News and Nut Jobs

There is not a lot going on today, but I did notice a couple of things I would like to point out in the news cycle.  First off is this bit of marriage news from TX:  Attorneys for two same-sex couples are asking a federal district judge to lift his stay of a February ruling striking down Texas' marriage bans. If U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia agrees to lift the stay, it could allow same-sex marriages to begin in Texas immediately.  Garcia struck down the TX ban in February but stayed his ruling pending the appeal to the 5th Circuit which has scheduled oral arguments for January 9, 2015.  Cleopatra DeLeon and her wife, Nicole Dimetman, are seeking to have their Massachusetts marriage recognized in Texas. The other plaintiffs in the case, Mark Phariss and Vic Holmes, are seeking a marriage license.  If Judge Garcia lifts the stay, and Marriage Equality comes to TX in my lifetime, I may just have to go meet Jesus because surely the world is coming to an end, lol.  

Speaking of which, living in TX you do not have to look far to find a nut job springing up from out of nowhere.  Like Republican Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark for instance.  Commissioner Clark is of the opinion that offering retirement benefits to the spouses of LGBT employees could lead to"the decline of the empire".  Commissioner Clark's statement came about because the intergovernmental council of which he serves on the board recently received an IRS notice.  The notice states "due to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2013 decision striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act," the council "must begin offering equal 401(k) benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married in other states, or lose the tax-qualified status of its retirement fund."  When the subject came up at the Oct 21 Boadrd meeting, Clark had this to say:

“This is how the decline of the empire happens is we acquiesce to these sort of items little by little and it desensitizes us to it. At some point we’re gonna have to stand up and on this issue I choose to stand up to this because this is not, this is not appropriate for them to hold our employees hostage. And, if they choose to disqualify our plan, it will become a national issue. The American people, in my opinion, are not willing to let this come in incrementally the way this is happening, so that’s where I'm at on this issue.” 

The board tabled the matter until the Nov meeting at which there was much discussion before the matter was further tabled.  The anti-Gay Houston Area Pastor Council showed its support for Clark and the 'moral forces for good' stating:

"If we, as freemen, do not draw the line here against the political correctness, moral decline, and government fiat in this country, our children will inherit the bonds of moral slavery. What will you say when they ask; What did you do? Why did you not stand? If you wish to stand and voice your opinion on this matter, you may attend the next meeting and do just that." 

When the matter was again tabled, the anti-Gay group Texas Values along with the Pastor Council declared victory over 'the forces of evil'.  Texas Values released the following statement:

“Thankfully some leaders in the Houston-area are starting to recognize that they must follow Texas law on marriage,” said Jonathan Saenz, attorney and president of Texas Values. “That’s encouraging, but Houston Mayor Annise Parker still thinks she’s above the law, and her violations of federal and state law are doing more damage to the Houston people every day,” concluded Saenz.

Clark and the board have until Dec.31 to comply with the new IRS policy or lose the tax-qualified status.  If it is one thing Republicans hate is giving up their tax exemptions just so they can stay true to their homophobia and bigotry.  We will keep you posted as events progress.   

 

Turning to a more pleasant bit of news making, Gay teenage scientific wonderkind Jack Andraka has a new book coming out in March 2015: Breakthrough: How one teen innovator is changing the world. He penned an OpEd in the Advocate relating a bit about the book How Gay Genius Alan Turing Got Me Through Middle School which reveals some of the trials and travails of growing up as a triple whammy cupcake, super smart, science geeky nerd with the cherry on top of being openly Gay.  Despite all his apparent 'disadvantages', Jack still made a breakthrough in the detection of Pancreatic Cancer before even getting out of high school.  The article is a good read and I am looking forward to the book, how about you?

You Tuesday Musical Moment features the Opus 7 Organ Concerti of George Friederich Handel.  Included in the play list are No.1 in B flat major, HWV 306; No.2 in A major, HWV 307; No.3 in B flat major, HWV 308; No.4 in D minor, HWV 309; No.5 in G minor, HWV 310 and No.6 in B flat major, HWV 311.  The recording is a composite featuring principle soloists George Malcolm, on organ and harpsichord and Roger Lord, on oboe.  Accompanying the soloists on the various works are Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Conductor - Sir Neville Marriner and Thurston Dart, harpsichord; Philomusica of London, Conductor -- Granville Jones and The Academy of Ancient Music, Conductor - Christopher Hogwood.  You may also hear the classic vinyl recording of Handel's Concerto for Harp and Lute in E Flat Major, Opus 4, Number 6 by Osian Ellis, on the harp, Desmond Dupre, on the lute and the Philomusica of London under the Direction of Granville Jones over on my tumblr.

 

Then to 'flesh out the post' with a little some some to brighten our day is this little collection of sultry sedectors all set to lead you 'down the garden path' in this week's edition of Tuesday's Temptations.  For some additional temptation/inspiration, you may want to ask of the Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr "Going MY Way?" .  Thanks for sharing Tuesday with me, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!