WASHINGTON: Activists Launch "Decline To Sign Referendum 74" Campaign

Within minutes of Gov. Gregoire's signing of Washington's marriage equality bill, hate groups filed the paperwork to begin collecting petitions to repeal the law. They haven't yet cleared the procedural hurdles to start accepting signatures, but gay activists have already launched their own decline to sign campaign.

IMPORTANT: Should our enemies gather enough signatures by the cutoff date of June 6th, the next step will be to educate the public that they should vote YES on Referendum 74, which asks if marriage equality should be KEPT. And NOT whether it should be repealed. This sort of counter-intuitive wording often appears on ballot measures, dammit.

WASHINGTON STATE: Santorum Protesters Get Tasered And Arrested

Igor Volsky has the transcript of Santorum's speech:

I know this is a very important day in Washington. And in many respects a sad day for many people. We saw the law signed into here in Washington sate. But it is very important you understand what just happened in another place….in the Ninth Circuit….The Ninth Circuit decided that anybody that disagrees with any of these folks, anyone who disagrees with these folks when it comes to the issue if what marriage is in this country, well they are irrational. That’s what the Ninth Circuit said. They said anybody who disagrees with their decision to shoot down Prop 8 in California, they do so because they are irrational and the only possible reason they can possibly…

And that's when things went nuts.

ILLINOIS: Activists Protest Outside Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral

This was the demonstration that got Porno Pete so worked up yesterday. Windy City Times reports:

Despite a blistering cold morning, more than 20 LGBT activists protested outside of Holy Name Cathedral Feb. 12, a demonstration held in conjunction with National Freedom to Marry Day. The protest, held every year outside the church around Valentine's Day, carried special weight this year after Catholic Cardinal Francis George compared the annual Pride Parade to a Ku Klux Klan gathering in December. The pro-gay protesters were greeted by a counter-protest of approximately 10 people on the steps of the Cathedral, who came bearing signs that read "one man, one woman."

Protesters marched outside the church for more than an hour, chanting "equal rights for everybody" and "stop politicizing love." "This is not an anti-Catholic demonstration," said Andy Thayer of Gay Liberation Network, one of the groups that organized the protest. "This is a demonstration against the Catholic leadership." While some chanted that George was a "bigot" and "archbigot," others expressed discomfort with the intensity of that message or simply greeted parishioners exiting church rather than chanting.

[Top Photo: Kevin Wayne. Bottom Photo: Kate Sosin]

Gay Flash Mob At NYC JCPenney

A mob of pink-wearing gays descended on midtown Manhattan's JC Penney today in a "buy-cott" in support of Ellen DeGeneres, who since having been hired as the chain's spokesperson has been the subject of a national anti-gay campaign by the American Family Association. JC Penney management was expecting us and greeted all with handshakes and smiles as credit card waving gay men entered the store, which is located at the former site of the famed Gimbels department store. Lots of happy handsome men can be found in the slideshow below, including a couple of industrious boys who bedazzled their shirts with Ellen's name. Fun day!

CPAC Gets Occupied

How To Help Anchorage

For years I've blogged about the attempt to gain LGBT protections in Anchorage, Alaska, a campaign that has been ongoing for the last 35 years. Today Dan Savage tips us to an opportunity to help.

The LGBT community in Anchorage—sick of waiting for basic civil rights protections—decided to put an equal rights initiative on the ballot. One Anchorage needed to gather 5,871 signatures to qualify; they quickly gathered 13,600 signatures. Voters in Anchorage will say "yes" or "no" to Proposition 5 on April 3. The mayor and city council don't have the power to veto or rescind a voter-approved initiative. So voters here approve Prop 5, Anchorage will finally—after 35 years—have an equal rights law that protects LGBT citizens. [snip] To combat the inevitable, last-minute anti-gay/anti-trans hate campaign, One Anchorage is raising money to get television ads on the air up here in the last weeks of the campaign. They're asking people to consider donating $35—one dollar for each year that Anchorage has been fighting for equality and basic civil rights protection.

Hit the links for more info and donation pages.

Charges For Romney Glitter-Bomber

After being detained by the Secret Service, a Colorado student faces several charges for glitter-bombing Mitt Romney.

University of Colorado Boulder student Peter Smith, 20, told Reuters he threw glitter at Romney after the candidate's speech in Colorado on Tuesday to protest against his "general political philosophy," and not only his stance on gay marriage. A CNN video of the incident shows Romney shaking hands with supporters in an auditorium when the glitter is thrown at him and Secret Service agents usher him away. Smith was escorted out by other agents and local authorities, Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie said. Denver authorities detained Smith for questioning on Tuesday night, and he was cited on misdemeanor charges of creating a disturbance, throwing a missile and an unlawful act on school property, Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

Smith faces up to six months in jail.

Romney Glitter-Bombed Again

But NOW he has Secret Service protection. Ruh-roh.

Swingrich Heckled By Gay Activist

LA & SF To Rally After Prop 8 Decision

Rallies will be held in San Francisco and Los Angeles tomorrow after the Ninth Circuit Court issues its ruling on Proposition 8. Nothing in my inbox about NYC so far, but check back here later. Hit the links for Facebook event pages.

NYPD Breaks Up HRC Gala Protest

Despite having been given assurances that they could peaceably protest on the sidewalk outside Manhattan's glitzy Waldorf-Astoria, on Saturday the NYPD broke up the Occupy Wall Street demonstration during the Human Rights Campaign $650/plate gala to honor Goldman Sachs. Via press release:

In NYC Saturday night, February 4, 2012, approximately 80 LGBT grassroots activists from a variety of groups united in common cause and elaborate demonstration to tell HRC: You do not speak for us. Starting at dusk, chanting voices filled Park Avenue as tuxedo-sporting HRC donors arrived at the Waldorf Astoria: “Hey Hey HRC. Where is our equality?” -- and -- “Everyone pays their tax. Everyone but Goldman Sachs” – rang out repeatedly targeting the Gala’s corporate honoree. Up and down the block between 49th and 50th, a catwalk of activists paraded, picket-fashion-show style, sporting a shimmery 15 x 5 banner that read: SEEK FULL EQUALITY, big mylar letters spelling “HELP,” and a huge sign that read: “HRC is in BED with A SACHS Machine”. Occupy Wall Street locked it all together in what was truly an inspirational convergence of NYC's grassroots, and beyond.

Cops moved the protesters across the street to a location where the black-tie crowd could not hear their chants. Still some protesters entered the Waldorf lobby to make their case. Some gala attendees reportedly mocked the protest via Twitter. (I'm looking for those tweets.) Many more photos of the action are on the group's Flickr page.

French Politician Gets Flour-Bombed

This makes glitter-bombing look rather mild, does it not? (Tipped by JMG reader Kevin)

Romney Glitter-Bombed In Minnesota

Early reports on Twitter say a "young man" was dragged away by security after "thoroughly" dousing Romney in glitter. I suspect this may be the same kid that glittered Crazy Eyes late last year. At this writing, Ann Romney is reportedly trying to brush the glitter off her husband while he speaks to the press. ABC reports he "has a ton of glitter in his hair."

UPDATE: Here's the clip.

That Just Won Her $10,000

HRC's Manhattan Gala To Be Occupied

A queer contingent of Occupy Wall Street will protest the Human Rights Campaign this weekend outside their black tie Manhattan gala at the Waldorf-Astoria. An excerpt from their press release:

Queer/LGBTIQA2Z Occupy Wall Street, a caucus of the NYC based Occupy Wall Street movement, announced today that it will protest a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Gala honoring Goldman Sachs on Saturday February 4, 2012 at the Waldorf Astoria. In contrast to the $650 a plate Gala, the Queer/LGBTIQA2Z Caucus will host a “Guerrilla Potluck” on the sidewalk outside of the prestigious hotel at 50th Street & Park Avenue from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Queer Caucus: 1. Condemns HRC for honoring Goldman Sachs, 2. Calls upon HRC to adopt a strategy of Full Equality by 2014, and 3. Demands that HRC create a transparent process that includes the grassroots.

The Queer Caucus points out this demand that elected officials pledge to ensure full federal civil equality by 2014.

RELATED: The HRC used to invite me to cover this event, but I guess they didn't like what they read.

In Memory Of Slain Activist David Kato

No More Down Low reports on the anniversary of slain Ugandan activist David Kato, whose memorial vigil I attended and reported upon last year.