The holy war has begun in Michigan!

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Janet Law just wants a space for Wyandotte, Michigan's cross-dressers. City officials, however, are putting the breaks on the former race car driver's plans, which leads Law to believe they're breaking the, well, law. Of course officials say otherwise:

[Lawmakers insist] she lacks parking to accommodate customers. She and her lawyer say officials have ulterior motives and will make a final appeal Wednesday to the Zoning Board of Appeals before filing suit.

In a standoff that's caught the attention of advocates in the transgender community, Law's lawyer, Guy Conti, says Wyandotte is violating her constitutional rights because the 1,400-square-foot club otherwise meets zoning rules.

Wyandotte Mayor James DeSana declined comment. "I'm not trying to be smart-alecky," he said. "I just don't want to discuss Janet Law."

DeSana also says that if Law's sure of discrimination, then she should sue.

Law currently has 26 parking spots. The city says she needs at least 119, even though her private club only allows 78. Wyandotte, Michigan only has about 30,000 citizens. How many of those do you think are cross-dressers?

• You've got to be kidding, Larry Craig:

Lawyers for Sen. Larry Craig asked a Minnesota appeals court Tuesday to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea stemming from his June arrest in a public bathroom sex sting, citing a "grave procedural flaw."

The Idaho Republican argues that a state law related to his misdemeanor conviction is unconstitutional and that it's "manifestly unjust" not to allow him to be given another chance to prove his innocence.

This man is truly tortured. Just let it go, Craig! Get on with your life or come out, girl. And people think Hillary's a robot?

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Toilets have been getting a lot of attention this year. In the wake of Larry Craig's arrest, police are suddenly hip to the public sex jive and are spending more time in the loo looking for trollish inhabitants.

While conservatives may laud their efforts, more liberal groups wonder if authorities aren't acting a bit prejudicial. Michigan's Triangle Foundation certainly thinks so - they're investigating complaints against Clayton Township's police departments.

"This is profiling," said Sean Kosofsky, policy director for the organization. "Heterosexuals are never targeted in public sex stings."
…
Township Police Chief Chuck Melki said he's simply enforcing the law and isn't targeting any specific group of people.

"The bottom line is, we get complaints from citizens that they see men lingering in the woods, touching each other and having sex," Melki said. "This would be a crime regardless of gender or sexual orientation."

What about gender identity? Oh, and as for the "heterosexuals are never targeted": most of the men arrested having sex in bathrooms are self-identified straight.

• Garden State Equality and Blue Jersey will start airing some pretty clever gay marriage ads tonight.

• A hefty paycheck ain't the only thing Rosie O'Donnell wants from potential employer MSNBC. From Jossip:

Sources tell us the network is frantically trying to scrounge up the cash to bankroll her outlandish list of demands (Think a gold-plated trapeze and a private chopper to take her to and from 30 Rock every day. Seriously). But why now? Because MSNBC’s on the eve of renegotiating their contract with their cable provider and landing a big star (no pun intended) and proving they can go toe-to-toe with O’Reilly will give them infinitely more leverage.

If anyone can take on O'Reilly, it's O'Donnell.

• Michigan Supreme Court mulling university benefits.

• The Scottish Socialist Party wants you to put pressure on Stagecoach buses, which attempted to boot a gay teenage couple last weekend. Re-read the original story and check out comment number two.

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Michigan-based Brotherhood Mutual Insurance gave a queer reason for refusing to cover West Adrian Church of Christ:

Our company's decision to not submit a quote to your organization arose out of information that was supplied in a supplemental application, indicating that your organization 'publicly endorses or practices the marriage of same-sex couples' and 'publicly endorses or practices the ordination of the homosexual clergy.

Brotherhood, indeed.

Michigan's Tawas Bay Beach Resort's about to see an influx of homos - and they won't be gay. A former guest named Angela Potter alleges another guest attacked her during her stay. In the course of the attack, says Potter, who's a lesbian, the man hurled some homophobic epithets.

Hoping to see the man in the clink, Potter asked the Resort to call the police. Staffers told her they had done so, but, in fact, had not. When Potter pressed the issue, staffers asked her to leave.

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Michigan State University and their Young Americans for Freedom will soon welcome an author named Ryan Sorba. Why should you care? We'll let PrideSource explain:

The title of [Sorba's] speech is "The Born Gay Hoax." No location on the MSU campus has been given.
…
Sorba is a psychology student, and his lecture argues that the conception of being born gay is a new concept in the gay rights movement and a hoax. He argues that all people are born straight, and that through behavioral choices become gay.

So, if we had decided not to watch - and subsequently lust after - He-Man, we'd be straight? That makes total (non)sense!

Get a taste of Sorba's madness, after the jump…

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Julie Nemecek may have been barred from teaching at the Christian leaning Spring Arbor University, but the cross-dressing Bible thumper hasn't stopped spreading the good, gay friendly word.

Ms. Nemecek - who continues to live in bliss with her wife - has been touring the nation fighting for equal rights, including non-discrimination legislation. As her tour winds down, Nemecek takes to the blogosphere to urge readers to help combat homophobia.

While Nemecek highlights the importance of talking to lawmakers, teachers and other civil leaders, she wants you (yes, you) to remember the importance of faith-based institutions.

One last place to push for support is one that we sometimes feel we are better off ignoring: churches and other religious communities. Yes there are some bigots that cross-dress in the robes of Christianity, but there are also many people of faith who take seriously their efforts to live out their faith by demonstrating genuine, unconditional love. These people, churches, and even some denominations are helping people realize that the calls for hate and discrimination are not the voice of real people of faith. Politicians are beginning to realize that the well-oiled anti-LGBT lobby does not represent most Americans or even most people of faith.

Amen. Far too many 'mos refuse to get involved in church, mosque or synagogue matters.

Yes, hateful religious voices are often the loudest in these culture wars, but one must remember that there are loads of queer friendly religionists. You don't necessarily need to practice the religion, but God knows we need faithful followers to win this shit.

Who says politicians are the ultimate thespians? Certainly not Michigan State Representative Jack Brandenburg: the politician has launched a war against Saginaw Valley State University over their production of Angels in America. The first battle came in radio form, when Brandenburg appeared on local WJR 760 AM and took on Tony Kushner's Pultizer and Tony award winning AIDS tear jerker.

Upon hearing of the play's production, the rambunctious Republican went to Pam Burns - the head honcho at the Subcommittee on Appropriations for Higher Education. Obviously an appreciator of fine culture - not to mention dire politics - Burns shooed Brandenburg away. Brandenburg may not love the theater, but he sure as hell loves a good fight.

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Police have released this sketch of the late Andrew Anthos' alleged attacker. You may recall the veteran-rights activist died a few days after being assaulted with a metal pipe. Though there's no name to attach to the face, police are hoping people just like you can help them make an arrest. If you kids know this shady looking face, give them a ringer at (313) 596-2260. Just think - you could be a hero.

Speaking of heroes, Anthos' niece Athena Fedenis has pledged to finish what Anthos started and then some:

I promised two things, that I would get the dome lit and (pass) hate crimes (legislation). I don't think I'll be getting enough rest till this is all done.

Anthos fought passionately to have the Michigan state dome lit red, white and blue for fallen soldiers.

Though certainly a sad story, there's a silver lining: Anthos' death has helped bring previously unacquainted member of his family together. We're sure Anthos would be pleased…

Talking about raining on a parade. We're sorry to inform you that Detroit-based Andrew Anthos died after being attacked early last week. Anthos and his niece were riding a bus when a man asked Anthos if he were gay. After getting off the bus, Anthos found himself at the receiving end of the man's pipe - and not in a good way. Unfortunately, the 72-year old Anthos' injuries were so extensive that doctors were unable to revive him and he died quietly Friday night.

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Sorry to start the day off on such an ugly note, but we have to tell you that a 72-year old Michigan man by the name of Andrew Anthos will be spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair after a homo-hating thus beat him with a pipe.

Anthos and his niece were riding a Detroit bus when a man asked Anthos if he were gay. After Anthos got off the bus, the man followed him and proceeded to beat him with a pipe. While the man has yet to be arrested, Anthos has been paralyzed from the neck down. Detroit's WDIV reports:

Anthos is barely able to speak above a whisper and is paralyzed from the neck down. He is currently at Detroit Receiving Hospital, his family said.

Detroit police said they have not made any arrests in connection with this case. The Northeastern district of the Detroit Police Department is investigating.

Even if the attacker's apprehended, there are no gay hate crime laws in Michigan. Regardless, we hope they find the fucker. Who attacks a 72-year old man? That's sick.

Sure, Bill Donohue may be a total douche, but let's not rush to judge all religious types (lest we be judged, or whatever): a number of students at the Christian-minded Spring Arbor University have come out in support of ordained minister-turned-trannie, Professor John Julie Nemecek.

Nemecek got sacked after coming out as a woman, if you will. After working with the Michigan University for 16 loyal years, Nemecek started dabbling in cross-dressing, charting a course down the road to womanhood (period not included). The university didn't take too kindly to that and told Nemecek he would no longer be welcome to teach there, insisting his actions violated their "Christian" guidelines. Sticking it to the man, a number of students have protested the school's discriminatory actions. Not surprisingly, their chants and statements invoked the very Bible the school cherishes so dearly. One student said, "Jesus promotes love not discrimination", while another insisted, "Christ taught us to love people that are outcasts, if this school rehired her, that would be demonstrating Christ's love".

The school, unfortunately, doesn't seem to agree - they're sticking to their guns. Whether they'll be so strident at next month's hearings on the matter…well, that remains to be seen.

Two trannie-related news stories for you this morning, readers. The first comes to us from Vancouver, where the Canadian Supreme Court refused to hear female-to-male Kimberly Nixon's discrimination case against Rape Relief. Nixon filed the original suit over ten years ago, after the women's center refused to hire her after she revealed her transsexual status.

The two sides had climbed the judicial ladder, with one lower court judge granting Nixon the winner last year, but the non-profit stuck to its guns, insisting Nixon's past as a man made her unqualified to properly counsel rape victims.

Meanwhile, a professor at a Michigan-based Christian college named John Nemecek has been given the boot for his transgendered status, sparking a legal battle that will pit him against his religion.

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