From The Judy Garland Experience:
Judy Garland sings Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland, Till After The Holidays, and Silent Night.
Audio | The Judy Garland Christmas Album
Bill McBride, Florida gubernatorial candidate defeated by Jeb Bush in 2002, dies at 67
Democrat Bill McBride, a strong supporter of gay rights who ran for Florida governor in 2002 against incumbent Jeb Bush, died suddenly on Saturday at age 67.
"He was always a promoter of equality," said McBride's wife, Alex Sink, adding that her husband championed survivors of the Rosewood racial massacre, pro bono legal work and gay rights. "He was always promoting more minorities in the law."
Click here to read McBride's Associated Press obituary.
Click here to read an obituary written by Steve Bousquet of the Herald/Times Tallahassee bureau.
Calling all Artists: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force plans ArtScape for Winter Party 2013
From FIU LGBTQA:
Call to Artists
In March, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force will have its usual Winter Party Festival. One of the many events will be ArtScape: a nice reception during which art works are auctioned off. If you are interested in participating, please click below for for the call to women artists.
Court blocks California law banning gay therapy
BY LISA LEFF, ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court on Friday put the brakes on a first-of-its-kind California law that bans therapy aimed at turning gay minors straight.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency order putting the law on hold until the court can hear full arguments on the measure's constitutionality. The law was set to take effect Jan. 1.
Licensed counselors who practice so-called "reparative therapy" and two families who say their teenage sons have benefited from it sought the injunction after a lower court judge refused the request.
The law, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown this fall, states that therapists and counselors who use "sexual orientation change efforts" on clients under 18 would be engaging in unprofessional conduct and subject to discipline by state licensing boards.
The appeals court's order prevents the state from enforcing the law, SB1172, while a different three-judge panel considers if the measure violates the First Amendment rights of therapists and parents.
Pope stresses family values as gay marriage gains
BY NICOLE WINFIELD, ASSOCIATED PRESS
VATICAN CITY -- The pope pressed his opposition to gay marriage Friday, denouncing what he described as people eschewing their God-given gender identities to suit their sexual choices - and destroying the very "essence of the human creature" in the process.
Benedict XVI made the comments in his annual Christmas address to the Vatican bureaucracy, one of his most important speeches of the year. He dedicated it this year to promoting traditional family values in the face of gains by same-sex marriage proponents in the U.S. and Europe and efforts to legalize gay marriage in places like France and Britain.
In his remarks, Benedict quoted the chief rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim, in saying the campaign for granting gays the right to marry and adopt children was an "attack" on the traditional family made up of a father, mother and children.
Sam Champion and Rubem Robierb wed in New York, Miami Beach reception to be New Year's Eve
ABC News weather editor and "GMA" anchor Sam Champion and Rubem Robierb wed in an intimate ceremony at Champion’s New York City apartment Friday afternoon. They were surrounded by friends, family and Champion’s fellow “GMA” anchors. Robierb’s mother and sisters even Skyped in from Brazil to be a part of the special day.
Champion and Robierb, who also live in South Florida, plan to celebrate their marriage with a reception New Year's Eve in Miami Beach. Click here to read more. (Photos courtesy of Ida Astute)
Richard Hanna becomes 2nd GOP House member, after Ros-Lehtinen, to support repeal of DOMA
From Freedom to Marry:
New York – Congressman Richard Hanna (R-NY) announced his support today for the Respect for Marriage Act (HR 1116), the bill to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and end federal marriage discrimination against same-sex couples. He is the 159th cosponsor of the bill, and the second Republican cosponsor.“I respect the deeply held beliefs on both sides of this issue,” Hanna said in a statement. “The simple fact remains that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure all legally married couples are treated equally under federal law – and this bill would achieve that proper standard.”
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) became the first Republican cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act in 2011. Prominent Republicans who have expressed broad support for the freedom to marry include former Vice President Dick Cheney, former First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Barbara Bush, former RNC chairman Ken Mehlman, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, which launched in July, elevates the voices of the rapidly growing number of Republicans, libertarians, and other conservatives across the country who support marriage.
Jo Deutsch, federal director of Freedom to Marry, said: “Congressman Hanna is showing true leadership today by cosponsoring this landmark bill to put an end to the federal government's exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. He knows how critical it is to his constituents -- and all Americans --- that every married couple, gay or straight, has the same protections under the law. We urge other Congressional Republicans to stand on the right side of history and join Congressman Hanna in supporting the Respect for Marriage Act.”
Freedom to Marry's federal program works to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and make the case for marriage to government officials, opinion leaders, and political operatives in Washington, DC. Freedom to Marry and HRC lead the Respect for Marriage Coalition, a diverse group of 85 organizations working together to repeal DOMA.
From Log Cabin Republicans:
GOP Congressman Richard Hanna Wants Federal Respect for New York Marriages, Signs on to DOMA Repeal
(Washington, DC) – Today Congressman Richard Hanna (R-NY) became the second Republican to sign on as a cosponsor of the Respect of Marriage Act to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA currently prohibits federal recognition of legally married same-sex couples, in flagrant violation of the principles of federalism and equal protection under the law.
"Congressman Richard Hanna has been a staunch ally for the LGBT community since arriving in Congress, and his co-sponsorship of DOMA repeal sends a powerful message that the federal government has no business disrespecting decisions by states like New York to protect gay and lesbian families,” said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper. “Congressman Hanna's public support for the Respect for Marriage Act will embolden fellow Republicans who value the Constitution's design for limited government and respect for individual liberty. Especially after the last election, many in our party are finally recognizing that we have to deal with the reality of committed same-sex partnerships, and that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure all legally married couples are treated equally under federal law. Repealing DOMA is a crucial step in the right direction, and Richard Hanna, as a champion of true conservative principles, is helping to lead the way."
Log Cabin Republicans were proud to endorse Richard Hanna for election in both 2010 and 2012, and awarded the congressman with the organization’s highest honor, the Spirit of Lincoln Award, in September 2011. As a freshman member of Congress, Hanna joined the House LGBT Equality Caucus and cosponsored several other pieces of pro-equality legislation, including the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), the Safe Schools Improvement Act, and the Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act, which would equalize tax treatment for health benefits provided to domestic partners by employers.
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel apologizes for 1998 gay comment, now supports LGBT military families
BY DONNA CASSATA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
In a brief written statement issued Friday, the Republican said his comments about James C. Hormel were "insensitive" and did not reflect his views.
In an interview with the Omaha World-Herald in 1998, Hagel said he believed that for a U.S. ambassador, in his words, "it is an inhibiting factor to be gay." He went on to call Hormel "openly, aggressively gay."
Hagel apologized Friday to Hormel and to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Americans who may question his commitment to their civil rights.
Hagel says he supports "open service" and is committed to LGBT military families.
------------------------------------------------------------------
OutServe-SLDN Statement on Hagel Apology
(Washington, DC) Army veteran and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson released the following statement in reaction to an aplogy issued today by former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel for remarks made in 1998. The apology was reported by Washington Post.
"We are pleased that Senator Hagel recognized the importance of retracting his previous statement about Ambassador Hormel and affirming his commitment to Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal and LGBT military families. We look forward to learning more about his commitment to full LGBT military equality as this nomination and confirmation process unfolds," she said.
HRC Statement on Sen. Hagel’s Apology
WASHINGTON - Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin released the following statement in response to Sen. Hagel’s apology today:
"Senator Hagel's apology and his statement of support for LGBT equality is appreciated and shows just how far as a country we have come when a conservative former Senator from Nebraska can have a change of heart on LGBT issues. Our community continues to add allies to our ranks and we're proud that Senator Hagel is one of them.
"The next Defense Secretary should get off to a fast start and ensure LGBT military families have access to every possible benefit under the law. Every day these families continue to face unfair treatment and the Secretary can take meaningful action to remedy this discrimination."
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
Conservative group petitions President Obama to stop Supreme Court from ruling on gay marriage
News release from the conservative Faith and Freedom Institute:
ALTOONA, Penn., Dec. 21, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that they will hear two cases concerning same-sex marriage. One case is from New York and concerns the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The other case is from California and concerns a state constitutional amendment to limit marriage to one man and one woman. We of The Faith and Freedom Institute believe that marriage should remain between one man and one woman. In addition we believe that the decision concerning same-sex marriage should not be decided by unelected members in the federal judiciary. We believe the issue of same-sex marriage should be left to the States and to the American People. For the sake of national unity, we believe the Congress should remove from the U.S. Supreme Court and all federal courts jurisdiction over the issue of same-sex marriage. The Constitution gives the Congress this power in Article III, Sections 1 & 2. For the above reasons, The Faith and Freedom Institute has filed a petition on the White House petition page to ask the President to propose legislation to Congress to deny the U.S. Supreme and lower federal courts jurisdiction concerning the issue of same-sex marriage. See the Petition below.
We petition the Obama Administration to ask Congress to deny the US Supreme Court and all federal courts jurisdiction concerning same-sex marriage.
The President should propose legislation to the Congress to remove from the US Supreme Court and lower federal courts jurisdiction concerning the issue of same-sex marriage. The US Constitution gives this power to Congress in Article III, Sections 1 and 2. Also see Federalist Paper 80.
The Tenth Amendment clearly intended issues concerning marriage to be left to the States or to the people.
Sadly, the issue of same-sex marriage has deeply divided the American People. Honorable Americans on both sides of this issue have strong feelings concerning this matter.
We believe for the sake of national unity that the issue of same-sex marriage should not be decided by unelected members in the federal judiciary. We think that good judgment and wisdom demands that this issue be left to the American People.
(The text of the above petition was drafted by TFFI attorney David New)
