More Good News and a Couple of 'No Shits' too!

Our Internet went down about 1 AM this morning and did not come back up until I had already left to do my payday chores and errands.  So I am a little later than I usually am in getting this post up.  I do have some more good news in the Marriage Equality vein and a couple of 'no shit, Sherlock' moments to throw at you as well.  Let's start off with the Chairman of Native American Tribe Will Sign Marriage Equality Bill, Preside at Gay Wedding news from Michigan.  The legislative body of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of the Odawa passed a Marriage Equality bill on March 3 and the chairman of the tribe Dennis McNamara will sign the bill on Friday morning then preside over the wedding of two close long time friends over the weekend.  

Then via Towleroad.com there is a couple of videos that you should watch, the first being video of Beau Biden Speaking Out for Marriage Equality. Beau Biden is the son of Vice President Joe Biden and the Delaware Attorney General where Marriage Equality is due to come up in this legislative session.  Then from Monday in Minnesota Andy and his band of troopers share this video of the  powerful and emotional testimony of Jacob Reitan and his parents before the committee vote that advanced the Marriage Equality bill to the floor for debate and vote.  Jacob is the co-founder of the Soulforce Equality Ride that tours Christian Colleges each year and engages students and faculty in the discussion of Gay Equality.  

Also in the Marriage Equality department, New Zealand's Parliament is One Step from Approving Marriage Equality when they voted in the second of three votes necessary to pass the bill by a 77-44 margin.  The final vote could come as soon as next month.  Meanwhile back here in the states comes this totally awesome tale of Rick and Liam who were flying from Burbank to New York on a Jet Blue Flight so they could get married.  When the crewmembers Nickeloa, Virginia and Daniel heard that an engaged couple was on board their recent BUR-JFK flight—en route to City Hall in NYC for their wedding— they got ridiculously excited to make the flight special for them.  They gathered up and wrapped a gift package to present to them while on the flight as the other passengers celebrated with them.  However, the flight crew did not stop there, they explained that Rick and Liam would need a witness for their ceremony.  Of course they did not know anyone in New York so when crew member Virginia heard that, she volunteered to be their witness at the ceremony.  Now that is what I call really great customer service!  You can read Rick and Liam's letter of thanks they sent to Jet Blue here.

Now in the 'no shit, Sherlock' department comes the news from NOM's Ruth Institute's Jennifer Roback Morse announced the addition of UT Associate Professor Mark Regnerus to the 'It Takes a Family to Raise a Village' or ITAF conference in San Diego in May.  Professor Regnerus is the author of the bought and paid for by Marriage Equality opponents sham New Family Structures Study that blatantly lies about the lives and abilities of children of same sex couples.  He should feel right at home with all the other bigots and liars that will be in attendance.  

Also in the 'no shit, Sherlock' department comes the news that the Conservative Political Action Conference which begins today is being held at the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor in Washington, DC.  I think it is somewhat appropriate that the anti-Gay by day conference attendees are staying at the Gaylord hotel.  What is not surprising though, is the M4M Casual Encounters ads on Craig's List have exploded with ads mentioning men wanting to hookup over the weekend at that same Gaylord Hotel.  Funny how that works out, no?

I am sure you have heard by now that they have elected a new Pope to be called Francis in Rome.  The former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is from Argentina and is no stranger to the anti-Gay agenda of the Catholic Church.  Gay Dad Rob Watson has written an open letter to the new Pope which outlines a proposed plan by which the new Pope should run the church and have a positive effect on the world.  Neither Rob nor I will hold our breath until that happens, but it is still good to hope for it anyway.  

Your Musical Moment for today features Concerti Grossi and Sonatas from Italian composer Michele Mascitti performed by Camerata Anxanum.  The complete play list can be found here.  Then to wrap up today's post I have another marvelously sexy collection of denim dynamite with these Men in Jeans arrayed down the page for your visual appreciation.  Thanks for the visit, see you again tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!