I’m still working my way through reading the Prop 8 decision and writing a post on it, but for now, here’s what NOM’s bigots had to say, courtesy of Towleroad.

First up, Brian Brown:

“As sweeping and wrong-headed as this decision is, it nonetheless was as predictable as the outcome of a Harlem Globetrotters exhibition game,” said Brian Brown, NOM’s president. “We have anticipated this outcome since the moment San Francisco Judge Vaughn Walker’s first hearing in the case. Now we have the field cleared to take this issue to the US Supreme Court, where we have every confidence we will prevail.”

And then John Eastman:

“Never before has a federal appeals court – or any federal court for that matter – found a right to gay marriage under the US Constitution,” said constitutional scholar John Eastman, who is chairman of NOM. “The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is the most overturned circuit in the country, and Judge Stephen Reinhardt, the author of today’s absurd ruling is the most overturned federal judge in America. Today’s ruling is a perfect setup for this case to be taken by the US Supreme Court, where I am confident it will be reversed. This issue is the Roe v Wade of the current generation, and I sincerely doubt the Court has the stomach for preempting the policy judgments of the states on such a contentious matter, knowing the lingering harm it caused by that ruling.”

Aw, boo boos. The fact that this is the first time a federal appeals court has “gotten it” is absolutely irrelevant. That’s kind of how courts work. It took a “first time” and a “never before” to desegregate our schools, to give women reproductive freedom, and a host of other things that are now simply understood as part of what it means to be an American.

is right here if you want to read it. I’m working my way through it right now and will update in a while with my thoughts on it, but if you want to dive in, go for it. Start on page 33 if you want to get right to the point.

And maybe if I met the right woman…

Patrick Wooden has quickly become one of the weirdest, funniest wingnuts on record, ever since Porno Pete recruited him for a poorly attended protest at the Southern Poverty Law Center. In the space of just a few weeks, he has explained how anal sex is just terrible, but only if you’re gay, how gay men are well-known for putting iPhones in their butts, which is why gay men have to wear buttplugs all the time [sensing a pattern in what Wooden is interested in here?], and also Tyler Perry and Oprah are the devil. Teaching us about these things are all part of Wooden’s Pastoral Duties, and now he’s added another one to the mix!

You see, Patrick Wooden loves Pam Spaulding of Pam’s House Blend so much that he really just wants her to find a nice man to rock her world, for Jesus, of course. No, really. Here he is, talking to Porno Pete about Pam:

Patrick Wooden: Well, first of all, I love Pam, and one of these days I hope to invite Pam Spaulding maybe to lunch, and we can sit down and talk, I have never had the privilege of meeting her. I learned that we were at an event one time together and she did not make herself known [news to me; what event is he talking about?] and of course she knew, if my information is correct, she’s aware of who I am and I did not know her. I love her and I am praying for her, and I wouldn’t dare rail insults for insults or slurs for slurs.

I will say that Christ died for Pam, and Jesus will save her and deliver her from sin and that I have nothing but love for her and look forward to an opportunity to sit down and look her in the eye and to talk to her. Now as for the comment that I am a rent-a-pastor (laughs)…listen, Peter, I’ve been called much worse, and you know, my position is this: I don’t mind being rented for the cause of Christ. I don’t mind being rented for God’s Truth, I don’t mind being used for God’s Truth…as a matter of fact I want to thank her for calling me a rent-a-pastor. And I’ll say to the Lord – you can rent me anytime you want. I don’t know why he would since he owns me, but I will do for whatever cause he would want me to be a part of …here I am Lord, I’m like Isaiah, [blah, blah, blah] as long as I am representing God’s Truth.

Peter, it’s really not about her; we’re just vessels to be used by the Lord. It is the cause…it is the truth of God that we represent that is so important. So if the Pam Spauldings of this world, I wouldn’t get into a shouting match with her, I wouldn’t visit her web site, or her Facebook or whatever and rail insult for insult…

Pam needs Jesus, when Pam meets the Lord that yearning for a member of the same sex will change…she’d probably make a fantastic mother [Um, no], and would enjoy having a husband who was born male – no Chaz Bono business – born male – and meet her man, and rock her world, in the name of the Lord.”

You see, Pam Spaulding is great, says Patrick Wooden! If only she would discover the wonders of the wang in the name of the Lord…

This is what our opposition has been reduced to, y’all.

If you’re not familiar, One Million Moms is a project of the American Family Association hate group, and the past week, they’ve been angry with JC Penney for choosing the “perverted” Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson. When I heard about their complaints, my first reaction was, “as if this is even possible, wingnuts are becoming even less self-aware.” Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most beloved celebrities in this nation, even among many, many conservatives. This is one of the reasons the wingnuts have ultimately lost this “culture war.” Ellen is so funny, and so family-friendly, that I’d imagine it’s hard for any but the most hardcore anti-gay bigots to really hate her.

Here’s Monica Cole of One Million Moms complain, complain, complaining that “JC Penneys” is ignoring them, along with the ever-unhinged Bryan Fischer.

Bryan Fischer points out that there are tons of heterosexual celebrities JC Penney could have chosen. Indeed! Kim Kardashian and Charlie Sheen are probably available! And you know the sad thing? If JC Penney had chosen one of those models of heterosexual behavior, the hate group in question wouldn’t have even noticed.

I haven’t been to a Penney’s in a long time, but maybe I’ll go take a looksee next time I’m near one. I’d imagine that JC Penney knows that the dollars of people who support fairness and equality are worth a lot more than those of the “One Million” [eleven?] moms of One Million Moms.

[h/t Joe]

Bob Vander Plaats of ThE FaMiLy LeAdEr isn’t going to go to Starbucks anymore, nuh uh!

We are sure Starbucks is very upset about a handful of bigots refusing to visit their establishment.

[h/t Towleroad]

This, from Representative John Fleming (R) of Louisiana, is just stellar. Screen cap from his Facebook:

Newell at Wonkette [Newell is back at Wonkette! It is a great day for the internet!] points out that Fleming’s Facebook has now been deleted, due to idiot, but thank goodness for screen caps.

By the way, if you want to get caught up on the other story about reproductive rights that’s been going on the past week, TBogg has been doing some stellar commentary.

Just landed in my e-mail:

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will issue a ruling in AFER’s case challenging Prop. 8 tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. PT.

The moment we receive the decision, you’ll be the first to know. Please take a moment and make sure your friends and family know too.

[...]

After a lengthy and thorough trial, the Federal District Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to single out gay and lesbian couples and deny them a fundamental freedom. The anti-marriage Prop. 8 Proponents immediately appealed that decision and now the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will issue a decision tomorrow.

At the end of the day, it’s wrong for the government to tell someone they can’t marry the person they love. Couples like our plaintiffs, Kris & Sandy and Jeff & Paul, simply want what other Americans want: to be treated with fairness and dignity.

Marriage is a fundamental American freedom and it’s time our country realizes its promise of equality for all.

Sincerely,

Chad H. Griffin
Board President
American Foundation for Equal Rights

If you’re on that e-mail list, you got it too.

Weird quote from “ex-gay” PFOX leader Greg Quinlan:

“I want to talk first of all about something I heard from the very beginning by people of this Legislature that we are bigots as people of faith, because we do not hold that homosexual marriage should be codified. That somehow we are bigots and we are ideologues because we are people of faith. I want to address that hate. Everyone in this room who is a person of faith deserves an apology from one of the sponsors of this bill for calling us bigots.

“To date there is zero evidence that anyone is born a homosexual, zero. In fact it’s homosexual researchers and scientists that are proving that homosexuality is not innate and had no biological ideology. Homosexuality is not immutable. There are many ex-gays; Anne Heche, to name one, Sinead O’Connor and myself. I left the homosexual lifestyle almost 20 years ago. Lived as a homosexual activist for 10 years of my life.”

Wait, I’m confused. Did Anne Heche and Sinead O’Connor go through brutal, discredited “ex-gay” ministries, the patients of which often end up driven to deeper levels of depression and sometimes suicide, in order to pray themselves straight. Or did their lives just change? I don’t know about Anne, but I highly doubt Sinead O’Connor would appreciate her name being used in that way by such an ignorant, hateful bigot.

Anyway, the rest of it is just the usual whining. “Tolerate our unhinged hatred!” Whatever.

[h/t Joe]

Now it goes to the House, where it’s likely to pass by more than enough:

In the end, it wasn’t even close.

After more than a decade of laying the ground work and fretting that the votes would be just out of reach, state Sen. Ed Murray watched Wednesday night as the Senate easily passed legislation that would legalize gay marriage.

The vote was 28-21.

[...]

While it wasn’t final passage, the Senate always has been viewed as the biggest hurdle for same-sex marriage legislation, as it was for gay-rights bills in previous years.

The measure now heads to the House, where supporters say they have more than enough votes. It’s expected to pass as early as next week. The governor strongly supports the bill as well.

Of course, here comes the bigots with their new and different idea of voting on people’s civil rights, which goes against the definition of “rights,” but whatever.

This is awesome!

[h/t Watertiger]