chronicle]



NEW YORK STATE OF MIND: New York state could get more gay friendly!
Legislation aimed at banning bullying in public schools, including harassment based on sexual orientation, has been quietly introduced in the State Senate.
The legislation, which includes language protecting transgender students and teachers, has been a priority of advocates for gay and lesbian rights but was ignored for nearly a decade in the Senate.
Republicans introduced the bill this week, but no sponsor was listed.
…
The legislation would require training to help teachers recognize and respond to bullying and require schools to keep track of bullying cases, including incidents in which students are harassed for their sexual orientation.
If passed, New York would become the 12th state with such a lavender friendly measure.


» “NOT GUILTY.” Fourteen year old Brandon McInerney pleaded “not guilty” yesterday to the shooting death of classmate Lawrence King. McInerney allegedly killed King because the 15-year old had a crush on him. Defense lawyers also argued yesterday that the charges should be dropped to manslaughter, rather than murder. McInerney faces up to 51 years in prison if convicted, because he’s being tried as an adult. [AP]


[queerty]


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