Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Quote of the Day
- I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Today's Double Post
ABOUT VELVET REVOLUTION
Velvet Revolution is a term coined to describe the peaceful road to change in countries where governments ignored the inalienable rights of the people. A few inspiring Velvet Revolutions occurred in the former Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, South Africa, and of course, most recently in Ukraine. The citizens of those countries, tired of corruption and arrogant power, joined together by the millions in a sustained campaign of opposition – they demonstrated, boycotted, petitioned, and engaged in strikes until the pillars of power were replaced by the halls of the people.
Prop. 8 Supporters Subpoena Activist Who Revealed Contributors
By Matthew Pordum Daily Journal Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO In its continuing efforts to protect the identity of those who bankrolled the campaign to pass Proposition 8, lawyers for The National Organization for Marriage have issued a subpoena for one of the leaders behind the opposition, Californians Against Hate founder Fred Karger, who led boycotts and created websites outing top contributors.
The subpoena compels Karger to produce the group's financial records and all communications and documentation regarding affiliated websites and the dissemination of donor information. It also directs him to appear for a deposition on October 13th.
"This is harassment and they are trying to silence me," said Karger, who points out that he's not a party to the case. "I'm a citizen activist, and my organization is just me, funded entirely by myself versus the power of a group who has millions and millions of dollars behind it."
The subpoena, served over the Labor Day weekend, stems from a lawsuit filed in federal court in Sacramento in January by The National Organization for Marriage against California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Attorney General Jerry Brown and FPPC Chairman Ross Johnson. ProtectMarriage.com v. Debra Bowen, 09-0058.
The group referred a reporter to its lawyer, Illinois-based James Bopp Jr. of Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom. Bopp did not return several calls seeking comment.
According to court records, the group is challenging the constitutionality of campaign finance disclosure requirements, claiming donors to Proposition 8 have been ravaged by e-mails, phone calls, postcards and even death threats.
In the suit, Bopp claims that the requirements of California's Political Reform Act of 1974 are unconstitutional by virtue of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Karger's website, www.californiansagainsthate.com, currently lists the names, addresses and donation amounts for the top 12 contributors to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, under the heading "Dishonor Roll."
The Yes on 8 campaign raised nearly $30 million and won the ballot battle over gay marriage last November by a vote of 52 percent.
Karger contends the subpoena is simply an act of revenge for the complaints he filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission against the Mormon Church for its alleged failure to report non-monetary contributions to the Yes on 8 campaign.
"This is all part of the PR [public relations] offensive being carried out by the Mormon Church," Karger said.
The Utah-based church did not directly donate to the campaign, but its members provided millions of dollars to it.
The Mormon Church is not a party to the January lawsuit.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown is defending the political reform act, arguing in court that disclosure requirements assist the state in detecting efforts to hide the identities of large donors and illegal spending of political funds for personal use.
"Political democracy demands open debate, including prompt disclosure of the identities of campaign donors," Brown said in a prepared statement.
The most recent action in the case came on Jan. 28, when U.S. Eastern District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. turned down the Yes on 8 group's request for a preliminary injunction exempting the group from campaign disclosure laws, saying that he was not persuaded that the threats were serious enough.
The group's subsequent report, made public Feb. 2, included its first disclosure of "major donors" who had given more than $10,000 to the campaign since June 30, 2008.
The Sacramento case is not the only effort by anti-gay rights groups to roll back campaign finance disclosure laws.
Bopp filed suit against the Washington Secretary of State July 28 to prevent the state from releasing the names and addresses of more than 138,500 Washington citizens who signed a petition in favor of Referendum 71.
The ballot referendum asks voters in Washington this November whether they want to expand domestic partnership rights and obligations in the state's originally limited domestic partnership legislation.
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed off on an expansion of rights for domestic partners in May, but opponents of that move rounded up 137,689 signatures to have the issue brought to voters this year.
In an enormous win for the group, a federal district judge ruled on Thursday that Washington officials were not allowed to reveal the names of those who signed the petition.
matthew_pordum@dailyjournal.com
Same-Sex Marriage Activists Seek Repeal of California’s Proposition 8
http://www.truthout.org/092709T?n
Daniel B. Wood, The Christian Science Monitor: "The battle is on to repeal California’s Prop. 8 — which activists hope starts a national domino effect in the nearly 30 states that have banned same-sex marriage. A coalition of 40 groups has taken the first legal step for voters to be able to overturn the measure in November 2010. Thursday, the groups submitted ballot language that will place the measure on the ballot in the state’s next general election. Within weeks they intend to be canvassing the state to gather 700,000 valid signatures needed by April to qualify the measure for the ballot."
The new battle in California
Being a Christian is a choice, yet no one would dream (so far) of placing the rights of people to freely choose their religion up for a public vote. Regardless of one’s religious views, we all live in a pluralistic civil society. The only way that such a society can function peacefully is for all citizens to respect each other’s civil rights. Stripping any minority of its civil rights, which is precisely what Prop 8 accomplished, threatens the civil rights of every minority group in our society.
Several religions, many theologians, the APA and almost all international Psychological Associations agree that homosexuality is not a choice, but like heterosexuality, an orientation. Laws, such as Prop 8, which target a minority group and strip away their civil rights, are born of ignorance, prejudice and they promote discrimination and bigotry. I am honored to be one of the proponents of a ballot initiative, which will restore the right to a civil marriage to all Californians regardless of their sexual orientation. This new proposition will also write into our State Constitution the right of religious groups to deny religious marriage to same sex couples. This new proposition restores and protects civil marriage for all Californians while simultaneously protecting the rights of religious groups to deny religious marriage to same sex couples.
courtesy of Father Geoff Farrow
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Quote of the day
Elvis Costello lyrics come to mind immediately:
"So when they finally
put you in the ground
I'll stand on your grave
and Tramp the Dirt Down."
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
HomoQuotable - Larry Kramer via JMG
"We get what we fight for. And we are not fighting. Every single one of us is not fighting. They fight better than we do. There is a concerted and never ending vein of hate in this country and in this world dedicated to keeping us in our place. It is evil to force people to be what we are not -- free. We are not free."I love being gay. I love gay people. How can I say this without offending everyone else, I think we're better than other people. I think we are smarter. I think we are more talented. I think we are more aware. I think we make better friends. I think we make better lovers. I think we're more tuned in to what's happening, tuned into the moment, tuned into our emotions, and other people's emotions.
"Yes, I think that gay people are better than other people. I think the only thing we are not so good at is fighting back. I hear talk of the new generation of gays and the old generation of gays, and how different we are. That is not true. We are all one generation. We are all related. We are all each other's brothers and sisters. We are all one family, the gay family. And I passionately and desperately want all my brothers and sisters to stay alive and well and on this earth, with total equality with every straight person. Being gay is the most important thing in my life. I love being gay. I hope you do, too." - Legendary gay/AIDS activist and author Larry Kramer, telling the audience at Dallas Pride to fight harder.
(Via - Rex Wockner)
Deb Price | Uncle Sam Should Respect All Marriages
http://www.truthout.org/092309U?n
Deb Price: "Listen to the voices crying out for Congress to end the federal government's mistreatment of legally married gay couples. Listen to McKinley BarbouRoske of Iowa. She displayed a confidence well beyond her 11 years when she spoke up for her moms at a recent news conference in front of the US Capitol. McKinley's parents were finally able to wed in their home state two months ago - after nearly two decades as a couple. Now they quite rightly want Uncle Sam to recognize their marriage."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
HomoQuotable - Ellen DeGeneres
"Apparently, there's a lot of debate going on right now, whether I'm qualified or not to be the new judge on American Idol... I'll tell you right now, how I know I'm going to be a great judge -- because I've spent my whole life being judged. So, I know what it's like. So, I will be kind. I will be compassionate. I will be empathetic, and I will be truthful. I will be an honest judge without being mean." - Ellen DeGeneres, defending her selection as Paula Abdul's replacement.
lifted once again from JMG
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
I Support The Dallas Principles
1.Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now. Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.
2.We will not leave any part of our community behind.
3.Separate is never equal.
4.Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.
5.The establishment and guardianship of full civil rights is a non-partisan issue.
6.Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must be encouraged.
7.Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or money raised.
8.Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.
for more info see: Dallas Principles
Religious intolerance cuts deep in gay community, Gold says
From the Pendulum at Elon University
-
Mitchell Gold speaks to the Elon community on injustice of religious persecution toward the gay community.
On Tuesday, civil rights activist, Mitchell Gold spoke to the Elon community at the Elon School sharing what he described as "such an incredibly painful memory."
Gold is the current CEO of the Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams furniture business, founder of Faith in America (a non-profit organization aimed at educating people about how religious-based bigotry is used to justify discrimination against homosexuals) and is now the author of his book, "Crisis."
"Crisis" was published in September 2008 and is a compilation of stories from those who have experienced religious intolerance and persecution as a result of growing up gay in America, something Gold felt quite a bit himself.
"People use the Bible to marginalize and dehumanize people," Gold said.
Growing up Jewish, Gold knew what it meant to be an oppressed minority. He also saw the discrimination towards black Americans that took place in the 1950s and 1960s.
He did not know how much he would one day experience that same intolerance for being gay.
"It's a problem because it's not acceptable," Gold said on realizing he was gay as a young teenager.
Gold described how he lived in fear every day of how his family would react if they knew he was gay. He feared getting beaten up at school, being seen as an outcast and not getting a decent job.
"I don't want one more kid to go through what I had to go through during my teenage years," Gold said.
He even contemplated suicide and saw a psychiatrist for help, who helped him learn to live being gay.
"I was lucky," Gold said of being able to get help and gain happiness.
Gold later moved to New York City, where being gay was commonplace and openly accepted. He got a job at Bloomingdale's, where several of the employees were gay. He even met someone he could settle down with, his current business partner, Bob Williams.
He even got to meet actor Richard Chamberlain, whom he discovered was gay as well.
"I got really comfortable," Gold said.
But all of this changed in 1988 when he moved down South to North Carolina.
"It's interesting to see how being naïve can be a good thing," he said of not realizing the difference of homosexual social acceptance in the South.
Gold began hearing conversations from co-workers and employees who described marriage as only being between a man and a woman.
"I started realizing there was a real movement afoot," Gold said of seeing how large of an intolerant sentiment there was toward gays.
He then realized this persecution was no different than what he had seen as a child.
"The same kind of discrimination that was used so horribly against black people was being used against gay people," he said.
Gold began his personal movement to create awareness of religious intolerance towards the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.
"This country has a sad history of segregation," Gold said. "I wanted to go out and teach people and remind them of that. Most decent people in America don't want to be a part of that history. Most decent people don't want to continue that hatred."
"Crisis" was compiled with contributors such Chamberlain, U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, Major League baseball player Billy Bean, TV actor Alec Mapa and former tennis champion Martina Navatilova. All are gay and openly talk about the struggle and pain of being a gay teenager in the book.
Gold is happy to be living in North Carolina, where there is currently no federal ban on gay marriage.
"In the state of North Carolina, we have the chance to be the shining light of this country," Gold said.
Gold said he hopes Americans will see the harm that intolerance toward the LGBT causes.
"Anybody who is oppressed has the right to confront their oppressor," he said.
Proceeds from "Crisis" go toward seven national gay advocacy programs for teens.Saturday, September 19, 2009
For those in Phoeniz, AZ:
--------------------
Subject: This is a very short email from the Love Rally,thanks for your patience.
Brothers and sisters I hope you will be with us in spirit if you can't make it to the Love Rally tommorrow in front of Steven Anderson's church who openly prays for the death of our president and advocates the killing of gay people by the use of guns. The scary thing is many of his congregation carry guns into his service.
For those of you that might be mad that I have sent this email, I'm sorry, but we need to let everybody know about the Love Rally in Tempe, Arizona tomm and we are making sure to only send one email per week. Please, be patient with us. Thanks.
Well, I hope you can make it to the Love Rally tommorrow, (2707 W. Southern Ave., major cross-roads are: 48th street and Souther, Tempe Arizona).
Oh, one last thing: I hope you'll tune into our internet show today (The Progressive Coalition) to call in (Sunday, 5:00 PM Mountain Pacific Time) about our Love Rally at:
http://www.facebook.com/l/ae424;thejefffariasshow.com
Please, call in with your ideas. 602-275-4130 or 1800-385-1566, I sure would like to hear from you.
Leonard Clark
founder of: People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Quote of the Day
Abdu'l-Baha
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Important Message from PFAW
The signs speak for themselves: |
Dear Daniel,
Over the weekend, tens of thousands of right-wing activists rallied in Washington, DC with signs that challenged President Obama's citizenship, accused him and Democratic congressional leaders of everything from Nazism to communism, promoted paranoia about "death panels" and euthanasia, and declared support for figures like Sarah Palin and Rep. Joe Wilson.
Of course, right-wing commentators like Michelle Malkin tried to report that the number of protesters was as high as two million, but officials estimated the crowd to be about 60,000. Significant, yes, but not indicative that these people are anything more than a vocal minority representing the views of only a small portion of Americans.
A PFAW staffer who showed up to check out the scene talked to many participants, and when she asked why they showed up, an overwhelming number gave the same answer: "Glenn Beck sent me."
Fast forward to yesterday afternoon, when the House of Representatives voted on a resolution of disapproval rebuking Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting "You lie!" at President Obama in the middle of his address to Congress. The vote put members of the House on record as to where they stand. The resolution passed, but nearly every Republican (all but seven) voted against it -- and with Joe Wilson and Glenn Beck's brand of extremism.
It is shameful that the GOP would give someone like Glenn Beck that sort of power. The Rush Limbaughs and Glenn Becks of the world have been pulling the strings of the Republican Party for too long. But it's getting even worse than that.
At the end of this month, some of the most fringe players on the Radical Right are hosting a conference called How to Take Back America and currently scheduled to speak are five Republican members of Congress and, according to polls among Republicans, one of the most popular expected GOP presidential candidates, Mike Huckabee.
When I say that the people hosting this conference are on the outer fringe, that's actually something of an understatement. Some of the scheduled workshops at the conference are titled, "How to recognize living under Nazis and Communists," and, "How to counter the homosexual extremist movement."
Here's a little about just two members of the Host Committee:
Joseph Farah has been the most ardent and vigilant leader of the "Birthers," yet has also made the astonishing claim that President Obama's maternal grandmother might really be his mother. He recently eulogized Sen. Ted Kennedy by calling him "a rotten man -- a wicked man, an 'enemy within'" and wrote that President Obama was secretly advocating the destruction of the Jews. His web site WorldNetDaily is the epicenter of countless right-wing lies and conspiracy theories and routinely serves as a forum for zealots to espouse anti-gay hysteria.
Janet Porter has helped to promote some of the most paranoid conspiracies out there, like claims that the Obama administration is setting up internment camps for conservatives and plotting to commit genocide against Americans through the use of the swine flu vaccine. Before the election, she said that supporting Obama was akin to supporting Nazis and declared that anyone who voted for him would go to hell. She's also an active participant in spreading Birther lies.
Americans need to be aware of the resurgent Radical Right as well as its growing influence on government officials and the Republican Party. People For the American Way is working hard to expose the Right and its influence, and to hold accountable those in our government who choose to ally themselves with extremists instead of the vast majority of Americans and the country's greater interest.
We can do it with, and because of, your continued support. And I thank you for it.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Keegan, President
P.S. The need for our vigilance against extremism has been disturbingly evidenced by gun-toting protesters outside of town hall meetings and Obama speeches. One such protester was part of an Arizona church congregation whose pastor, Rev. Steven Anderson, screams about "faggots running this country" and advocates the death penalty for gays, who he says "recruit through rape" and "molestation." Rev. Anderson is an extreme example, but extreme examples like him are becoming more and more commonplace. We need to fight back.
The Game Show Network’s Newlywed Game will make history this year--by adding same-sex celebrity pairs to their format.
The network is in the midst of producing special Celebrity Newlywed Game episodes, one of which will feature the first gay contestants ever: George Takei (Sulu from the original Star Trek series) and longtime partner Brad Altman.
The duo married in September 2008 in Los Angeles, Ca., just before the state's Proposition 8 approval banned same-sex marriage.
Read the rest of the article at: http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/09/exclusive-newlywed-game-adding-same-sex-celeb-couples
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
A Message from Cleve Jones
Dear Friends:
It has been over 30 years since my friend and teacher, gay rights activist Harvey Milk, was assassinated. Today, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have won limited rights in a handful of states, but we are still second class citizens throughout the United States.
Harvey once said, "It takes no compromising to give people their rights."
This morning, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced a bill in Congress to repeal the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act." If passed by the Congress, Rep. Nadler's legislation would be a real step forward in the march for full equality and we applaud his efforts, but LGBT people must stop settling for compromises and half measures.
Send a message to your Representative demanding full equality now!
Equal rights are not a "gay" issue. They are about our shared human rights: safety in our schools and jobs, equitable healthcare and housing, and protection for our families, to name a few.
Like all other Americans, LGBT people are guaranteed equal protection under the law by the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Free and equal people do not compromise, and that's why we're marching on Washington next month with one simple demand: Equal protection for LGBT people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. Now.
Please ask your Representative to co-sponsor this legislation as an important first step, and remind them that there are no fractions of equality.
When Harvey spoke at Gay Freedom Day at San Francisco City Hall in 1978, he invoked the words of the Declaration of Independence: "All [people] are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words."
No more compromises. We are equal.
- Cleve Jones
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Grim Truth
Let's not, however, take much pride in this one higher rung on the ladder of civilized behavior. If the extreme homophobes in our churches thought they could get away with murdering us, as do the Islamic extremists who, according to the report, in the course of just this year, have murdered at least 130 gay men in Iraq, they would do the exact same thing. Here, we have police protection and legal recourse against homophobic religious extremists. Without it, we would probably have been tortured and murdered as were these men. It's a chilling thought.
courtesy of Father Tony of the Farmboyz
Gay-friendly church launches anti-discrimination campaign.
A liberal church movement based in Texas has launched a campaign that is “designed to ask people whether Jesus would discriminate against others,” according to PinkNews.
The Would Jesus Discriminate? movement launched its campaign on the web by quoting a series of Biblical passages suggesting Jesus never discriminated against gays.
The DFW Metropolitan Community Churches, which have five chapters in the Texas area, say they provide an alternative to the perceived discrimination and intolerance from “religious institutions [which] have used their interpretation of the Bible to justify discrimination against women, ethnic minorities, and people with a different sexual orientation and/or identity issues.”
courtesy of 365
Saturday, September 12, 2009
A great gem from Ms.Spaulding's Most excellent Blogg
Julian Bond's message to LGBTs: 'keep pushing on - victory is just ahead'
by: Pam Spaulding
Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 08:30:00 AM EDT
Reading Alvin's earlier diary ("From 'outside agitators' to 'wealthy gay activists' - Some of us black folks haven't learned a thing" bumped back up below this post), it's good to remind people that there are black folks who DO get it. Rev. Walter Fauntroy may have been director of the DC bureau of Dr. King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference, but that clearly didn't enlighten him to the fact that civil rights are human rights. He has hopped into bed with charlatan Bishop Harry Jackson. However many others who were part of the black civil rights struggle, like Congressman John Lewis, who will keynote at Equality Alabama's conference later this month, have our backs.
read the rest at: PHB
Gay Bands... hmmm...
Bands to watch out for
- Ween (Rainbow) What? as in weenie, Oscar Meyer is gay too?
- Lil'Wayne (I think these folks got size issues)
- P!nK (gay family) good gawd! a gay family!?
- The Black Keys (racist and homophobic? what is this a two for one?)
- Coldplay (well they are kind a hot.. .but I think they be straight dudes)
- SlipKnot (make-up) (what? style is not Christan too?)
- RadioHead(h'bout Christan radio head?)
- Michael Jackson (but he said he wasn't gay... just ask his daddy!)
- Boredoms (ok, so I can't have fun with these folks, and yet I can't be bored either... no wonder i ended up in therapy)
- School of Seven Bells (gay twins) (what all twins are gay too?)
- Jason Mraz
- Jonas Brothers (Gay people don't kiss their brothers. Normally..)
- Rilo Kiley
- Death Cab for Cutie (they are kinda cute... I watched them last night, that would make PBS gay too?)
- Sarah McLachlan (totally!)
- George Strait (what Staight is gay now too?)
- Cold War Kids (that just about rules out most folks my age)
- Toby Keith (cowboy) (true, after Brokeback Mountain, we all know 'bout 'dem cowboys!... yee haw!)
- P-Diddy
- Black People (what all Black Peoole are gay too?)
- Vampire Weekend (Not sure here, most vampires I know are hetero...)
- King Crimson (just the name is suggestive)
- Kate Bush (kissed a girl) (stop that!)
- Bob Dylan (aw c'mon... Dylan is gay?)
- Fleet Foxes
- Sigur Ros (nudists) (most nudists arn ot gay, and most of my gay friends won't get neked in public)
- Twisted Sister (well... maybe her sister is twisted)
- The Spores (endorse suicide)suicide is not a gay thing... tho because you assholes have made head-trips out of a lot of kids there ARE a lot of kids who off themselves when they are tryign to come to grips with their sexual orientation)
- Scissor Sisters (obvious reference to our penchant to sewing and decorating, that would make my mother gay... trust me she's not!)
- Turbonegro(there you go again... another antiblack refrence again)
- Rufus Wainwright (an proudly so)
- Merzbau(really? I kinds thought most glbt folks were better spellers)
- Ravi Shankar(aw c'mon... he can't be gay... tho his music rocks!)
- The Butchies (lizbians) (bitch... that's spelled L E S B I A N S)
- Wilco (Walmart but not Wilco)
- Bjork (mb)(well SHE IS from Iceland and all..)
- Tech N9ne
- Ghostface Killah
- Bobby Conn
- Morton Subotnik
- Cole Porter (WTF?)
- The String Cheese Incident
- Eagles of Death Metal
- Polyphonic Spree
- The Faint
- Interpol (Iwoud assume that they supported law and order)
- Twisted Sister (jj) (What the hell is a jj?)
- Tegan and Sara
- Erasure(well I thought for sure the Christians would allow for mistakes)
- The Grateful Dead (drugs too) (wtf pt 2)
- Le Tigre(they neverhave liked bilingualism)
- Marilyn Manson (dark gay) (well that girl is definitely problematic)
- The Gossip(Yeajh like (Christians don't gossip! My people call it dishing... )
- The Magnetic Fields
- The Doors (wtf pt 3)
- Phish (where's the beef?)
- Queen (well duh!... but what cha gunna do next tiem they paly We will Rock you @ the ball park, bud?)
- The Strokes (no comment)
- Morrissey(?questionable?) (What as in morals?)
- Metallica (duh!)
- Judas Priest (duh!)
- The Village People (double duh!)
- The Secret Handshake on't tell its a secret!)
- The Rolling Stones (duh!)
- David Bowie((triple duh!)
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood(duh!)
- Man or Astroman my students ask that about me all the time, "is he a man or is he an astroman?")
- Richard Cheese what as in head cheese?!)
- Jay-Z
- Depeche Mode
- Kansas (oh now you are getting crazy, the whole barking state of Kansas is gay?)
- Ani DiFranco
- Fischerspooner
- John Mayer
- George Michael (texan) (All Texans are gay? Well they do have a size issue and all... No wonder DubYah is so messed up,,, he was havign a sexual crisi, and took it our on Iraq! Freud explains everything)
- Angel Eyes
- The Indigo Girls
- Velvet Underground
- Madonna ( Her holiness Madoona please...)
- Elton John (His holiness Sir Elton Jon, please)
- Barry Manilow (duh!)
- Indigo Girls (repeat!)
- Melissa Etheridge (duh!)
- Eminmen which ones the blue or the red ones?!)
- Nirvana(so I guess Budhists and Hindus are no good either?)
- Boy George (duh!)
- Jon Brion
- The Killers(I can understand this one...)
- Lou Reed (hmm!)
- Lil' Wayne (repeat... your issues are showing again!)
- Motorhead
- Jill Sobule
- Wilson Phillips
- DMX
- Wesley Willis
- Lisa Loeb
- Ted Nugent (loincloth) loin cloths are NOT gay!)
- Dogstar
- Thirty Seconds to Mars NASA is gay too!)
- Lil' Kim(so they don't like short women either?)
- kd lang (duh!)
- Frank Sinatra (wtf!)
- HinderI thought they were in business to hinder...)
- Nickleback
- Justus Kohncke
- Bob Mould
- Clay Aiken (duh!)
- Arcade Fire
- Bright Eyes
- Corinne Bailey Rae
- Audioslave
- Red Hot Chili Peppers (duh!)(duh!)(duh!)(duh!)
- Panic at the Disco (listen Mary, thats Panic at the GAY Disco!)
- The Cure (makeup)
- Spin Doctors
- The Deers (Os Viados!)
- Lindsey Lohan
- The Smiths
- Beck(I thought they unquestioningly follow Fox TV)
- Tom Waits
- The Cramps (what Christians women don't menstruate?)
- Cannibal Corpse(yeah this one creeps me out too)
- Britney Spears (kissed Madonna) (OH Dear... she kissed THE Madonna! But really, her music is too bad to be gay... I mean really!)
- Perfect Sin(ok... well...)
- The Queers (ok, just the name is a give away)
- NoFx(gay punk) (you... talk'n to me?)
- Soup Dragons(wtf is a frick'n Soup Dragon anyway?)
- Elton John(really gay) (honey that's really really really gay... and damn proud of it!)
Friday, September 11, 2009
Gordon Brown Apologizes To Alan Turing
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has issued a posthumous apology to Alan Turing, the brilliant World War II code-breaker and computer scientist who killed himself after being convicted of the "crime" of homosexuality. Turing elected to Turing's decoding of the Nazi's "enigma machine" is credited as one of single-most crucial factors in ending the war.
I am both pleased and proud that, thanks to a coalition of computer scientists, historians and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) activists, we have this year a chance to mark and celebrate another contribution to Britain's fight against the darkness of dictatorship: that of code-breaker Alan Turing. Turing was a quite brilliant mathematician, most famous for his work on breaking the German Enigma codes. It is no exaggeration to say that, without his outstanding contribution, the history of the Second World War could have been very different. He truly was one of those individuals we can point to whose unique contribution helped to turn the tide of war. The debt of gratitude he is owed makes it all the more horrifying, therefore, that he was treated so inhumanely.
In 1952, he was convicted of "gross indecency" – in effect, tried for being gay. His sentence – and he was faced with the miserable choice of this or prison – was chemical castration by a series of injections of female hormones. He took his own life just two years later. [snip] It is thanks to men and women who were totally committed to fighting fascism, people like Alan Turing, that the horrors of the Holocaust and of total war are part of Europe's history and not Europe's present. So on behalf of the British government, and all those who live freely thanks to Alan's work, I am very proud to say: we're sorry. You deserved so much better.
Turing is considered by some to be the "father of computer science." More about him here.
Labels: Alan Turing, computers, Gordon Brown, LGBT History, UK, WW II
Another awesome post lifted from JMG
New website launched for religious gay community
See: http://www.ynetnews.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Adulterous GOP Defender Of Marriage Michael Duvall Resigns In Shame
The man who vowed to preserve the sanctity of opposite marriage, GOP California Assemblyman Michael Duvall has resigned in disgrace less than 24 hours after he was recorded bragging about two adulterous relationships with young female lobbyists, one of whom works for an electric company under contract to the state public utilities committee which Duvall co-chaired. Assemblyman Mike Duvall of Yorba Linda said in a statement that the furor over his comments had begun to divert attention from the work his fellow lawmakers were trying to finish during the final week of their session. Duvall, whose is married and has two adult children, said it would not be fair to his family, constituents or friends to remain in office. "I am deeply saddened that my inappropriate comments have become a major distraction for my colleagues in the Assembly, who are working hard on the very serious problems facing our state," he said. "Therefore, I have decided to resign my office, effective immediately, so that the Assembly can get back to work."Duvall was also recorded bragging about his manly load:
"She wears little eye-patch underwear,” said Duvall, who is married with two children. “So, the other day she came here with her underwear, Thursday. And so, we had made love Wednesday–a lot! And so she’ll, she’s all, ‘I am going up and down the stairs, and you’re dripping out of me!’ So messy!”Hello, Mrs. Duvall, we have some papers for you to sign.
Labels: adultery, California, GOP, Michael Duvall, sanctity of marriage, scandal
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Stop Glen Beck!
A few loudmouths in the media don’t speak for me or for the majority of Americans. They have turned mainstream television and radio outlets into a megaphone for smear campaigns against public servants and innocent Americans.
They have a First Amendment right to stoke prejudice and intolerance in this way -- and we’re not asking for them to be silenced -- but people of integrity have a responsibility to condemn this repulsive and hysterical behavior that is harming our democracy.
Please urge President Obama to publicly confront such media fear-mongering with reason and to fulfill his campaign commitment to foster a media system where diverse perspectives aren’t drowned out by the ranting of a few.
Visit the URL below to learn more about what's at stake and send a loud message directly to President Obama:
https://secure.freepress.net/site/Advocacy?id=351
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Moderate Voice linked Revoked...
At any rate, we, the entire staff of one at On Being Notorious and its rabid cousin Revoked, are honored to be linked, to The Moderate Voice, which makes me wonder how moderate their voice is if they include the likes of me there...
Thanks Folks!
Quote of the day
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T. S. Eliot
Protesters Begin Weekly Vigils Outside Church Of "Obama Should Die" Pastor
This weekend a group called People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate (Facebook group) had the first of their planned weekly protests outside the Phoenix-area storefront church of Pastor Steve Anderson, who has publicly prayed for the death of the president. The 125 protesters waved signs containing scriptural admonitions against hate as well as signs supporting the president.Reposted from JMG
Monday, September 7, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
We Can´t Afford to Wait
Dear MoveOn member,
Wow. Last night's health care vigils were our biggest event of the year, and they were a scathing indictment of our broken health care system.
And last night we shared stories of people bankrupted by medical bills and shut out by pre-existing conditions. Together with folks from Democracy for America, TrueMajority, Center for Community Change, Doctors for America, Health Care for America Now, and the Service Employees International Union, we helped shift the momentum.
The New York Times wrote, "Under the banner of 'Can't Afford To Wait,' the vigils...put a human face on the need for" health care reform.1 Many local newspapers and TV stations prominently covered the vigils as well (see below for links)—and last night they made it on to the front page of the Washington Post's website.2
Next week, lawmakers will return to D.C. with these vigils fresh in their minds.
"Seeing the mix of the crowd, old and young, joining across generational lines to advocate for reform which will make a difference for everyone."
–Phoebe G., Mattapoisett, MA
"Hearing the testimonies of all the people who have suffered under the current health care system—nightmare stories of people sick and dying from being denied care from private insurers, denied coverage, financially bankrupt, foregoing treatment because they can't afford it, etc. It makes you realize even more how crucial it is that we enact health care reform NOW—with a public option!"
–Anna E., New York, NY
These amazing vigils were organized by MoveOn Councils across the country. The Councils are local teams of committed members who go beyond email to run hard-hitting events in their communities. If you're not already part of a Council, click here to find out more and join a local MoveOn Council to plan actions targeting health insurance companies for later this month:
Together, we're reframing the health care debate to focus on the serious needs of real people, not ridiculous political fights. And as we head into this make-or-break fall, we've got momentum on our side.
Thanks for all you do.
–Nita, Peter, Michael, Kat, and the rest of the team
P.S. While all of us were out sharing stories in person, tens of thousands of other MoveOn members who couldn't make it out gathered online to share photos, stories, and light candles as well, at our virtual vigil. Check it out, here:
P.P.S. We've also posted photo albums from vigils across the country on our Facebook page. Take a look:
Sources:
1. "Rallying for, and Against, an Overhaul," The New York Times, September 2, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51819&id=17136-538505-MQCdnLx&t=11
2. "Health care reform advocates rally at Fargo-Moorhead bridge," Grand Forks Herald, September 3, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51825&id=17136-538505-MQCdnLx&t=12
"1,000-plus rally in Denver in favor of health care reform," Denver Post, September 3, 2009
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13257706
"Hundreds rally at state house over health care," WPRI-TV Providence, September 3, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbQGolW1Z-k
"At Vigils, Support Shown for Health-Care Bill," The Washington Post, September 2, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51826&id=17136-538505-MQCdnLx&t=13
Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to Daniel Orey on September 3, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Subject: State Fair Observation
I so love this Facebook post from my friend Bill (and his husband Brian):
So I went to the State Fair today (yes, I am one of the three people who actually LOVE going to the State Fair!). I saw many of the things that I had hoped to see...newborn calves, cute little billy goats, beer gardens, agricultural displays, motocross exhibitions, etc. And then I saw the Republican voter registration booth. And I thought, "Oh...I can't resist this one!".
As I walked up to the booth, the most prominent display was the "One Man, One Woman" displays, signifying anti-gay marriage. Oh...at this point, it was ON! As I walked up to the booth (I couldn't resist), one woman pointed to the "One Man, One Woman" button and said, "Thank God"! The first thing out of my mouth was, "Thank God for what? Discrimination???" She quickly walked away. But the lady in the booth quickly came over and began preaching to me about how the bible says that marriage is "...a contract between a man and a woman". I said, "Really? The bible speaks about contracts?" She said, "Well...it says that Jesus only recognizes a man and a woman". I then said, "Really? Where does it say that?" And, in typical "Christian" fashion, she said, "Well, I don't know exactly". I continued, "But you claim to know the bible and what Jesus says, so how can you not know where it says that, or what Jesus actually said about homosexuality?" (By the way, Jesus says NOTHING about homosexuality in the bible).
After this lady stuttered for a few minutes, she began to tell me that she doesn't understand why "the gays" are so adamant about marriage, when they have all of the same rights as heterosexuals. I then explained to her that we don't, in fact, have all the same rights...especially federal rights. She said, "No, you have the same federal rights as everyone else". I explained to her that there are ZERO federal protections/rights afforded to gay couples...including inheritance and income tax. She looked at me, puzzled, and said, "Are you sure?" I asked her where she was getting her information from, and she just said, "Well, a friend of mine said they were able to file for federal income tax returns as a couple". (The federal government DOES NOT recognize gay couples in ANY way, shape, or form as far as tax rights, inheritance rights, social security rights, etc.)
She then quickly moved on to say that she is upset that churches would lose their tax exempt status and be sued by "the gays" if they refused to perform gay marriages. I asked her to give me an example of ONE...JUST ONE...church that has been sued or has lost their tax exempt status for refusing to perform a gay marriage. She again stuttered and said that she had heard of a church in Auburn, California that had been sued. I said, "Really? Which church?" And, of course, in true "Christian" fashion, she could not answer me. She just said, "I don't remember the name of it". I then told her that marriage has been legal in Massachusetts for several years, and NOT ONE church has lost its tax exempt status, or has been successfully sued by ANYONE for refusing to perform gay marriages. She, of course, just shrugged me off.
(It is important to note that by now, one of the other crusty, white, blue-haired, "Christian" women working the booth had called security to come have us removed from the booth. A man came over to tell us that we had to leave now, at which point I looked at him and said, "I'm not going anywhere. This lady has controversial propaganda displayed, and she has to expect that she'll receive opposing viewpoints." I then looked at his shirt, and noticed that he was a mattress salesman working one of the other booths nearby, so I then instinctively told him to "fuck off". At that point, he just walked away!)
As my conversation with this idiot...errrr...I mean "Christian" Republican...continued, I asked her why she felt that "Separate but Equal" was equal. She said that she did not believe that it was. I asked her if she believed that whites should be allowed to marry blacks. She looked at me and said, "Of course". I then asked if she believed that the court had any business dictating the rights of people, and she explained to me that that was one of her biggest complaints with gay marriage...that the people had spoken and did not want gay marriage, so "the gays" should just leave it alone. I then explained to her that in 1967, despite the popular will of the people, the California Supreme Court ruled that the ban on interracial marriage was unconstitutional. Of course, she did not believe me. (In case you were wondering, the case was decided in the Supreme Court on June 13, 1967). I asked her again if she believed that the will of the people, who at that time STILL overwhelmingly thought that blacks should not be allowed to marry whites, should have prevailed over the law. She didn't have an answer for me (again, in typical "Christian", Republican fashion".
By this time, the mattress salesman, and the other crusty, white, idiots...errrrr...Republicans...had had just about enough of me. So I gave her my email address, and I gave her some homework. I asked her if she could do the following:
1) Send me the quotes from the bible that say what Jesus thought about homosexuality;
2) Send me the name of the church that was "somewhere in Auburn" that was sued because they wouldn't perform gay marriages.
3) Send me the names of ANY churches that have lost their tax exempt status for not performing gay marriages; and
4) Cited the federal benefits that gay couples receive.
She promised me that she would email me with her "research". But I fully anticipate that I will not be hearing from her. In true "Christian" fashion, she knows nothing about what she says...she just spouts off inaccurate bullshit that she hears from other idiots...errr....Republicans. Sad.
Oh...and in case you were wondering...Brian wouldn't let me go back and say goodbye to the mattress salesman who tried to intimidate me from leaving!!! So I simply waived goodbye to him as I left.
The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed
by Judy Shepard
GET YOUR SIGNED COPY TODAY!
ALL BOOKS RESERVED BY SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 WILL BE PERSONALLY INSCRIBED
TO THE DONOR AND SIGNED BY JUDY.
 | Today, the name Matthew Shepard is synonymous with gay rights, but before his grisly murder in 1998, Matthew was simply Judy Shepard’s son. For the first time in book form, Judy Shepard speaks about her loss, sharing memories of Matthew, their life as a typical American family, and the pivotal event in the small college town that changed everything. The Meaning of Matthew follows the Shepard family in the days immediately after the crime, when Judy and her husband traveled to see their incapacitated son, kept alive by life support machines; how the Shepards learned of the incredible response from strangers all across America who held candlelit vigils and memorial services for their child; and finally, how they struggled to navigate the legal system as Matthew’s murderers were on trial. Heart-wrenchingly honest, Judy Shepard confides with readers about how she handled the crippling loss of her child, why she became a gay rights activist, and the challenges and rewards of raising a gay child in America today. The Meaning of Matthew not only captures the historical significance and complicated civil rights issues surrounding one young man’s life and death, but it also chronicles one ordinary woman’s struggle to cope with the unthinkable. |
 This is a limited time premium you will receive when you make a donation of $50 or more through our website. (Shipping Included) | Now is your chance to obtain a signed copy of this moving book. 100% of the donations via our website will go to support the work of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. NOTE: Due to Judy's busy schedule, signed books will not be shipped before |
The Matthew Shepard Foundation was founded by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998.
Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to "Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance" through its varied educational, outreach and advocacy programs and by continuing to tell Matthew's story.
Timothy Kincaid
September 1st, 2009
David Weekley is a bit unusual for a United Methodist Church pastor. For one thing, he’s a Caucasian pastor of a historic 95% Japanese-American congregation. And for another, he has for the past 27 years kept the secret that he was born female. (WestLinn Tidings)
Standing behind his pulpit, Weekley began his usual worship service. About halfway through, he paused to share a personal message he called “My Book Report.”
He told them that in 1984, just nine years after undergoing extensive sex-reassignment surgeries, he was ordained by the Methodist Church without telling anyone of his original gender at birth.
Following his story, the congregation, who had remained silent throughout his talk, broke into thunderous applause. Church members then proclaimed their support for their pastor.
Days may be difficult ahead for Weekley, as the UMC is one of the more conservative branches of mainline Christianity. But at present he has a supportive family, supportive congregation, and supportive region. And his testimony can perhaps reach hearts that already know and love him and serve to open eyes and expand thinking.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Moderate Muslim Scholars: Homosexuality Is Natural And From Go
At a conference on Islam held in Indonesia, moderate Muslim scholars issued a statement calling homosexuality normal and created by God. Moderate Muslim scholars said there were no reasons to reject homosexuals under Islam, and that the condemnation of homosexuals and homosexuality by mainstream ulema and many other Muslims was based on narrow-minded interpretations of Islamic teachings. Siti Musdah Mulia of the Indonesia Conference of Religions and Peace cited the Koran's al-Hujurat (49:3) that one of the blessings for human beings was that all men and women are equal, regardless of ethnicity, wealth, social positions or even sexual orientation. "There is no difference between lesbians and nonlesbians. In the eyes of God, people are valued based on their piety," she told the discussion organized by nongovernmental organization Arus Pelangi. "And talking about piety is God's prerogative to judge," she added. "The essence of the religion (Islam) is to humanize humans, respect and dignify them." Musdah said homosexuality was from God and should be considered natural, adding it was not pushed only by passion.Two conservative Islamic groups at the conference responded by condemning gays.
Labels: homosexuality, Islam, religion
UK Gets Conservative Gay Group
From JMG:
The Log Cabin Republicans now have a counterpart in the United Kingdom. A Tory-affiliated LGBT group has been officially launched at Manchester Pride. LGBTory had a stall during the bank holiday festivities, while members marched in the parade to showcase the new rainbow Tory logo and the slogan 'Conservative and Proud'. Matthew Sephton, the chairman of LGBTory, said: “The weekend was a tremendous success. We had an excellent team in the parade and had loads of fun doing it.We were flying the flag for the modern Conservatives and for the LGBT community and had lots of attention from the many thousands of people who lined the parade route through the city. “On our stall, we had a great deal of interest in both LGBTory and the Conservatives generally. People were positive about us being there and were very happy to see us. As a group we are looking forward to working with all LGBT groups and other Conservative groups to continue the change needed to stamp out homophobia at all levels of society, once and for all.”Note how their name, LGBTory, echoes GOProud.
Labels: LCR, LGBTory, Tory Party, UK