Judge Cancels Texas AG Ken Paxton’s Contempt Hearing Over Gay Marriage Resistance

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will not face a contempt hearing for defying the U.S. Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling.

A federal judge on Wednesday canceled Paxton’s Sept. 10 contempt hearing over the state’s failure to issue an accurate death certificate to a gay widower for six weeks following the ruling. Paxton asked U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia to cancel the hearing last week, and attorneys for the widower, John Stone-Hoskins, agreed to the request.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia wrote that the state has fully complied with his order from last month to implement guidelines for recognizing same-sex marriages in issuing birth and death certificates, and to process all pending applications.

However, Garcia also noted that he’s received mailings from people alleging that some county clerks in Texas are still refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

“These incidents have not been properly filed and are not before this Court,” Garcia wrote. “Nonetheless, the Court understands … that the attorney general does not intend to represent any clerk facing litigation for its failure to issue marriage license to same-sex couples. The Court expects that Ken Paxton, as Texas Attorney General, and Kirk Cole, as interim Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services, will utilize their unique positions to ensure proper implementation of the law across the State of Texas. Ensuring full compliance with this Court’s July 7, 2015 final judgment and the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision will preclude the need for this Court’s intervention and will allow Attorney General Paxton and Commissioner Cole to focus on other State affairs.”

In the wake of the high court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, Paxton issued a nonbonding opinion that essentially encouraged county clerks to defy the ruling, which he called “lawless.” Paxton’s opinion resulted in an ethics complaint being filed against him with the State Bar of Texas. Meanwhile, Paxton is also facing felony charges for alleged securities fraud.

Read Garcia’s full order below.

The post Judge Cancels Texas AG Ken Paxton’s Contempt Hearing Over Gay Marriage Resistance appeared first on Towleroad.

John Wright

Judge Cancels Texas AG Ken Paxton’s Contempt Hearing Over Gay Marriage Resistance

Janet Jackson Kicks Off World Tour, Debuts New Song With Missy Elliott

Jackson is scheduled to release Unbreakable, her first studio album in seven years, this fall.

read more

Gina Vivinetto

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/09/02/janet-jackson-kicks-world-tour-debuts-new-song-missy-elliott

A Message To Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis: 'Girl, Take Off That Romper'

Kentucky clerk Kim Davis has caused quite a stir recently among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community for her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples “under God’s authority.” Well, Jonathan Lovitz, vice president of external affairs at the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, has some words for Ms. Davis. 

“Girl, take off that romper,” Lovitz joked.

But on a more serious note, he added, “When you’re an elected official, you’ve got to do what the job requires and keep your personal beliefs checked at the door. It’s what everyone else does. There are great members of Congress, state legislators, all over the country, who have devout personal beliefs but know that they have a constituency to serve first. And that’s what she has to do as well.”

Click on the clip below to learn more about Davis and what her duties as clerk (who reportedly racks in nearly $80,000 per year) actually entail. 

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Kentucky couple say it has been ‘devastating’ to be repeatedly turned away by Kim Davis

Kentucky couple David Ermold and David Moore, together 17 years, want to get married in the county where they live.

But Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and her religious opposition to same-sex marriage keeps standing in their way.

Davis, who has all but exhausted her legal options, told the couple she was refusing their request for a license on ‘God’s authority’ as the couple were refused a license for a third time after a tense confrontation Tuesday (1 September).

‘It’s devastating to me,’ Ermold tells MSNBC. ‘I don’t have the words to explain how disappointing it is.’

Things got personal during the exchange when Ermold told the four-times married Davis that he and Davis had been together for 17 years and asked pointedly: ‘What’s the longest you’ve been with someone?’

Ermhold doesn’t think he will return until after battle is settled.

‘I don’t know that I could handle another rejection,’ he says. ‘It seems to be getting worse and it’s escalating over time. The next time we go back, I really want it to be that we’re getting a marriage license. I was so disappointed (Tuesday). I thought we were going to walk out of there and be holding that license high in the air.’

Moore believes what Davis wants ‘is to be a martyr.

‘(She) can believe whatever she wants but it shouldn’t effect how she does her job.’

While Davis’ attorneys are asking that her religious convictions be accommodated, the couple believes what they are asking for is an accommodation to discriminate.

‘There’s a difference between the county clerk in an official capacity and Kim Davis as a person,’ Ermhold says. ‘When you walk through those doors and you take on that role, you have a responsibility to the people of your county.’

Davis and her deputies have been ordered to appear in federal court on Thursday (3 September) to explain why they have not began issuing marriage licenses. The US Supreme Court denied her request this week for more time as she battles a ruling against her in an appellate court.

The post Kentucky couple say it has been ‘devastating’ to be repeatedly turned away by Kim Davis appeared first on Gay Star News.

Greg Hernandez

www.gaystarnews.com/article/kentucky-couple-say-it-has-been-devastating-to-be-repeatedly-turned-away-by-kim-davis/

Georgia Agencies Receive All Children – All Families Seal of Recognition

This past July, HRC Foundation was proud to present a “Seal of Recognition” to two adoption agencies in Georgia.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/georgia-agencies-receive-all-children-all-families-seal-of-recognition?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Here’s Why Eddie Redmayne Was Cast In The Danish Girl Instead Of A Trans Actor

— Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper speaking with Screen Daily about his decision to cast Eddie Redmayne as in the upcoming real life-inspired drama The Danish Girl

Jeremy Kinser

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WATCH: Was Julian Edelman Israel’s Sexiest Visitor This Summer?

New England Patriots wide receiver and gay rights advocate Julian Edelman recently took a “life-changing” trip to Israel with Combined Jewish Philanthropies to connect with his Jewish heritage.

And the group put out a video this week which stars Edelman visiting many of the country’s holy sites, restaurants, activities and cities. Edelman shared it with his fans.

While there are definitely a few highlights…

Sick indeed!

You’ll probably agree that Edelman really knows how to sell a destination. Yalla!

The post WATCH: Was Julian Edelman Israel’s Sexiest Visitor This Summer? appeared first on Towleroad.

Towleroad

WATCH: Was Julian Edelman Israel’s Sexiest Visitor This Summer?

Meet the Trans Man and Pansexual Woman Married by Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis

Their goal is not to gain fame or attention, say the Colens. They just want LGBT people to see that Kim Davis has already done what she refuses to do: marry two people of the same sex.

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Basil Soper

www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2015/09/01/meet-trans-man-and-pansexual-woman-married-kentucky-clerk-kim-davis

Will Steve Grand Make This Marine's Dream Come True With A Date This Fall?

If he has his way, U.S. Marine Tanner White will be attending the 2015 Marine Corps Ball this fall with none other than singer-songwriter Steve Grand on his arm. 

Taking a page from fellow servicemen and women who’ve successfully used social media to nab Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake and Kim Kardashian as their dates, White extended an invite to the out “All-American Boy” hunk for the ball, which is scheduled for Nov. 14 in Wilmington, North Carolina, via YouTube. 

“Steve, you are an amazing singer. I’ve seen some of your blog videos and they were awesome,” White says in the video before asking Grand to accompany him. “Hopefully you say yes. If not, it was worth a shot.”

No word on how Grand, who is slated to perform Sept. 19 at Louisville Pride in Kentucky, will respond to the handsome White just yet. 

White, who dubs himself “your favorite [HIV] positive Marine,” focuses on the importance of HIV/AIDS prevention on his YouTube channel. You can check out his channel here.  

We’ve got our fingers crossed for you, Tanner! 

H/T Towleroad

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#LiftingUpLila: Supporting Transgender Youth in Schools Across the Country

Lila Perry, a 17-year-old transgender girl in Missouri, is facing backlash after she requested to use the women’s bathroom and locker room. While school officials and the superintendent approved her request, students and parents have push backed.
HRC.org

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