Comics Heather Gold (@heathr) and Katie Halper (@kthalps) look at the headlines and ask: Is it good for the Jews? This week that strange mix of John Hughes cameo star and traditional family values shonda Ben Stein creepily gushes about girlfriends , the SCOTUS Hobby Lobby is handed down and Facebook learns how to scale passive aggression
Why Joe Biden thanked LGBT people for saving straight people, and I do too!
Vice-President Biden may get credited with pushing President Obama out of the closet on the issue of marriage equality. But Joe’s the one who’s grateful to the LGBT community, as I learned while attending a speech he delivered Thursday in Detroit at Netroots Nation (where I snapped the photo of Biden coyly voguing, featured above).
Before Joe Biden outed the Obama administration, the President had seemed bi-curious at best, when it came to LGBT civil rights. Sure, he dabbled a little, coming out against DOMA here and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell there. He grappled with his position on marriage equality, which seemed fluid, but his commitment to it seemed more like a phase he would grow out of. After all, lots of people experiment and explore their position on sexuality during their presidential years.
But that all changed after Joe Biden came out for marriage equality, on national TV no less, in 2012. In case you missed it, during an appearance on Meet The Press, Biden said,
The good news is that as more and more Americans come to understand what this is all about is a simple proposition. Who do you love? Who do you love and will you be loyal to the person you love? And that’s what people are finding out what all marriages at their root are about. Whether they are marriages of lesbians or gay men or heterosexuals.
[…] I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don’t see much of a distinction — beyond that.
With his typical inability to control himself from saying something for which he’d surely get into trouble, Biden became the highest-ranking American official to endorse same-sex marriage.
Why the Tea Partier who mistook YMCA kids for foreign terrorists was right
The liberal media, or I should say media, to avoid being redundant, is, as usual, getting it all wrong when it comes to immigration. Its latest stunt, which, I’m sad to say, Raw Story’s own Amanda Marcotte took part in, involves Adam Kwasman, an Arizona financial consultant and Tea Partier who is seeking the congressional seat of Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. Like any true patriot, Kwasman has taken action to defend our nation from the largest threat we face today: Central American immigrant children apprehended at the border. Inspired, no doubt, by the righteous protestors in Murrieta, California, who blocked a bus carrying undocumented detainees, shouting thoughtful chants (USA! USA!) and holding up clever signs (Return to Sender), Kwasman put his body on the line to demonstrate for his cause in Oracle, AZ.
Spotting a bus of immigrant children, the ever-vigilant Kwasman tweeted: “Bus coming in. This is not compassion. This is the abrogation of the rule of law.”
So shrewd is Kwasman that he was able to read the facial expression of these alleged Central American children. As he explained to KPNX-TV Channel 12 in Phoenix, “I was able to actually see some of the children on the buses, and the fear on their faces.”
But, as know-it-all reporter Brahm Resnik couldn’t wait to point out, Kwasman didn’t have the story exactly right: ”You know that was a bus with YMCA kids?” asked Resnik. To which Kwasman responded, “They were sad too.” I’m not sure if his response was at all related to the point made by Resnik. I think Kwasman was still processing the trauma of seeing the fearful and sad faces of innocent children on their way back from a day of inhumanely insufferable trust falls and Simon Says games.
Five sexy products that let ladies conceal their guns and show off their bodies
Is that a gun in your bra? Or are you just happy to see me?
Ladies, are you feeling conflicted and dissatisfied in your relationships with guns? On the one hand, you’re flattered by all the attention you’re getting from the gun industry. You love when the gun lobby shares its fantasies with you, whispering sweet nothings into your ear about the ways guns make women safer. Sure, you know that the availability of guns actually correlates directly with female homicide. That women in the U.S. are 11 times more likely to be murdered with guns than women in other high-income countries. That the presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500 percent. And that 38 percent fewer women are shot to death by intimate partners in states that require background checks.
But at the end of the day, you forgive the hopeless romantic that is the gun lobby. Because what girl doesn’t like to be pandered to? The gun industry does special things just for you, like marketing the Pink Lady Undercover Lite and opposing federal legislation that would prevent people who commit domestic violence from buying guns. Perhaps most importantly, he gun industry makes you feel sexy, allowing you to bear your bare arms and your bare skin. Here are some of the sexiest products for girls gun wild.
1.The Flashbang Bra Holster
This bra holster, which I call a brolster, is sexy but practical and you can order it on the website Gun Goddess for a mere $44.99.
In case you can’t already tell, the Flashbang is “a thermo-plastic molded clamshell that snaps into place over the barrel/slide and trigger-guard of small pistols and revolvers.” And conveniently, “tucks underneath a bra band, where it is secured in place by both the band itself and a soft suede strap, that snaps around the center portion of the bra between the bra cups.
Chesty is besty, when it comes to the Flashbang: “Although a larger bust line improves concealment, a looser shirt with a pattern on it or a bit of fullness can help a woman with a more athletic physique to conceal the firearm.” And, ladies, make sure you listen to your bodies before you strap a gun between your breasts: “different strap sizes are included… The straps can be easily changed using a Phillips head screwdriver. As with all holster options, whether this type of holster works for you, your circumstances or your body composition or size, is a personal decision.”
Another Gun Goddess find is the lace thigh holster. It comes in a variety of colors and costs a mere $70.00. Quite a bargain for the “feminine thigh holster from Femme Fatale” (get it? Fatale? as in fatal? As in lethal? I love homicide puns, especially when they are related to the sale of gun accessories). Plus, the “luxurious embroidered lace” and the pockets which fit several gun sizes, make this holster not only reasonable, but highly functional.
And the best part is that, thanks to the nylon grippers on the thigh holster, there’s “no need for an uncomfortable garter belt to keep it in place!” Nothing puts me in a bad mood like gun-supporting-holster-supporting garter belts!
FYI, the images are totally misleading: “POSITION YOUR HOLSTER: The holster is positioned lower on the thigh in the images. You will want to push the holster up much higher.” And, guys can rock a modified version: “Kilt-Wearers: Yes, we can custom-make one for you in man-thigh size, without the lace!”
The lace bra holster, or LaBrolster for short (according to me) is a great compliment to your lace garter. Just remember whether you’re packing heat up top on down low. It’s $89 but you are so worth it! Sequined top, chaotic necklace and apparent half bra not included.
This sexy, waist-cinching, corset holster by Femme Fatale can be your own little secret! Luxurious, embroidered lace [again] covers 6″ wide corset elastic which fits comfortably just below your bra.
It also offers gun-breast snuggling: “A padded pocket in the front conceals your firearm, and the tension of the garment keeps it nestled snugly beneath your breasts.”
And it is both schmutz and schvitz-resistant: “The pocket is lined with a breathable, waterproof material to help keep perspiration and body oils off your gun. It accommodates a variety of gun sizes and allows for ambidextrous draw.”
But, please note, as the website warns, because the corset is a corset, it will feel, surprisingly, like a corset: “keep in mind that this is a corset, designed to cinch the waist in, so it will be a snug fit.”
Check out the rest of these sexy products to conceal your gun at RawStory.com
Laughing Liberally at Netroots Nation
Join the performers of Laughing Liberally for a free special engagement at Netroots Nation. Enjoy an evening of laughter from the left with top political comics from Comedy Central, The Onion and the Laughing Liberally National Tour. Featuring Netroots Nation favorites including Lee Camp, Katie Halper, Negin Farsad, Julianna Forlano, Baratunde Thurston, Lizz Winstead, Elon James White and more. Laughing Liberally, the national comedy project of Living Liberally, has been touring the country, producing videos and special campaigns with progressive partners, running Off-Broadway in New York City and is preparing an election season of political laughter across the country. laughingliberally.org.
Starts: Thursday, Jun. 7 9:15 PM
Ends: Thursday, Jun. 7 11:00 PM
Room: Rotunda
See more about the event and each of the panelists at the Netroots Nation website.
Caveman rapist accessories are a huge hit on Fox News
If there’s one thing men and women can agree on, it’s that accessories depicting pre-historic rape are awesome.
But don’t take my word for it. Check out what happened on “Outnumbered,” the Fox TV program featuring four lady anchors and one lucky guy guest. With its daring coverage of such topics as apps that let you stalk your boyfriend’s cell phone, the show offers TV journalism at its best. But that doesn’t mean “Outnumbered” doesn’t know how to have a good time. On Friday, as the episode was wrapping up, an extremely astute and observant Sandra Smith pointed out something(s) adorning the wrists of guy guest Charles Payne, the businessman, TV and radio show host and settlement-paying alleged violator of the SEC: ”I just caught the bling on your cufflinks. What are the cufflinks by the way?”
Payne went on to describe the scene captured by his cufflinks with the clarity and detail of an art historian or anthropologist:
This is a, this is a caveman dragging a woman by the hair with one club in one hand and the woman in the other hand.
The women, understandably, chuckled with delight.
“Las Libres” film on Mexican women convicted for homicide for abortions is coming to a theater near you
Las Libres, a Mexican documentary about the struggle to free women convicted for homicide and thrown in jail for having abortions is coming to a theater (possibly) near you. And you’ll want to see it.
We’ve written about Las Libres before, but in case you missed it, the documentary focuses on how Las Libres, a women’s human’s rights organization in Mexico, fought to free six women who had been incarcerated and convicted of homicide for terminating their pregnancies. (One of the women hadn’t even had an abortion, but had miscarried. But that didn’t matter.) All of them were sentenced to between 20 and 30 years in jail. As I wrote:
The case of Adriana Manzanares is a especially frightening example of the way different forms of sexism interact. Adriana didn’t actually terminate her pregnancy. She miscarried. And when her community found out, they threw stones at her. Even more perverse is the fact that Adriana miscarried because she had already been hit with stones and rocks for committing adultery. Adriana’s husband had been gone for years working in the United States, so she started a relationship with a man who would become her boyfriend and became pregnant. When her husband came back he beat his pregnant wife. Then Adriana’s father beat her. And finally, members of the community beat her. So some of the very people who beat Adriana and caused her miscarriage would later throw stones at her for miscarrying.
And now, you can see the movie, which is going on tour! The documentary, as well as its director and representatives Las Libres will be at the U.S. premiere this Thursday, July 17th, at NYU, where it will be presented by the Latina Institute for Health. And the movie will also be having various screenings in Mexico and Argentina. If you want to bring the movie to your community, reach out to them on Facebook.
And catch the trailer below.
Infographic: How gun background checks save women’s lives
Everytown, an organization which advocates for gun safety, published this infographic, as well as a report on how the US’s weak gun laws put domestic violence victims at risk. It found that:
- Federal law does not keep guns out of the hands of abusive dating partners or convicted stalkers.
- Many state gun laws fail to protect domestic violence victims.
- Federal law and the law in most states, allows domestic abusers and stalkers to easily evade gun prohibitions by purchasing guns from unlicensed, private sellers.
- Forty-one states do not require all prohibited domestic abusers to relinquish guns they already own.
Check out the full infographic after the jump.
5 Atheist and Muslim Billboards That Really Pissed Off Right-Wing Christians
Ads that promote other religious beliefs and atheism are likely to rile up the Christian right.
In weeks past, we’ve brought you some outrageous signs and billboards posted by right-wing Christian churches. It turns out certain people can dish it out a lot better than they can take it. Here are some signs posted by people of other beliefs that caused major upset among conservative Christians.
1. Come out of the Christian Closet!
The organization American Atheists doesn’t hate Christmas. They believe in celebrating the holiday season. They just don’t think the religious stuff makes sense. Or, as they put it on a billboard in Manhattan’s Time Square, “Keep the MERRY. Dump the MYTH.” Now, it may look at first glance like these American Atheists are themselves confused. They don’t buy the whole son of god thing, but they’re OK with Santa Claus? Seems pretty gullible to me. What they’re saying, of course, is that they enjoy the Christmas festivities without needing it to be Christian. As the organization’s president David Silverman explained, “If you know god is a myth, you do not have to lie and call yourself ‘Christian’ in order to have a festive holiday season. You can be merry without the myth, and indeed, you should…. We encourage people to be honest with themselves and their families this year. If you don’t believe in God, tell your family — honesty is the greatest gift, and they deserve it.”
The billboard inspired not only honesty but some major wit from Answers in Genesis, the multimillion-dollar Christian ministry behind the Creation Museum outside Cincinnati. They responded by spending $200,000 on their own Time Square ad, which read, “To all of our atheist friends: Thank God you’re wrong.” As Answers in Genesis president Ken Ham explained, “We’re not trying to attack them personally, but we do believe they’re wrong. From an atheist’s perspective, they believe when they die, they cease to exist. And we say no, you’re not going to cease to exist; you’re going to spend eternity with God or without God. And if you’re an atheist, you’re going to be spending it without God.” Sounds pretty Christian to me.
2. Merry Xmas and Happy Holocaust!
Lest you think American Atheists limit themselves to flat graphic art, they also posted a video on a digital billboard in Time Square. Guess they like the neighborhood. “Who needs Christ during Christmas?” asked the 40′ x 40′ installation last December. According to American Atheists president David Silverman , Christmas isn’t just for Christians: “We all love this time of year…Christianity has been trying to claim ownership of the season for hundreds of years. But the winter solstice came first and so did its traditions. The season belongs to everybody.”
But not everyone was so happy about this Happy Holiday billboard. State Senator Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) called the billboard an “expression of hatred,” saying, “Just as millions of Americans are preparing to celebrate Christmas, the American Atheists organization has ridiculed the solemn beliefs of millions of New Yorkers.” What’s worse, this billboard, like so many other things that have absolutely nothing to do with the Holocaust, will lead to the holocaust: “Religious persecution of the kind that similarly led to the Holocaust began with small baby steps of ridicule and hatred of the religious beliefs of others.”
Continue reading and see the rest of the billboards at alternet.org
Why same-sex parents have healthier and happier kids
Sorry, bitter homophobes. It turns out having two mommies or two daddies doesn’t make you a sick and unhappy child. A new study not only debunks this claim but suggests that kids raised by lesbian or gay parents score better when it comes to measures like family cohesion and general health. And the potential reason may — or may not — surprise you.
The study from the University of Melbourne, Australia surveyed 315 same-sex parents and 500 children and found that, overall, the kids were just as happy and healthy as the kids of the general population. The only difference was that, “children from same-sex families scored, on average, 6% better on two key measures, general health and family cohesion, even when controlling for a number of sociodemographic factors such as parent education and household income.”
Not surprisingly, the study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, showed that same-sex families do face stigma which has a negative effect on the mental health of children. But families of all backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities can be stigmatized for several things. So how does one explain the fact that children from same-sex families are doing so well?
According to Simon Crouch, MD, a public health doctor and the lead researcher in the study, it may well derive from the lack of conformity to gender stereotypes when it comes to splitting household responsibilities:
Interestingly, there is growing evidence to suggest that the structure of same-sex parent families, particularly in relation to work and home duties, plays an important part in how well families get along. Same-sex parents, for instance, are more likely to share child care and work responsibilities more equitably than heterosexual-parent families.
This freedom from traditional and confining roles means that parents can divide their labor according to strengths and what makes them happy:
So what this means is that people take on roles that are suited to their skill sets rather than falling into those gender stereotypes, which is mum staying home and looking after the kids and dad going out to earn money.
What this leads to is a more harmonious family unit and therefore feeding on to better health and wellbeing.
Of course, these lessons can apply to all kinds of families and relationships. If only the people who insist on pathologizing same-sex child-rearing knew about this. Maybe if they were happier in their own lives they wouldn’t spread lies about the non-existent dangers of having gay or lesbian parents.
katiehalper.com 