Where do the Presidential hopefuls stand on the issues pertaining to gay rights?

By the way Fred Karger is gay, which should explain why he so completely separated from the rest of the GOP field on these issues.

(H/T to Marriage Equality USA.)

Michele Bachmann goes all "deer in the headlights" while being grilled by David Gregory. This is why Teabaggers avoid the mainstream press.

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Check out those bug eyes.  She has NO idea what to say to this line of questioning.

"I am running for the Presidency of the United States. I am not running to be anyone's judge."

"But you have judged them."

"I..I..I don't judge them. I don't judge them. I am running for Presidency of the United States

WTF? Gregory reads off her own statements and she acts as if she has never heard them before.

And besides these clearly homophobic statements, she and her husband have charged the Federal government, through Medicaid, to provide psychologically damaging "reparative" therapies in an attempt to alter the sexual proclivities of homosexual men. If she and her husband Marcus had not judged this lifestyle as deviant than why would they provide a service to try and change it?

When Bachmann is asked if, as President (I'm sorry "Presidency"), she would appoint an openly gay person to her cabinet or to the courts, she lists three criteria: "Where do they stand on the Constitution, are you competent, and do you share my views?"

It should be crystal clear to anybody that, based on Bachmann's stated opinion about homosexuality, that the last one ("Do you share my views?"), ABSOLUTELY precludes any chance of a gay man or woman being provided any opportunities during a Bachmann Presidency.

I know she and her people probably think she effectively danced around that question, but I have little doubt that most Americans, especially gay Americans, had little trouble recognizing how the rights of homosexuals would be treated if Michele Bachmann had her way. 

By the way, I am not a David Gregory fan as a rule, but I thought he did a pretty good job here.

Today's feel good story of the day features an anti-gay marriage Republican caught propositioning an 18 year old male on Craiglist for sex. Wow, that DOES make me feel good!

Rep. Phillip Hinkle fondles his bullwhip.

Courtesy of TPM:

An Indiana state Representative, who recently voted for a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, has been accused of using Craigslist to offer an 18-year old male $80 for "a couple hours of your time tonight" plus a tip "for a really good time." 

The Indianapolis Star obtained e-mails sent from Rep. Phillip Hinkle's (R) publicly listed personal address, responding to a Craigslist posting by Kameryn Gibson that said "I need a sugga daddy." Gibson told the Star that the post was in the "Casual Encounters" section under m4m, or men for men. He used his sister Megan's e-mail address -- and she later sent the e-mails to the Star. 

"Cannot be a long time sugar daddy," says the e-mail response from what is allegedly Hinkle's address, "but can for tonight. Would you be interested in keeping me company for a while tonight?" 

"I am an in shape married professional, 5'8", fit 170 lbs, and love getting and staying naked," the e-mail says. 

Another e-mail says: "If u want to consider spending night u might tell ur sis so she won't worry. Would have u back before 11 tomorrow. No extra cash just free breakfast and maybe late night snack."

You know I think it is just precious that Rep. Hinkle does not want the family of his boy-toy to worry while he defiles him for money, and that he also wants to make sure his nutritional needs are met before he delivers him back to his sister's house in the morning. Pure class!

I believe that Rep. Hinkle sounds like a fairly reasonable gentleman living a life of quiet desperation, as he pretends to despise the very lifestyle that he wishes he could embrace openly. (Update: Well fairly reasonable that is until he told this kid he could not leave the hotel until "we do what we need to do," and then had his wife offer the boy and his sister $10,000 to keep quiet about the incident.)

It is just too bad that according to the belief system of the party that he has sworn his allegiance to he will now have to burn in the fiery pits of hell for his sinful nature. Sucks to be gay in the Grand Old Party.

I cannot tell you how amazing I find it that these powerful men, with everything to lose, openly respond to advertisement on Craiglist. You would think that after the Rep. Chris Lee scandal that NOBODY in Congress would even log into Craiglist.

Let's step away from the negative and talk about something positive. Like gay marriage in New York!

Just look at this picture.

Seen here are Phyllis Siegel (left) and Connie Kopelov (right) of New York City, the first same-sex couple to get married at the Manhattan City Clerk's office.

Is that not just the sweetest thing you have seen in very a long time?


I cannot imagine ANYBODY telling these wonderful ladies that they could not express their love for each other by legally committing their lives to one another. It just seems cruel upon reflection doesn't it?

This has started my daughter talking about wanting to get married as well, which I am VERY excited about! I have actually given away a lot of brides, but I had given up hope that I would someday do the same for my daughter.

Just another reminder to NEVER give up hope.

You can see more wonderful pictures over at Gawker.

Rachel Maddow addresses the Iowa "Marriage Vow" and a whole potpourri of crackpot Republican shenanigans.

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Do you ever get the feeling that the Republicans are just putting us on?

Or at least hope they are?

The New York State Senate JUST passed their same sex marriage bill!

Courtesy of Bay Windows:

The New York Senate voted to legalize same-sex marriage in the state Friday, June 24 with a vote of 33 to 29.

The measure needed just one more supporter in the Republican-controlled Senate. Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) called the body back into session after it expired Monday, June 20 to continue debating the issue. The governor expressed his support for legalized same-sex marriage, and spent the past few weeks personally lobbying senators on the matter.

The bill, which had been passed by the State Assembly, includes measures that would exempt religious groups who don’t support legalized marriage equality from having to officiate or otherwise participate in same-sex unions.

Now that is a pretty great way to wrtap up my blogging this Friday evening!

Rachel Maddow talks to Mayor Jason West of New Paltz, New York, about his courage in pushing for the rights of gay couples to marry.

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