News: Recriminalize Homosexuality, Choi’s Trial, Romney Too Gay Friendly, Bigamist and Pedophiles are ‘Waiting in the Wings’

AFA’S BRYAN FISCHER: RECRIMINALIZE HOMOSEXUALITY

Bryan Fischer, spokesman for the American Family Association (which hosted Rick Perry’s prayer rally), called today for the recriminalization of homosexuality. Though laws against “sodomy” were found unconstitutional in 2003 in Lawrence v. Texas, Fischer said there is “no reason why it cannot be a criminal offense once again.”

NORTH CAROLINIANS RALLY AGAINST MARRIAGE EQUALITY: BIGAMISTS AND PEDOPHILES ARE ‘WAITING IN THE WINGS’

The debate over inserting a constitutional amendment into North Carolina’s constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage isn’t until next month, but proponents of the measure are already organizing in support of the effort. Gregory Phillips of the Fay Observer has this report from yesterday’s small protest: “Ana Maria Blevins, who organized the protest and brought two of her children… said the amendment is necessary because without it, bigamists and pedophiles are ‘waiting in the wings,’ ready to take advantage of any court rulings that challenge the existing law, she said. The demonstrators, several of whom attend church together, objected to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. ‘You do what you want in your own bedroom, but you don’t have a right – a small percentage of the population – to redefine marriage for the rest of us,’ said Heather Harrison. ‘It’s all designed to shove down our throats a lifestyle that is totally against God’s word.’”

Rick Perry Doesn’t Like Romney Because He’s Too Gay Friendly

Perry, who proudly wears an Eagle Scout pin on his lapel, has harshly criticized Romney for a decision made while he ran the Olympics not to allow Boy Scouts to be official volunteers during the games. “Several years have gone by, and neither Mitt Romney nor anyone else who served as an official of the 2002 Winter Olympics has given a clear and logical explanation of why the door to volunteerism was shut on a willing ‘army’ of Boy Scout volunteers,’’ Perry wrote in his 2008 book, “On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For.’’

Choi’s Trial Ends Day One, With More to Come Tuesday

While former Lt. Dan Choi has already spent a day in federal court for the charge of failing to obey a lawful order by a police officer, things are moving at a pace that left Choi’s defense guessing that the bench trial may take three days.  Choi, who has gained a national reputation as a prominent figure in the fight against the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, was arrested with 12 other activists on Nov. 15, 2010, after the group chained themselves to the White House fence to protest the Obama administration’s lack of action on repealing the military policy. Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which was repealed in late December 2010, members of the military could be investigated and discharged on the suspicion that they were homosexuals.

 ARMY AND AIR FORCE BASES WILL DISTRIBUTE GAY RIGHTS MAGAZINE

With the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell only three weeks away, OutServe Magazine is expanding its outreach to LGBT servicemembers. In addition to a new interactive website, the magazine now has distribution rights on Air Force and Army bases, which means it will be on the shelves of military exchanges for the first time. The Sept. 20 issue will commemorate the repeal with profiles of nearly 100 gay, lesbian, and bisexual servicemembers.

GLAAD on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ casting Chaz Bono: ‘Tremendous step forward’

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation doesn’t typically weigh in on the latest round of celebrities on Dancing with the Stars, but then it’s not every season that a transgender and an openly gay man decide to tango under the mirror ball. As a result, GLAAD lauded ABC for including Chaz Bono and Carson Kressley in the 13th season. “With both gay and transgender contestants represented on this upcoming season, ABC will send viewers a strong message about the diversity within the LGBT community,” said Herndon Graddick, senior of director of programs for GLAAD, in a statement. “At a time when transgender representation in the media is sorely lacking, Chaz Bono joining the cast is a tremendous step forward for the public to recognize that transgender people are another wonderful part of the fabric of American culture. Appearing on such a high-profile show will allow millions of Americans to get to know him in a whole new light.”

Monday Madness, News: Anti-LGBT Literature, PRIDE FLAG OUTSMARTS GOV. BROWNBACK, Watch Ex-Gay Video

Anti-LGBT Literature Widely Distributed At Right-Wing ALEC Conference This past weekend, hundreds of conservative lawmakers and lobbyists gathered in New Orleans for the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) annual meeting. The four-day conference was sponsored by a who’s-who of corporations, from BP to Walmart to Altria, that pay upwards of $100,000 for the opportunity to write legislation friendly to their interests and pass it along to state lawmakers. The corporate front group is so concerned with secrecy that it instructed hotel security guards tophysically attack two ThinkProgress journalists covering the event.

LARGE PRIDE FLAG OUTSMARTS GOV. BROWNBACK’S FREE SPEECH RESTRICTIONS AT KANSAS CAPITOL  Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R), who appeared at The Response prayer rally this weekend, tried to limit an LGBT equality rally at the Kansas State Capitol by preventing the Kansas Equality Coalition from holding any flagpoles or even tiny flags, deeming them “dangerous weapons.” (This was despite the fact that the Knights of Columbus had not only flags but swords at an anti-choice event at the capitol in January.) The group found a way to outsmart the pole restriction by bringing in the biggest flags they could find — without poles.                                                                                                   

Bachmann Attended Anti-Gay Sermon, Watched Ex-Gay Video  “God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” [Pastor Jeff] Mullen said, reading from the book of Romans. Mullen’s sermon concluded with video testimonial from a man named Adam Hood, who claims to have been gay before experiencing a conversation with God. “I am so happy God has given me natural affection for a woman,” Hood said in the video, adding that his wife is nine months pregnant. “We need to have compassion for people that are bound by that sin,” Hood added. “And it is a sin. Call a spade a spade.” Below is the clip of ex-gay Adam Hood that was featured in the sermon the Bachmanns attended