Happy Sunday Funday! YOU GUYS I GOT MY LAPTOP BACK. It’s like the heavens are rejoicing and I’m eating a million pizzas.
via m.arta on flickr
This Sunday Funday we were never so young and also, gay people are not really taking any shit from you anymore, mister. So let’s get gussied up and read all the happy fun optimism-inducing news fit to print this Sunday.
First Republican to Cosponsor UAFA
Republican Susan Collins is the first Senator for her party to cosponsor The United American Families Act. The act will end discrimination against same-sex couples in immigration cases. From The Advocate:
“This is a bipartisan issue,” Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality, told theBlade. “It really crosses all boundaries because if talented people have to leave the country because of immigration discrimination against LGBT families, that’s a loss for everybody.”
Collins framed it as an issue about fairness in her statement announcing support.
“This legislation would simply update our nation’s immigration laws to treat bi-national couples equally,” said Collins. “More than two dozen countries recognize same-sex couples for immigration purposes. This important civil rights legislation would help prevent committed, loving families from being forced to choose between leaving their family or leaving their country.”
Look, Rachel Maddow, You Guys
Look, a photo of younger Rachel Maddow you guys!
People Really Support Gay Marriage, Like Actually, And Might Actually Be Able To Make It Happen
Gay marriage may finally happen via statewide vote in four states. Finally.
After losing some 30 ballots on same-sex marriage across the country over the past decade, advocates of lesbian and gay couples are encouraged by polls showing they have a good chance of finally logging their first victory in a statewide popular vote.
Polls show majorities back same-sex marriage in Maryland, Washington and Maine, and they indicate a tight battle in Minnesota – the four states holding votes on the issue in November.
“We’re feeling positive. The reality is, we haven’t won a ballot measure on marriage yet,” said Sarah Warbelow, state legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. “I think it’s very reasonable and realistic to expect that we’ll win one or more of these ballot measures; certainly the polling suggests that all four are … a possibility.”
50 Romantic Sometimes Gay Photos
A collection of the 50 most romantic photographs ever in the history of people actually includes same-sex couples and is actually kind of cute. But don’t quote me on that.
NYFW Grows in Ethnic Diversity
The fashion industry is flawed – but its diversity is increasing, and that’s always a good thing. Right? Sure:
Way too often in fashion, looking “aspirational” is still considered synonymous with “having white skin.”
It is heartening, then, that this season proved to be the most racially diverse that we have ever counted. For the second time ever (and the second season in a row), white models actually comprised just less than 80% of the total model pool. Contrast that with the 87% of all runway spots that were given to white models in Fall-Winter 2008, when we began keeping track of models and race at NYFW.
Gay Texas Police: It Gets Better
This happened. It fucking happened. You guys!
When the Gays Bite Back
+ Intel, the Boy Scouts of America’s biggest corporate donor, will no longer back them because they are homophobes and they stink.
+ In San Francisco, four Gold’s Gyms are breaking away from the chain because its CEO donated money to an antigay fund called American Crossroads.
+ Lesbians in Northern Vermont can rejoice in knowing that the Inn That Wouldn’t Host A Homo Wedding has settled it monetarily with said homos.
The Cutest Endangered Animals
SAVE THE ANIMALS PLEASE
Austin officially has the coolest popo ever!
Agreed! They were in our Pride Parade last night, it was really awesome!
gay marriage is all well and good, but personally, i’m waiting for the day when i can legally marry an autostraddle post
I think Rick Santorum’s head just-a-sploded.
I call dibs on that “100 pictures of Shane” photo-gallery
I call dibs on the Rapinoe and Maddow posts.
Polygamous website post marriage? What’s next? Chairs?
I thought California was going to be the first state that the gays win in a ballot measure. I mean, it’s where San Francisco is, for crying out loud. Yeah, still bitter about that one…. But go Maine, Maryland, etc…
Also, First Republican to Cosponsor UAFA? About damn fucking time…
Austin PD, I love you. So many emotions.
Re- the second picture in the 50 Romantic Sometimes Gay Photos: If you haven’t watched Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement, it’s available to stream on Netflix and it is beautiful. I LOVE OLD LADIES.
There is so much awesome stuff in this post, but my brain just keeps going “MADDOWWWWWWW”
I just want to be half as amazing as her one day…
Oh god, those Edith and Thea captions just destroyed me. Excuse me while I cry quietly in the shower
The 50 most romantic photos have me bawling over here
glad I’m not the only one. Anybody got a tissue?
I give this post one million Maddows
50 romantic photos – the ones that stood out to me : she is missing her legs, he is missing his arms, and they take care of each other. Also, the one of the husband who was buried with the sandals made of his wife’s hair and oh god, that letter she wrote to him…the anguish.
That video made me cry. I want to reach through my laptop screen and hug that woman!
I think my mom had that same shirt Rachel Maddow is wearing. It’s kind of weirding me out.
I have the picture of Rachel Maddow hanging above my bed…
“There’s a place for us, there’s a time for us,” is from West Side Story and sung beautifully by Barbra Streisand. How do I know this? It happens to be one of the only songs that makes me emotional as well and it’s a favorite of mine. I too heard it on the radio, back in the 80’s and if my memory serves me correctly, I believe I heard it in an infomercial as well… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAu3a7CMA84
Man that video struck a nerve! Makes me want to visit Austin.
Granted I’m still new to the scene, but I hadn’t even heard of Rachel Maddow until like last week. I feel so ashamed in admitting that, haha!
50 Romantic Photos… am I the only one who was particularly touched by the one of the 6,000 year old skeletons? Looks like they died together. I can’t think of anything much more romantic than leaving this world, embraced by your lover. :'(
OMG! I saw the Austin PD video earlier today and I was like “OMG Texas I’m so glad I can still call you home!” …I love it “I am the face of Texas” wooooot!
I see tons of great content here which I will read but I keep going back to Maddow pic where she’s flashing the power of the clam.