Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Gay News Magazine Headlines (T24T-2)

News:

As a result of the federal government shutdown, Ford's Theatre last week announced that it has had to postpone its run of The Laramie Project, the centerpiece of this third iteration of the theatre's Lincoln Legacy Project. At the time, Ford's announced that two performances had been relocated to the nearby First Congregational United Church of Christ, at 945 G St. NW. Today, Ford's has announced additional performances at the church.

While the theater was forced to close due to its partnership with the federal National Park Service, its affiliated Center for Education and Leadership, at 514 10th St. NW, remains open, fully owned and operated by the Ford's Theatre Society (FTS). As a component of the programming built around The Laramie Project, a play exploring how Matthew Shepard's murder and the attention it generated affected the residents of Laramie, Wyo., the center is housing an exhibit titled Not Alone: The Power of Response. That exhibit remains open during the shutdown with extended hours, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibit features a selection of the thousands of letters sent to the Shepard family after Matthew's death, 15 years ago this month.

The newly announced schedule is:

Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.: FTS will host a free performance of The Laramie Project. Tickets will be available at First Congregational United Church of Christ beginning at 6:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 9. 7:30 p.m.: Patrons ticketed for this performance at Ford's may be re-ticketed for this performance time at the church. Remaining tickets are $25.

Thursday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m.: All student groups ticketed for this sold-out performance at Ford's will be re-ticketed for this performance time at the church.

Friday, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m.: Patrons ticketed for this performance at Ford's may be re-ticketed for this performance time at the church. Remaining tickets are $25. All proceeds will be donated to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Following the performance, Ford's will host a candlelight vigil outside of the theater in honor of Matthew Shepard's legacy and National Coming Out Day.

Saturday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m.: Patrons ticketed for this performance at Ford's may be re-ticketed for this performance time at the church. Remaining tickets are $25.

Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m.: Patrons ticketed for this performance at Ford's may be re-ticketed for this performance time at the church. Remaining tickets are $25.

Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 p.m.: This performance has been canceled and ticketed patrons will be contacted by Ford's Theatre regarding ticket exchanges.

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.: Patrons ticketed for this performance at Ford's may be re-ticketed for this performance time at the church. Remaining tickets are $25.

For more information, call 202-347-4833 or visit fordstheatre.org.

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News:

The ManDate Conference, an annual gathering of about 200 African-American gay and bisexual men, will return to Washington for three days next month.

The conference is hosted by Project Healthy Living, a group of African-American gay and bisexual men associated with DC Care and the HIV/Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration (HAHSTA) of the D.C. Department of Health. The organizers' aim is to encourage healthier choices and improve sexual health outcomes. To that end, they offer the annual gathering as a forum to discuss specific issues of concern to the black ''MSM'' (men who have sex with men) community.

Conference attendees will participate in various panels or group discussions that tackle issues including mental and physical well-being and health, relationships, sex and sexuality, integrating different generations, and community mobilization.

This year's conference theme is ''I Am a Man,'' which according to the conference's organizers means, ''unapologetically celebrat[ing] the presence, beauty, inherent power, resiliency, dignity and value of all black gay and same gender loving men.''

Registration for the conference includes admission to all programs and events, continental breakfast and lunch on the first two days of the conference, and entry to the evening dinner and cocktail receptions Friday, Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 9. Registrations cost $40 until Nov. 7, or $50 for on-site registration.

The 2013 ManDate Conference will runs Friday, Nov. 8, to Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Human Rights Campaign Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. For more information or to register online, visit at themandate-dc.com.

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Opinion:

The brinkmanship in Washington is getting a little heady, so let's summarize: The thug from Texas by way of Princeton and Harvard says to The Worst President Since George W. Bush, "Kill your greatest domestic achievement or the hostage gets it!" The Worst President Since Edith Galt Wilson refuses to budge, so the thug whacks the poor bastard, which is to say the world economy, and says to The Worst President in the History of the Alpha Quadrant, "I can't believe you did that!"

With luck my musings will be overtaken by events, and what the mainstream media calls the "budget impasse" will be resolved before you see this. Nah. Speaking of the media, what an inspiration they are in their studied neutrality, pretending that we couldn't possibly spot the arsonists in this situation. As a medieval priest said to the commander of the papal army as it approached a rebellious village, "Kill them all and let God sort them out." If that sounds harsh, please remember that it is not the media's job to sort fact from fabrication, but only to give airtime to the most telegenic demagogues and wait for the fun and gore to ensue.

With news being shaped to fit a desired narrative, why not go whole hog and let political whimsy repeal the Scientific Revolution? Our science policy could be guided by amateur scientists like Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), who said in 2009 that harnessing wind power "slows the winds down, which causes the temperature to go up." This must be music to the ears of America's competitors in China, India and Brazil.

Such ignorance requires concerted effort. The ''tea partyers'' have their own science, history, constitution and math. These wizards can change reality by incantation. Thus an even-tempered president accused by his own side of compromising too much becomes, by repetition, a tyrant who throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way. And the views of one-tenth of the members of one-half of one of three branches of government are entitled to prevail over everyone else. Pay no attention to the fact that the resulting minoritarian government serves the interests of plutocrats who, The New York Times reports, bankrolled and planned this crisis.

House Speaker Boehner, hemmed in by members of his own caucus, tries a diversionary tactic by yelling "This is no damn game!" at the Democrats. Well of course it's a game, one with high stakes. As Tim Phillips of the conservative Americans for Prosperity says, "It is David versus Goliath." Except David is David Koch. If this health insurance law hatched by the Heritage Foundation and pioneered by Mitt Romney is allowed to stand, it will, the rightists cry, be Götterdämmerung, the Twilight of the Wall Street Gods. They will be like Kenneth Lay's wife, forced to decide whether to sell the Renoir or the Monet to fund the ad campaign calling Barack Obama The Worst President Since James Buchanan. (Actually that "worst" came from John Bolton, who really knows how to stab a guy in the heart.)

Speaking of President Buchanan, he was followed by a man named Lincoln, who wrote in January 1861, "We have just carried an election on principles fairly stated to the people. Now we are told in advance, the government shall be broken up, unless we surrender to those we have beaten, before we take the offices. In this they are either attempting to play upon us, or they are in dead earnest. Either way, if we surrender, it is the end of us, and of the government. They will repeat the experiment upon us ad libitum."

Mr. Lincoln, as you may be aware, did not surrender. Neither must his latest successor. Godspeed, Mr. President.

Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist. He can be reached at // .

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For Jeffrey, it's the emphasis on "obsessive" that makes living with OCD a challenge.

read more

The out author's new novel, The Heavens Rise, marks his entry into the genre for which his mother, acclaimed writer Anne Rice, is best known.

read more

We'll make no comment about that particularly fabulous snowsuit he's wearing.

read more


Sacha Chen uses his creativity, inspiration and artistic abilities to make people happy with unique and eye catching bow ties.

His Bling Bow Tie line is seen from fashion all around the world for men, women and even dogs!  Sacha noticed that the changes throughout the years have been different colors, reversible style, color blocking and prints/patterns - the only thing missing is BLING!!

   Gorgeous ties perfect for any event .  Stop by and  see his site an order a tie for that fabulous holiday party coming up!   Find him on Facebook  too!

Sacha Chen uses his creativity, inspiration and artistic abilities to make people happy with unique and eye catching bow ties.

His Bling Bow Tie line is seen from fashion all around the world for men, women and even dogs!  Sacha noticed that the changes throughout the years have been different colors, reversible style, color blocking and prints/patterns - the only thing missing is BLING!!

   Gorgeous ties perfect for any event .  Stop by and  see his site an order a tie for that fabulous holiday party coming up!   Find him on Facebook  too!



BRIDEGROOM is the MUST SEE  LGBT Movie of the year!

It started with a heart wrenching video that went viral overnight. On May 7, 2012, the anniversary of Tom’s death, after a year of documenting his own grief, Shane decided to make a video tribute to his partner entitled “It Could Happen To You.” This film, posted on YouTube, received over 3.4 million views and has been translated into over 20 different languages. The impact of Shane’s YouTube video and the raw nerve it touched, tells us this is an important story that needs to be told.

With the incredible support from influential people like Brad and George Takei and Neil Patrick Harris, Bridegroom was successfully funded on July 19, 2012 by over 6,500 people on Kickstarter.com becoming the most funded documentary in the history of crowd funding, and released in the fall of 2013.

BRIDEGROOM is a documentary directed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that tells the emotional journey of Shane and Tom, two young men in a loving and committed relationship â€" a relationship that was cut tragically short by a misstep off the side of a roof. The story of what happened after this accidental deathâ€" of how people without the legal protections of marriage can find themselves completely shut out and ostracizedâ€" is poignant, enraging and opens a window onto the issue of marriage equality like no speech or lecture ever will.

OWN Network will premiere the movie October 27th!

THE STIRRING DOCUMENTARY BRIDEGROOM TO BE AVAILABLE
FOR ALL NETFLIX MEMBERS IN LATE OCTOBER

OWN IT!   Pre-order Bridegroom NOW!

“This is really, on one level, a wonderful, sad, heart-breaking yet exhilarating and life-affirming story, and on another level, it’s a story about our nation’s struggle to take one more step in forming a more perfect union, for which marriage is both the symbol and substance,” said former President Bill Clinton of the film.

Shane  Crone also added “BRIDEGROOM  is not about revenge or politics. It is a film about love, forgiveness, and about finding the courage to be who you are when the world says you shouldn’t. This is my fairy tale, and Tom is, and always will be, my happy ending.”

BRIDEGROOM Official site
Bridegroom on Facebook

GUEST  AUTHOR - ROBERT KINGETT

For those who don't know me, and that would be a lot of you, I'm a bibliophile. My vast array of bookshelves is stacked with dozens of audio books, causing the shelf to topple over like a lopsided tower. I love books, and I love the character developments, the plots, and thriving stories hat books can hold between the spines. I've read some amazing books, and then again I've read some books that I've never want to speak of again because it leaves a bad ringing in my ears.

I never usually get into erotica books, but with the eloquent urging of all my hip unliterary friends I decided that I'd read fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. I want to see just why this book is so very popular. I get recommendations from people all the time on Goodreads, so why is this book so popular? Is it the dashing romance, the zesty sex scenes, or the riveting character depth? I don't know.

Usually when I look at a book, I look at the synopsis of the book to try and gage what I'll be in store for. I wonder what the back of this book says.

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating.

Is it just me but after twilight by Stephenie Meyer came out all the men seem to have the same abusive controlling elements as Edward? I don't know. This does sound interesting though. Nothing about gay black men or even straight black men for that matter. I'm sad now… I need Morgan freeman to hold me and give me God powers. I need to have Denzel Washington wrap me up in a nice bear hug and have his sexy new Yorkers voice put me to sleep with him reading my Miranda rights…

"You have a right to have sex wit me. Anyting you say will get me hard and then I'll have to arrest you with my passion… anyway… Let's keep reading!

READ THE  FULL   ANALYSIS  HERE!


This was genius!  Bertolli pasta has been taking advantage of its rival Barilla's misstep by posting pro-gay imagery on social media and speaking out about its support for the LGBT community.

"Pasta und Liebe für alle!" (Pasta and love for all) reads the caption on the photo posted to Facebook (above). The company also spoke with Adweek:

"We just wanted to spread the news that Bertolli welcomes everyone, especially those with an empty stomach."

Adweek notes that the company has produced gay-themed ads in the past.



"Procrastination will not move you forward....it will only leave you behind."


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Married same-sex couples who paid extra tax because the federal government didn't recognize their marriage are now eligible to get some of that money back.

The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, defined marriage as between a man and a woman, which meant married same-sex couples had to file their taxes individually. But the Supreme Court's summer ruling overturned that law. Now these couples are not only able to file as married going forward, but they have the option of amending their tax returns for the past three years if it would benefit them. 

 For some couples, doing this will reduce their overall tax liability and result in big refunds, which is typically the case when there is a large disparity in incomes (for example, when one spouse doesn't work).They can also claim any tax paid on health insurance benefits extended from one spouse to another through an employer-sponsored plan.

Refunds will vary widely by couple, and could be as high as tens of thousands of dollars. Janet and Janet Emery-Black, from Nampa, Idaho, are anticipating retroactive refunds totaling $30,000. Another couple, Adele and Jennifer Hoppe-House, from Los Angeles, expect to get back $13,000.

Read FULL ARTICLE  HERE

Barilla â€" one of the best known pasta brands around the world â€" is one of Italy's biggest advertisers, and for many years has used the image of a happy family living in an idealised version of the Italian countryside, with the slogan: "Where there's Barilla, there's home."

"I would never do (a commercial) with a homosexual family, not for lack of respect but because we don't agree with them. Ours is a classic family where the woman plays a fundamental role," Barilla, 55, said in an interview with Radio 24 on Wednesday.

In the interview, Barilla said he opposed adoption by gay parents, but was in favor of allowing gay marriage, which is not legal in Italy. His comment about advertising was in response to a direct question about whether he would ever feature a gay family in his company's commercials.

If gays "like our pasta and our advertising, they'll eat our pasta, if they don't like it then they will not eat it and they will eat another brand," he said.

Aurelio Mancuso, head of gay rights group Equality Italia, said Barilla's comments were an "offensive provocation" and called for a boycott of the company's pasta, sauces and snacks.

"We accept the invitation from the Barilla owner to not eat his pasta," Mancuso said. Many Italians used social media to voice support for a boycott.


The one and only Cher herself revealed that she will kick off her “Dressed To Kill” 49 city North American Tour beginning in Phoenix on March 22nd with stops in NY, LA, Boston, Las Vegas, and other major markets. Cher shared the happy news with her fans following her performance on the Today Show this morning.

 

A full list of “Dressed to Kill” tour dates and cities follows this release. The national tour promoter is Marshall Arts USA.   For ticket information and to sign up for tour updates please go to Cher.com .

 

Cher’s previous tour “The Farewell Tour” later dubbed “The Never Can Say Goodbye Tour” was one of the most successful tours ever by a solo artist and played for a record-breaking 325 dates and seen by over 5.5 million people.

 

American Express® Cardmembers can purchase their tickets to select cities before the general public beginning Monday September 30th, 10am through Thursday, October 3rd, 10pm.

 

For all online tickets purchased (presale and general public), ticketholders will receive a free copy of Cher’s new album “Closer To The Truth”, out September 24th on Warner Bros Records.  

 

Cher is in New York this week celebrating the album’s release with upcoming appearances on David Letterman (Sept. 24th) and Live! with Kelly & Michael (October 1st).  Cher will also be appearing as a mentor with Blake Shelton on NBC’s The Voice airing in October.

 

 

 

CHER ‘DRESSED TO KILL’ TOUR

Sat, March 22                    Phoenix, AZ                        US Airways Center

*Mon, March 24                 Houston, TX                       Toyota Center

*Wed, March 26                 Dallas, TX                             American Airlines Center

Fri, March 28                      Little Rock, AR                   Verizon Arena

Sat, March 29                     Tulsa, OK                             BOK Center

Mon, March 31                 Nashville, TN                      Bridgestone Arena

Wed, April 2                        Pittsburgh, PA                  Consol Energy Center

*Fri, April 4                            Washington DC                 Verizon Center

Sat, April 5                           Uncasville, CT                    Mohegan Sun

Mon, April 7                       Toronto, ON                       Air Canada Centre

Wed, April 9                       Boston, MA                        TD Garden

Fri, April 11                          Indianapolis, IN                 Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Sat, April 12                        Detroit, MI                          Joe Louis Arena

Wed, April 23                     Buffalo, NY                         First Niagara Center

Fri, April 25                          Montreal, QC                     Bell Center

Sat, April 26                        Ottawa, ON                        Canada Tire Centre

*Mon, April 28                     Philadelphia, PA               Wells Fargo Center

Wed, April 30                     Columbus, OH                   Nationwide Arena

Fri, May 2                            Cleveland, OH                   Quicken Loans Arena

Mon, May 5                        Charlotte, NC                     Times Warner Cable Arena

Wed, May 7                        Raleigh, NC                         PNC Arena

*Fri, May 9                            Brooklyn, NY                      Barclays Center

*Sat, May 10                         East Rutherford, NJ         Izod Center

*Mon, May 12                     Atlanta, GA                         Philips Arena

Wed, May 14                     Jacksonville, FL                  Veterans Memorial Arena

Fri, May 16                          Orlando, FL                         Amway Center

Sat, May 17                         Ft. Lauderdale, FL            BB&T Center

Sun, May 25                       Las Vegas, NV                    MGM Grand

Wed, May 28                     Denver, CO                         Pepsi Center

Fri, May 30                          Lincoln, NE                          Pinnacle Bank Arena

Sat, May 31                         Kansas City, MO               Sprint Center

Mon, June 2                       Louisville, KY                      KFC Yum! Center

Wed, June 4                       St. Louis, MO                     Scottrade Center

Fri, June 6                            Milwaukee, WI                 BMO Harris Bradley Center

Sat, June 7                          Chicago, IL                           Allstate Arena

Mon, June 9                       Des Moines, IA                 Wells Fargo Arena

Wed, June 11                     Minneapolis, MN             Target Center

Fri, June 20                         Winnipeg, MB                   MTS Centre

Sat, June 21                        Saskatoon, SK                    Credit Union Centre

Mon, June 23                     Edmonton, AB                   Rexall Place

Wed, June 25                     Calgary, AB                         Scotiabank Saddledome

Fri, June 27                         Vancouver, BC                  Rogers Arena

*Sat, June 28                        Seattle, WA                        Key Arena

Mon, June 30                     Portland, OR                      Moda Center

*Wed, July 2                         San Jose, CA                       SAP Center at San Jose

Sat, July 5                            Ontario, CA                         Citizens Business Bank Arena

*Mon, July 7                         Los Angeles, CA                Staples Center

*Wed, July 9                         Anaheim, CA                      Honda Center

Fri, July 11                           San Diego, CA                    Valley View Casino Center

 

(*American Express® Cardmembers can purchase tickets before the general public.*)

My sexy London friend Ryan Haynes has applied to the Jauntaroo Chief World Reporter competition.

 There are 3,000 applicants and he needs to make the final top 50. 

Please LIKE his page. You can LIKE once per day!

 He does a great job reporting....plus he is easy on the eyes! 

Take yourself on a journey to new places; explore other cultures; food; places, people - uncover the articles, video  on his blog
Agwa de Bolivia (usually shortened to AGWA) is a herbal liqueur made with Bolivian coca leaves and 37 other natural herbs and botanicals including green tea, ginseng, and guarana, distilled and produced in Amsterdam by BABCO Europe Limited. 

The coca leaf content of the drink, like that in Coca-Cola, has the cocaine alkaloids removed during production, and does not contain the drug.

The leaves used for the production of AGWA are picked at 2000 metres above sea level in the Andes. The leaves are then shipped under armed guard to Amsterdam, where they are distilled to a strength of 78-88% alc./vol. and 36 other botanical elements are added.

It mixes with just about everything!  We tried a bottle and some various concoctions. 


The Cocarita (AGWA’s twist on the Margarita):

Ingredients: 2oz Frozen AGWA, 1oz Tequila, Juice of 1-2 fresh limes.  
Method: Shake AGWA, Tequila & Lime Juice with ice. Strain into a salt-frosted 
Margarita glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.


The AGWA Fresca:(pictured)

Method: A serving of Frozen AGWA poured over ice and some lime wheels in a long 
glass, and topped with club soda.


The Bolivian Rhapsody

Ingredients: 1.5oz AGWA, ½ fresh lime, 1 tsp. raspberry jam, 1 tsp. vanilla sugar, 1 dash 
cardamom bitters, 1 tsp. chocolate syrup
Method: Muddle lime, sugar, jam, and syrup; top with crushed ice in Collins glass. Add 
AGWA and bitters and stir. Garnish: lime zest


The Rainforest Caipirinha 

Ingredients: AGWA, Lime wedges, Brown sugar, Ice, Cane swizzle stick
Method: Muddle AGWA, lime wedges, brown sugar together, mix with crushed ice. 
Garnish with a cane swizzle stick.


Want to try a signature AGWA cocktail that works all year round? You can never 
go wrong with a classic recipe, the Bolivian Mojito, AGWA’s twist on the traditional 
drink, or the lime ritual, known as “Kryptonice.” 

Bolivian Mojito:

Ingredients: 1.5oz Frozen AGWA, 12 mint leaves, 2-3 lime wedges, 2 tsp. sugar, 7oz club 
soda, splash of your favorite rum.
Method: Gently crush the mint leaves in a long glass.  Squeeze the limes over the crushed 
mint, and add the sugar and crushed ice.  Add the AGWA, your favorite rum, and club 
soda and stir well.  Garnish with a fresh lime wedge and fresh mint leaves. 

The AGWA shot, also known as “Kryptonice”, is also a favorite.  Simply pour frozen 

AGWA in a shot glass and serve with a lime wedge!

Go to AGWABuzz  for  more  info!

MISTER CHASE is an EDM, rocktronic performer based in NY. He has a pulsing party vibe, mixed with chill sugary pop tones and rock star edge. His shows are super high energy, an extremely entertaining. He is a visual performer, backed up by a troupe of sexy, talented dancers, appropriate for any festival, casino, club, venue or event. Having toured US, UK and Canada, his show turns every audience member into a believer. MISTER CHASE is currently recording his second EP which is set to release later this year.

FOR NOW - he has a message for the gay people of Russia...YOU ARE WONDERFUL!


Russian gay activist Nikolai Alexeyev, who until now was considered Russia’s top lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocate, appears to have ended his political career tonight in a series of anti-Semitic Facebook and Twitter posts that have even his most ardent supporters calling out his ongoing anti-Semitism.

I’d reported earlier on Alexeyev’s anti-Semitic social media posts last week, and on his earlier run-in with charges of anti-Semitism.  Last week, in an apparent fit of ire against a (Jewish) man who penned an op ed in OUT magazine critical of him, Alexeyev retweeted comments calling the author a “jewish pig” and “israeli monkey,” and calling OUT magazine a “jewish slut magazine that supports jews and their filthy faggotry propaganda.”  Alexeyev then tweeted and posted on Facebook his own comments about Jewish vodka being made from sperm.   More  at  America Blog

 The U.S. Department of Treasury has just made it official: legally married same-sex couples will receive the same tax benefits as opposite-sex married couples, regardless of where they reside.

In a call earlier today, U.S. Treasury Department Secretary Jacob Lew told leadership of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and other LGBT interest groups that effective immediately the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes. The ruling applies regardless of whether the couple lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage or a jurisdiction that does not recognize same-sex marriage.

"Today's ruling provides certainty and clear, coherent tax filing guidance for all legally married same-sex couples nationwide. It provides access to benefits, responsibilities and protections under federal tax law that all Americans deserve," said Secretary Lew. "This ruling also assures legally married same-sex couples that they can move freely throughout the country knowing that their federal filing status will not change."

This is a major victory for the entire equality movement, but especially for married same-sex couples who own and operate businesses. LGBT people who are legally married in one of the 13 states that grant same-sex marriage, can now ensure their business is a "family" business and are legally entitled to determine the legacy of their wealth.

The NGLCC will continue to work with LGBT small business owners to ensure they are equipped with all the pertinent knowledge and resources throughout this transition. The organization will also advise dozens of our more than 140 corporate partners who will be augmenting grossing-up best practices as a result of this announcement.

Other key takeaways:
  • Joint filing beginning 2014 for couples married in 2013.
  • Retro-active filing for those married in the past three years.
  • Same tax treatment for items like income, gifts, and estate.
Secretary Lew acknowledged there would be further refinements needed and that both his department and the IRS are looking to the public to help identify these needed refinements; for instance, child tax credit issues surrounding same-sex parents where it is not legal at the state level for a same-sex second parent to adopt.




 When is this man going to just lay  down and DIE? (is that too harsh?)   He says the stupidest shit! And I don't even normally bother to give this old  bitter tired queen the time of day - but this, was like, WTF?

The 700 Clubs  Pat Robertson claimed that gay people in San Francisco wear special rings in order to cut people so they can then intentionally infect them with AIDS when they shake hands.

Thankfully, CBN edited Robertson's claim out of the broadcast which it aired online, Right Wing Watch reports.

Robertson's claim came in a response to a viewer question from "a woman who wondered if it was wrong for the church not to inform her that a man she was driving to worship services is 'dying of AIDS,.'"

 Robertson rambled:

“There are laws now, I think the homosexual community has put these draconian laws on the books that prohibit people from discussing this particular affliction, you can tell somebody you had a heart attack, you can tell them they’ve got high blood pressure, but you can’t tell anybody you’ve got AIDS...

...You know what they do in San Francisco, some in the gay community there they want to get people so if they got the stuff they’ll have a ring, you shake hands, and the ring’s got a little thing where you cut your finger. Really. It’s that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder."



Beds are sanctuaries, (for most people) it's the place where we begin and end each day. And get the much needed sleep we deserve. But for some British men, keeping that sanctuary tidy by changing the bed sheets on a regular basis apparently falls low on their priority list. A new survey by U.K. mattress company Ergoflex reveals that young, single British men are the worst offenders, changing sheets a mere once every three months. - Probably straight men, I would imagine. 

Single women (and probably gay men!)  reported swapping linens every two and a half weeks, while couples claimed to change sheets every two weeks. Of those couples, the study found 81% of those washing the sheets were women. Of the 2,004 interviewed, on average men admitted to owning only one set of sheets while women estimated around three selections.

“One person can perspire as much as a liter in a nightâ€"even more if you have a lot of covers,” an Ergoflex spokesman  told the Wall Street Journal. He also explained that skin cells are a source of food for mites, who are known to fester in mattresses and bedding, and also leave their feces behind. Fungal mold, fungal spores, lint, fibers, pollen, soil and cosmetics also accumulate in the often harmless looking sheets.

 The sexy star of Prison Break actor Wentowrth Miller came out of the closet today in a letter to the St. Petersburg International Film Festival declining an invitation to appear there.

Wrote Miller in a letter published on GLAAD's website:

Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes.

However, as a gay man, I must decline.

I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.

Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice.

Said GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz: "Wentworth's bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians: you are not alone. "As people from across the globe continue to speak out against this horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia's anti-LGBT law."

During his time acting on Prison Break, Miller repeatedly denied he was gay. He was also tied to actor Luke McFarlane.

 SANDSUSKY, Ohio â€" CEDAR POINT, A huge amusement park in Ohio is canceling a wedding contest after a gay couple organized a protest against the promotion because it excluded same-sex couples.

Cedar Point amusement park, one the biggest coaster parks in the US,  initially limited the contest to male and female couples because it said state law doesn’t allow gay couples to legally marry in Ohio. A spokesman says the park decided to cancel the event once it started to take on political undertones, reported the Sandusky Register.

Akron couple Scott Kenimond, 37, and Eric Morrison, 28, who had considered holding their commitment ceremony at the park, recruited friends and strangers to send “tweets” to Cedar Point, asking them to allow gay couples to apply.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s legal or not,” Morrison said. “You should be able to have a commitment ceremony."

Cedar Point simply decided to cancel the contest.

The theme said there was no negative intent for the contest, but that “Cedar Point does not take any official stance on political issues.”

“I’m disappointed they would choose to go that way rather than stand behind their LGBT community,” said Morrison. “Ultimately, they’re playing it safe. But it’s a cowardly choice.”

What kind of message does this send to their LGBT employees?  to their LGBT park guests?

With marriage equality gaining in popularity, why not allow it, and be the hero?

THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT - 

Cedar Point does not discriminate against any guest for any reason. The ‘Friday the 13th Wedding’ event was created as a fun, in-park promotion to generate excitement for the kickoff of HalloWeekends. There was no negative intent.

 

When the promotion logistics started to take on political undertones, as indicated by several guests who gave us feedback, it was decided that now is not the best time for this event. Cedar Point does not take any official stance on political issues.

 

Outside of official park-provided promotions, Cedar Point does offer opportunities for all couples to have weddings, commitment ceremonies and other events here at the park. We encourage guests to contact us if they’re interested in planning such an event.



Ohioans’ certitude about gay marriage a decade ago has given way to ambiguity, potentially setting the stage next year for a second major battle on one of the most divisive social issues of our time.

Some backers of a constitutional amendment to allow two consenting adults to marry regardless of gender want to go to the statewide ballot in the 2014 gubernatorial election, a roll of the dice on a question that 62 percent of voters answered in 2004. They amended the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, effectively prohibiting same-sex marriages in Ohio.

Since then, polling shows a shift in Ohioans’ views, and there have been high-profile Republican defectors to the pro-gay-marriage side, including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Cincinnati and former Ohio attorney general and state auditor Jim Petro â€" both of whom changed their positions after eachhad a child come out.

 STEPHEN LEONARD is an out Chicago singer-songwriter, music producer/promoter, proud member of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association and advocate for LGBTQ issues. His original music and community efforts have garnered Midwest and national recognition for projects appearing online, on television and in film.

In his new album, HIS FIRE, Leonard showcases a deep evolution in his voice, songwriting and producing from his 2010 home-recorded debut album, WITH A PEN.


NEW SONG AND VIDEO - WANTING IT ALL


"His Fire is a personal collection of confrontations," says Leonard. "When I started writing this album, I was drawn to the physical and emotional effects and fears of fire and its parallel relationship to man. Both can be warm and giving. Both can be strong and attractive. And both can be rather impulsive and even seen as threatening. Every song on this record is me confronting the fire and digging beneath the flames."

Leonard's passion for powerful music and individuality has helped pioneer a growing and supportive community of singers and songwriters in Chicago and has produced and hosted concerts and events that have helped raise thousands of dollars for various causes. In 2011, Leonard received the Windy City Times' 30 Under 30 Award for his outstanding contributions to the Chicago LGBTQ music and sports communities.

 Remember when people were giving dire warnings about the Nazi’s in Russia and no one listened? According to Masha Gessen, renowned Moscow-based journalist, and author of a critical biography of Vladimir Putin, a  bill has been tabled to remove children from the homes of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) families in Russia. This bill is likely to be passed after the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.

Russia has come under serious criticism for passing an “Anti-gay propaganda” Law which forbids anything to be said about the LGBT community to people under the age of 18 years. The law also makes LGBT parades or gatherings illegal.

Canadian Author Robert Joseph Greene has been campaigning for the law to be repealed since his gay short fairytale love story “The Blue Door” was used by Russian protesters. The short story is from Greene’s book The Gay Icon Classics of the World II which is a collection of gay love stories from different cultures. The story is about a Tsar who proclaims that his three sons could marry anyone they choose but he didn’t figure one of his sons would pick a man for his life partner.

“The law has caused considerable alarm and confusion for parents in Russia, “ says Greene “We found a website where Russian mothers are voicing their concerns about the law”

Svitman.ua, a Ukrainian based Russian website that features parenting articles, recently published the full short story of “The Blue Door” for parents to read. It is illegal to publish the short story on any Russian site.  Svitman has received over 87 comments from Russian parents but their concerns weren’t about the story but about the new Russian law.

Based upon the collective online comments from parents, the story was not viewed as inappropriate. However, what was more alarming was that Russian parents worry about  how the new Russian anti-gay propaganda law would affect their families.

“Will I be arrested if my son or daughter turns out gay?” writes one mother’s comments.

With Russia hosting the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, The new Russian “Anti-gay Propaganda”  law has been criticized by Western politicians and human rights groups, and has raised concerns that visiting gay athletes and spectators could face discrimination or even legal action.

“This is history repeating itself when the Nazi’s hosted the 1936 Olympic Games,” says Greene “The IOC was silent when the  1936 German Olympic committee wanted to ban jews and blacks from participating and the IOC is virtually silent now and the situation is clearly deteriorating for the LGBT community just as it was for jews back in 1936.”

Svitman link: http://svitmam.ua/user/vikad/posts/158212

From Huffington Post, one writer says the anti gay laws are a symbol of Russia's decline...  The Soviet Union and all dreams of Russian empire have long faded. The hopes and dreams of the Russian people are utterly defunct, and the leading cause of death in Russia is reportedly drinking too much alcohol.

If we look at the Russian crisis of anti-gay laws, the rise of anti-gay fascist groups and the killing of political opponents, it becomes very clear that Russia is on the verge of collapse. Putin is also trying to revive Cold War tensions with the Snowden affair and is bullying LGBT citizens as if this had any chance of resuscitating the flaccid Russian economy. These are the symptoms of Russia's sickly infant, her dying democracy. 



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