Handpicked News 7/14: Harsh New Abortion Bill, Gay Actors, Gay History Bill Into Law, Stopping Discrimination Is Bad for Business

 Govt. Files Emergency Reversal of DADT Order

CBS Issues Disclaimer Over Homophobic Big Brother Comments“Big Brother is a reality show about watching a group of people who have no privacy 24/7 — and seeing every moment of their lives,” according to the CBS statement. “At times, the houseguests make comments, reveal prejudices and other beliefs that we do not condone. Any views or opinions expressed in personal commentary by a houseguest appearing on Big Brother, either on any live feed from the house or the broadcast, are those of the individual(s) speaking and do not represent the views or opinions of CBS or the producers of the program.”

Gay Actors, Characters Score Big With Emmy Voters Actors Chris Colfer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jane Lynch, Nathan Lane, and Evan Rachel Wood, director Todd Haynes, and activist Chaz Bono are among the openly LGBT people celebrating today with news that they received 2011 Emmy nominations this morning. Colfer and Lynch were nominated for best supporting actor and actress in a comedy respectively for their performances on Fox’s megahit Glee. Ferguson was also nominated as supporting actor in a comedy for his role as a gay dad in the ABC sitcom Modern Family, along with Eric Stonestreet, the straight actor who plays his husband.                          

Stopping Discrimination Is Bad for Business, Governor Says Stopping businesses from discriminating against gay people would be bad for the economy, or so says the governor of Tennessee. Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill in May that voided antidiscrimination ordinances created by cities and counties, which had barred employers and others from discriminating against gay people. But Haslam told the Nashville City Paper that he’s not only against local ordinances. If someone proposed adding gay people to the state’s antidiscrimination law, he’d oppose that too.    

Jon Stewart Tries Not Saying What Everyone Is Thinking Despite a “comedy repression” session with Jerry Seinfeld, comedian Jon Stewart skewered Marcus Bachmann’s antigay stances on The Daily Show Wednesday. A hidden camera investigation by Truth Wins Out found that Rep. Michele Bachmann’s husband offers so-called reparative therapy at his string of Christian counseling clinics. When Stewart asked to see video of who would do such a thing, up came footage of the Bachmanns dancing during a campaign rally.

Harsh New Abortion Bill To Become Law In Missouri JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri doctors and hospitals will face new restrictions and penalties for performing late-term abortions after Gov. Jay Nixon announced Thursday that he would let legislation backed by anti-abortion groups take effect without his signature. The law is part of a trend among states to limit abortions past the point when a fetus may be able to live outside the womb. Missouri’s proposal leaves it to doctors to determine viability on a case-by-case basis, unlike new laws in several other states that bar most abortions after 20 weeks.

California Governor Signs Landmark Gay History Bill Into Law SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Thursday
making California the first state in the nation to add lessons about gays and lesbians to social studies classes in public schools.Brown, a Democrat, signed the landmark bill requiring public schools to include the contributions of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender in social studies curriculum. The Democratic-majority Legislature had passed the bill last week on a largely party-line vote. “History should be honest,” the governor said in a statement. “

Discovered: Mexico’s Record-Breaking Marijuana Plantation

 SAN QUINTIN, Mexico (Reuters) – Mexican soldiers discovered the biggest marijuana plantation ever found in the country in a remote desert surrounded by cactuses, a top army officer said on Thursday. Soldiers patrolling the area found 300 acres of marijuana plants being tended by dozens of men this week, said General Alfonso Duarte. He said the crop, which was found in the state of Baja California, about 200 miles/320 km south of San Diego, California, would have yielded about 120 tonnes and was worth about $160 million. “This is the biggest marijuana plantation we have found in the country,” Duarte said. The plants will be destroyed, he said.