FGB

Via Pam's House Blend, this report from Arizona: The anti-marriage amendment is dead. Jim Burroway has some details:

[T}hey can still bring the amendment up for a vote at any time between now and the official end (”sine die”) of the session. In a just-released statement, Equality Arizona characterized the move as a “desparete maneuver” by Senate Republicans to force a vote. Sixteen votes (a simple majority of the Senate) was needed to pass the resolution. Five Senators did note vote.

I'm not going to say this is a real victory -- it seems to be more a lack of enthusiasm than an outright rejection, and there's a strong indication that politicians really don't want to deal with this any more. First, we have real problems in this country that need attention. Second, the religious whackjobs on the right are losing their control of the Republican party. (Not how Dobson is flailing around attacking everyone and sounding less and less rational every time.) Third, the public mood has changed. Gays have been getting married since 2001, and the world is still here, and more and more people are realizing that these are their neighbors and coworkers and friends and relatives they are being asked to vote against.

In five years or less we'll be ready for the federal case that repeals DOMA, unless Obama manages to do it first.

Update: It's back on the table, scheduled for a vote today.

And in that vein, the group of anti-gay activists in California who were working for repeal of the state's anti-bullying law have given up. Report at Box Turtle Bulletin.

Wingnut Watch: James Dobson has finally gotten so extreme that even his fellow fundamentalists can't deal with him. Via Good As You, James Dobson Doesn't Speak for Me, a website started by a coalition of pastors. It's pretty strong -- take a look.

I'm a little blah today (another one of those short-sleep nights: room too warm, mind too busy), so that's it for now. There may be more later (today, tomorrow, whenever). Until then, from Queerty: