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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Scholars at Risk (SAR) calls for letters on behalf of Mr. Ramin Zibaei of Iran
Action Alert
Via JMG: FLORIDA: Students Of "Cesspool" Teacher Share His Homophobic Comments
After being suspended for posting anti-gay comments on his Facebook page, last week Florida teacher Jerry Buell was reinstated when the KKK threatened to picket the local school board in his defense. The defiant Buell said that he did not intend to change his teaching philosophy, which includes speaking "as if Lake County had hired Jesus Christ himself." Today Equality Florida shares some examples of Buell's in-class comments as reported by former students.
TAKE ACTION: Send an email to the Lake County School Board and demand that they expand anti-bullying and non-discrimination policies to include LGBT students.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The source for the KKK aspect of this story, Orlando's WFTV-ABC, has edited their original story to remove this claim. No explanation has yet been provided for this change.
reposted from Joe
Brian Blaise, an honors student who graduated in 2003, described the day Mr. Buell offered his disturbing take on the issue of gays serving in the military: "I looked up when he said he supported gays in the military, stunned by the answer. He immediately followed that comment with the statement that we should then put them on the front lines, and pull back," Blaise said. Another of his students recounted Mr. Buell invoking the quote "A pig in a tuxedo is still a pig" to declare his disdain for recognizing gay relationships.Got that? "Jesus Christ himself" is telling public school students that setting up gay soldiers to be murdered would be a hilarious thing to do. Christian Love.™
TAKE ACTION: Send an email to the Lake County School Board and demand that they expand anti-bullying and non-discrimination policies to include LGBT students.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The source for the KKK aspect of this story, Orlando's WFTV-ABC, has edited their original story to remove this claim. No explanation has yet been provided for this change.
Via JMG: The Return Of Ratty Hairpiece Woman
Focus On The Family's Ratty Hairpiece Woman (Candi Cushman) goes on and on about the "indoctrination" of students by groups such as GLSEN. Let those kids grow up to be the violent Christian bullies that God meant them to be!
Labels: bullying, Focus On The Family, Gay Straight Alliance, GLSEN, hate groups, LGBT youth, religion
reposted from Joe
Via JMG: Possibly Good News On Prop 8
Via Zack Ford at Think Progress:
Goodwin Liu’s nomination to the Ninth Circuit Court may have been derailed by Senate Republicans, but his nomination to California’s Supreme Court is right on track. The Commission on Judicial Appointments will consider Liu’s appointment Wednesday, but the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominations has already given him its highest rating: “exceptionally well-qualified.” It’s expected that, if confirmed, Liu — who has previously spoken out for marriage equality — will be seated in time for next week’s hearing on proponents’ standing in the Prop 8 case.
Via JMG: Tony Perkins & The KKK
I've blogged many times about Tony Perkins' ties to the KKK. Today Equality California picks up on Perkins' racist past in a clip about his attempt to undo California's LGBT education bill. Watch this!
Labels: bigotry, Equality California, Family Reseach Council, hate groups, racism, religion, Tony Perkins
reposted from Joe
Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Erwin Chemerinsky
"I continue to believe that the [Supreme] Court will rule, five-to-four, in an opinion authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, that laws prohibiting marriage equality violate the United States Constitution. Kennedy wrote the Court’s opinions in Romer v. Evans (1996) and Lawrence v. Texas (2003), and I think that he will see his longest-lasting legacy from over a quarter of a century on the Court being in the area of eliminating discrimination against gays and lesbians. I believe that his opinion will emphasize, as he did in Romer and Lawrence, the absence of any legitimate interest for prohibiting marriage by same-sex couples. As in Lawrence, and other opinions, he will point to the trend across the world." - Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Irvine's law school.Tuesday, August 30, 2011
More on GLBT and Uganda from the Baha'i World Centre
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARIAT
Bahá’í World Centre • P.O. Box 155 • 31001 Haifa, Israel
Tel: 972 (4) 835 8358 • Fax: 972 (4) 835 8280 • Email: secretariat@bwc.org
27 July 2008
Transmitted by email: name address withheld
Dear Bahá’í Friend,
Your email letter dated 12 May 2008 has been received by the Universal House of Justice, and we have been asked to convey to you the following response.
You state in your letter that you have learned that you and your sister, Miss , are being investigated at the Bahá’í World Centre as a result of your signing and forwarding a petition titled “Speak Up Against Bahá’í Discrimination Against Homosexuals”.
You may rest assured, however, that no such investigation is being conducted.
With regard to the above-mentioned petition, you may wish to consider the following.
According to the Bahá’í Teachings, marriage is a union between a man and a woman and sexual relations are only permissible between a couple who are married to each other. These teachings are set forth in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and in the authoritative statements of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi and are not susceptible to change by the House of Justice. However, the Bahá’í community does not seek to impose its values on others. Furthermore, to regard those with a homosexual orientation with prejudice and disdain would be entirely against the spirit of the Faith.
With respect to the incident in Uganda to which you refer, the Bahá’í representative to the interfaith association was unwittingly drawn into this controversy. Some reports have incorrectly characterized the Bahá’í involvement in the matter. The National Spiritual Assembly of Uganda is taking steps to ensure that such issues are handled appropriately in the future.
The House of Justice appreciates your desire to clarify your feelings on this matter and
assures you of its prayers in the Holy Shrines that the Blessed Beauty may guide and sustain you.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Department of the Secretariat
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Via JMG: GOProud: This Is Not A Culture War
Even though four of the leading GOP presidential candidates have signed a hateful Christianist pledge to destroy the civil rights of LGBT Americans, even though the Tea Party has successfully dismantled abortion rights in several states, and even though the Republican Party has waged a brutal campaign against immigrants and the poor, GOProud says liberals are falsely promoting the idea that we're in a "culture war."
The only people talking about the “culture wars” are on the left and the reason is simple: they can not defend the abysmal record of the Obama administration when it comes to the bread and butter issues most Americans care about. Contrary to what the left, and their enablers in the main stream media, would have you believe, there is no new culture war brewing on the right. The Republican candidates for President haven’t been crisscrossing the country banging the drum of abortion, gay marriage, creationism, etc. Quite the contrary, even the most conservative candidates – such as Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann – have repeatedly said these are NOT the issues they are running on.GOProud apparently doesn't listen to the stump speeches of their fellow teabaggers, who do nothing but "bang the drum of abortion, gay marriage, and creationism." According to GOProud's Chris Barron, "The 2010 elections were laser-focused on the size of government and fiscal issues." Yes, yes, Herr Barron. Keep loading up those cattle cars.
Via AmericablogGay: NYT: Release the Prop. 8 videotapes
The New York Times editorial page wants the Prop. 8 videotapes released. We do, too:
On Monday, a lawyer representing the victorious plaintiffs will be urging a federal district judge in San Francisco, James Ware, to grant a motion to make public the videotape of the 12-day trial. In the interest of fostering confidence in the judicial system, the motion should be granted. Proposition 8’s supporters insisted that the broadcast ban was needed to protect their two witnesses — experts who testified in open court and whose identities were well known. Their arguments are even less persuasive now.
The trial was over more than a year ago, and the 13-volume trial transcript is public and available on the Internet. Legally, there is a presumption of access to judicial records, a point made in a brief filed by a media coalition, including The New York Times Company.
The demand to keep the videotapes secret is as flimsy as the arguments for denying gay people the fundamental right to marry. The proposition’s backers will not be hurt in any way if the footage is released. The American public, on the other hand, stands to lose something very valuable if it is denied the chance to see and hear what happened in a critically important case on marriage equality.
The proponents of Prop. 8 have no legitimate arguments against marriage. They know that. We know that. They just don't want the rest of the country to see how pathetic their case is.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Via JMG: Rick Perry Signs NOM's Hate Pledge
Rick Perry has joined Frothy Mix, Crazy Eyes, and Magic Underpants in signing NOM's five-part vow to crush the civil rights of LGBT Americans if elected president. "Kudos to Gov. Rick Perry for making it clear: he's a marriage champion!" cheered Brian Brown, president of NOM, in a statement. "The purpose of NOM's Marriage Pledge is to move from vague values statements to concrete actions to protect marriage." The NOM presidential to-do list includes amending the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage, nominating judges who say the Constitution doesn't guarantee marriage equality, and putting gay marriage up to a vote in the District of Columbia, where local lawmakers made it legal. Perry and the others also promise to fight for the Defense of Marriage Act in court — something President Obama isn't doing. By adding his name to the NOM pledge, Perry has also committed to create a "presidential commission on religious liberty" that would "investigate" Americans who oppose bans on gay marriage for supposed harassment of such measures' supporters.
GLBT's and the Baha'i Faith - Gays need not apply, you are not welcome here... a polygamist yes, tho!
5 March 1999
Dear Baha’i Friend,
Your email messages of 20 October 1998 and 16 February 1999 have been received at the Baha’i World center. In your message of 20 October, you cite two quotations written on behalf of the Guardian giving guidance on how newly enrolled believers whose previous moral behavior did not accord with the Teachings should be gradually nurtured into bringing their conduct into conformity with the faith’s high standards. You ask whether the same principle applies in two separate cases, polygamists becoming Baha’is , and homosexual couples wherein one or both individuals accept the Faith.
Your understanding is correct that should a polygamist become a Baha’i, he would not be required to divorce or separate from any of his spouses; however, he would not be able to enter into a new marriage while still being married to another spouse.
With regard to the second case, in general, when a person who wishes to join the Faith is known to have a problem such as drinking, homosexuality, drug abuse, adultery, etc., he or she should be told in a patient and loving way of the Baha’i teachings on these matters. In particular, if persons involved in homosexual relationships express an interest in the faith, they should not be instructed by Baha’i institutions to separate si that they may enroll in the Baha’i community, for this action by any institution may conflict with civil law. The Baha’i position should be patiently explained to such persons, who should also be given to understand that although in their hearts they may accept baha’u’llah, they cannot join the Baha’i community in the current condition of their relationship. They will then be free to draw their own conclusions and act accordingly. Within this context, the question you pose about the possibility of the removal of administrative rights should, therefore, not arise.
With loving Baha’i greetings,
Department of the Secretariat
---
13 April 1999
Dear Baha’i Friend,
In your email dated 14 March 1999, you ask whether a homosexual who is in a committed same sex relationship, or who is involved in a same sex marriage, may be permitted to stay in such a relationship upon becoming a Baha’i. The answer, as indicated in our previous letter to you of 5 March 1999, is that such persons cannot be accepted as members of the Baha’i community while maintaining such a relationship. However, if individuals involved in a homosexual relationship have a desire to become Baha’is, they should be patiently and lovingly informed of the position of the Faith on homosexuality, but they should not be instructed by Baha’i teachers or by Baha’i institutions to separate in order to become Baha’is; rather, they should be left free to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to change their way of life and apply for Baha’i membership. In other words: armed with knowledge of the Baha’i position as explained to them, they can exercise their own judgment as to what to chose to do. This is the meaning of our previous statement that, “They will be free to draw their own conclusions and act accordingly.”
It is only proper that the response of the Baha’is to such persons should be as described here: on the one hand, the law of the Faith must be upheld; on the other, our community must be open to those who choose to abide by that law. By affirming through word and deed their determination to follow the way of Baha’u’llah, they must unhesitatingly be accorded the privileges of Baha’i membership. The same approach applies with regard to those persons who wish to join the Faith but are known to have a problem with drinking, drug abuse, adultery, etc.
We trust that this explanation clarifies the questions with which you are concerned.
With loving Baha’i greetings,
Department of the Secretariat
Friday, August 26, 2011
Via JMG: Russia Today Rips NOM, Yehuda Levin
According to Wikipedia, Russia Today is now the second-most watched foreign news network in the United States, behind the BBC. This is a good example why.
reposted from Joe
Via American Foundation for Equal Rights: At 9 a.m. on Monday, we'll be back in court.
Dear Daniel,
At 9 a.m. on Monday, we'll be back in court.
The proponents of Prop. 8 – who passed the ballot measure that stripped the freedom to marry from gay and lesbian Californians – are trying to prevent the American people from seeing the video recording of the Prop. 8 trial.
What are they trying to hide? Last year's trial was conducted in an open courtroom. The testimony and evidence that was presented are public record, accessible to everyone. Both witnesses they put on the stand have a long history of advocating for their views in the media, at conferences, and in numerous books and articles that they've published.
The Prop. 8 proponents don't want anyone to realize that, despite ample resources, they failed to present a single piece of credible evidence or expert testimony that supported keeping the discriminatory law on the books. At one point during the trial, their lead attorney, Charles Cooper, even asserted that they didn't "need any evidence."
At the American Foundation for Equal Rights, we are committed to spreading the truth about why gay and lesbian couples should have the fundamental freedom to marry, and to exposing the lies used to justify discrimination.
Even though Monday's hearing will not be broadcast or recorded because of objections made by the Prop. 8 proponents, we'll be providing live updates from the courtroom on Twitter, @AFER, and track the hashtag #Prop8. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook for more information.
Here's what you can do:
Sincerely,
At 9 a.m. on Monday, we'll be back in court.
The proponents of Prop. 8 – who passed the ballot measure that stripped the freedom to marry from gay and lesbian Californians – are trying to prevent the American people from seeing the video recording of the Prop. 8 trial.
What are they trying to hide? Last year's trial was conducted in an open courtroom. The testimony and evidence that was presented are public record, accessible to everyone. Both witnesses they put on the stand have a long history of advocating for their views in the media, at conferences, and in numerous books and articles that they've published.
The Prop. 8 proponents don't want anyone to realize that, despite ample resources, they failed to present a single piece of credible evidence or expert testimony that supported keeping the discriminatory law on the books. At one point during the trial, their lead attorney, Charles Cooper, even asserted that they didn't "need any evidence."
At the American Foundation for Equal Rights, we are committed to spreading the truth about why gay and lesbian couples should have the fundamental freedom to marry, and to exposing the lies used to justify discrimination.
Even though Monday's hearing will not be broadcast or recorded because of objections made by the Prop. 8 proponents, we'll be providing live updates from the courtroom on Twitter, @AFER, and track the hashtag #Prop8. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook for more information.
Here's what you can do:
- Urge your friends to "like" AFER on Facebook for updates about the Prop. 8 case and what the other side is up to.
- Send a tweet encouraging your followers to tune into AFER's live stream on Monday.
- Encourage your friends and family to sign up for email updates from AFER.
Sincerely,
 |  Adam UmhoeferSenior Project DirectorAmerican Foundation for Equal Rights |
Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Jerry Buell
"I am a man of God and I try to be like Jesus every day. I teach God's truth, I make very few compromises. If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed, 'cause I ain't changing! I try to teach and lead my students as if Lake Co. Schools had hired Jesus Christ himself." - A message to students from the syllabus of Florida public school teacher Jerry Buell, who was reinstated yesterday after the KKK threatened to protest the school board.Via AmericablogGay: LA Times: In 2012, gay-bashing views of GOP candidates "are simply ridiculed"
Interesting perspective from Paul Thornton at the Los Angeles Times. GOP presidential candidates will engage in gay-bashing, but their homophobic views engender mocking, not serious discussion. That's a big change:
Could this be the biggest gay-bashing election in recent history? Doubtful, since President George W. Bush set such a high bar in 2004. Quite the contrary: Call me an optimist, but I see such highly publicized gay-baiting as a positive development.
Why? Not so long ago, the virulently homophobic views offered by some candidates were treated almost as viable alternatives to the positions taken by less anti-gay politicians. It was as if all those views came from the same menu of Reasonable Points of View Worth Debating. Now, the radical ideas espoused by Bachmann, Perry, Santorum and others are held up not for genuine consideration but for scorn (notwithstanding the last GOP debate in Iowa). Perry's and Bachmann's views aren't weighed against President Obama's "evolving" stance on same-sex marriage; rather, they are simply ridiculed. It says as much about our society as it does the candidates.
It gets better indeed.
As we've noted many times, the trendline is moving in our direction -- and moving fast. Blatant homophobia might still appeal to the hard-core haters in Iowa, but it's a bad strategy overall.
Via AmericablogGay: Barbarian Flashmob Converts "Marcus Bachmann" in Glitter Baptism at Clinic [Official]
2011 is not 2004. The LGBT community isn't going to sit back and take the gay bashing. Not at all. Nick Espinosa is doing his part to make sure of that. Via press release:
“The American people have a right to know: does the Bachmann family profit from bogus “gay reparative therapy” or not,” continued Espinosa. “The medical evidence against the practice aside, the Bachmann’s subversive marginalization of the LGBT community is despicable.”
Today’s action was organized by the same young man who previously glittered Newt Gingrich, inspiring a national trend in political protest of anti-LGBT sentiments from political candidates and campaigns.
“It’s clear that the Bachmanns are the real barbarians here, and their archaic views on LGBT equality will no longer be tolerated.”
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Via JMG: TEXAS: More Sexual Allegations Against Rick Perry From Backer Of Anti-Perry Ad
Ron Paul supporter Robert Morrow appeared on Austin's Outcast radio show this week to make some pretty wild sexual allegations against Rick Perry, including a story about a visit to strip club. This is the guy who last week published a newspaper ad urging anybody who'd had sex with Perry to come forward.
OutCast Austin - Volume 173 - 08/23/2011 - Interview with Robert Morrow
reposted from Joe
Via JMG: CENSUS: America's Ten Gayest Cities
Via JMG: Photo Of The Day - Jack Layton Tribute
In Toronto's Phillips Square, hundreds of residents have created chalk tributes to the late progressive leader Jack Layton, who died of cancer last week at the age of 61. Layton was considered Canada's most passionate and effective ally of the LGBT community and his passing has affected the gay political world like nothing in recent memory. Via JMG: Crazy Eyes To Keynote FL Hate Group
Michele Bachmann, who lately claims she is uninterested in discussing "frivolous topics" like LGBT rights, will nonetheless be the keynote speaker at the annual convention of the Florida hate group that funded the successful ballot measure banning same-sex marriage. Remember, she "respects your dignity," even though you are "of Satan."Via AmericablogGay: CA GOP cuts gay prez candidate Karger out of state convention
I don't know how GOProud is going to spin this one? But I'm sure they will.
Even as Republican leaders say they're eagerly wooing all candidates to the state GOP convention Sept. 16-18 in Los Angeles, Karger says his request to attend and address the party activists has apparently been refused.
"I have been waiting for my invitation and it never came," Karger, 61, a 38-year resident of Laguna Beach, told The Chronicle last week. "And I called up a couple of weeks ago and explained my position."
That's when a party official, Karger said, left a "terse" message: "The schedule is completely filled."
That certainly isn't very "big tent" of them, now is it? Sometimes you gotta wait a really long time for those conservatives to come around. Of course, if he had just pretended to be straight, or married to one of the candidates, he might even be in the running for First Lady.
Via AmericBlogGay: New research finds the closet is bad for workplace performance
The closet is an ugly, ugly place. And, it just be bad for business. Fascinating new research from UCLA, explained by Tom Jacobs at Miller-McCune:
Don’t ask. Don’t tell. Don’t do your job as well.
That’s the implication of newly published research, which links poorer job performance with uncertainty about a colleague’s sexual orientation.
“Supporters of policies that force gay and lesbian individuals to conceal their sexual orientation in the workplace argue that working with openly gay individuals undermines performance,” writes a trio of researchers led by UCLA’s Benjamin Everly. “We examine this claim in two studies and find the opposite effect.”
These findings, published the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, are certainly timely. The military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule, in which gay soldiers are discharged if they reveal their sexual orientation, will be repealed Sept. 20. Last week, presidential candidate Michele Bachmann said she was in favor of reinstating that policy — which would be within her authority as president.
Social conservatives argue that serving with openly gay soldiers could harm troops’ “unity and effectiveness.” While unity is hard to quantify, effectiveness is not, and this study suggests allowing openly gay soldiers could actually enhance it.
A couple months ago, we posted research from the Center for Work-Life Policy that showed almost half of college grads aren't out at work. This new study could lead one to conclude that could be harming workplace performance for everyone involved.
The new UCLA study, by Everly and his colleagues, Margaret J. Shiha and Geoffrey C. Hoa, can be located here.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Via JMG: Jay Bakker On LGBT Rights
The son of whackadoodle Jim Bakker and the late Tammy Faye Messner turned out to be an OK dude.
reposted from Joe
Via JMG: White House To Honor Trevor Project
Just in via press release:Tomorrow, Thursday, August 25, 2011, the White House will honor The Trevor Project as a leading innovator in the realm of suicide prevention as part of the “Champions of Change” initiative. The Trevor Project is the leading organization selected for this honor representing youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, specifically. Accepting the honor and speaking with Administration officials about priorities for improving suicide prevention nationally will be David McFarland, Interim Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. The event occurs ten days prior to National Suicide Prevention Week, (Sept. 4-10, 2011).
ViaJMG: HRC Issues Memo Detailing NOM's Many Donor Disclosure Court Losses
In what may be a shot across the bow regarding the upcoming marriage ballot in Maine, today the Human Rights Campaign issued a memo detailing NOM's unblemished record of court losses in their attempts to evade state campaign finance laws.
The latest in NOM’s string of legal defeats came on August 11 when the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the group’s challenges in Maine and Rhode Island. On its Law Blog, the Wall Street Journal put the cases into perspective. “The 1st Circuit issued rulings in two cases that raise an important campaign finance issue: the extent to which states can require advocacy groups to report details about their expenditures in support of candidates or political causes.” Given the recent historical record, states do in fact take disclosure, and legal compliance, in earnest. NOM has unsuccessfully challenged disclosure laws in Maine, Minnesota, New York, California, Rhode Island, and Iowa.All of the above losses came after the fact, when the elections were already over, and NOM has flouted court rulings in every single case with no apparent punishment. What will be very interesting to see is whether NOM re-enters the Maine campaign having lost their disclosure case there. Oh, what a happy day it would be to see Slaggie and Brian Brown led away in handcuffs for contempt of court.
RELATED: There has been increasing speculation that NOM is secretly and primarily funded by one or two very deep-pocketed individuals who have reputations so appalling that NOM will do anything to shield them.
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