Reporter fired for unprofessional anti-gay outburst now the latest cause celebre for the religious right

Victims, victims, victims. All these people can do is whine about how victimized they are because no one lets them be a bigot in peace. Joe My God quotes HRC:

The day following the loss in Maine, HRC released a statement and shortly thereafter reporter Larry Grard responded with the following: "who are the hateful, venom-spewing ones? Hint: Not the yes on 1 crowd. You hateful people have been spreading nothing but vitriol since this campaign began. Good riddance!"

Understanding the original release was sent only to Maine media contacts, it was quickly discovered the reporter worked for a mainstream news outlet that covered the Maine ballot race. At no time did I ask Larry to be fired, but instead had one email interaction with his editor where I said: "I received the below email this morning after our national media release was sent to your team. ... It's frankly, just not acceptable coming from a news organization the morning after our defeat."

The editor did not contact me further. The management team of the newspaper did let me know they had policies in place and were looking into the matter. It is my understanding they conducted their own review. I only learned Larry was fired from a reporter asking for comment.

Now he's being a martyr. Because only in the religious right do independent reporters get to send bigoted emails to the people they're supposed to objectively cover. Imagine had a liberal journalist done this - oh the right would be beside themselves. Read the rest of this post...

Homophobe/Grammy nominee Buju Banton arrested on drug charges

Buju Banton is in jail right now. He's facing some serious drug charges:

Buju Banton, the Jamaican reggae star whose anti-gay lyrics have drawn international criticism, is in a federal lockup in Miami, facing drug conspiracy charges.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents say Banton, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, has been in custody since Thursday and will soon be transferred to Tampa, where the U.S. Attorney is charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine.

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“Tonight the voters of Houston have opened the doors to history”

From the Annise Parker for Houston Website:

From the Houston Chronicle:

“Tonight the voters of Houston have opened the doors to history,” she said. “I acknowledge that. I embrace that. I know what this win means to many of us who thought we could never achieve high office. I know what it means. I understand, because I feel it, too. But now, from this moment, let us join as one community. We are united in one goal in making this city the city that it can be, should be, might be, will be.”

Parker harkened back to her earliest days of involvement in civic issues, when she served as president of Neartown Association, saying that work gave her the insight she needed as she headed into public office, and especially an understanding of the human repercussion of politics.

“Hear me: The city is on your side,” she said. “I learned about the problems and the needs and hopes of our city at the neighborhood level. I understand what needs to be done to move us forward.”

After introducing her family, including her partner, Kathy Hubbard, their three children and her mother, Kay Parker, she made a post-campaign promise to those who live in Houston.

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Guess who I ran into last night?

Openly-gay director of the President's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) John Berry. It was at a Christmas party. Berry is the most senior gay in the Obama administration (he is not a cabinet member), and he's the person the White House puts out there when they need to quell uprisings in the community. I won't report on my conversation with him, as I don't generally think it ethical to write about conversations at a private Christmas party in a friend's home (otherwise none of my friends will ever invite me over again). But suffice it to say we had a full, frank and vigorous discussion of the issues of the day, if you get my drift.

Joe had a similar experience last summer with top Obama adviser David Axelrod. He ran into Axelrod at a gay dog show at Dupont Circle (the one Petey won numerous awards at). At the time, as a show of our goodwill to the administration, Joe didn't mention on the blog that he'd seen Axelrod, or that he walked up to Axelrod and explained that the situation with the gay community and the Obama administration was pretty grave. Axelrod was very nice, and knew who Joe with AMERICAblog was.

I got some hell for this at the conference in Barcelona a few weeks ago, when I mentioned that we often have off the record conversations with Democrats, or anyone else, and thus don't report those conversations on the blog. Another blogger, from Norway I think, got very upset about that fact. She felt that it was anathema to blogging having political conversations that you didn't report. But I obviously disagree.

People have to feel that they can trust you, or they won't want to talk ever again. That means not reporting on private conversations that aren't clearly marked as "business" - meaning, if I walk up to Axelrod with a mic, and then he knows it's business. Joe walks up with a cute cocker spaniel at a gay dog show, and it's less clear. And sometimes - sometimes - you can even get people to agree to help you, or to share helpful information, during those off the record conversations. Yes, many in the media have abused those conversations to report unsubstantiated BS. But off the record is also the way that a lot of us get real updates from real players in the administration and in Congress, information that helps us not only inform you, but advocate better for the causes we all care about. It's also a good way to build a relationship with that person, so that in the future they do help you. Not always. But sometimes it works.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. So to speak. Read the rest of this post...