Congressman Steve Rothman says a member of his own family persuaded him to change his position on same-sex marriage.
The Bergen County Democrat says he now supports gay and lesbian couples’ right to marry, and has become a member of the House Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Caucus.
Rothman said his 19-year-old stepdaughter, who is a lesbian, convinced him that same-sex couples deserve the right to marry.
Speaking on Sirius Satellite Radio’s OutQ program Tuesday afternoon, the 55-year-old congressman said he has long supported civil unions but now backs gay marriage because old arguments against same-sex unions no longer work.
Archive for the ‘LGBT’ Category
Amazing.
The folks at Pensito Review have been doing a little research this afternoon:
At about 2:30 p.m, when I checked the John McCain website for confirmation that Troy King, the attorney general of Alabama, was McCain’s Alabama campaign chairman, I found this link to a news release on the site. A few minutes after I posted the article, “McCain’s Alabama Chairman Reportedly Outed – Attorney General Troy King Has a Record of Homophobic Rhetoric,” a commenter let me know that McCain webpage was blank.
A search on the campaign site for “Troy King” returned no results, however if you Google “Troy King” and “John McCain
I happened to still have the page open, so made the capture of it above. The news release was just a run-of-the-mill announcement from January of the Alabamians named by McCain to his “leadership team” in the state. Here’s the text:
For Immediate Release
January 29, 2008 Contact: Press Office
703-650-5550John McCain 2008 Announces Alabama Leadership Team
ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced its Alabama Leadership Team. United States Congressman Spencer Bachus will serve as the Southeastern United States Congressional Chair of the McCain campaign. Alabama Attorney General Troy King will serve as Chair of the McCain 2008 Alabama campaign. Representative Bachus and Attorney General King will continue to lead the growing grassroots organization on behalf of John McCain’s candidacy in Alabama.
“Lots of candidates talk about the issues important to conservatives. But, only one candidate has a record to back up his rhetoric, and that’s John McCain,” said Congressman Spencer Bachus. “For twenty-four years, John McCain has taken bold positions on the cornerstone conservative issues of life, marriage, and limited government. It is with pride and gratitude that I am supporting my friend, John McCain for president.”
“John McCain is the best hope for conservatives to succeed in November,” said Attorney General Troy King. “He is a principled conservative with a clear record of supporting a strong national defense, fighting for fiscal responsibility, and defending the sanctity of life. John McCain has served our country his entire life, and I am honored to lead his efforts here in Alabama.”
John McCain thanked the leadership of his Alabama campaign. “As a representative in the United States Congress, Spencer has displayed his commitment to the people of Alabama,” said Senator McCain. “Troy is an outstanding public servant and passionate advocate for the rule of law. Both of these men are dedicated to the principles of limited government and traditional values that we share. I’m proud to have Republican leaders and dedicated public servants like Spencer Bachus and Troy King leading my campaign to victory in Alabama.”
JOHN MCCAIN 2008 ALABAMA LEADERSHIP TEAM
Southeastern United States Congressional Chair
Congressman Spencer Bachus, BirminghamState Chair
Attorney General Troy King, MontgomeryHonorary Chair
Former Alabama GOP Chairman Winton Blount, MontgomeryLegislators for McCain Co-Chairs
State Senator Ben Brooks, Mobile
State Representative Cam Ward, AlabasterLegislator for McCain
State Representative Warren Beck, Geneva
State Representative Randy Davis, Daphne
State Representative Owen Drake, Leeds
State Representative Joe Faust, Fairhope
State Senator Steve French, Birmingham
State Representative Todd Greeson, Ider
State Representative Mike Hill, Columbiana
State Representative Jim McClendon, Springville
State Representative Allen Treadaway, Morris
State Representative Jack Williams, BirminghamVeteran Chair
Don Fisher, MontgomeryVeteran Co-Chairs
Roland Day, Birmingham
Gen. Charles Ingram, Troy
Capt. Hal Pierce, DaphneMayoral Chair
Mayor Pat Thomas, DothanMayoral Co-Chairs
Mayor Sheldon Day, Thomasville
Mayor Tim Kant, FairhopeLawyers for McCain Co-Chairs
Judge Terry Butts, Luverne
Matt Lembke, Birmingham
The state of Alabama remains abuzz over just what is going on with these Troy King resignation rumors. The Republican Attorney General, who succeeded William Pryor after his controversial appointment to the federal bench, has been seen by many as a potential gubernatorial candidate when current Governor Bob Riley leaves office.
There are some who believe the initial source of the rumors are those from Riley himself. It has long been rumored that Riley’s reason for running for Congress, and later Governor, was to pave a path for his son Rob Riley, a former SGA president and leader of the Machine at the University of Alabama. Rob Riley was on the infamous conference call with GOP operative Bill Canary and Dana Jill Simpson, when it was inferred that Canary would use Karl Rove and the Justice Department to investigate Riley’s former opponent, Governor Don Siegelman.
WSFA, Montgomery’s WSFA affiliate told some bloggers who inquired about the station running a story on King, said that King was going through a divorce, and that they wouldn’t be running a story of such a private matter.
Common Sense, at the Alabama blog, Left In Alabama, reports:
Sources at the Montgomery Advertiser say that they have been sitting on the story for a couple of weeks. They’re working the story fast and furiously but won’t run until they get official confirmation due to possible exposure to a lawsuit from King. Their sources tell them that Troy King was caught in a compromising situation with a male aide at King’s home by his wife. The Montgomery Advertiser is trying to determine who King would submit his resignation to – is it Gov. Bob Riley? A press release from King’s office stated that he was supposed to be in Mobile yesterday (Wednesday). The Mobile-Register is working the story as well.”
The rumor mill in Montgomery is swirling of news of a potential resignation by Republican Attorney General Troy King, amid rumors that he was caught by his wife having sex with a male aide and subsequently banished from his home by his wife. King, a potential GOP frontrunner for Governor in 2010, succeeded Bill Pryor, one of George W. Bush’s most controversial judicial nominees. In addition, King was also an early endorser of John McCain.
The Locust Fork Journal:
A spokesperson for Alabama Governor Bob Riley denied that Attorney General Troy King is preparing to resign in the wake of a massive rumor campaign that has yet to be fully confirmed. The word is, according to multiple sources in Montgomery and elsewhere, that King was recently caught by his wife in a gay affair with a male aide and banished from his home.
According to Tara Hutchison in the executive office of the governor they have heard of no plans in the works for King’s resignation. She said she had not heard that he had been kicked out of his home because of a gay affair.
Governor Bob Riley’s press office refused to return multiple phone calls from this independent press outlet even though some sources accuse Riley of perpetrating the leak. The attorney general’s press office also declined to return phone calls seeking comment.
The Locust Fork News and Journal heard about this a couple of weeks ago from a Montgomery lawyer, and have had numerous contacts with people trying to confirm the truth of the rumor.
Left In Alabama:
I just heard from a very reliable source that Troy Boy is resigning as Attorney General. No report of King’s official reason, but the unofficial reason almost certainly involves the rumors swirling around Montgomery that he was recently caught in embarassing misconduct. The resignation may be enough to keep King’s personal life out of the papers, but I don’t look for him to run for governor in 2010.
I’m almost sorry to see him go — Troy was like a caricature of the Republican party. Never met a death sentence he didn’t like, against sexual gratification, publicity hound, etc. … life as an Alabama blogger will be harder without Troy King.
Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 9th:
- ‘Ha-pi-tu-mi-te-yu:’ Beijing welcomes the Olympics – In the seven years since the Olympic movement anointed Beijing as host of the 2008 Summer Games, China’s capital has undergone a transformation so thorough that “makeover” doesn’t begin to describe the change.
- Senate Passes Controversial Foreign Intelligence Law – The Senate Wednesday passed controversial legislation meant to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
- Boulder DA: New DNA Clears Ramsey Family – KUSA – 9NEWS has learned that newly discovered DNA evidence in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case does not match any Ramsey family members or anyone in law enforcement DNA databases.
- Jesse Jackson Apologizes For Comments Critical Of Obama – The Rev. Jesse Jackson issued an apology to Barack Obama Wednesday for criticizing the Illinois senator’s recent comments directed toward some members of the black community.
- Kennedy Returns To Senate – Sen. Ted Kennedy on Wednesday made his first appearance in Congress since having brain surgery, arriving on foot.
- Russian Official: ‘Russian state killed former spy Alexander Litvinenko’ – The Russian state was behind the killing of the former secret agent Alexander Litvinenko, a senior official has disclosed in private.
Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 9th:
- John McCain Kicks Librarian Out of Town Hall Event – From Tuesday’s Denver McCain town hall meeting, where a 60-year-old librarian was fined and kicked out for holding a sign that said “McCain=Bush.”
- Top Democrat May Back New Offshore Drilling – A top U.S. Democratic senator said in a newspaper interview published Wednesday that he would consider supporting opening up new areas for offshore oil and gas drilling.
- Meet The Obamas – The Obama Family sits down for their first television interview.
- LGBT Adults Read, Respond To More Blogs Than Heterosexuals – According to a recent national survey conducted by Harris Interactive®, gay and lesbian adults online are reading more blogs than their heterosexual counterparts.
- Milestone Gay Film “The Boys in the Band” To Be Released On DVD November 11 – One of the most iconic (and impossible-to-find) films of gay cinema will finally be released on DVD November 11th. The Boys in the Band was released in 1970, and over the years has been both reviled and revered by gay viewers.
- Brea Grant Moves Quickly On “Heroes” – As if Heroes wasn’t already one of the most inspired shows on TV: The producers of the hit series have announced that they’re adding the gorgeous Brea Grant to the cast for next season. Grant, who you may recognize from her guest spots on Friday Night
Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 8, 2008.
“Bruno” Pranks It Up In Arkansas – Lured by $1 beer and the prospect of “hot chicks” and “hardcore fights,” thousands of Arkansans were duped last month into appearing as extras in comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest staged mayhem.- U.S.-Czech missile deal raises Russian ire – CNN.com – Russia’s Foreign Ministry Tuesday threatened a “military-technological” response if the United States deploys a missile defense system in former Soviet-bloc nations near Russia’s borders.
- Polygamist Warren Jeffs taken to Vegas hospital – CNN.com – Jailed polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was taken to a hospital in Las Vegas on Tuesday, but police would not say why.
- Shepard Smith: A Cuddly Gay Icon For Fox News – Rachel Sklar points out that Fox News anchor Shepard Smith is “a handsome, affable and hard-working straight-up news guy” who’s been “under-covered.”
- Ron Paul’s Campaign Manager Dies; Uninsured, His Family Left With $400,000 In Medical Bills – Xpatriated Texan calls this an unbearable irony of life. Kent Snyder, 49 years old, died of pneumonia on June 26. He was uninsured and left his family about $400,000 in medical bills. Snyder was the guy who convinced Paul to run for president.
- Iran To “Hit Tel Aviv, U.S. ships” If Attacked – Iran will hit Tel Aviv, U.S. shipping in the Gulf and American interests around the world if it is attacked over its disputed nuclear activities, an aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 8th:
- Edwards Would ’Seriously Consider’ VP Offer – John Edwards said Tuesday that if he were asked to accept the vice presidential slot or a cabinet position in a potential Barack Obama administration, he would “seriously consider” whatever the Illinois senator asked him to do.
- John McCain’s “Love” Doubles As Obama Attack – John McCain may be the supportive subject of this new campaign ad, called “Love,” but Barack Obama definitely provides the thrust of the message. Or, rather, takes the brunt of the message.
- Hagee’s Revenge? Videos Of Controversial Pastor Removed From YouTube – Late last week, with no prior notification, lawyers for the controversial evangelist John Hagee had a series of videos concerning the pastor removed from YouTube. The clips spanned from the contentious to the mundane; some included footage lifted from ser
- Barack Obama And Family Chat With Maria Menounos – In an Access Hollywood exclusive interview, Senator Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, along with daughters Malia, 10 and Sasha, 7 open up about rules, what it is like for friends to meet dad, communicating on the trail, potential plans for moving into t
- Obama’s Shift To Mile High Stadium May Limit Networks – Senator Barack Obama will accept his party’s nomination in a Denver football stadium that seats more than 75,000 people, campaign officials said Monday, a late change in plans intended to take advantage of the candidate’s ability to draw huge crowds.
- Webb Quits Veepstakes; House GOP Conference Chair Predicts Losses; Problems for Arizona GOP Hopeful – US Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) removed himself from the Veepstakes race, after the Obama campaign search committee informed him last week he was one of the contenders. “Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention
- He Loves Hats and We Love Him: Jason Mraz – In his new album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, Jason Mraz has continued to refine his writing style from the cheerful guitar-driven pop of his first album. How can people NOT fall in love with a guy who writes such songs? I said it before and I’m
Last month, the Sydney Morning Herald announced that Australian Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham had come out of the closet, but Mitcham, in a new interview with Australia’s gay newspaper SX, says he’s been out since he’s 14. Mitcham, who will be Australia’s first openly gay Olympian when he competes in Beijing, is now 20.
Sheer beauty from Twitch and Kherington from this week’s “So You Think You Can Dance.” Mia Michaels ‘always has the best SYTYCD routines.
more about “SYTYCD 4 Top 14 – Kherington and Twitch“, posted with vodpod
Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 8th:
- “Lost” To Air on Sci-Fi Channel – Sci-Fi has jumped in to help us all with the hiatus blues and announced it will begin airing 4 hour blocks of LOST every Monday at 7:00pm starting September 15. The episodes will run in order up to the season 4 finale.
- Carey Takes Helm of National Gay and Lesbian Task Force – Rea Carey was happily serving as interim executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force until a few months ago. The organization had embarked on an extensive search to find a replacement for Matt Foreman, who resigned in January.
- What the Pregnant Man Didn’t Deliver – By the time Thomas Beatie, “the Pregnant Man,” strode across Oprah Winfrey’s stage on April 3, his story had already become a worldwide phenomenon. Beatie — a transgendered man who was born a woman and became pregnant through artificial insemination — h
- Alabama Senate: Sessions 58, Figures 34; Obama down by 15 – Rasmussen Reports takes another snapshot of the Alabama Senate race, this time finding Sen. Jeff Sessions leading his Democratic challenger Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, 58 percent to 34 percent.
- Retired Military Leaders Come Out Against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell / Queerty – Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell took a severe blow today. A study released today asserts that openly gay soldiers do not threaten unit cohesion.
- Wockner: The Day ACT UP Put a Condom On Jesse Helms’ House – AIDS activists inflated a giant “reservoir-tipped condom” over U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms’ house Sept. 5 [1991] in Arlington, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.
- A Clintonian at Fox – Howard Wolfson, who was a top strategist for the presidential campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, is going where some Democrats were unwilling to go during the early days of the election season: the Fox News Channel.
- Charred Bodies Found on Tijuana Street – Police on Monday found six charred bodies on a Tijuana street following a bloody weekend that left 14 people dead.
The Supreme Court and The Future of Marriage – With four months to go until the election, msnbc.com is presenting a weekly series, Briefing Book: Issues ’08 which will assess issues and controversies that the next president must confront once he takes the oath of office.
Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 7th:
- Sneak Peek: First Look At New Harry Potter Film – The Harry Potter trio are back to save Hogwarts from dark forces in the eagerly anticipated sixth film in the series. A year after the last Potter film, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, JK Rowling’s creation is back in British cinemas in November.
- Fred Barnes: McCain Better Step Up ‘Homo-Bashing’ As Strategy – Pam’s House Blend: I guess the talking heads on Fox just get right to the point — the GOP is bankrupt of any ideas or actual accomplishments to run on in 2008, so the flagging McSame campaign better drag out the tired homo straw man, according to Right S
- Andrew Sullivan: A Long Way From The Green Iguana – It’s funny to watch the partisan right out-do each other to declare Obama a cynic while Charlie Crist gets engaged to a woman at the height of McCain’s veep search.
- Study: Military Gays Don’t Undermine Unit Cohesion – Congress should repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy because the presence of gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability to fight and win, according to a new study released by a California-based research center.
- A Major Speech in Berlin?: Obama Refines Plans for Germany Trip – Barack Obama’s planned European tour might make a major whistlestop in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The candidate’s schedule isn’t set, but a Berlin appearance before the end of July looks likely.
- Borat’s Alter Ego Dupes Former Mossad Agent – It’s unclear whether his Mossad retirement benefit card will be confiscated, but former spy and current political analyst Yossi Alpher is certainly feeling sheepish after being fooled by actor Sacha Baron Cohen, aka Borat.
- Federal Investigation Launched into Obama’s MD-80 – The National Transportation Safety Board said Monday that it is investigating what caused Senator Barack Obama’s plane to make an unexpected landing today in St. Louis.
- Iraq May Set Timetable For U.S. Withdrawal – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki raised the prospect on Monday of setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops as part of negotiations over a new security agreement with Washington.
- Webb Says No To Being VP – You can officially scratch off Sen. Jim Webb’s name from the list of Barack Obama’s potential running mates.
- ABC News: Md. Plantation Attic Holds 400 Years of Documents – For four centuries, they were the ultimate pack rats. Now a Maryland family’s massive collection of letters, maps and printed bills has surfaced in the attic of a former plantation, providing a firsthand account of life from the 1660s through World War II
- Miami Herald Covers Media Swirl Around Crist – And Avoids The Obvious – I’m not sure how you can explore Florida governor Charlie Crist’s shameless self-promotion for McCain’s consideration as VP (after all, the long-time “bachelor” is willing to get married to pass muster) without going into the ample number of stories about
Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 7th:
- Changes In China: Koppel Investigates – The image of Ted Koppel interviewing world leaders is so ingrained that it feels odd to see him wearing a hardhat for a nervous trip into a Chinese coal mine, or sitting in a Chongqing karaoke bar where teenage girls are hired to “entertain” male customer
- Bush To Meet Russia’s Medvedev – US President George W. Bush on Monday holds his first face-to-face talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a chance to weigh up Vladimir Putin’s heir and tackle outstanding disputes.
- McCain Promises To Balance Budget – Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to promise on Monday that he will balance the federal budget by the end of his first term by curbing wasteful spending and overhauling entitlement programs, including Social Security, his advisers told Politico.
- McCain Struggles to Regain Footing – John McCain calls himself an underdog. That may be an understatement. The GOP presidential candidate trails Democrat Barack Obama in polls, organization and money while trying to succeed a deeply unpopular fellow Republican in a year that favors Democrats
- FDA Reports More Cases Of Salmonella Illnesses – The government on Saturday increased the number of people reported being sickened in a record salmonella outbreak in which tomatoes are the leading suspect although investigators are testing other types of fresh produce.
- UAE To Cancel Iraq’s $7 billion Debt – Dubai has forgiven the nearly $7 billion Baghdad owes it, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced Sunday.
Nominated for Best Documentary at the 2006 GLAAD Media Awards, WE ARE DAD is the story of a gay couple who are pediatric AIDS nurses that become foster parents to infants who are HIV positive, and decide to challenge the State of Florida’s law banning adoption by gay people.
The film follows the lives of a most unusual family: Two white HIV negative gay men and their family of five kids. Four of them have AIDS, three are black, two come from a backwater cult in Oregon, and one of the children has been in the middle of one of the most hotly debated issues in this country: gay adoption. We follow these delightful men through the highs and lows of their 18 year struggle to raise this amazing family.
more about “Michael Horvat’s We Are Dad Documentary“, posted with vodpod
The Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 6th:
- Al-Maliki: Iraq Defeated Terrorism – Iraq’s prime minister said yesterday that the government has defeated terrorism in the country, a sign of growing confidence after recent crackdowns against Sunni extremists and Shiite militias.
- Nadal Dethrones Federer At Wimbledon – Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer’s five-year reign at Wimbledon on Sunday, winning a riveting, five-set marathon to claim his first title at the All England Club and signal a changing of the guard in men’s tennis.
- Man Rips Off Hitler’s Head at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum – A man tore the head off an Adolf Hitler wax figure at Madame Tussauds’ new branch in Berlin in what appeared to be a symbolic protest on the museum’s opening day Saturday, officials said.
- Poll: Founding Fathers Would Be Disappointed In America – As Americans celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, an overwhelming majority say the 56 signers of that document would be displeased at how the country has turned out.
- Americans Prefer Candidates Strong On Science – A new poll conducted by Scientists and Engineers for America indicates an overwhelming majority of voters prefer candidates who support research into science and technology, with emphasis on the three E’s: education, environment, and energy. Nice to know,
- Kerry says McCain lacks judgment to be president – John Kerry Says Republican John McCain Doesn’t Have Judgment To Be President
Fishbowl America Round-Up for July 5th through July 6th:
- Tablet ignites debate on messiah and resurrection – A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.
- The United States of Fat – CalorieLab has out their annual “fattest States” and it’s no surprise. Folks just keep getting fatter, so much so that they had to change the categories slightly so it wasn’t a wash of red, fat, states.
- Israel weighs Jerusalem separation – Israel should cut off outlying Arab neighborhoods from Jerusalem, Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon demanded Thursday, a day after a Palestinian construction worker from one of those districts went on a deadly rampage in the city center.
- Lawn-chair balloonist drifts from Oregon to Idaho – A man flying across Oregon in a lawn chair rigged with helium-filled balloons has reached his destination in Idaho.
Here’s a happy story, thats kinda reminds me of the San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders’ reversal on gay rights. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ) has reversed his stance on gay marriage, after his step-daughter came out to him as a lesbian. Rothman then joined the House’s GLBT Caucus.
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