The San Francisco-NYC red eye flight this morning took a detour over Canadian airspace so two dudes could get married as part of its contest. Many of the passengers were still asleep during the event and awoke to news from the cockpit.
Good news: Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal is not dead yet.
It's widely assumed that the reason the White House and Dems will punt on holding a vote on Don't Ask Don't Tell during the lame duck session is that there aren't 60 votes for it in the Senate to get it past a GOP filibuster. Senator Carl Levin, who heads the relevant committee, is talking about separating out DADT repeal from the Defense Authorization Bill for precisely this reason.
But very plugged in staffers who are actively involved in counting votes for Senators who favor repeal tell me it's premature to conclude this -- and that it could still get 60 votes in the Senate. These staffers tell me they've received private indications from a handful of moderate GOP Senators that they could vote for cloture on a Defense Authorization Bill with DADT repeal in it -- if Dem leaders agree to hold a sustained debate on the bill on the Senate floor.
Here's why this is important: It throws the ball back into the court of Senator Harry Reid and the White House. It means the onus is on them, mainly on Reid, to agree to a two-week Senate debate on DADT, including allowing amendments. Reid had previously tried to limit amendments, leading GOP moderates to balk. And Dem leaders may not want to allow this two week debate now, because time is short and it could prolong the session. But they should do it, because it's the only real chance to get repeal done. And it could get done.
The GOP Senators who are in play, according to these staffers, are Richard Lugar, George Voinovich, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. A spokesman for Lugar, Mark Helmke, tells me that Lugar would vote for cloture if Reid staged "ordered debate on a number of issues in the bill."
Helmke said he was skeptical that Reid would do this, however. "I would be surprised if the Majority Leader could achieve that in the time we have left," he said.
Kevin Kelley, a spokesperson for Collins, who supports repeal but has butted heads procedurally with Dems in the past, said: "She has indicated that she would support cloture if the Majority Leader allows a full and open debate."
A spokesperson for Snowe denied there are any discussions underway, and a spokesperson for Voinovich didn't return calls.
Sources also tell me that senators Joe Lieberman, Mark Udall and Kirsten Gillibrand will hold a press conference tomorrow urging the Dem leadership to allow the final two-week debate, arguing that this still can happen. This is no small thing: They are urging their own party leadership to do this.
Sure, there's reason for enormous skepticism that repeal will happen. The Dem leadership may balk at holding a protracted floor showdown before going home, and GOP moderates may throw up yet more procedural objections. But it could still happen, if the Dem leadership tries to make it happen.
An organization of American Catholic nuns has denounced the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for reiterating its opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage at its annual meeting in Baltimore this week while remaining silent on anti-gay bullying and gay teen suicide.
In a statement released Tuesday, the National Coalition of American Nuns accused the bishops of acting like “blinded Pharisees” for waging a fight against marriage equality while failing to speak out on gay teen suicides brought about by school bullying and harassment.
“More than a month has gone by since the media broke the news about a series of gay suicides,” the nuns’ statement says. “During that time, the U.S. Catholic Bishops failed to make a single statement regarding these tragic, preventable deaths.”
The statement adds, “Not one bishop’s voice was raised to condemn a culture where youths are bullied for being who God created them to be and are sometimes pushed by society’s judgments to attempt suicide.”
The Conference of Catholic Bishops, which represents Roman Catholic bishops in the U.S., held its annual fall General Assembly meeting this week in Baltimore.
Don Clemmer, a spokesperson for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., the newly elected vice president of the bishops’ conference, gave a presentation on the marriage issue before the conference’s Ad Hoc Committee on Defense of Marriage.
He said Cardinal Frances George of Chicago, the outgoing president of the conference, announced to the gathering that the ad hoc committee was being elevated to an official subcommittee of the Conference of Bishops.
Clemmer said he was not aware of any discussion or agenda items at the Baltimore meeting addressing gay teen suicide or anti-gay harassment or bullying. He said the final two days of the meeting set for Wednesday and today were closed to the public and it was possible that items not posted on the public agenda could be discussed.
“The National Coalition of Catholic Nuns calls on all U.S. Catholics to rise up and say, ‘Enough, enough!” says the nuns’ statement. “No more discriminatory rhetoric and repressive measures from men who lay heavy burdens on the shoulders of others and do not lift one finger of human kindness and compassion,” it says “We all need to work for a holy and just society and church.”
Sister Jeannine Gramick, a longtime supporter of LGBT rights from the D.C.-Baltimore area, is a board member and executive coordinator of the National Coalition of American Nuns.
In a separate statement, the LGBT-supportive group Catholics for Equality expressed concern that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops broke a long-standing tradition this week by not electing its current vice president, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., as the new president.
Kicanas, who Catholics for Equality describes as a “social justice champion,” was bypassed for the president’s position when the Conference of Bishops elected instead Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage equality and LGBT rights, according to Catholics for Equality.
The group noted that the bishops’ conference elected Archbishop Kurtz, the head of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, as its new vice president.
“Archbishop Kurtz … has led the Catholic hierarchy’s national campaign to deny marriage and family rights to gay and lesbian citizens,” Catholics for Equality said in a statement released Wednesday.
“That campaign has been financially assisted by the national office of the Knights of Columbus, most recently through the production of videos that demean and discredit gay and lesbian relationship, as well as single parent and extended family households,” the statement says.
“In his report from the Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, Archbishop Kurtz makes it clear that our bishops are waging a new political campaign to change the laws in our country,” said Ariello Alioto, a Catholics for Equality board member.
Nearly one in three American children is living with a parent who is divorced, separated or never-married. More people now believe that wedding bells aren't needed to have a family.
One American family tradition isn't changing though. About nine in 10 Americans say they will share a traditional Thanksgiving holiday meal next week with family, sitting at a table with 12 people on average. About one-quarter of those meeals will be shared with 20 or more family members.
More than a third of Americans believe marriage is growing obsolete. Even so, two unmarried partners who live together with children - like famously unwed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - are not counted by the US census as a single 'family'
But a study by the Pew Research Center, in association with Time Magazine, highlights rapidly changing notions of family in America.
The Census Bureau, too, is planning to incorporate broader definitions of family when measuring poverty, a shift caused partly by recent jumps in unmarried couples living together.
About 29 per cent of children under 18 now live with a parent or parents who are unwed or no longer married, a fivefold increase from 1960, according to the Pew report.
15 percent have parents who are divorced or separated and 14 per cent who were never married. Within those two groups, a sizable chunk - 6 per cent - have parents who are live-in couples who opted to raise kids together without getting married.
Indeed, about 39 per cent of Americans said marriage was becoming obsolete. And that sentiment follows U.S. census data released in September that showed marriages hit an all-time low of 52 per cent for adults 18 and over.
Next week's Thanksgiving holiday will be celebrated by 9 out of 10 Americans who will sit down for dinner with family. But, the definition of family is changing in America, as single parents and gay and unwed partners grow
In 1978, just 28 per cent believed marriage was becoming obsolete.
When asked what constitutes a family, the vast majority of Americans agree that a married couple, with or without children, fits that description. But four of five surveyed pointed also to an unmarried, opposite-sex couple with children or a single parent.
Three of five people said a same-sex couple with children was a family.
'Marriage is still very important in this country, but it doesn't dominate family life like it used to,' said Andrew Cherlin, a professor of sociology and public policy at Johns Hopkins University.
'Now there are several ways to have a successful family life, and more people accept them.'
The changing views of family are being driven largely by young adults 18-29, who are more likely than older generations to have an unmarried or divorced parent or have friends who do.
14 percent of children under 18 in America live with single parents who were never married, like Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol and grandson Tripp
Young adults also tend to have more liberal attitudes when it comes to spousal roles and living together before marriage, the survey found.
But economic factors, too, are playing a role. The Census Bureau recently reported that opposite-sex unmarried couples living together jumped 13 per cent this year to 7.5 million.
It was a sharp one-year increase that analysts largely attributed to people unwilling to make long-term marriage commitments in the face of persistent unemployment.
Beginning next year, the Census Bureau will publish new, supplemental poverty figures that move away from the traditional concept of family as a husband and wife with two children.
It will broaden the definition to include unmarried couples, such as same-sex partners, as well as foster children who are not related by blood or adoption.
Marriage is still important to most Americans, but it doesn't dominate family life like it did in the 1950s
Officials say such a move will reduce the number of families and children who are considered poor based on the new supplemental measure, which will be used as a guide for federal and state agencies to set anti-poverty policies.
That's because two unmarried partners who live together with children and work are currently not counted by census as a single 'family' with higher pooled incomes, but are officially defined as two separate units - one being a single parent and child, the other a single person - who aren't sharing household resources.
'People are rethinking what family means,' Cherlin said. 'Given the growth, I think we need to accept cohabitation relationships as a basis for some of the fringe benefits offered to families, such as health insurance.'
Still, the study indicates that marriage isn't going to disappear anytime soon. Despite a growing view that marriage may not be necessary, 67 percent of Americans were upbeat about the future of marriage and family.
That's higher than their optimism for the nation's educational system (50 percent), economy (46 percent) or its morals and ethics (41 percent).
And about half of all currently unmarried adults, 46 percent, say they want to get married. Among those unmarried who are living with a partner, the share rises to 64 percent.
A charity 'vicars and tarts' party has sparked outrage amongst church-goers after a clergyman wore a flamboyant mini-skirt and leggings outfit for the event.
The Reverend Martin Wray, of St Lawrence the Martyr Church, South Shields, has been on sick leave for almost three months after some of his parishioners expressed alarm at his part in the night in August, which aimed to raise funds for local charities.
What was meant to be a fun-filled affair has divided opinion with some of the congregation believing the vicar's decision to dress up as a 'tart' had brought his parish into disrepute after a photograph of Rev Wray at the party, was published in the local newspaper, the Shields Gazette.
Work's a drag: The Reverend Martin Wray in fancy dress at the controversial fund-raising event and in rather more sober attire for his 'day job'
Reverend Wray was not available for comment directly but a friend, speaking on his behalf, said his participation had been "blown out of proportion" and suggested there was a "whiff of homophobia" about the reaction.
Reverend Wray is gay and entered into a civil partnership with his partner in May of this year.
The source said : "He is being pilloried for something that was meant to be just a bit of fun in support of a good cause. I can't help but think there is some sort of homophobic undercurrent here, which is very disappointing.
"He just dressed as a tart because he's a vicar, and coming to the party as a vicar really wouldn't have made sense.
"It was a very respectable event. There were two former mayors in attendance, although they weren't dressed up.
"The money raised on the night was to be divided between the Arts 4 Wellbeing charity in South Shields and St Lawrence's.
All in the best possible taste: (l-r) Party organiser Dave Wood, Rev Martin Wray (in gold leggings), Lee Wray and Kerry Lee at The Steamboat pub in South Shields.
Arts 4 Wellbeing is a South Tyneside charity, providing tuition in arts and crafts for those suffering from mental health problems.
In the end St Lawrence's refused to accept the money, claiming it was 'tainted'. I think it's a terrible attitude."
Some churchgoers at St Lawrence's say a photograph of Rev Wray at the party was "just a trigger" amid other concerns.
One parishioner, who declined to give their name, claimed "Having his photograph taken in the Gazette was something he should not have allowed to happen, associating St Lawrence's as it did with the event.
"It was a mistake and he has since admitted it was a mistake. But that incident was just a trigger. We had other concerns.
"We have not heard from Reverend Wray for some time but the congregation is sticking together and keeping the church services going. We're not sure what his intentions for the future are."
The Reverend Stuart Bain, archdeacon for Sunderland, who helps oversee the work of clergy in the town, said: "Martin took part in a charity event for a good cause and it's true that some of his parishioners, I'm not sure how many, were unhappy with his participation.
"It was clear there was no intention on his part to create upset in any way. It can happen that parishioners fall out with their clergy for all kinds of reasons."
With a shortage of clergymen nationwide, efforts are being made to ensure that all services and funerals and baptisms are covered at St Lawrence's.
The stars of the upcoming romantic comedy Love and Other Drugs have
weighed in against the ouster of three judges who favored gay marriage.
In the film, which opens Wednesday, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a womanizing pharmaceutical sales representative who falls in love with Anne Hathaway's character in Pittsburgh.
As if grammar-challenged homophobic epithets on Facebook weren’t enough social-networking hate for one day, a Christian group started a Facebook page entitled, “Protest Homosexuality,” which lists a hodge-podge of biblical quotes, and links to articles with titles like, “Hope for Homosexuals,” “Homosexual Urban Legend, The Series,” and “A Gay Christian: An Oxymoron.” Not exactly stocking stuffer reading material this holiday season, but a frightening journey into the world of hatemongering.
“Before you homosexuals make any comments, actually read the article!” the most recent post says, and it links to an article about an “ex-gay” and how miserable this man’s life was until he was “cured” of his homosexuality. I love how the haters think we aren’t in agreement with them simply because we haven’t read their argument. News flash: we know the bible, we know all about your conversion theories, we know what you think about sex. We just know that it’s all poppycock.
They claim being gay and religious are oxymoronic, but what’s actually oxymoronic is their tagline on the Facebook page, which reads, "We do not hate anyone here. Our desire is to see souls saved. But at the same time we need to protect our children from the homosexual activists.” Ah yes, the age old, “We don’t hate you, we just hate what you do,” rhetoric.
I know you can’t judge a book by its cover usually, but I like to pride myself on being an expert outer, someone whose gaydar is honed in to detect a member of the rainbow coalition from miles away. I couldn’t help but notice that many of the followers on this page look ... well, a little gay. Perhaps not surprising if you look at the history of evangelicals and conservative politicians and others that spew messages of hate because they cannot come to terms with their own sexuality.
He may not have the rhetorical chops of President Obama, or the make-up artist of Adam Lambert, or the wit of the cast of Modern Family, but Vice President Joe Biden took to YouTube this week to become the latest in a line of politicians, celebrities and activists telling LGBT Youth that 'It Gets Better.' The result is a short four-minute video that is both tender and sweet, with a nod that though our politics might be slow in catching up, LGBT youth are going to be the future of this country. And they're going to make us fabulous again.
"One day not long from now, you're going to look back on this time, this time in your life, and you'll be incredibly proud that you were able to get through," Vice President Biden says. "And the rest of us will be incredibly grateful. Because you're the people ... who are going to grow up to be the adults who help society become more caring, more decent, more mature."
OK, so it took Biden about two-and-a-half minutes to get to that point, after a bit of chitter chatter about Eleanor Roosevelt and his own parents, but the message is particularly critical. It's not the bullies who make the world a better place; it's those who are bullied who often have a deep sense of empathy and compassion for those considered to be "the other."
It's that empathy that VP Biden says will make LGBT youth so important to the future of the globe.
"You'll have the experience. You can empathize. You can use that to change attitudes and to change perceptions. And to literally change the world," VP Biden says.
That's quite the message of hope. Much like when President Obama released his 'It Gets Better' video, it's worth taking a moment in the political battlefield to pause and acknowledge that having two of the world's most important leaders come together to denounce LGBT bullying is a valuable thing. It doesn't mean that the White House now has permission to take a few days off in the fight for LGBT equality. But consider if the tables of 2008 were turned, and we were now dealing with a Vice President Palin. Given the tenor of a certain Palin child on Facebook this week, you can bet that we wouldn't be seeing this same message coming out of the White House.
As if 
He may not have the rhetorical chops of 
