24 June 2009

FOX "News" Identifies Disgraced GOP Gov. Sanford as "Democrat"

2009_06_24_sanford_fox

FOX "News" continues to operate in an alternative universe, especially when a Republican falls out of favor. Disgraced South Carolina Republican Gov. Mark Sanford was identified as a "Democrat" at his afternoon press conference. Media Matters reports the right-wing cable news channel "later correctly identified" the governor as a Republican.

Mark Foley and John McCain are among the many other Republican politicians whose party identification was switched on-air.

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27 April 2009

News: Andrew Howe, Alabama, Michelle Obama, Madonna

On the same day the Alabama House of Representatives approves a resolution that praises Miss California Carrie Prejean for her public stand against marriage equality, members vote to add sexual orientation to the state's hate crimes law. The bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery was approved by the House on a close 46-41 vote. It updates a hate crimes law passed in 1994 that included race, color, religion and national origin. The bill now goes to the Senate.

2009_04_27_andrew_howe · Is Perez Hilton a problem for the gay community?

· Ne-Yo channels Vin Diesel: I'm not gay, I only "date" women in Europe.

· After suffering an injury to his left Achilles tendon, Italian track and field sensation Andrew Howe will abandon the long jump this season and concentrate on sprinting.

· Madonna back with Jesus Luz? Page Six reports Madge has "reunited with her Brazilian man-candy and insiders are crediting her friends in the fashion world. Marc Jacobs 'wrote a letter of support for Jesus' work permit' to allow him to stay in the country, said our source. 'Marc campaigned for Jesus, saying he is highly talented and a necessity to the label.' " 

2009_04_27_michelle_style · FOX "News" will not air Obama's prime-time news conference marking his 100th day in office.

· The first book devoted to Michelle Obama's style hits bookstores next week.

· New music: Basement Jaxx's "Rain Drops"

· Union activist Mary Beth Maxwell appointed senior adviser to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.

30 March 2009

Gates: Administration Will Delay Change to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

2009_03_30_gates

On January 14, 2009, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama would lift the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that bans gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military. No timeline was given. Defense Secretary Robert Gates appeared on FOX News Sunday and says it will "not" happen anytime soon.

"I think the president and I feel like we've got a lot on our plates right now, and let's push that one down the road a little bit," Gates told Fox's Chris Wallace.

When Wallace asked Gates why there is money in the proposed 2010 budget to enforce the "Don't Ask" policy, the former Bush administration official said the Pentagon will enforce whatever policy is the law.

"Any change in the policy would require a change in the law," Gates said. "We will follow the law whatever it is. That dialog [to end the ban]... has really not progressed very far in this administration."

In 1993, the Clinton White House tackled the thorny issue of gays in the military less than 100 days into its presidency. After polarizing debate, DADT became the flawed compromise that exists today. Since DADT was enacted more than 12,000 servicemembers have been dismissed because of their sexuality, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

Just like health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act, there probably will not be any traction this year on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  Despite the legislative support to end the ban, it probably will be delayed until the Administration begins withdrawal from Iraq. 

Some Background ...
Tauscher Introduces Bill to Repeal "Don't Ask" [R20]
Obama Conference Call on "Don't Ask" [R20]
Obama Talks to "The Advocate" [R20]
Gays in Military Do Not Undermine "Cohesiveness" [R20]
Court of Appeals Upholds "Don't Ask"
[R20]
Joint Chiefs Nominee: Congress Can Reconsider "Don't Ask" [R20]
Former Joint Chiefs Chairman: End DADT [R20]
Former Defense Secretary: End DADT [R20]

Former Defense Secretary: End DADT [R20]
Former Joint Chiefs Chair: End DADT [R20]
Most Soldiers Support Gays [R20]

28 March 2009

News: Louis Smith, Bill O'Reilly, Madonna, Vermont Marriage

2009_03_28_louis_smith · UPS will no longer advertise on anti-gay right-winger Bill O'Reilly's show on FOX News.

· Japan will recognize the marriages of nationals who legally marry same-sex partners outside the country.

· British Olympic gymnastics bronze medalist and Rod 2.0 fave Louis Smith warms up for Europeans. Smith took silver in the London Open and heads to Milan for the Individual European Championships this week.

· Bilerico.com shut down for 9 hours by hackers who targeted the popular gay blog for the past year and a half.

· Two victories for gay rights in Delaware. The legislature rejects "a proposed same-sex marriage ban and approving a bill to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation—though not gender identity."

2009_03_28_madonna_kids · Spain considers a criminal case against six former Bush administration officials—including former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales—who approved torture.

· British children's charity to Madonna: "Please think twice before adopting another African child."

· More than 300 supporters of marriage equality rally outside the office of Vermont's Republican Governor Jim Douglas, who promises to veto a gay marriage bill expected to pass the legislature next week. "He met for about 10 minutes with a handful of same-sex marriage supporters, but they came away unsatisfied. 'I don't believe we made any headway," Sandi Cote-Whitacre of Georgia Center tells the Burlington Free Press. "We let him know we were terribly disappointed and we weren't going away." The bill passed the Senate earlier this week and is expected to pass the House. A two-thirds majority in both houses would be required override a veto and "it remains unclear" whether marriage proponents have the votes.


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21 January 2009

KABC-TV Refuses to Broadcast Commercial Featuring Black Gay Family During Inauguration

2009_01_21_kabc_gettoknowus

"Too controversial" to show a commercial featuring black gay men raising a family ... during the inauguration of the nation's first black president?

That was the response by the sales team at KABC-TV, the Disney and ABC owned and operated station in Los Angeles, to the ad agency for GetToKnowUsFirst.org. The marriage equality activists produced five 30-second spots (watch here) featuring gay and lesbian families with the message "Marriage promotes families. Support marriage equality." The spots aired in 42 of the California's 58 counties—each county where Proposition 8 passed—during Tuesday's coverage of the Presidential Inauguration. KABC is "the only station that refused to sell the ad space." Guess which ad they rejected?

The rejected ad profiles two African American men raising five children ages 6 through 25. Ironically, the family lives in Los Angeles.

The media buy was attempted by the organization's ad agency, New and Improved Media. Its CEO, Keith Fisher, was surprised that KABC rejected the group's money. Fisher said, "We usually only see this with risque content, as in a trailer for a movie." He added, "If KABC thinks they have to protect the public from this family, something's obviously very wrong over there."

Chris Yokogawa, the ad agency's media buyer, worked with the station, attempting to ease any concerns they might have. He said, "We went back and forth a couple of times. I explained that this family is far from controversial. They were firm in their rejection. They said it was too controversial to air during the Inauguration, since 'many families will be watching."

The spot featuring the black gay couple was specifically chosen for the Los Angeles DMA because the county has the state's highest concentration of black residents. Two other spots in the campaign feature Latino couples and one of those commercials is in Spanish.  The one-off spots aired across California on Tuesday—before, during and after the Presidential Inauguration—on Good Morning America, Today, Despierta America (Univision) and Levantate (Telemundo), as well as on CNN, Fox News and on local news programs. 

The spot is a much-needed shot in the arm toward the visibility of black gay and lesbian couples, who tend to raise more children but are routinely overlooked in marriage equality messaging and were completely ignored in the No on 8 campaign. Oh and the visibility of black gay and lesbian families is a direct response to the anti-gay black pastors who used children as props to convince their congregations to vote for Prop 8. Very amusing this television station has no problems accepting money to encourage consumers to buy Viagra or beer, but, heaven forbid "families" should see an ad featuring families.

AFTER THE JUMP, watch the ad in question.

Continue reading "KABC-TV Refuses to Broadcast Commercial Featuring Black Gay Family During Inauguration" »

16 December 2008

Porn Offers for Visanthe Shiancoe After Locker Room Full Frontal

2008-12-09-VIKINGS

Well, you knew this had to happen. Quite a few people were impressed with the ... ummm ... impressive, endowment of Visanthe Shiancoe, the Minnesota Vikings tight end who became an internet sensation after his full-frontal postgame segment in the locker room. So of course the amply endowed football player has been approached to do porn.

Straight porn, of course. Outsports reports the offer publicity stunt was made by Black Ice DVD.

"From what we’ve seen, there is definitely a career for Visanthe in the adult industry, if he’d like one," said Black Ice general manager Tony Santoro [to AVN]."

Black Ice publicist Scott Stein said the company is unaware of any morals clause in Shiancoe’s contract that would prevent him from accepting a contract with the makers of Bubble Butt Barbecue 2.

"Whether or not Visanthe will be interested in our offer - or if the league will intervene - remains to be seen," said Santoro. "It’s worth a shot, as this would definitely be something that the fans will want to see."

It probably is not happening anytime soon. But there are probably quite a few fans on our team who wouldn't mind seeing Visanthe team up with fellow Black Ice star Brian Pumper. Of course both are very! straight! so it's just wishful thinking.

Shiancoe Gets Porn Offer [Outsports]
Vikings Star an Internet Sensation [FOX]

Did You Read? ...
Fox Apologizes After Locker Room Full Frontal[R20]

09 December 2008

Fox Apologizes After On-Air Vikings Locker Room Full Frontal

2008-12-09-VIKINGS

Now this is one reason to invest in HDTV. Fox Sports is caught with its pants down, literally, after a postgame segment in the Minnesota Vikings locker room inadvertently showed tight end Visanthe Shiancoe's long dong. Apparently a few viewers complained. WTF?

Shiancoe was inadvertently shown naked on television while a Fox camera crew taped owner Zygi Wilf’s presentation of the game ball to coach Brad Childress’ 19-year-old son Andrew, who is joining the Marine Corps on Monday.

Shiancoe was standing behind and to the side of Wilf with a towel partly covering his body. But not completely.

“It obviously was an oversight on our part and we apologize,” said Fox Sports vice president of Communications Dan Bell.


No apology necessary. After the jump, feast your eyes on Visanthe Shiancoe's (nsfw) extra prime NFL beef.

Continue reading "Fox Apologizes After On-Air Vikings Locker Room Full Frontal" »

12 November 2008

Michael Steele Seeking Chair of Republican National Committee

20081112steele

FOX News reports Michael Steele, the black former lieutenant governor of Maryland, has decided to run for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee "and is in talks with Newt Gingrich to win the former House speaker's endorsement."

Baltimore Sun analysis is spot-on.

"Picking Steele would be an interesting and symbolically potent choice for the GOP. He emerged during the party's convention over the summer as critical of the Republican party's outreach to minorities, noting in nationally televised interviews that there were fewer black delegates to the party's convention than in previous years. Barack Obama's dominance among minorities—not just African-Americans—and young voters has certainly upset a number of people in the party's hierarchy, who conclude that being an all-white party isn't a winning strategy in a country that will be majority-minority in the not too distant future."

Steele consistently opposed gay rights and same sex marriage during his tenure as lieutenant governor. Steele lost his bid for the senate in 2006 and his campaign relentlessly gay-baited and slammed gay marriage as he courted black congregations. Let's hope there is no déjà vu.

Steele Seeking Republican National Committee Post [Sun]
Steele Likely to Seek RNC Leadership Post [FOX]

25 September 2008

Letterman Slams McCain's "Cancellation"

Not sure did you catch Letterman last night but it was priceless. As part of his publicity stunt to suspend his campaign activities, Republican presidential nominee John McCain canceled last night's appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. McCain staffers reportedly told the show the senator was literally "racing back to Washington." McCain went down the street for an interview with CBS News' Katie Couric. Letterman slams the Republican presidential nominee for his increasingly transparent dishonesty.

Think Progress reports within hours after McCain's promise to "suspend' campaign activities and "set politics aside", five campaign strategists appeared on FOX News and MSNBC to criticize Barack Obama and Democrats.

19 September 2008

DC Police Say Fatal Attack May Be Robbery, Not Hate Crime

A black gay Maryland man dies after a brutal street attack near a gay bar in Washington DC. Detectives back away from their initial theory this was a "gay-bashing" but the victim's friends are not convinced.

2008_09_19_hunterThirty-seven-year-old Tony Randolph Hunter and a friend were severely beaten on September 7 near Eighth and N Streets N.W. The two were headed to the BeBar, the popular gay club. A severe blow to the head left Hunter in a coma and lingering ten days in a vegetative state,. Hunter was pronounced dead on Wednesday afternoon. Report and video at Newschannel 8.

At first, investigators suspected gay bashing. A group of four young men attacked Hunter and his friend as they walked to a gay bar. But based on witness accounts and since the assailants robbed Hunter, police now call it a homicide.

Reportedly the victim's "wallet, keys and cell phone were taken" and detectives are now examining surveillance camera footage to identify the attackers.

The surviving victim tells FOX 5 no anti-gay slurs or epithets were shouted. "We had just gotten out of the car when four to five guys came up on us fast," he told FOX 5's Paul Wagner. "They didn't say anything—just started swinging. Some of the men attacked Tony and some came after me. I punched back and was able to get away. When I looked back down the block I saw Tony on the ground."

It's probably no coincidence that FOX 5 has more details on the crime but never once mentions the victim was gay, never says the word "gay", or, for that matter, suggests what type of hate crime police initially pursued. Nothing to see here, keep moving. The omissions reinforce conservative talking points that gay men and lesbians are not beaten and killed over their sexuality.

Random violence or hate crime? It may not make a difference. Tony Hunter’s tragic death is the just latest in a series of violent crimes that have victimized District-area gays and lesbians.

Man Dies After Brutal Street Attack [Newschan 8]
Victim of Attack Near Convention Center Dies [FOX 5]
Coping with Tragedy [Wash Blade]

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