The Sometimes Very Socially Conservative Scott Walker Calls It Quits

Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor who tried looking socially moderate even while appealing to conservatives in Iowa, is dropping out of the race for president, multiple reports say.

Walker alternately tried to portray himself as a middle-of-the-road Republican while also putting all of his eggs in the Iowa basket — a phrase the candidate once bluntly used himself. On gay rights, for example, he tried to paint himself as a conservative in a less conservative family.

Back in July, just as the campaign began and Walker was faring better in polls, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum called out Walker’s wife, Tonette, for saying she’s “torn” on the issue of same-sex marriage. His wife had told The Washington Post she has “children who are very passionate” about same-sex marriage. “It’s hard for me because I have a cousin who I love dearly — she is like a sister to me — who is married to a woman, her partner of 18 years.”

When all of the candidates were being asked whether they’d ever attend the wedding of a same-sex couple, Walker let the media know he’d skipped that cousin’s wedding but attended the reception. 

The Daily Beast noted back in June that Walker seemed to be undergoing an “antigay transition.” The governor’s rhetoric after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality was amped up in that direction, even calling for a constitutional amendment when other moderate candidates were saying the issue was settled. However, instead of calling for an amendment that would outlaw same-sex marriage nationwide, as some conservatives have, he proposed an amendment that would let states decide.

Still, it wasn’t his views on LGBT people that appear to have doomed the campaign. Booned by early leads in the polls, Walker was reportedly spending money quickly, and it’s possible he just burned through it, pundits already speculate.

But it is only speculation at this point. Front-runner Donald Trump offered his own theory during the last Republican debate. Trump said Walker was falling behind in polls because Iowans had learned the truth about economic failurse in Wisconsin. Iowa, whose caucus opens the primary season, is a key state for candidates in both parties.

Still, here’s how The Advocate reported Walker’s entrance into the race in July, outlining a short list of antigay accomplishments that Walker racked up while governor:

“As governor, Walker supported the state’s constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, opposed hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples, and repealed a bill that protected state workers from job discrimination based on sex. As Milwaukee County eExecutive, Walker proposed ending HIV/AIDS prevention programs, claiming that tackling the disease should not be ‘a core function of the county’ and vetoed a bill that would have given workers domestic partner benefits.

“After a court ruled same-sex marriage legal in Wisconsin, the candidate supported appeal efforts, but has backpedaled dramatically in recent months, declaring the fight for marriage equality ‘over.’ In 2013 he told Meet the Press host David Gregory, ‘When I talk about things, I talk about the economic and fiscal crises in our state and in our country, that’s what people want to resonate about. They don’t want to get focused on those issues.'”

Lucas Grindley

www.advocate.com/election/2015/9/21/sometimes-very-socially-conservative-scott-walker-calls-it-quits

Kim Davis: Not a Rosa, But a Dilemma

References and comparisons of Kim Davis to Rosa Parks and other iconic Civil Rights Movement leaders are not only offensive, they’re misplaced.

Firstly, Davis, the Kentucky clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is fighting for exclusion rather than inclusion. Davis is selectively reading and interpreting Bible passages in order to strengthen her beliefs about the validity of excluding and discriminating against an entire class of individuals. Parks, King and their peers in the Movement fought to include others. They fought to protect and guarantee civil rights, to rightfully instate rights–not take them away. It’s simply preposterous to liken a process that facilitates a wedding license to a process that once facilitated slavery.

As an elected official, Davis took an oath to uphold the law–not to interpret it based on her own beliefs. If each of us was allowed to make a personal choice about which laws to follow and which to ignore, there would be total anarchy. The United States is a nation of laws; everyone, particularly someone in elected office, is expected to follow the laws even if they don’t fit our individual choice or belief systems. If Davis is so strongly convicted, she should step down from her job and allow someone willing to uphold the law and recognize the Supreme Court’s ruling to serve. She is working outside of rather than with within the U.S. legal system. And that is yet another way that she differs from our Civil Rights heroes: she is not effectively using the system to bring about change.

It’s ironic that Davis is citing Christian scripture when her actions are antithetical to Christian kindness, forgiveness and acceptance. She contends that homosexuality is a sin and thus she cannot support same-sex marriage. However, if sin is truly the issue that prevents her from handing out marriage licenses to LGBTQ couples, she should withhold licenses to any and everyone with any trace of sin in their lives. Fornicators, liars, gossips, self-righteous, judgmental people, fearful and prideful individuals, divorcees and non-Christian believers should all be denied marriage licenses. In fact, anyone in violation of the 613 Old Testament commandments given through Moses should not be allowed to get married, according to Davis’ standard for denying equal rights.

She, along with many Christians, has created a sin hierarchy, deeming one sin worse than another. Yet most Biblical scholars agree: if a person commits one sin, he or she is guilty of breaking the entire Old Testament Law. Davis might as well be homosexual because she is guilty of sin by operating outside of the commandment of love. Moreover, under her Draconian and distorted reading of the Bible, she should have denied herself the right to a marriage license since she divorced not one, but three husbands. Under Old Testament law, divorcing one’s spouse and marrying another (outside of infidelity) is adultery.

Her supporters are quick to remind us that Davis has repented and evolved. No doubt repenting is a basic and fundamental tenant of the Bible. But these Biblical laws don’t apply just to Davis and her clan. Wouldn’t the same God she believes forbids gay marriages but forgave her sins also forgive those of the LGBT community?

The reality is comporting one’s behavior to the Mosaic laws proved to be an impossible feat thousands of years ago. Moreover, as a Christian, Davis would have to agree that the Bible teaches that the greatest commandment of all is to love thy neighbor. It’s time for Davis and her supporters to stop selectively clinging to the Mosaic laws that divide us rather than embracing the covenant of love that has the universal power to unite us.

In the end, the point is not about whether one supports gay marriage. If we allow citizens like Davis and others to interpret the law as it relates to their beliefs, there’s no end to the discrimination that could arise. In this instance, it’s gay marriage. But what prevents the Kim Davises of the world from making similar interpretations as they relate to African-Americans, Latinos, women, the disabled or any group currently marginalized in our country?

Clearly, the civil rights icons that she has been compared worked to unite and not divide. King and Parks never let their personal biases become a battle cry to deny thousands of Americans equal protection under the law and they absolutely never defied a Supreme Court order. Yes, Davis, King and Parks all went to jail for what they believed, but that’s where any comparison begins and ends.

This article was co-authored by Dr. Doveal Goins with Forensic Clinical Psychology Associate.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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A gastronomic journey of discovery in Burgundy

I grew up on a small, remote farm in rural Australia. For me, the region of Burgundy has always symbolised everything about old-France that fascinated me.

The history of this region stretches back through the ages but Burgundy began to take shape in the form that we know it today during the dissolution of the Frankish Empire in the 880s.

The Dukes of Burgundy emerged as a powerful political force across the centuries, steadily expanding their territories and influence before being largely absorbed by France during the 15th and 16th centuries.

One of the factors that made Burgundy such a strategic part of the world was its agriculture – throughout its history this area has been recognised as producing quality food and outstanding wine.

While I’ve travelled extensively over the years, one of the things that has always intimidated me the most is being confronted with an extensive wine list and seeing the wines of Burgundy (generally accompanied by some extreme prices) and feeling completely out of my depth.

My first expedition to this region in the heart of France seemed the perfect opportunity to try and educate myself a little and become a little more confident in the wine department.

If you are travelling from London, then the best way to get to Burgundy is to take the Eurostar train to central Paris, changing onto the TGV fast train to Dijon. If you’re arriving straight into Paris, then the fast-train to Dijon is still the best access point to this region.

Dijon is a spectacular city. A fascinating mix of architecture and building styles throughout the ages. City tours can be booked through the tourism office, but a more relaxed way to explore the city on your own is to collect the self-guided tour booklet. The route of the tour is marked by small owls set into the pavement, with major points of interest clearly marked and detailed in the free booklet.

The owl has become the symbol of the city after the builder of the stunning Notre Dame church included a small owl in the exterior as a subtle tribute to the Dukes of Burgundy (in French there is a similarity in the words used to describe the owl with the description of the Dukes). Visitors are encouraged to rub the small stone owl with their left hand – it brings luck, or perhaps it is an aphrodisiac, either way it is worth a rub.

Our meandering along the owl path was cut short by a tremendous downpour of rain, a storm that had trees crashing and the streets flooding. We took shelter in a small restaurant called Le Fine Heure. The owner, Jonathan (pronounced Jonaton in a French accent) was just opening up for the evening but very graciously offered to give us a tasting of some of the wines of the region. Jonathan was a ridiculously attractive man who effortlessly educated us on the complexities of Burgundy wine, plying us with snacks of saucisson as he explained the categorisation of the wines in a pyramid of quality – regional wines, wines from a specific village, premier cru, and the elite grand cru. Among our favorites were a Saint-Aubin; and a a Chorey-les-Beaune.

Beyond Dijon, the other major centre of this region is the city of Beaune. There is some beautiful architecture in Beaune, and you can easily spend a day wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere.

One of the main attractions to visit is the Hospices de Beaune.

The history of this place is incredible. It was established in 1443 as a hospital, and continued to be used as Beaune’s main hospital until the 1970s when a new modern hospital was built on the outskirts of town.

Today, the Hospices de Beaune is open to the public as a museum. It’s medical history is fascinating, but it is a stunning example of the building styles of the 15th century – particularly the decorative tiles used to construct the roof. The museum also houses the stunning Rogier van der Weyden polyptych altarpiece – this originally adorned the hospital’s main chapel but due to the care of the nuns (who even managed to hide it from the Nazi’s during World War II) it has survived remarkably intact.

Definitely worth visiting.

While Burgundy is synonymous with wine, one of the other products that this region is famous for is its mustard. While in Beaune you can also visit the Fallot mustard factory.

Fallot is the fourth most popular mustard producer in France but, unlike the top three, Fallot is family-owned and is creating mustard using the local produce of the Burgundy region.

While a mustard factory may not sound particularly exciting on the face of it, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the brief tour of Fallot and the opportunity to taste some of the excellent mustards that they are producing.

When you come to Burgundy, you really want to get out into the countryside and see the vines being grown and to explore the small villages that are scattered across the landscape.

One of the best ways to do this is by cycling or walking – an incredibly relaxed way to meander between villages while working up an appetite towards your next meal.

We spent a few days with Headwater – a travel operator that specialises in walking and cycling tours across Europe. While you can certainly organize your own walking our cycling expedition in this part of the world, one of the advantages of using a locally-based operator such as Headwater is that they can take care of the logistics of getting your luggage from one accommodation to the next, leaving you to relax and enjoy the scenery as you cycle or walk along the well-marked trails.

I really appreciated having a sensible route for each day mapped out, as well as helpful suggestions on where to stop for lunch and snacks. Also, being able to use the Headwater bikes was much easier than trying to transport my own bike all the way from London. These are self-guided tours so you get all the benefits of a group trip without having to be part of a group.

Each little village that we stopped at was post-card worthy and a joy to explore. Perhaps the stand-out though was the village of Pommard, possibly because we fell in love with the chocolate shop – a total winner.

One of the surprise discoveries of this visit to Burgundy was my new-found appreciation of cassis. As well its wine and its mustard, Burgundy is also renowned as a centre for the production of the blackcurrant vines used to make cassis.

Le Cassisium near Nuits-Saints-Georges is effectively a museum dedicated to the celebration of the iconic liqueur of Crème de Cassis. This is the production factory of the Védrenne company – makers of the Super Cassis brand of liqueur.

As well as learning about the history of cassis and the production process, you also get to walk through the factory and see the production in full swing. In addition to cassis, the Védrenne company also produces a whole range of different fruit-based liqueurs – perhaps the best part is that you get to sample some of the products at the end of the tour. If you’ve never been a huge fan of Cassis, or the iconic aperitif of Kir or Kir Royale, then a visit to Le Cassissium will perhaps convert you.

I’ve emerged from my first expedition into Burgundy feeling a little more educated. The prices of these wines still intimidate me, but I now have a deep appreciation of not only the quality of the wines that this region produces but also the gastronomic heritage that makes Burgundy one of the unmissable destinations within France.

To help with your planning if you are considering a trip to Burgundy:

• Hotel reviews of where we stayed
• Restaurant reviews of where we ate
• Dijon has been announced as city of gastronomy in 2018 – there will be events scheduled throughout the year
• Headwater offer self-guided walking and cycling tours in Burgundy and other European destinations

Read more from Gareth Johnson

Read more travel stories

The post A gastronomic journey of discovery in Burgundy appeared first on Gay Star News.

Gareth Johnson

www.gaystarnews.com/article/a-gastronomic-journey-of-discovery-in-burgundy/

James Corden Fell In Love With A BuzzFeed Try Guy At The Emmys Last Night

Some folks took home trophies at the Emmy Awards last night, while others, such as James Corden found true love. The host of The Late, Late Show was stopped by Keith, one of BuzzFeed’s adventurous Try Guys and before you knew it a simple flirtation escalated into a daring romance that might last forever, since neither one of them can quit the other and their offices are close enough to accommodate nooners.

 
Watch the passion unfold below.

Jeremy Kinser

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GLAD Sues Mutual of Omaha for Denying Gay Man Insurance Because He’s on PrEP

In a first-of-its-kind legal challenge, the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed a claim last week against an insurance company for denying a gay man long term care insurance because he’s on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP.

The man, identified only as John Doe in the complaint, alleges he was discriminated against by Mutual of Omaha because he’s gay and on Truvada, which is a form of PrEP.

“I thought maybe they misunderstood me,” said Doe in an interview with The Associated Press. “I’m HIV-negative. I’m not HIV-positive. I was taking Truvada as a prophylactic.” Doe says he began taking Truvada about a year ago after discussing it with his doctor.

“I lived through the Holocaust of people dying from AIDS,” he said. “I was doing my little part to stop that.”

The AP reports:

He said he received a letter in April from a chief underwriter for Mutual of Omaha denying his appeal. “We do not offer coverage to anyone who takes the medication Truvada, regardless of whether it is prescribed to treat HIV infection, or is used for pre-exposure prophylaxis. This in accordance with our underwriting guidelines,” the letter said, according to the complaint.

Doe alleges that Mutual of Omaha discriminated against him based on sexual orientation and disability, in this case, an assumption that Doe will in the future contract HIV, a health condition covered by the state’s antidiscrimination law.

“Mutual of Omaha’s denial is nonsensical,” said Bennett Klein, Senior Attorney and AIDS Law Project Director at GLAD in a statement. “If our client were not taking Truvada, not protecting his health and the health of others, he would have received the insurance. We should be well beyond the days when insurers make decisions based on fear and stereotypes about HIV. The assumption is that gay male sexuality is inherently risky and unhealthy, and that’s just wrong.”

Mutual of Omaha has declined to comment on the case.

Read Doe’s complaint below:

The post GLAD Sues Mutual of Omaha for Denying Gay Man Insurance Because He’s on PrEP appeared first on Towleroad.

Kyler Geoffroy

GLAD Sues Mutual of Omaha for Denying Gay Man Insurance Because He’s on PrEP

A NSFW Kim Davis-Themed Erotic Novella Is Here. Yes, Really.

Just when we thought we’d seen it all when it comes to Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, here’s something we really didn’t expect.  

Author Lilith St. Augustine has penned an erotic fiction novella loosely based on Davis’s headline-making case. Billed as “bitingly satirical, unexpectedly funny and unabashedly sexy,” Kim Goes To Jail: An Erotic Story centers on a homophobic, small town woman who, not unlike the real-life Davis, finds herself in jail following a “dispute over religion and sexuality,” according to a press release. Once incarcerated, the fictitious Kim meets a “beautiful cellmate” who is “only too eager to acclimate” the titular character to her new reality.   

“One day I’m standin’ on the side of the Lord against sexual perversion, and the next I’m in prison orange watchin’ a buck nekkid mulatto vixen ‘bout to do impure things to herself and to my soul in one single, terrifyin’ act,” one of the book’s more-SFW passages reads. In another: “She was strokin’ my thigh and makin’ her way for the promised land, so I slipped my other hand under the table and kinda put it in her way ‘tween my legs just under home base.”

St. Augustine told The Huffington Post in an interview that she sees the novella, which is available as a Kindle eBook, as an “opportunity to poke fun at [people who use religion to deny people their rights]” while also “giving readers satisfaction not only in the typical erotica sense but also of seeing a character do some things that, in the real world, would obviously be anathema to the kinds of people we’re talking about.” 

“There can be pleasure in irony sometimes,” she said. “And hopefully readers will get a chuckle or two while we’re at it.”  

St. Augustine said she isn’t concerned about the shelf life of the book as news of Davis inevitably recedes over time, noting, “That’s easy to get over; live in the now and all that.” As to whether or not using Davis’s case as the basis for an erotic story could offend some readers, she said, “If I was really worried about that, I wouldn’t be writing erotica at all.” 

Davis has already left us fuming for remaining steadfast in her opposition to marriage equality. We’ll just have to wait and see whether or not a sexed-up take on her story arouses other feelings. 

Also on HuffPost: 

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A ‘desperate’ Huckabee blasted by military group for dissing Obama’s Secretary of the Army nominee

A network of LGBTI military personnel is demanding that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee apologize for hos comments about President Barack Obama nominating an openly gay man to be the next US Secretary of the Navy.

‘This is a new and disgusting low,’ aid Matt Thorn, interim executive director of OutServe-SLDN. ‘It doesn’t make Mr. Huckabee presidential, it makes him desperate.’

Obama announced last Friday (18 September) the appointment of Eric Fanning who is already the highest ranking openly gay member of the Department of Defense. He would be the first openly gay head of any service in the military if he is confirmed by the US Senate.

Huckabee responded with the following statement on his campaign website: ‘It’s clear President Obama is more interested in appeasing America’s homosexuals than honoring America’s heroes. Veterans suicide is out-of-control and military readiness is dangerously low, yet Obama is so obsessed with pandering to liberal interest groups he’s nominated an openly gay civilian to run the Army. Homosexuality is not a job qualification. The U.S. military is designed to keep Americans safe and complete combat missions, not conduct social experiments.’

Thorn said ‘it is disgraceful and hypocritical of Mr. Huckabee to engage in this behavior … It is unbecoming of a presidential candidate to attack someone on a personal basis like this.’

‘If Mr. Huckabee cares so deeply about the issues that he claims then he would applaud Eric’s appointment and his history of serving the United States armed services in each of his positions and not tear him down because he doesn’t agree with his sexual orientation,’ he added.

Thorn also defended Fanning’s qualifications.

‘Eric’s sexual orientation has absolutely no foundation in his ability to do this job,’ he said. ‘He is fundamentally respected by both uniformed and civilian Department of Defense personnel and will undoubtedly serve this post with honor and respect, as he has done in all of his previous positions.

Fanning’s appointment comes four years after the end of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the policy that prevented gay and lesbian service members from being open about their sexual orientation. But because he is a civilian, Fanning was never subject to the policy.

The post A ‘desperate’ Huckabee blasted by military group for dissing Obama’s Secretary of the Army nominee appeared first on Gay Star News.

Greg Hernandez

www.gaystarnews.com/article/huckabee-blasts-obama-for-nominating-gay-man-to-be-secretary-of-the-army/

Openly Gay Teacher: “I Thought My School was Different”

Michael was a teacher for 12 years and was publicly out to his fellow teachers and administrators. He never expected what happened the afternoon he returned to work after getting his marriage license. 
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/church-teachings-alienate-valued-teacher?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Jeffrey Tambor Dedicates Lead Actor Emmy Win To The Trans Community

Transparent took home three well-deserved Emmys at last night’s awards, but most notable is star Jeffrey Tambor’s win for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

In his acceptance speech, Tambor expressed his gratitude to the trans community:

“This is so big. This is much bigger than me,” he began. “I’d like to dedicate my performance and this award to the transgender community. Thank you for your patience, thank you for your courage, thank you for your stories, thank you for your inspiration, thank you for letting us be part of the change,” Tambor said onstage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “God bless you.”

Related: Bruce Jenner Has Inspired Jeffrey Tambor’s ‘Transparent’ Characterization

Not everyone was happy when it was announced that Tambor would portray the lead character in Transparent, a middle-aged woman with three adult children coming out of the trans closet late in life.

“What’s disappointing […] is Hollywood ‘transface’ continuing to be the norm. Despite there being talented trans actresses to play trans roles, TV and film directors miscast non-trans male actors instead, many times making a mockery of our womanhood (misgendering), reinforcing stereotypes, suppressing our visibility and disempowering our civil rights. Affirming change is long overdue.” trans journalist and activist Ashley Love said on FrontiersLA in July of 2014 as the show was about to premiere.

Related: Amazon Series “Transparent” Sparks Debate Over Authentic Media Representation

In addition to Tambor’s statue, Jill Soloway, the show’s creator and head writer, won an Emmy for Best Directing of a Comedy Series for the episode “Best New Girl,” and Bradley Whitford won the Guest Actor, Comedy category for his portrayal of a transphobic cross-dresser.

Watch below:

Dan Tracer

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FOX News’ Megyn Kelly to Interview Kim Davis; ‘Good Morning America’ Too

Rowan County, Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis has booked her first national news interviews, with FOX News’ Megan Kelly, and Paula Faris of Good Morning America, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

The divisive Kentucky county clerk will appear on the Sept. 22 episode of ABC’s Good Morning America and the Sept. 23 episode of Fox News Channel’s The Kelly File.

ABC News will tease its Kentucky visit between Paula Faris and Davis on Monday’s World News Tonight, while Megyn Kelly will interview Davis from her New York studio. She’ll question Davis on whether or not she not she disobeyed a federal judge’s order regarding altering the marriage license forms of same-sex couples.

The post FOX News’ Megyn Kelly to Interview Kim Davis; ‘Good Morning America’ Too appeared first on Towleroad.

Andy Towle

FOX News’ Megyn Kelly to Interview Kim Davis; ‘Good Morning America’ Too