LOL. Watch Colbert encourage gays to send pictures 'verifying' their homosexuality to GOP Rep. Steve King, who doubts they exist

Founder of gay Republican group resigns from the GOP

Even gay conservatives can only take so much disrespect and hatred from the GOP:

Today, I joined the ranks of unaffiliated voters. I am every bit as conservative as I’ve always been, but I just can’t bring myself to carry the Republican label any longer. You see, I just don’t agree with the big-government ‘conservatives’ who run the party now. 

The other reason I am leaving is the tolerance of bigotry in the GOP. The current leadership lacks the courage to stand up to it – I’m not sure they ever will. 

I have worked hard to help to create an atmosphere on the right where conservatives can openly support gay Americans and even support same-sex marriage. In that effort, we have won, but there is more work to do to root out the anti-gay and other forms of bigotry in the party.

--Jimmy LaSalvia, founder of the conservative gay group GOProud, has left the Republican Party, he writes on his blog:

Via Towleroad

Rachel Maddow questions the U.S. Air Force Academy for hiring an ex-gay therapist to lead their mandatory cadet counseling program, and the homophobia of the GOP

When some conservatives can't win at the ballot box, they try to disenfranchise voters, which is the gravest insult to those who have died fighting for democracy

And this happening in Virginia right now because the anti-gay, anti-woman, and anti-immigrant GOP candidate for governor is trailing his Democratic opponent...



In Texas, where a popular Democratic woman, Wendy Davis, is running for governor.  From ThinkProgress:

In addition to attacks on their reproductive rights, women in Texas are facing another sizable problem: large-scale disenfranchisement. Thanks to the state’s strict voter ID law – going into effect on November 5 – constituents must nowprovide a photo ID with their most up-to-date, legally-recognized name at the polls. On the surface the prerequisite appears achievable, but in reality it disproportionately impacts female voters, specifically those who are married.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, “66 percent of voting-age women with ready access to any proof of citizenship have a document with [their] current legal name” – the remainder must find a way to procure a new photo ID to vote in upcoming elections. Because so many women fail to update their IDs after adopting their spouses’ last name, their right to vote is under threat. Doing so, however, comes with a litany of obstacles.

Constituents must show original documents verifying legal proof of a name change, whether it is a marriage license, divorce decree, or court ordered change – they are prevented from using photocopies. In the absence of original documents, voters must pay a minimum of $20 to receive new copies. Due to inflexible work schedules and travel expenses, voters often opt to have their documents mailed, incurring additional costs.

Taken together, these obstacles to proving a legal name change will eliminate a large pool of women from the state’s electorate, as many will face time and financial constraints that will prohibit them from securing new credentials. On the other hand, the majority of men eligible to vote will not encounter the same difficulties, because they do not typically modify their names when married.

Anyone -- Democrat or Republican -- who tries to disenfranchise another citizen from voting is not a real democracy-loving American. This behavior is reprehensible, the same as treason. 

Quote of the day

What is happening in the Republican Party today is reminiscent of what happened to the Democrats in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

--John Judis

A call to love: The Episcopal Church says "the sins" of homophobia & heterosexism join racism & sexism

 

"In its wisdom, the church came to its senses and labeled both racism and sexism as sinful. And now we find ourselves at the last barrier—call that barrier homophobia, call it heterosexism. We must now have the courage to take the final step and call homophobia and heterosexism what they are. They are sin. Homophobia is a sin. Heterosexism is a sin. Shaming people for whom they love is a sin. Shaming people because their gender identity doesn’t fit neatly into your sense of what it should be is a sin. Our job, as Christians, is not only to proclaim that Gospel. Our job is to live it. And if we are faithful in proclaiming and living it, today’s generation of LGBT youth will thrive and grow and take their places around this table, with Jesus, as we bless, forgive, heal, and love the world. Amen."

 --Rev. Gary Hall, chief ecclesiastical leader of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, in a sermon marking the 15th anniversary of the death of Matthew Shepard.

The GOP is constantly attacking the dignity of the LGBT. Today, the Republican governor of Pennsylvania compared same-sex love to incest. Grrr!!!

Best tweets in response to Gov. Christie's appeal of a NJ court decision in favor of marriage equality