This Jill Stein supporter is a total catch

We're not saying you have to be a wormy little rodent to be a supporter of the Green Party's Jill Stein in this toxic year of Trump. Let this guy posting on Craigslist under m4w from Portland, Oregon, say it for himself:

"i was the guy in the jill stein shirt looking a little too closely at the trash cans in los gorditos. you told me you liked my shirt, and i immediately scurried off like a frightened rodent."

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Australia same-sex marriage vote moved back to February 2017

Australia's Conservative Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is expected to move back his commitment to conduct a national vote on same-sex marriage from the end of 2016 to February 2017. That such a fundamental right would be subject to popular vote at all is interesting, to say the least. (via Samantha Maiden at The Daily Telegraph)

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Same-sex rape victim? Brigham Young University will discipline you. Really.

Brigham Young University (BYU) students who report that they were victims of same-sex rape can expect to feel the wrath of the school's anti-gay disciplinary policies. The victim can be punished while the perpetrator walks away. (via Erin Alberty at The Salt Lake Tribune)

BYU's "Honor Code" has this to say about "Homosexual Behavior":

Homosexual Behavior 

Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code. 

One's stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings.

Kissing or holding hands with someone of the same gender can get a student suspended or expelled. Students who report that they were victimized by same-sex sexual assault will likely be subject to interrogation about their sexual activity, which can lead to suspension or expulsion.

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12th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's death

Former President Ronald Reagan died 12 years ago today. Following is the text of every speech and public comment he made as president on the subject of HIV/AIDS during the first four years that the epidemic raged:

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35th anniversary of the first mention of AIDS

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the first mass media mention of the disease that would come to be known as AIDS. The June 5, 1981, edition of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published by the Centers for Disease Control, included an article entitled, "Pneumocystis Pneumonia --- Los Angeles".

The article described the onset of Pneumocystis pneumonia among five gay men over an eight-month period at three different hospitals in Los Angeles.

The enormity of the tragedy that would become the global HIV/AIDS epidemic was not understood at the time and consequently was not even hinted at in the article. It would be only a matter of time, however, before it became clear that over one million people in the United States as well as millions more across the planet were infected. The mortality rate approached 100%, with no effective therapies available for years.

• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 5, 1981

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Larry Kert, Broadway's original "West Side Story" Tony, passed away 25 years ago today

Larry Kert, the original Tony in Broadway's West Side Story, passed away 25 years ago today of complications from HIV/AIDS.

Kert starred in a number of original Broadway productions, including Cabaret and Company, as well as in the touring companies of several Broadway productions.

The openly gay Kert is best known for having originated the role of romantic lead Tony in the 1957 Broadway production of West Side Story.

The musical, based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, was the brainchild of creative team Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins, and Arthur Laurents. Kert became famous for his passionate delivery of songs "Something's Coming", "Maria", and "Tonight". Carol Lawrence starred opposite Kert as Maria.

Kert was survived by his partner Ron Pullen. Both had tested HIV+ in 1985.

• Larry Kert's New York Times obituary

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Gay priest? Fired. Priest who points a gun at a kid? Keep your job.

The Vatican has fired a priest who came out as gay and who acknowledged that he has a boyfriend.    Meanwhile, another priest was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and child endangerment after allegedly pointing a gun at an eight-year-old boy -- but he has kept his job.

The gay priest's firing came to light the day before Pope Francis is due to convene a major three-week Vatican meeting on family issues, with hundreds of bishops from around the world participating.

Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa had worked at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 2003, but was removed from that post following his public acknowledgement that he is gay and that he has been in a loving relationship with another man.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which was tasked by prior popes with protecting the church from heresy from within its ranks, is better known by its historical name, the Inquisition.  This is the very same office that oversaw thousands of trials for witchcraft -- among other offenses -- ending with over one thousand people being burned at the stake.  The Congregation is also the office that put Galileo Galilei on trial for heresy.

The same day Charasma was fired, New Jersey Catholic priest Kevin Carter was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and child endangerment after allegedly pointing a gun at an eight-year-old boy.  The incident is reported to have happened because the child is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the priest is an ardent fan of the New York Giants.  Upon being released, Carter stated that his actions were only "good-natured jesting" over the two teams' rivalry.

Carter thus far has not lost his job.

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