Indiana’s hate bill has been shelved, doubtlessly because of the outcry from the right and the left about Arizona’s bill. “I didn’t quite understand the firestorm it would create,” Rep. Eric Turner, the provision’s author, told the House Ways and Means Committee. The committee narrowly approved the provision on Monday, slipping it into an unrelated bill and quickly stirring controversy …

The Detroit News has recapped today’s start of the federal trial to overturn Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage. First, the good guys: Research shows a wide variety in how men and woman parent, but their gender is irrelevant to child outcomes, an expert testified Tuesday in a federal court trial challenging Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage and adoption law. “Both …

Israel’s Haaretz has the story: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference on Tuesday in which they addressed weighty topics such as Israeli-Palestinian peace, the Iranian nuclear program and bilateral ties. Shortly afterward, their meeting was nearly eclipsed by a photograph of the two leaders attributed to Jerusalem Post photographer Marc Israel Sellem. …

“He’s a RINO, Just ignore him,” said every teabagger. UPDATE: And this makes three McCains.

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Loesch retweeted the above message to her 188K Twitter followers.

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This weekend I’ll be in DC where the National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association will host the 2014 meeting of LGBT media folks. The event is sponsored by the Haas Jr. Fund, a social welfare group founded 51 years ago by the then-chairman of Levi Strauss and his wife. This is the fifth annual Haas event for LGBT media, which …

Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joey Luft will reunite onstage at the Academy Awards on Sunday for a tribute to the 75th anniversary of the release of the Wizard Of Oz. Minnelli, Garland’s daughter by her second husband, director Vincente Minnelli, is a legendary actress and singer in her own right — she won a best actress Oscar, for Cabaret …

ESPN reports: The jerseys were available at NBAStore.com and the NBA Store in Manhattan after the league received hundreds of inquiries both online and at the store, the spokesman said. Collins signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, becoming the first active openly gay player in league history. The Nets can give Collins a second 10-day deal …

This morning I reported that KKK-affiliated hate group leader Tony Perkins was VERY upset about CPAC’s decision to allow American Atheists to rent a booth. Perkins has now gotten his way. (Tipped by JMG reader TJ)

Sources close to Gov. Jan Brewer say today that she is likely to veto Arizona’s hate bill. Brewer, who has been in Washington attending the annual National Governors Association meeting this week, has publicly said she still has to look closely at the bill, but plans to “do the right thing for Arizona.” But privately, sources closer to Brewer say …

Yesterday openly gay commentator and business journalist Josh Barro announced that he was leaving Business Insider after nine months of writing (mostly) about economic issues.  Politico knows where Barro is landing: Josh Barro, the outgoing Business Insider political editor, is joining The New York Times to take part in David Leonhardt’s new policy venture, sources familiar with his plans told …

Right here.

“St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally been a day when everyone can be Irish. Unfortunately, in New York City the Hibernians seem to have disavowed that old Irish tradition and have not allow LGBT people to march in the 5th Avenue St. Patrick’s Day parade under their own banner for more than 20 years. In Ireland, not only do gay groups …

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US Attorney General Eric Holder spoke today to the National Association of Attorneys General.  Here is an excerpt from his speech as provided by the White House: The essential duty to which all of us – as attorneys general – have been sworn: not just to win cases, but to see that justice is done. This is the cause that …

Just in via email: Joe, A commercial for the Ram pickup aired multiple times during Sunday’s Daytona 500 broadcast on Fox network, when millions of families with children were watching. Everyone knows children repeat what they hear. In the commercial, the announcer says, “A man will ask a lot of his truck. Can it tow that, haul this, make it …