Episcopal Bishops Vote to End Moratorium on Gay Clergy

Bishops at the convention of the Episcopal Church voted Monday to open “any ordained ministry” to gay and lesbian clergy, the NY Times reports:

"The resolution passed on Monday was written in a way that would allow dioceses to consider gay candidates to the episcopacy, but does not mandate that all dioceses do so. A similar measure was passed on Sunday by the church’s other legislative body, the House of Deputies, which is made up of lay people and clergy. On Tuesday, the bishops’ version will likely go back to the House of Deputies for reconsideration."

The BBC adds: "The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams - who is head of the 70-million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion - said it "remained to be seen" whether the vote by the House of Deputies - made up of clergy and lay people - would be endorsed by the US Episcopal House of Bishops. 'I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America,' he added."

Said Integrity USA President Rev. Susan Russell: “There is no question that today’s vote in the House of Bishops was an historic move forward and a great day for all who support the full inclusion of all the baptized in the Body of Christ.”

CNN Interviews Pastor of Connecticut 'Gay Exorcism' Church

CNN interviews Patricia McKinney, pastor of Connecticut's Manifested Glory Ministries Church, the ministry behind the gay exorcism video.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

UK: Catholic Adoption Agencies Breaking Law by Barring Gays

A Charity Tribunal in the UK has ruled that Catholic adoption agencies cannot bar gays from adopting for religious reasons:

"The tribunal ruled that a 'heterosexuals only' policy in the adoption field of the Catholic Church in England and Wales would fall foul of the ban on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation brought in two years ago. The Tribunal's ruling leaves leading charity Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds) (pictured) facing a deep religious impasse and creates a fundamental conflict between the tenets of the Catholic Church and the law of the land. If the charity now sticks to Church policy and continues to follow its "heterosexuals only" policy it could lose its charity status and public funding.It might also face discrimination claims by same-sex couples it has turned away in the past"

The charity had been in the process of formally incorporating rules that gays could not adopt based on the tenets of the Church.

Anti-Gay Pastor Considered for Chicago Alderman Post

LGBT activists and leaders have notified Mayor Richard Daley of concerns they have over the possible appointment of homophobic pastor Wilfredo De Jesus as a replacement for 26th Ward Alderman Billy Ocasio, the Sun Times reports:

"Ocasio, who has resigned his seat and has signed on as a top adviser to Gov. Quinn, has asked Daley to appoint De Jesus, senior pastor of New Life Covenant Ministries, to replace him in the Humboldt Park ward. De Jesus, an influential evangelical minister with 4,000 church members, has taken stands and uttered words that infuriate many in the city's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. His megachurch belongs to the Assemblies of God sect, which believes that 'homosexual behavior is a sin because it is contrary to God's created order for the family and human relationships.' De Jesus opposed the proposed Pride Campus, a high school that would cater to GLBT students, telling the Booster newspaper, 'What about that girl who is a virgin, who is being harassed by lesbians and guys to have sex, and yet you're going to build a gay school?' he said. 'It's not fair.'"

News: Tony Kushner, Adam Lambert and Queen, Colin Farrell, Cannes

SIENA POLL: New Yorkers split 46-46 on same-sex marriage.

Queen wants Adam Lambert as new frontman?

Head of Equality Utah to leave organization: "Mike Thompson, Equality Utah's executive director is leaving the 5-year-old organization after four years at the helm. His last day is Friday. The Oklahoma native is heading west to San Francisco -- a city he has wanted to live in for a long time -- to do what he does best: Build up fledgling nonprofits."

BRAVO developing Real Housewives of D.C....

Variety on Tony Kushner's new play: "Opening night was postponed a week, with Kushner reportedly rewriting down to the wire, and early previews had pushed past the four-hour mark -- none of which necessarily presaged disaster but certainly fueled curiosity. The resulting three-act drama is a success -- sprawling, yearning, at times emotionally violent, it is also packed with a level of complexity, sophistication and understanding that distinguishes it as a potentially important new American work."

PAPER: Gay issues splintering churches...

Boy George enjoys his freedom.

UCLA Williams Institute study shows marriage matters: "A significant majority of the 558 gay men and women surveyed said that since marrying, they feel more committed to their spouses, more accepted in their community, and more likely to be open about their sexual orientation at work. The survey indicates that there is something universal about the legal protections and social advantages afforded by the institution of marriage..."

Conservatives apoplectic over 'Harvey Milk Day' in California.

Jared Leto is a Jesus with shades.

Back in January 2008 I posted that Colin Farrell was planning to serve as best man at his brother's civil partnership. It's still on.

Anna Wintour really is the devil.

Morrissey turned 50 last Friday.

Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon wins Palm d'Or at Cannes: "Haneke's drama depicts a series of violent, secretive incidents among the families of the local pastor, baron, doctor and tenant farmers. The local schoolteacher investigates the mystery. Shot in gorgeous black-and-white by cinematographer Christian Berger, "The White Ribbon" is one of two major Cannes prize-winners already picked up by Sony Pictures Classics for distribution in the U.S. The other, the absorbing French prison drama "A Prophet," won this year's Grand Prix, the second most important award at Cannes."

Church of Scotland Approves Two-Year Ban on Gay Ministers

After four hours of debate on Saturday, the Church of Scotland voted 326-267 to support the appointment of openly gay minister Rev. Scott Rennie: "The 37-year-old divorced father-of-one plans is now free to take up his new post at Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen, where he plans to share the manse with his boyfriend."

However, Sunday night, desperate church leaders approved a two-year moratorium on gay ministers: "Desperate not to allow the schism that had been forecast, the General Assembly postponed making a final decision on the issue by setting up a working group to report back in 2011, effectively kicking the issue into the long grass. Delegates also agreed not to talk to the media on sexuality issues for the two years, a move that was later condemned as 'suppressing the debate'. Membership of the special commission - which will examine the issues thrown up in recent weeks, since the appointment of Mr Rennie, and the wider issue of same-sex relationships - will be appointed at the end of the General Assembly, which is sitting in Edinburgh...The decision on Mr Rennie...will not be affected by last night's vote."