In a final vote by a margin of 12-1, the lone dissenting vote cast by former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, the city council has voted to recognize same-sex marriages preformed in other states.

This was the second vote of the morning. The first vote was a unanimous 13-0 until Barry realized what he had voted for and wanted a do-over.

If Congress fails to overturn the vote within 30 days, council member David Catania will introduce a separate bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the district later this year.

More on the vote at the Washington Post.

Over at OneNewsNow.com, our favorite homophobe Peter LaBarbera drops some pearls of wisdom on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), viewing it as yet another attempt to grant special rights to homosexuals. If only UAFA had a “reverse” provision to ship folks like him OUT of the country.

“We don’t need to start providing government benefits and special treatment to relationships based on homosexuality, which many people regard as a sin,” says LaBarbera. “I think this is an egregious example of special rights for homosexuals.”

The pro-family activist contends that homosexuals and their supporters are using this case to push for the passage of the Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 1024), which would give homosexual Americans the right to sponsor foreign-born partners for residency.

“This is a ridiculous piece of legislation,” exclaims LaBarbera. “Americans are already concerned over illegal immigration. I don’t think most Americans want to give incentives to bring more homosexual activists into the country, which is what this case embodies.”

I’m all for yanking soap boxes out from under homophobes and bigots, denying them the  attention they so desparately crave. Many suggested I should have done that instead of posting Joe the Plumber’s outrageous but totally in-character quote yesterday… But I think in some cases, letting these outrageous statements run wild in the media/blog echo chamber marginalizes these creatures further.

And that’s a good thing.

Check out this wonderful assortment of Republicans revealing their inner beauty as sad, white-faced clowns .  Of all the Photoshopped parodies across the web, these have to be among the best and most realistic. My favorites are Michelle Bachmann and Newt. Click on the image below to view them all in their white-faced glory…

Via Huffington Post.

From Christianity Today…

Christianity Today
In the last month, same-sex marriage has become legal in Iowa and Vermont. What do you think about same-sex marriage at a state level?

Wurzelbacher
At a state level, it’s up to them. I don’t want it to be a federal thing. I personally still think it’s wrong. People don’t understand the dictionary–it’s called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It’s not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we’re supposed to do–what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we’re supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I’ve had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn’t have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they’re people, and they’re going to do their thing.

Please, please tell me when his 15 minutes are up!