*On Monday, an LGBT contingent—including members of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club; the D.C. Coalition of Black Gay, 
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Men and Women; and local Gay-Straight Alliances—marched for the firs time in Washington DC‘s Martin Luther King Jr Day Parade. [Washington Blade]
*Cracker Barrel founder Danny Evins, who forbade franchises from hiring individuals “whose sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values,” is dead. Boo-hoo. [New York Times]
*In actual sad new, longtime LGBT activist Mike Tidwell died at age 60. [San Diego LGBT News]
*You didn’t think that girl made that “boycott Girl Scout Cookies” video all by herself did you? [The New Civil Rights Movement]
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
NJ State Assemblyman Charles Mainor apologized for a Facebook post calling the Philadelphia Eagles the “gaybirds from Philly.” Well, he sort of apologized: Mainor claims a friend took his smart phone and typed in the offensive slur. Oh pull the other one, why don’t you? [NBC 10]
*Mariela Castro (left), daug
hter of current Cuban dictator Raul Castro, says her country’s government will consider same-sex unions. Free elections? Check again later. [The Washington Post]
*Abiding Truth Ministries, Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, Mass Resistance (which opposes anti-bully legislation) and several other organizations are upset the Southern Poverty Law Center has categorized them as hate groups. So they stood outside SLPC offices in Montgomery, Alabama, on Tuesday and shouted hateful things. [SPLC]
Steve
Cracker Barrel founder Danny Evins, is dead.
Would this be a good time for a few choruses of “Ding-Dong! The witch is dead”?
CMObrero
Always such a big deal about free elections.
Don’t misunderstand me: it is a very important right to achieve. But USA americans use to make such a big deal about it, claiming like to be some sort of civil rights paradise in the world. It is not. Specially in the democracy issue.
Part of chilean protests right now is because of the election system. There is some sort of obligation to vote for one candidate of two nation wide real big parties, some somewhat leftiers but bigots anyway and some right wing bigots. Not that different from yours. Its curious: vote against them is discouraged by the low odds of any of them not winning, so theres little chance of third party candidates winning.
I’ve seen and known many awful situations that don’t happen here -nor in cuba- but happen in the US. As i’ve seen awful things happen here that don’t happen in the US, etc. My point is: this was a new about LGBT rights in cuba or was it USA like usual propaganda? The country that invades, tortures, etc., seems like a Vatican city to me, trying to place itself as a moral leader and example, while they are not.
Mike in Asheville
@Steve: What about the much more important and bigger story: The Cracker Barrel corporation ended repudiating anti-gay discrimination. My hubby and I eat at Cracker Barrel 1-2 times/month. We are hardly the only gay couple, while not overly obvious, it is still pretty clear we are gay, and the staff has always — without exception — been as courteous toward us as any other customers.
Its been 20 years since Evins issued his anti-gay missive. 20 years later, he is dead, but gay and lesbian customers and employees, continue their employment and dining. That is a pretty big one for our “WIN” column.
christopher di spirito
Dan Avery – Please correct. The longtime gay and HIV/AIDS activist is Mike Tidmus. Not Mike Tidwell. Mike was a funny, smart and fearless guy and his intelligent blogging will be missed.
loiku
crackwhore barrel’s food is vile and disgusting.
ChrisC
@loiku: lol!
Esculapio Mitiríades Torquemada de la Cueva
@CMObrero: Well, you have “obrero” in your name, so you’re clearly some sort of commie.
Still, it’s weird of Queerty that they’d need to take a potshot at Cuba when they’re considering moving forward in terms of gay rights. If a Cuban publication said something like, “It’s great the State of New York approved gay marriage. Too bad those Yankees keep killing civilians in Afghanistan,” everyone would call that a biased, off-topic remark.
But then again, this is Queerty. Things like “perspective” are way too much to expect from it.
the crustybastard
@Mike in Asheville: “My hubby and I eat at Cracker Barrel 1-2 times/month.”
What do you have against real food?
Mike in Asheville
@the crustybastard: Have you tried their blueberry pancakes? Yummy, with blueberry syrup and a side of bacon!
(And Crusty, this is from a guy who was 1980s-90s, half-dozen times a year wining and dining at Chez Panise, brunch at Bette’s Ocean View, later a Stars regular; as a kid, a few times a year with parents/grandmother, Elaines and 21, have made to Clairedges (London), Castle Spaltina (Tuscany) and most amazing of all, Lucas Carton (Alain Ducasse’s Paris masterpiece 3 star, alas since closed).
For even Julia Child, while pointing out that she did not think of it as a real burger, thought that the McDonalds cheese burger was a tasty meat and cheese sandwich.
tracy
By Cracka!
tracy
Sorry that’s “Bye, Cracka!”