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Uganda Begins Debate on Anti-Gay Bill; Forced Therapy Considered

The Ugandan Parliament begins debating its extreme "Anti Homosexuality Bill" that seeks the death penalty or life imprisonment for the new crime of "aggravated homosexuality."

Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin reports Martin Ssempa, the leading anti-gay evangelist in Uganda and religious sponsor of the bill, has proposed two amendments:

At a special sitting of the Uganda Joint Christian Council taskforce sat and reviewed the bill to make comments. We resolved to support the bill with some amendments which included the following: (a) We suggested a less harsher sentence of 20 years instead of the death penalty for pedophilia or aggravated homosexuality. (b) We suggested the inclusion of counseling and rehabilitation being offered to offenders and victims. The churches are willing to provide the necessary help for those who are willing to undergo counseling and rehabilitation.

The Orwellian forced conversion therapy is not a new idea. In March, Rod 2.0 reported American anti-gay evangelists suggested the rabidly anti-gay government in Kampala should mandate "conversion therapy" for gay men. No word yet on the bill's most extreme provision, the death penalty. The bill's sponsor, MP David Bahati, says it will remain.

The United States government, which only recently officially came out against the bill,  is urging Uganda to abandon the extreme legislation, Reuters reports.

Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson said, 'We are concerned that if this legislation passes that it could in fact encourage others to do this. We will not have a double standard on human rights. We are opposed to this kind of legislation whether it is in Rwanda or any other country in Africa.' Carson, the top U.S. diplomat for Africa, said the U.S. government had been in touch with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni to express its opposition to the measure...adding that Museveni was empowered to veto legislation that comes forward. Carson stopped short of tying future U.S. aid to the bill. Uganda is a major recipient of HIV/AIDS relief and received an estimated $390 million in overall U.S. aid in 2009, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Assistant Secretary of State Carson's warning comes on the same weekend neighboring Rwanda proposes criminalizing homosexuality.

WATCH: DC Mayor Fenty Signs Historic Marriage Equality Bill

Earlier, Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the District's historic marriage equality bill into law. News video of the ceremony AFTER THE JUMP.

(TwitPic via Sarah Massey @ Twitter)

Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton

There is an update to the case of anti-gay "murder music" singer Buju Banton, who has been jailed in Miami on federal drug conspiracy charges. Bail has been denied and he will be transferred to Tampa, reports the AP.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff issued a temporary order of detention for the 36-year-old singer, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie. Banton did not speak at the hearing, except to reply, "Yes, sir," to the judge's questions... Banton has been in federal custody since last Thursday. He is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According to a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration affidavit, Banton and two others traveled to Sarasota last week to purchase a large amount of cocaine from an undercover law enforcement officer. The DEA was tipped off by a confidential informant who agreed to wear a recording device during the drug negotiation session. Banton's attorney said the singer is "completely innocent" of the charges against him. "He's a very spiritual person," Herbert E. Walker III said. "He has a lot of faith in God. He's confident he's going to be exonerated."

Gay activists in North America and Europe have called attention to Banton's "spiritual" lyrics, which incite violence and call for attacking, torturing and killing gays. His song "Boom Bye Bye", a dancehall anthem released in the 1990s, calls for shooting gays in the head and setting them on fire. In recent years, the singer's North American and European tour dates have routinely met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations.

The federal drug conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Earlier this month, Banton's ninth album, Rasta Got Soul, was nominated for a Grammy for best reggae album and sparked outrage. GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD)  spearheaded an online petition drive against The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. The petition is HERE.

Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty Signs Marriage Equality Bill

Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signs the District's historic marriage equality bill, clearing the way for the law to take effect in the spring after the mandatory congressional review period.

Fenty signed in front of 150 activists and same-sex couples—many of whom say they plan to marry—in the sanctuary of All Souls Unitarian in Mount Pleasant. "We knew this day would come," Fenty said. "I say to the world: An era of struggle ends for thousands in Washington, D.C. . . . Our city is taking a leap forward." Before he signed the bill, Fenty spoke of his interracial upbringing, noting it was illegal for his parents to get married 40 years ago. "This is one of the churches my parents would have brought me to when I was a boy," he said as his parents sat among advocates in a second pew. "Things have a way of coming full circle. When you're mayor."

The law to legalize same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia was introduced by D.C. Council Member David Catania, who is openly gay, and supported by an overwhelming majority of the council.

The District of Columbia becomes the only jurisdiction south of the Mason-Dixon line where same-sex marriage is legal. Our nation's capitol also becomes the only majority black jurisdiction where same-sex marriage is the law. Thank you Mayor Fenty, Councilman Catania and everyone who made this happen. Bravo and congratulations.

Hate Crime Suspected in Murder of Gay Man in Puerto Rico Motel

For the second time in less than a month, a hate crime is suspected after a gay man was killed in a gruesome murder in Puerto Rico. On November 13, the decapitated, dismembered and partially burned body of Jorge Steven López Mercado was discovered near Cayey.

On Wednesday, the body of a man in his early forties was discovered at the Motel Las Colinas in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The unidentified man was stabbed to death multiple times and discovered in a pool of blood. "Investigator Richard Nazario told Nuevo Dia the man ... had 20 stab wounds on other parts of his body he said were consistent with a person who tried to defend himself. Motel employees told investigators two men checked-in Tuesday afternoon, and one of them left around 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 16. Nazario added local authorities have not received any missing person reports. And police continue to look at the motel's surveillance tapes."

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force spokesman Pedro Julio Serrano, who has been the lead activist in the López murder, urges investigators to probe all angles: “Due to the circumstances, the hate involved and the clear signs of violence that are similar to other hate crimes in the past, we are asking authorities to investigate the hate crime angle in this case. The Puerto Rico hate crimes law forces Police officers to file if they suspect that the crime was bias motivated in their investigative report. It should be a standard procedure for every crime. We urge authorities to follow the law and investigate this and every crime without prejudice.”

More details as they develop ...

Sen. DeMint: Gays Are "Immoral", Same Sex Marriage "Destructive"

Right-wing South Carolina social conservative Sen. Jim DeMint, described as a "favorite of the grassroots 'tea party' brigade and Fox News", tells Bloomberg News that same-sex marriage is "destructive" to our society and gays are so "immoral" he could never imagine one as president:

"He takes a hard line on social issues, passionately anti- abortion and pro-guns. He has been most outspoken as an opponent of any form of gay marriage. 'Marriage is a religious institution. The federal government has no business redefining what it is,' DeMint says. This is one issue where he doesn’t support states’ rights; state government shouldn’t have the right to permit gay marriage: 'Governments should not be in the business of promoting a behavior that’s proven to be destructive to our society.' He cringes at the notion of a gay or lesbian president: 'It would be bothersome to me just personally because I consider it immoral.'"

Speaking of marriages and morality, DeMint has been virtually silent regarding his state's governor, Mark Sanford, who abandoned his wife and children over Father's Day and flew to Argentina for a jump-off.

In October, the anti-gay conservative slammed the hate crimes bill that just passed Senate and claimed it "undermine[[d] the principles" soldiers are fighting for.

WATCH: London Sings "Happy Birthday" to JLS's JB at 02 Arena

Sorry for being a few days late on this: Jonathon "JB" Gill—he of the quarter-sized nipples in gay vague British boyband of the moment JLS—is all smiles as he celebrated his 23rd birthday with about 20,000 of his closest friends at London's 02 Arena as the crowd sang "Happy Birthday". The band was one of the headliners at the mega-popular Jingle Bell Ball that included Lady Gaga.

The boys sayJB's swagger attracts the most male attention.

Marvin, as usual, never can keep his shirt on. Aston strips off, more images of the lads in concert and several videos AFTER THE JUMP.

Lieberman Threatens Reid: I Will Filibuster Health Care Reform

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Aetna/Prudential) is determined to carry out his threat to support a Republican filibuster of health care. Lieberman is now opposed to any bill with a public option OR an expanded Medicare provision: Lieberman delivered his ultimatum on CBS's Face the Nation and later to Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) face.

According to the source, who was briefed on the exchange, Lieberman punctuated the discussion by telling the majority leader directly that he will vote against the bill if the Medicare buy-in and public option provisions remain in it. Roll Call reports that Lieberman said he would also support a Republican filibuster of legislation that included these provisions. "Leadership was definitely a bit surprised with the lines being drawn in the sand the way they were," said the source. "We expected that he would say critical things about [the bill]. But he is not even giving us a chance to get it scored. The pledge by Lieberman to oppose the bill represents a potentially huge setback for reform proponents, many of who saw the latest round of policy compromises as the last true chance to corral the needed votes. That said, leadership has several fallback options (none of them promising) should Lieberman follow through on the threat.

Only days ago. Lieberman said he was "open to looking at" Reid’s Medicare buy-in compromise. That must have been before Aetna and Blue Cross called Joe's office with their latest talking points. Cannot wait until the day when we can call this man FORMER Homeland Security Committee Chairman.

UPDATE: White House reportedly abandons Medicare compromise, tells Reid to cut a deal with Lieberman. The White House officially denies these reports but other reports suggest WH Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel personally lobbied Reid to deal with Lieberman.

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WATCH: Annise Parker on CNN

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield interviewed Houston Mayor-Elect Annise Parker on the day after her historical and decisive Saturday victory.

Says the mayor-elect: "I have been elected city-wide in Houston six previous times. The voters know me, the voters trust me, they have a lot of data points on me. Even though there was an onslaught of ... negative campaigning towards the end, voters were able to see past that." Parker was referring to ugly attacks from pastors who who questioned her "homosexual agenda" and the tens of thousands of vicious mailings sent to residents.

Parkers adds: "What I hope that this election signals is something larger than me and the GLBT community. It's that Houston is a wonderful diverse international city that values people for what they can do more than who they are."

Watch the interview AFTER THE JUMP ...

Nevada Brothels Are Now Open to Male Prostitutes

Male prostitutes are now eligible to work at Nevada's legal brothels after health codes were amended, reports the Las Vegas Sun.

A brothel industry lobbyist—in what could be considered a befuddling double standard—bemoaned the change, comparing it to the industry’s “Pearl Harbor.” He managed to voice concerns about homosexual sex entering the industry without ever saying "gay sex" or "homosexual." Men were previously barred in Nevada from the oldest profession because codes specified that prostitutes must undergo “cervical” testing for sexually transmitted diseases, which ruled out men.

Bobbi Davis, owner of the Shady Lady Ranch, a small brothel near Beatty, wanted to add male prostitutes to her stable of sex workers. And while there have been plans for brothels to hire men in the past, Davis made the first-ever request to have the Nevada State Board of Health add urethral exams to the guidelines. That allows male sex workers to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. George Flint, the former Assemblies of God minister who has been lobbying for the Nevada Brothel Owners Association for 24 years, said he “reluctantly—and I underscore reluctantly” agrees to the change.

Men could start working at brothels as soon as the New Year. Male sex workers will be allowed to decide whether to accept male or female clients, just as the female prostitutes do now.

The former Assemblies of God minister turned whorehouse lobbyist "reluctantly agrees" to allow male hookers in brothels. So much for the "'sanctity" of prostitution.