This and that - headlines to surf over to...

It's an open thread for Monday. What's in the news? Here are some headlines that caught my eye...

* Let's start out with the ridiculous: Right-Wing Commentator Calls Marriage Equality "An Act of Societal Suicide".

Conservative activist Alan Caruba usually works as a shill for corporations and is the former communications director of the American Policy Committee, which staunchly opposes environmental protections and the United Nations. Instead of criticizing regulations on businesses, Caruba yesterday launched a tirade against the Obama administration's decision to stop defending the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act, calling marriage equality "an act of societal suicide" and the administration's decision "a stealth attack on the nation."

Caruba: "I have always thought that "gay" was an odd choice of words to describe homosexuals because those whom I have known rarely evinced much happiness about being regarded by the rest of society as aberrations. They may have made their personal peace with it, but the notion that a society based on heterosexuality should regard them as "normal" defies logic."

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.* Christian Broadcasters Urged to Fight 'Gay is the New Black' Agenda. WTF ever. His arguments are pathetic.

Pastor and cultural apologist Voddie Baucham challenged Christian broadcasters at their annual convention on Saturday to not buy into the "gay is the new black" propaganda, but instead to remain committed to defending biblical marriage on the airwaves.

..."The reason is the homosexuals have effectively co-opted blackness...to where now, we actually believe gay is the new black and we actually believe homosexual marriage is a civil rights issue," he explained.

[H]omosexual activists attack the man and label them a "homophobe" or "bad person" and with the question-begging logic tactic they only assume gay marriage is a fundamental right without ever proving it. Genetic fallacy is used when homosexual activists say, "you are using your religion to impose your morality on me," thereby rejecting the argument simply based on where it comes from, not based on the logic of that argument.

Reading from several Bible verses, Baucham contended that Christians should respond to homosexuality with biblical truth. Some Christians may point to the verse that says not to judge others to justify their silence, he acknowledged, but they should also read the part where Jesus tells us to judge ourselves so that we can judge others.

A note - at the National Religious Broadcasters event, Rev. Cindi Love, the Executive Director of Soulforce, will participate in a Public Policy Debate on the church's response to the gay rights movement. The debate, to be held March 1 at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, will be moderated by socially conservative radio host Janet Parshall, and will feature Joe Dallas, "former homosexual" and "ex-gay rights activist" and co-author of The Complete Christian Guide to Understanding Homosexuality, representing opponents of gay rights.

* Poll: NC residents support same-sex recognition. While everyone talks about battles to save marriage equality in other states, remember that in NC we're going to need help to beat back a marriage discrimination amendment - and the numbers look good - 56% of North Carolinians an amendment in the latest Elon Poll.

* Obama's DOMA Turnaround Prompts New Strategy in Immigration Battle.

Immigration advocates are seizing upon President Obama's decision not the defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and his conclusion that all laws that discriminate based on sexual orientation should be presumed unconstitutional, opening up a new front in the twenty-year battle for immigration equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

In three cases involving married, same-sex, binational couples facing deportation proceedings in New York, New Jersey and California, attorney Lavi Soloway will argue that the proceedings should be halted because the only thing standing between each couple and a green card is the Defense Of Marriage Act, which he will argue should not be given effect in light of Wednesday's DOJ announcement. Says Soloway, "The issue is urgent as deportation carries with it a 10-year ban on returning."

* President Obama Strengthens ENDA by Rejecting DOMA.

It is the first time ever that the government of the United States has embraced this pro-equality position. If President Obama's DOJ can successfully convince the federal courts that statutes, regulations or government practices that address or affect sexual orientation should be given what is called "heightened scrutiny," then gays and lesbians would be raised up to the at least the same level of constitutional protection already granted to women facing discrimination. With that kind of strengthened constitutional wind at our backs, gay and lesbian workers will gain some new workplace protections even before ENDA passes, and will benefit once again after ENDA is signed into law - perhaps by President Obama if and when he wins a second term.

* DADT repeal implementation news: The Navy is the first branch to start Tier 3 (General Population Training) - OutServe.

* At Flour Bluff High School, the Bullying Starts at the Principal's Office.

Generally when we've talked about bullying, we've framed it in terms of bullying coming from classmates. But at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, the bullying starts and emanates directly from the principal's office itself. As Shannon Cuttle pointed out over on Change.org's Education cause earlier today, Flour Bluff's principal, James Crenshaw, has taken a firm stand against a proposed gay-straight alliance (GSA), refusing to work with students or community members to allow a 17-year-old, Nikki Peet, to start a GSA.

The end result? LGBT students and straight allies within Flour Bluff have no venue or outlet to meet, feel safe, and socialize. And it's all because their principal has decided to take a hard-line -- one that may even be against federal law -- in denying Peet and her classmates the chance to form a GSA.

* SBC Committee Decides against Expelling Members of Pro-Gay Baptist Alliance. Looks like even the bigots are getting weary of this battle.