The One That I Want: ONJ & John Travolta Reunite For Christmas CD!

Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta's duet from "Grease," "You're the One That I Want," remains the best-selling pop duet in history. Take that "Endless Love"! This week, the gay-friendly pair—Livi as a forever friend to the community and Johnny perpetually living behind that uncomfortable closet door—reunited for the release of seasonal album "This Christmas," which came out Tuesday. It's going to be fascinating to see next week's Billboard chart: This has potential to return ONJ to the top 10 for the first time in almost two decades.

Guests on the project include Cliff Richard, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett and James Taylor. The emphasis single, unfortunately, is an odd country hoedown, "I Think You Might Like It," which I honestly could have done without. All the same, it comes complete with a music video. Great to see Olivia looking radiant as ever... while John, ever aging out of living a miserable life of lies, seems to have his scalp painted with... uh... hair. See it right here! *

NY Gov. Cuomo Responds To Crackpot That Blames Sandy On Gays

Last week Rabbi Noson Leiter, head of the Rockland County-based Orthodox Jewish advocacy group Torah Jews for Decency, said that Superstorm Sandy was God’s response to same-sex marriage in New York. This crackpot said: "The Lord could punish particular areas with a flood, and if we look at the same-gender marriage recognition movement that's occurring, that certainly is a message for us to learn."

Adding that lower Manhattan is "one of the national centers of homosexuality," the homophobe claimed, "We have to learn that if we don't shape up the Lord will deliver divine justice.”

On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement in response to the rabbi’s letter: "The comments made by Rabbi Noson Leiter that sought to link the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy to our state’s embrace of marriage equality are as offensive as they are ignorant. 

"This kind of hateful rhetoric has no place in our public discourse, and is particularly distasteful in times of tragedy. Our state is proud to offer equal rights to all our citizens, and we will never tolerate the use of a tragedy like Hurricane Sandy to promote a divisive and bigoted agenda. I call on Rabbi Leiter to apologize immediately for his hurtful comments."

Thank you, Gov. Cuomo, who continues to show leadership in our state and is one of few politicians who truly stands by what he believes. *

In Case You Were Wondering, THE GAYS Caused Hurricane Sandy

Evangelical pastor John McTernan is calling for prayers of repentance based on his rambling dumbass reasoning that Hurricane Sandy was caused by... the gays! The idiot writes:

"Hurricane Sandy is hitting 21 years to the day of the Perfect Storm of October 20, 1991. This was the day that President George Bush Sr. initiated the Madrid Peace Process to divide the land of Israel, including Jerusalem. America has been under God’s judgment since this event. Twenty-one years breaks down to 7x3, which is a significant number with God. Three is perfection as the Godhead is three in one while seven is perfection.

It appears that God gave America 21 years to repent of interfering with His prophetic plan for Israel, however, it has gotten worse under all the presidents and especially Obama. Obama is 100% behind the Muslim Brotherhood, which has vowed to destroy Israel and take Jerusalem. Both candidates are pro-homosexual and are behind the homosexual agenda. America is under political judgment and the church does not know it!

Wow, it must have taken a lot of work to come up with such a whacko theory. I'm willing to bet that McTernan and Paul Ryan are great buddies. Sounds like they're cut from the same extremist cloth. *

Evangelist Billy Graham Is A Hater: So Much For Christianity

The 93-year-old Billy Graham has decided that America needs to know good and real good that southern Baptist homophobia is alive and well among the senior (senior senior) sect. Hiding behind the guise of Christianity, he took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal Thursday to plead with other white grand-papas to vote for Nit-Mitt Romney.

Mr. Graham caterwauls in the advert: "The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren and this great nation is crucial. As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last.

"It is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel. I urge you to vote for those who protect the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God."

Graham—and his son Junior, who appeared on CNN's Piers Morgan last week to proclaim pretty much the same (while refusing over and again to address the question of whether Mormon Mitt Romney is a "true Christian," amid the family's "religious" organization only recently striking its definition of the Mormon religion as a "cult")—is also a staunch opponent of women's rights to choose.

Gawker points out that WSJ's average readership comprises 57-year-old (white) men, who probably already hate gays and couldn't give a shit about women's equality. I'm delighted that Graham pretty much threw his money into the dumpster. His Evangelical Association is placing the same ad in USA Today Friday. Glory be to divine prejudice. True Christianity is anything but such enduring hate. *

Quote Of The Day: Rick Santorum Speaks Truth For The First Time?

Failed loudmouth Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum joined some of the most extremist conservatives in the nation last weekend at D.C.'s "Values Voters Summit," standing alongside good buddies and some of America's dimmest minds: Kirk Cameron, Tony Perkins, Michele Bachmann, Laura Ingraham—and G.O.P. VP candidate Paul Ryan...

In what may well be the first time in his political career, Santorum said something that sounds pretty damn smart to meese. Ready? Characterizing conservative values, the bigoted homophobe shouted from the mountaintop...

"We will never have the media on our side, 

ever, in this country. We will never have 

the elite, smart people on our side."

Genius. And you can bet that's a word I have never used to describe Ricky. *

Mitt Romney's Veep Paul Ryan: More Dangerous Than The Pussy Boy

The ACLU has sent out a denouncement of Mitt Romney's Vice Presidential choice Rep. Paul Ryan regarding his track record on civil liberties. In a word, they find it: appalling. Surprise! The report finds that Ryan, the congressman representing Wisconsin’s 1st District, holds almost uniformly harmful views on five key civil liberties issues including a humane immigration policy, LGBT equality, reproductive rights, torture and indefinite detention and fair voting access.

"Paul Ryan may end up a heartbeat away from the presidency but he’ll be light years from civil liberties," says Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director. "Paired with Romney’s already-abysmal record on civil liberties, Ryan’s positions only take this ticket further from the vision of our founding fathers."

According to the New York Times, based on his Congressional voting record, Ryan is one of the most extreme VP candidates in the past century, on either side of the aisle. The standard political strategy is for the VP candidate to be closer to the center, but the Romney campaign is betting that energizing the right-wing "base" of the party will help the ticket win in November.

Ryan's record is clear: cut jobless benefits, end Social Security and Medicare for seniors, refute Obama's Healthcare reform, spend millions more on defense and protect wealthy Americans from paying their share of taxes. The Democrats should be (and are) thrilled. While Romney has never had an opinion about anything except "Obama is bad," now Democrats can at last bite into the extremist views of this frightening Republican candidate.

 Majority Leader Harry Reid notes: "By picking Paul Ryan, Governor Romney has doubled down on his commitment to gut Social Security and end Medicare as we know it. Romney’s choice demonstrates that catering to the Tea Party and the far-right is more important to him than standing up for the middle class." Let's hope Ryan's out-of-touch views only add another nail to the coffin of Pussy Boy Romney's campaign. *

'Grace Kelly' Singer Mika Finally Comes Out

My theory has always been that any man who claims he is bisexual is simply too ashamed to come out as gay. Women, perhaps, since they are driven by both physical and emotional ties. But let's face it, men are guided by sexuality. Gay or straight.

Back in 2009, British singer Mika confessed to a Dutch magazine that he was bisexual. Bullshit... Now, at last, three years later—surprise!!—the 28-year-old has come to terms with the fact that he's gay. In an interview with Instinct, the "Grace Kelly" singer said: "If you ask me am I gay, yeah. Are these songs about my relationship with a man? Yeah. It’s only through my music that I’ve found the strength to come to terms with my sexuality beyond the context of just my lyrics. This is my real life."

Mika’s new single is "Celebrate" from his upcoming third album The Origin of Love. Perhaps if he'd come to terms when he was in the limelight, Mika wouldn't forever remain a U.S. one-hit wonder. Hiding never helps.*

CNN Sorry For Accidentally Playing 'Stupid Girls' Before Palin Segment

CNN has apologized for what it says "was a poor choice" of music when it played Pink's "Stupid Girls" before a news story about Fox News contributor and former GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin. The quick piece revolved around Palin proving what an upstanding conservative dimwit she is by visiting a local Chick-Fil-A fast food restaurant.

"Stopped by Chick-fil-A in The Woodlands to support a great business," Palin tweeted following an appearance at a rally for Republican Senate primary challenger Ted Cruz outside Houston. "Love me some Chick Fil-A."

Some viewers noticed the correlation, and complained. I, mind you, would have been laughing through my tears. The Hollywood Reporter received a statement from CNN apologizing for the incident: "The music selection was a poor choice and was not intended to be linked to any news story. We regret any perception that they were planned together."

It may not have been intentional(?), but it sure was on-target. Meanwhile, Palin may be one of few who "loves me some Chick-Fil-A." Since Prez Dan Cathy's homophobic remarks, the brand's public persona has hit the skids. *

Chick-Fil-A Prez Dan Cathy's Homophobia Bites Him In The Ass

Oh, poor, misguided codger Dan Cathy. The Chick-fil-A president's recent homophobic comments against same-sex marriage aren't sitting so well with a United States that has grown much less tolerant of the old guard's wearisome tirades against gays... because the Bible tells them so.

In addition to The Jim Henson Co.'s Muppets pulling its toys from the fast-food chain and seguing its financial support to GLAAD, Jon Stewart devoted an entire episode of The Daily Show to Chick-Fil-A's bombastic absurdity, alongside the Boys Scouts of America's proclamation that open gays are unwelcome.

And now, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has fired off a letter to Cathy (god, I love that name!) urging him to stay the fuck out of his city: "In recent days you said Chick-fil-A opposes same-sex marriage and said the generation that supports it has 'an arrogant attitude,'" he began.

"Now, incredibly, your company says you are backing out of the same-sex marriage debate. I urge you to back out of your plans to locate in Boston. We are indeed full of pride for our support of same sex marriage and our work to expand freedom to all people."

In a radio interview, Cathy continued to put a big chicken bone up his ass when he whined, " I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage. I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."

His original bullhorn tirade against gays went like this: "We are very much supportive of the family, the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."

Oh, broooother... That collective "we being married to our first wives"... That's a good one! As if all stalwort Christian soldiers never divorce. Funny, I could swear that the 50% D-I-V-O-R-C-E rate in American struck a majority of said Christians. What a bunch of chicken-shit...

Meanwhile, former Arkansas Governor and one-time Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee showed what an antiquated fathead he is by supporting Chick-fil-A's stance. He whined that he is "incensed at the vitriolic assaults on Chick Fil-A. Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same sex marriage, abortion or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we're considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers and intolerant."

Oh, dear God. In one more generation forward, these kinds of comments are going to horrify what I count on to be a United States that stands for equality. But it's reassuring that already, such rhetoric sounds like a dinosaur brigade. Let's hope they're all soon extinct. *

Eagle Scouts Return Medals Over Boy Scouts' Bigotry

Here's a stance that truly demonstrates the metal of Eagle scouts. An uprising has begun where dozens of such former Boy Scouts are returning their badges of honor to protest the BSA's recent homophobic stance of not allowing openly gay people to serve as troop leaders or members.

Boing Boing writer Maggie Koerth-Baker posted a story about how her husband, Christopher Baker, a former Eagle Scout, returned his medal to the Boy Scouts of America. The post, which included Baker's letter to the BSA, drew such a robust reaction that other Eagles are voluntarily clipping their wings.

Baker wrote: "I am returning my Eagle Scout medal because I do not want to be associated with the bigotry for which it now stands. I hope that one day BSA stands up for all boys. It saddens me that until that day comes any sons of mine will not participate in the Boy Scouts."

Baker is not gay, nor are any of the other men who have submitted resignation letters to be posted on Boing Boing. Koerth-Baker said she is receiving a tirade of letters from men who have resigned from the Eagle Scouts.

Boy Scouts of America spokesman Deron Smith responded: "While a majority of our membership agrees with our policy, no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society. Although we are disappointed to learn of anyone who feels compelled to return his Eagle rank, we fully understand and appreciate that not everyone will agree with any one position or policy."

I'm assuming the Boy Scouts also, at one point, had a policy against little colored boys being members, as well. And handicapped kids. Grow up, BSA. It's 2012, not 1912. *

The Republican Duh-genda: Paul Begala In 'Newsweek'

This is the smartest piece of political journalism I've read in weeks. Paul Begala's weekly column in Newsweek/The Daily Beast talks good sense about the Republican duh-genda (hey, I think I just coined a new phrase!). I've streamline it here, and recommend taking a look at the entire piece. Scary smart stuff. *

I have read several state-party [political] platforms so you won’t have to. They offer a road map to heaven or hell, depending on your party preference. I started in Texas—the most Republican big state in America. Every single statewide elected official is a Republican. Of the 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, 101 are Republicans—and they’re hunting the other 49 down with dogs.

Texas Republicans hate the heavy hand of government. And so they oppose mandatory preschool and kindergarten, mandatory immunizations. It’s one thing to be anti-government. It’s another to be pro-stupid. Yet the Texas GOP actually opposes thinking. Seriously, their platform proudly declares: "We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills, critical-thinking skills, and similar programs." As Texas populist Jim Hightower likes to say, if ignorance is bliss, these are the happiest people on earth.

My Republican family and friends back home will say they just flat don’t want gubmint gettin’ all in your grill. Unless, of course, you’re gay. Or a woman seeking to choose to have an abortion. Then the government will not only be in your grill, it will be controlling your carburetor. For those keeping score at home, mandating a polio vaccine: tyranny. Mandating invasive ultrasound: freedom.

Predictably, Texas Republicans want a land without Social Security, without the United Nations, and without President Obama. But the 23-page platform has some truly random gems, like opposing the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was negotiated and adopted under the presidencies of those dangerous radicals, Reagan and Bush.

On the economy, Texans proudly quote at great length from the GOP’s national platform—from 1932. I kid you not. These folks pine for the policies of Herbert Hoover. They want to repeal the minimum wage, abolish the Federal Reserve and return to the gold standard.

Lest you think this is just a Texas thing, let us check in with the progressive people of Minnesota. Their Republicans love our Constitution, but want to add an amendment declaring that life begins at conception and allowing men who impregnate women to have an equal say in what happens to the fetus. The platform is silent as to whether rapists would be so empowered.
 
The Minnesota GOP also supports teaching of "creation science" and opposes any teaching about sex—except abstinence. So how do you explain to Minneapolis high schoolers what then-GOP senator Larry Craig was doing in their airport men’s room? Like Texas, the Minnesota GOP wants to reinstate the ban on gays in the military. It will be a lot easier to root them out now that we’ve let them come out of the closet. Fiendishly clever, my Republican friends.

But aren’t the Democratic crazies just as crazy? No, actually. I reviewed the Democratic platforms of Vermont (which has a socialist senator), Massachusetts and Hawaii. None of them is as far left as some of the Republicans are right. No one is calling for the proletariat to own the means of production. No Democrat wants to nationalize the oil companies. They mostly repeat the standard center-left calls for gay rights and women’s rights, more health care and better schools.

I must admit I found the GOP platforms more entertaining. But then again I like Stephen King novels, too. The difference is Mr. King doesn’t try to enact his fevered fantasies into law.

No Gays Allowed: Boy Scouts Of America Still Living In 1910

"A Boy Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, 

courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, 

reverent... and homophobic."

Oh, brother. The culturally essential Boy Scouts of America has "emphatically" reaffirmed that there's no place for gays among its ranks, after conducting a super-secret two-year review. Well, shit, this just ruins everything!

Since its founding in 1910, the Scouts has remained an outstanding barometer of raising fine, strong, forward-thinking young men as relevant as black & white TV.

In a statement, BSA said, "While the BSA blah blah does not proactively inquire about the blah blah sexual orientation of blah blah employees, volunteers or members, blah blah we do not grant membership to individuals who are blah blah open or avowed homosexuals or blah blah who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the blah blah mission of the BSA."

The Human Rights Campaign quickly responded, "This is a missed opportunity of colossal proportions. With the country moving toward inclusion, the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have instead sent a message to young people that only some of them are valued."

HRC continues, "These adults could have taught the next generation of leaders the value of respect, yet they’ve chosen to teach division and intolerance." Nothing like living in the past. I wonder if the Scouts allow "colored boys" to join yet. *

Tom Cruise & Katy Holmes Call It Splitsville

Apparently, Katy Holmes has decided it's no longer worth any amount of $$ to play Tom Cruise's third wifey while he hides out in the closet... Or perhaps Cruise and John Travolta are about to announce their imminent nuptials. In any case, TMZ is reporting that the mismatched pair is divorcing, after five years of unholy matrimony.

Holmes is the one that filed for divorce, not surprisingly. Her attorney released a statement that her primary concern remains her daughter’s best interest blah, blah, blah"—after Tommy threatened to send the kid to Scientology Boot Camp. Katie has a 6-year-old daughter Suri, that is alleged to have been spawned via Tomcat.

Cruise was previously married to Nicole Kidman and Mimi Rogers. Curiously, the New York Daily News reports that all three of his wives called it quits at the age of 33. More importantly, Katie and Cat have a prenup worth $275 million. They haven’t been seen together in public since February and Holmes attended no Rock Of Ages premieres, which Cruise stars in. *