I know of churches or organizations that think they can "rehabilitate" a homosexual person to make them 'heterosexual', but until now I had never heard of anyone thinking they could perform an exorcism on someone to make them straight. Not only did members of the Manifested Glory Ministries (CT) conduct the exorcism, but they also posted a video of it on YouTube. The original was 20 minutes long, but the church has since removed it from the site. Others had copied it and posted it. Here is an excerpt:

Multiple gay and youth advocates are calling the practice abuse and are calling for a full investigation. The church has denied that the teen was injured or that they are prejudiced. According to Rev. Patricia McKinney, the church has "nothing against homosexuals" ... yet they think that homosexuals have demons in them. It amazes me how people through around that phrase even though it is clear that there is evidence of prejudice.

McKinney has tried to say the boy is 18, but the youth confirmed that he is only 16. The boy was eager to have his inner demons driven out of him, though I doubt he knew just what the church leaders would do. What this church did was clearly not in the best interest of the child. At one point they held the boy in a headlock as he was convulsing.

"It's been a hard time for me, but I'm looking good and I'm standing strong because when you have a mandate like mine you're not going to say what you want without the adversary coming after you," McKinney said. "If you are a true prophet you're not going to be popular with the people."

It is people like this who give Christians a bad reputation. This woman is clearly delusional and perhaps a bit narcissistic. It amazes me still that there are people who think you can just "become" straight by prayer or exorcism. All you can do is live a lie and hide in the closer for the rest of your life ... but you'll still be a homosexual.

I'm sure by now y'all have heard about Miss California's "crusade" to promote the National Organization of Marriage and her "gays shouldn't marry" remarks at the Miss USA pageant. I also posted a while back that co-director of Miss USA, Shanna Moakler, had resigned in protest to Donald Trump deciding not to de-throne Carrie Prejean after racy photos leaked to the media of the beauty queen.

Until now.

Donald Trump has finally seen the light. I think it's more like Trump finally saw the negative backlash from his decision. He is having too many financial troubles right now for something like this to mess with his money. He says Prejean was contractually bound to appear and she just wouldn't do it. He doesn't think her attitude has anything to do with her politics.

Trump said: "To me she was the sweetest thing. Everyone else -- she treated like shit."

Um, before he decided to let her keep the crown, she had offended a large portion of the American public, refused to make appearances she was contractually obligated to make and had racy photos of herself appear in the media. She had even appeared in advertisements spouting hate and discrimination.

How could he have thought she was sweet? Something tells me that he never looked past the fake boobs the Miss CA USA organization gave her.

Anyone else find it hilarious that everyone is talking about Adam Lambert but not Kris Allen? Kris just signed his record deal with 19 Entertainment/Jive Records but Rolling Stone managed to push that out of the way for Adam's 'coming out'. Kris may become the most irrelevant Idol winner since Taylor Hicks. Something tells me that the Kris-Adam situation is going to end up just like Reuben-Clay ... with the runner-up dominating the winner post-Idol.

After much speculation, Adam Lambert finally came out of the closet. Well, I don't think he was ever really IN the closet but for some reason, people seemed to need him to say it. Why it matters, I'm still not sure ... but you know people like to know everything about everyone. Click here to see the full Rolling Stone article.

New Hampshire will become the sixth state to have marriage equality.

Today, the state Senate and House each voted to pass the new marriage equality bills that were drafted this past weekend. The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law, which could happen as as early as this evening.

The two branches of NH legislature had already passed their own versions of the marriage equality but the governor asked the House to change theirs to include more protection to churches, as the Senate had already done.

Six down ... 44 more to go!


UPDATE: The governor signed the bill into law this afternoon!!

Change is definitely happening in this country.

While there are many bigots out there who want to stop gays from being declared EQUAL through marriage equality and domestic partnership laws, we are still earning more victories.

Recently, the governor of New Hampshire asked the state House to restructure their version of the marriage equity bill that had been sent to the Senate for approval. The Senate had already included what the governor wanted in their version. This past weekend, the two sides found an acceptable compromise that the governor was willing to sign.

The governor was looking to protect the churches in NH from being forced to perform marriage ceremonies that were contradictory to their religious beliefs. This just goes to show that there are still people who think marriage is a religious matter. IT IS NOT. It is only a religious matter within their own religion! Legal marriage is a CIVIL matter. Personally, I have no problem with churches not wanting to perform gay marriage. We don't need them to do it.

Both the Senate and the House will vote this week on the compromised bill.

Also recently, the Nevada legislature voted through a domestic partnership bill. Governor Jim Gibbons vetoed the bill. This weekend, the Assembly voted 28-14 to override the veto and the state Senate voted 14-7 to override the veto. Sorry Gibbons ... JUSTICE won!

It may not be legalizing gay marriage, but it's a big step in the right direction.

What the hell is going on in California? Did people there somehow get stupid all of a sudden?

Given the current atmosphere in California regarding gay rights, you would think that people would think things through before making ignorant decisions.

Mt. Woodsen Elementary School 6th grader Natalie Jones was called into the principal's office to discuss a school project she had been working on. The subject of the powerpoint presentation was Harvey Milk, the first gay man elected to a political office in the U.S. Principal Theresa Grace decided that before she could give her presentation, students would have to get permission slips from their parents.

Huh? Why would they need to do that? The answer?

Because Harvey Milk was gay.

Grace cited a district policy that requires parental permission for students to learn anything about sex.

Wait. I thought this was about Harvey Milk. Not about what he did in the bedroom.

In the end, Natalie was allowed to give the presentation but not in the classroom. She gave the report to 8 of the 13 classmates during their lunch period.

"Harvey Milk was an elected official in this state and an important person in history," says Natalie's mom, Bonnie Jones. "To say my daughter's presentation is sex education because Harvey Milk happened to be gay is completely wrong."

Is it just me or is anyone else worried about what kids are being taught by the discriminatory actions by the adults around them?

I am not a fan of the ACLU, but I'm glad to know they are backing Natalie and is considering suing the Ramona School District. They would like to see Natalie receive an apology and to be able to give her report in class. They also want the district to clarify their sex education policies so something like this doesn't happen again.

It is sad that it will take a lawsuit, or the threat of one, to make the district wake up. They have a principal teaching her students that learning about a gay leader is considered 'sex education'. It is scary to me that someone who is that ignorant is in charge of students' education.

By now I am sure y'all have heard the news that the California State Supreme court upheld Prop 8. That isn't to say that they ruled that gay marriage shouldn't exist. What it means is that the Court does not have the constitutional right to nullify the vote of the people.

The bright spot of this decision is that the Court ruled that all the 18,000+ same-sex marriages from before Prop 8 will remain and be recognized as marriages. Also, domestic partnerships will continue to be recognized in the same way they have been. but from this point, only heterosexual unions could be called "marriage". A federal lawsuit has already been filed on behalf of two men and two women. The lawsuit is also asking for an injunction on any action regarding Prop 8 until the matter is settled in federal courts.

Naturally, both sides will bring the issue to the people again either next year or the year after. Hopefully, the U.S. Supreme Court would have settled this issue by then. Ha! Yeah, even I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

Thinking about this issue ... it makes me wonder. Why is it that certain people want separation of church and state only when it suits THEIR needs? They don't want anyone telling them how or what they can worship but it something goes against their religious beliefs, then they bring religion into it. Sounds a double standard to me. Why is it that the lawmakers don't see that? They are supposedly "educated" - you would think they learned at some point that you can't have it both ways.

I think it all boils down to one thing ... throughout history, we have seen groups of people discriminated against for many things and each time the government has said that you cannot discriminate based on things like religion, race and now sexual orientation. If the federal government says you cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation, why isn't anyone stepping up? I would think by now people in this country would have learned something about equality.

Does anyone else remember Barack Obama making campaign promises regarding gay rights and equality? So far, he seems to be 0-2 ... first "no comment" on Don't Ask, Don't Tell and I don't see anyone from the White House making a comment on Prop 8 or any of the other legal battles going on seeking equal treatment for homosexuals.

In a related story, the Governor of Nevada vetoed a domestic partnership bill today. It will go back to the state legislature for another vote to overturn the veto.

Sometimes I wonder if we will ever stop being 2nd class citizens in the US.

For those who watch Project Runway, you know about the drama that has taken place ever since the creators of the show decided to switch to Lifetime after several seasons on the Bravo network.

After much negotiation, the show was finally allowed to switch networks.

In its place, Bravo created a crappy imitation called The Fashion Show. It is hosted by Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland and the judge's panel is headed by fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi.

This past weekend I stayed at my in-laws house and had cable for the first time in months. Let me just say, this show was wretched.

First off, what fashion expertise does Kelly Rowland have? At least the other show has Heidi Klum, who actually has some fashion expertise. Secondly, Isaac Mizrahi isn't exactly the most notable designer out there today. Heck, if he didn't have a line of clothes at Target, most people wouldn't even know who he is these days. The only real credible thing about this show is that Ferne Mallis, the head of NY Fashion Week, is on the judging panel.

Possibly the worst part about this show is the designers they chose. I am not sure they could have found any flamier gay men to be on the show. And that Honduran guy needs a good bitch slap.

What I find really funny is that the contestants keep throwing around their schooling. I have news for them ... being in school and actually doing it professionally are two very different things. It doesn't really matter what school you went to. Hell, many of the top designers are self-taught.

If I were Bravo ... I would pull this show and put your viewers (the dozen or so actually watching) out of their misery.

Just wanted to congratulate the New York Assembly for passing their marriage equality bill today! Thanks to their 89-52 vote, the bill now goes to the state Senate where it is projected to have a much tougher time getting passed. As far as I can see though, if it passes the Senate, Gov. Patterson will be ready to sign the bill into law!

Perhaps one of the most discriminatory policies enacted against gay people, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" could be something that Obama can't avoid much longer. That was the policy of Clinton - just avoid it and then we can leave it for the next guy to deal with. Well, Bush was the next guy and no way was he about to repeal it.

So now it goes to President Obama. His advisers have already told him to avoid the issue ... but can he?

The White House might not get to decide on the timing of this issue. A storm has been brewing in the blog world and on cable TV over Dan Choi, an officer in the National Guard who received notice that he'll be discharged after admitting he is gay on the Rachel Maddow Show in March. Choi, who recently returned from a tour in Iraq, is a fluent Arabic speaker - a skill the military needs and sorely lacks.



Obama could simply sign an executive order directing the military to stop investigating the sexual orientation of members, effectively rendering the policy inactive. Over time, the military will just have to accept the fact that all people are equal, not just heterosexual people.

If this policy is not repealed soon, it is going to cost the government and military millions in lawsuits. That is something we cannot afford in this time of recession.

Really, would you rather have a gay soldier save your life or not have one there to save you at all?

In another victory for TRUE equality in the USA, the governor of Maine has signed a bill into law making gay marriage legal! That makes Maine the fifth state to legalized same-sex marriage. For more information, check out Joe.my.God's blog here.

As y'all know by now, I am a big fan of The Amazing Race. So far, this has been my favorite season of the series. I think it is awesome that they cast an all gay father/son pair and the team of Margie/Luke, of which Luke has been deaf his entire life. Just now I was reading an interview with the sister pair of Jen/Kisha, who were eliminated in Sunday night's episode and I found out something even more awesome.

There were FOUR gay contestants this season!

Obviously we know about Mel and Mike White, the father/son team, but Kisha is a lesbian! When asked why CBS didn't mention that, Kisha said that the show wanted to focus on their "sister" relationship rather than the fact she was gay since that was what Mel & Mike were cast for.

Then it was mentioned that Luke is also gay! I never would have guessed that at all. I knew there were lots of reasons I have been rooting Margie & Luke on all season!

In what is shaping up to be the "year of the gay" - we may have another milestone for gay people everywhere.

No, Hugh Jackman is NOT coming out of the closet.

It has been announced by The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and numerous law blogs that a lesbian woman is on the list of possible replacements for retiring Justice David Souter. Stanford Law School professor Kathleen Sullivan, widely considered one of America’s top constitutional scholars, is believe to be on the "short list" of possible nominees.

Sullivan is the Founder and Director of the Stanford Constitutional Law Center and was Dean of the Law School from 1999 until 2004. It is widely believed that President Obama would like to appoint a woman to the highest court seeing as there is currently only one female Justice.

Would be nice to see her get the spot!

This week just keeps getting better!

This morning, the Maine state senate passed a marriage equality bill giving same-sex couples the same rights afforded to heterosexual couples!

The bill now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration next week. It is expected to pass the House as well!

Is Rhode Island next??

It just may be so!

Today, the New Hampshire state senate voted 13-11 in favor of marriage equality for same-sex couples! The senate bill protects the religious freedom of clergy and religious organizations while also protecting the rights of same-sex couples. The senate bill, reconciled with the House version that passed 189-176, will be sent to Governor John Lynch for his signature.

Question is, will he sign it?

Those in favor of marriage equality are hoping so. They may not have the votes to overturn a gubernatorial veto.

Who will be next?

Vermont lawmakers had been told before they initially passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage that Governor Jim Douglas would veto the bill.

That didn't stop them.

They needed 2/3 of each house to vote yes to override the veto. They weren't sure that would happen since the initial bill just barely missed 2/3 of each house.

Today, the Senate voted 23-5 in favor and 100-49 was the vote in the House.

Nine years ago, Vermont was the first state to adopt a civil unions law. Now, they are the 4th state to make gays EQUAL when it comes to marriage.

Who's next?!?

I do believe it is only a matter of time before gays will be able to legally marry in every state. I didn't think that Iowa would be leading the charge.

Today the Iowa Supreme Court legalized gay marriage when it voted unanimously that the state's existing ban on gay marriage was deemed unconstitutional. Iowa joins Massachusetts and Connecticut as the only states that currently allow same-sex marriages.

The county attorney who defended the ban said he would not seek a rehearing meaning that gay and lesbian couples in Iowa can begin seeking marriage licenses starting April 24. The only recourse for opponents of same-sex marriage is to get a constitutional amendment - which would take years to ratify.

Having spent a summer in Iowa, I was surprised that this would be the next state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Anyone up for moving to Iowa?

This is Corey Carrol. Most of y'all probably haven't heard about this story, but yesterday was arrested on 4 counts of "carnal knowledge of a minor" and 4 counts of intentional exposure to AIDS. He is being held on $10,000 bail in the Calcasieu Correctional Center.

Apparently, a 16-year-old Lake Charles (LA) boy told a family member that on four separate occasions he had sex with a Baton Rouge man he met on a chatline. Carrol neglected to tell the boy that he is HIV-positive.

Several things disturb me here.

Firstly, in this day-and-age, anyone who would not practice safe-sex when they know they are positive outrages me. Just put on a condom! Is it really that difficult to get one or to put one on? And why would you put someone at risk by not telling them about your status beforehand?

Secondly, this man took advantage of a minor. The gay community already is struggling to get respect and equality and stories like this just feed the stereotype and the anti-gay movement. Sadly, this kind of story will outweigh hundreds of positive stories in the minds of many and that infuriates me.

Don't get me wrong, I put some of the blame on the minor as well. There is plenty of sexual education in the schools and in the media so he should have known to practice safe-sex himself but I do think the older man definitely took advantage of an impressionable minor. Being in the closet and being a teenage is very difficult. Many times we don't make the best decisions and predators like to use that to their advantage.

I am surprised that this predator did not get charged with statutory rape as well as the other charges. Who knows, maybe that will be added later. Hopefully he will receive jail time and be required to register as a sex offender so that this won't happen to others.

Todd Herzog, winner of Survivor: China, reportedly is dating Survivor: Tocantins contestant Spencer Duhm. Couldn't they announce that after the show has at least aired? Ironically, Spencer slammed Herzog and other previous gay contestants in an interview that took place AFTER they started dating. In an interview with Reality Blurred, Spencer said:

"I don’t like come across like most of the gay guys but I am, so I’ll probably be like—but then again, JP was gay and nobody knew that on the show; he was about the straightest I’ve ever seen. … But I won’t be Todd, I surely won’t be Coby. I won’t be Charlie. Holy shit. I talked to my parents and I was like, ‘Mom, do I sound like that?’ she was like, ‘Sweetheart, no, I would never let you go out in public if you sounded like that.’ Thank God."

I wonder how much Todd liked seeing that in print.