Groundbreaking then, now obsolete

The International Olympic Committee has determined that the Russian law that bans "propaganda" about being gay does not violate the Olympic charter's anti-discrimination guarantee (because gay people can compete -- if they stay closeted). Therefore the IOC does not have the authority to criticize Russian laws.

Yeah, it stinks. But the Olympics were already hosted by Beijing, known for human rights violations more severe than the latest from Russia.



The pope recently said the church shouldn't make such a big deal of homosexuality. Pastor E. W. Jackson of Virginia (who also happens to be the GOP candidate for Lieutenant Governor) says he knows better what God wants than the Pope does. I'll let you read the resulting nastiness for yourself.



Steven Petrow has a column in the New York Times dealing with manners associated with the lesbian and gay community. In a recent column he deals with question that in the last year he has had to change his answer. The question: How to introduce a gay couple? The word "partner" seems no longer appropriate. And "spouse" seems like a demotion. The solution: "I'd like you to meet Mr. James Smith and his husband Mr. John Andrews."



Back in 1984 the city of Berkeley, Calif. and its school district were the first gov't entities to offer domestic partner benefits. On Oct. 11, 1991 the city offered a domestic partner registry so couples could have their relationships recognized by a gov't entity. Councilman Darryl Moore, who is gay, will submit a resolution to close the registry, effective Oct. 11, 2013. His reason is that because of marriage equality in Calif. the registry is obsolete.



The Metropolitan Opera in New York did have its opening gala earlier this week. The Russian opera Eugene Onegen by Tchaikovsky with the Russian director and Russian soprano went on as scheduled. The gala was also seen on big screens outdoors in Lincoln Center Plaza and Times Square. Also there were protesters of the director and soprano because both support Putin. About three dozen protested outside, a few shouted slogans from a balcony for a couple minutes before the opera started. They were escorted out by security. The protesters had asked the Met to dedicate the performance to gay people. The Met's director declined, saying the Met cannot be "a vehicle for waging nightly battles against the social injustices of the world."

Anthony Tommasini, the reviewer in the New York Times, thought it was inappropriate for the protesters to "interrupt a performance." But didn't he just say the protesting was done before the opera started?

Here is a photo of the outdoor protest with comments from lots of people who don't buy the Met's position.