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Supreme Court Puts Hold on Same-Sex Marriages in Virginia WASHINGTON — Aug 20, 2014, 3:09 PM ET http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/ap-newsalert-25043930

Full title: Johns Hopkins Psychiatrist: Transgender is a ‘Mental Disorder’ – Sex Change is ‘Biologically Impossible’ Dr. Paul R. McHugh, the former psychiatrist-in-chief for Johns Hopkins Hospital and its current Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry. (Photo: Johns Hopkins Medicine) (CNSNews.com) -- Dr. Paul R. McHugh, the former psychiatrist-in-chief for Johns Hopkins Hospitaland its current Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry, said that transgenderism is a “mental disorder” that merits treatment, that sex change is “biologically impossible,” and that people who promote sexual reassignment surgery are collaborating with and promoting a mental disorder. Dr. McHugh, the author of six books and at...

New York farmers who host birthday parties and other events must pay a $13,000 fine because they refused to host a gay wedding.The couple, Cynthia and Robert Gifford, have hosted gay wedding receptions in the past. But because weddings are conducted on the first floor of their house, Cynthia Gifford refused to host a gay wedding ceremony of two lesbians because of her Christian faith. A judge ruled that the GIfford private residence isn't so private after all. Washington Times: New York farm owners who rent their facilities for birthday parties and wedding ceremonies have been fined thousands of dollars...

Hundreds of photographs, papers and historical objects documenting the history of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are being added to the Smithsonian Institution’s collection Tuesday, including items from the popular TV show “Will and Grace.”Show creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick along with NBC are donating objects to the National Museum of American History....

Political junkies will remember how former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels was being groomed to run for president in 2012 before he made his foolish statement that the next president should "call a truce on the so-called social issues." Americans do not want a leader who is unable or unwilling to articulate and lead on important social issues. Four years after the Daniels misstep, many have failed to learn that lesson. The New York Times has proclaimed the "libertarian moment" has arrived, by which they seem to mean libertarian ideas about marriage and the family. We hear people say the libertarian...

The Archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio, Luigi Negri, has likened the proposed Italian laws against “homophobia” to a reemergence of fascism and the "dark times of state ideology" in Italy. The archbishop warned that the bill which proposes to criminalize “homophobia,” will introduce "for the first time since the end of fascism 70 years ago, a crime of opinion that evokes the dark and troubled times, long subdued and always believed to be over, of state ideologies. "Times in which the State identified ideological positions which it forcibly imposed, and suppressed all those which did not match," he added. "In defending a...

An Albany area farm which rebuffed efforts by a same-sex couple to hold their wedding at the site has been fined $10,000 and ordered to pay the women $1,500 each for their mental anguish. In New York State Division of Human Rights v. Liberty Ridge Farm, 10157952/ 10157963, Administrative Law Judge Migdalia Pares of the Bronx rejected the owners' argument that the farm, which is their home, is not a place of public accommodation and is therefore not subject to the anti-discrimination provisions of the Human Rights Law. the Giffords are considering their next step, including a possible appeal based...

An Italian gossip magazine has sparked outrage after its latest edition was released with a free book containing jokes about gay people. The controversial giveaway, entitled “The Best Gay Jokes”, was attached to the latest edition of the weekly Italian gossip magazine Visto, La Stampa reported. Published in 2012 and ordinarily priced at €4.99, the book is part of a joke book series which also includes sexist jokes and jokes about Jews by Jews, among other taboo subjects. …

A U.S. congressman who led a delegation to Nigeria to investigate Boko Haram in June has accused the Obama administration of withholding key information that could help the Nigerian military fight the Islamic terrorist group, which has all but taken over the northern part of the country. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-TX, suggests a key reason is the administration’s opposition to Nigerian “social policy.” In the first six months of this year alone, Boko Haram has killed more than 2,000 civilians, and in April, the group kidnapped hundreds of young girls from a school in Chibok with the intention of selling...

....Gay Nuptials, a gay-friendly wedding expo, held its inaugural event at the Hagen Park Community Center in Wilton Manors....

Sultan of Brunei Makes Play For New York's Plaza Hotel, report says Published August 16, 2014 The Sultan of Brunei is reportedly the favorite among bidders to purchase New York's landmark Plaza Hotel. As part of an estimated $2.2 billion deal, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who hailed his country's controversial Islamic Shariah criminal law as a "great achievement," would also purchase New York's Dream Hotel and London's Grosvenor House Hotel, the Times of London reported. The properties are being sold by Subrata Roy, an Indian tycoon currently jailed in New Delhi on contempt of court charges. The profits will reportedly...

'It's a huge human rights event. The Gay Games are changing the world' Athletes from around the world have spent the past week in Cleveland at the Gay Games, the world’s largest LGBT-friendly athletics event. Skyler Reid found a festival on the up Gay Games An audience member waves a rainbow flag during the opening ceremonies. This year’s Gay Games drew nearly 8,000 participants. Photograph: Skyler Reid Four years ago, Konstantin Yablotskiy was not looking to change his life. He had travelled to Cologne to attend the Gay Games, an LGBT-friendly athletics festival. He was a figure skater, not an...

A New York farm has been fined $13,000 by the state Division of Human Rights for declining to host a same-sex ‘wedding’ on their property two years ago, and has been ordered to train their employees to accommodate homosexual ceremonies despite their Christian beliefs. Administrative Law Judge Migdalia Peres fined Liberty Ridge Farms in Schaghticoke $10,000 and Liberty Ridge Farms was also ordered to provide proof that they have trained their employees not to refuse requests from homosexuals. A poster noting that the business is subject to human rights law must additionally be displayed prominently at the business. Jason McGuire,...

How young is too young to start teaching children about sexual health? According to a Georgetown University study, kids between 10 and 14 should be getting sex education because children at that age are susceptible to experimentation. …

Rooster chief creative officer Gavin McInnesGavin McInnes, chief creative officer of Rooster in New York, has been asked to take an indefinite leave of absence following the publication of a transphobic essay. Published earlier this week on Thought Catalog, "Transphobia is Perfectly Natural" has at publication received 2,082 comments. It has also sparked a "Boycott Rooster" movement, with Tumblr and Twitter accounts asking followers to let Rooster clients—Vans, Red Bull, Fox Sports and others—know they will not support companies that work with McInnes. "Gavin's views are his own and do not represent those of the company or its members," said...

The saga of University of California, Santa Barbara feminist studies professor Mireille Miller-Young has taken yet another bizarro twist after her defenders urged a judge to excuse the criminal allegations against her because of the “cultural legacy of slavery.” Miller-Young pleaded no contest last month to misdemeanor counts of battery, theft and vandalism after she rallied up a small gaggle of female vigilantes and attacked abortion protesters Thrin Short, 16, and Joan Short, 21. Miller-Young, who specializes in queer theory, black film and pornography, apparently failed to mention either “racial hatred” or “right-wing political sentiment” when she speaking to police...

Westboro Baptist Church Planning Anti-Gay Protest Outside Robin Williams' Funeral - because of late actor's role in The Birdcage Says it will 'preach in lawful proximity' to star's funeral to 'warn the living' Williams played a gay man in the movie The Birdcage 16 August 2014 Members of the controversial Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church are planning a protest at tragic actor Robin Williams' funeral over his portrayal of a gay man in the movie The Birdcage.

One of Britain’s biggest hotel chains has removed Bibles from its rooms to avoid upsetting non-Christians. The decision by Travelodge has been condemned as ‘tragic and bizarre’ by the Church of England, which says Bibles in hotel rooms are important to provide hope, comfort and inspiration to travellers. But the chain, which runs 500 hotels, said the country was becoming increasingly multicultural and it had taken the action for ‘diversity reasons’. It said the policy was implemented ‘in order not to discriminate against any religion’ – despite having had no complaints from guests. Bibles were taken away at the same...

WNBA standouts Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson have announced they are engaged to be married. Griner proposed to Johnson on Thursday and posted a photo via Instagram on Friday showing her on one knee presenting a ring to Johnson.

Courage and Encourage FR. JOHN HARVEYCourage is the Catholic Church's only pontifically approved ministry which is specifically committed to providing spiritual support for persons with same-sex attraction who are striving to live chastely, offering help to grow in understanding with others toward living more fully the Church's teachings. Notice to Reader: "The Boards of both CERC Canada and CERC USA are aware that the topic of homosexuality is a controversial one that deeply affects the personal lives of many North Americans. Both Boards strongly reiterate the Catechism's teaching that people who self-identify as gays and lesbians must be treated...