The Andrews Sisters Meet the Supremes

Seriously. Just ran across this charming set from 1966, thought I'd share it with you fellas. Film quality is crappy, but the sound is great.

Married in Salt Lake City

Newlyweds:  Michael Ferguson and Seth Anderson tweeted out this photo with the caption, "Me and my new husband!  My polygamous Mormon great-grandparents would be so proud!"

My stars, yesterday New Mexico, today Utah - when it rains, it pours.  The Salt Lake Tribune reports on today's breathtaking development in the Beehive State, the heart of Mormonism:

A federal judge in Utah Friday struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, saying the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process.

"The state’s current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason," wrote U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby. "Accordingly, the court finds that these laws are unconstitutional."

Ryan Bruckman, spokesman for the Utah Attorney General’s Office, said its attorneys plan to appeal the decision and were currently drafting a motion to seek a stay of the ruling "as quickly as we can get it taken care of."

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert issued this statement late Friday afternoon: "I am very disappointed an activist federal judge is attempting to override the will of the people of Utah. I am working with my legal counsel and the acting Attorney General to determine the best course to defend traditional marriage within the borders of Utah."

Several hundred people descended on the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office Friday afternoon to get licenses.

The decision in full:

Utah Marriage Decision by joenyc

However, on the other side of the world, the Parliament of Uganda today passed a bill imposing life in prison for "aggravated homosexuality"; citizens who fail to snitch on their gay relatives or neighbors can be imprisoned as well.


Update, 7:55 a.m., 12/21: Utah has filed an emergency request for a stay of the District Court's ruling with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Deer Hunter

A fascinating half-hour with Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who attended the Aspen Institute this week.  If you don't have time to watch the video, a summary of her sporting exploits with fellow gun-lover Scalia is here. Seriously - I'm not shitting you guys.

Yeah, I know.  Whodathunkit?  But then, you know what they say about strange bedfellows. Skip ahead and start at the 2:53:00 mark, if it doesn't do so automatically.

Twelve

That's the age of consent in Vatican City.  I'm not making this up.

It's 14 in Italy proper.  Go figure.

Cindy Supports Us

It's a busy week here, but I had to stop and take time to show you guys this unexpected supporter of marriage equality:  Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain.

I hereby unthink all my sneering, rich-bitch thoughts about her.  It just goes to show, boys - you can't tell a book by its cover.  The Advocate has the story here.