Family Values - Help get this on TV in California right now! Click the actblue link to the right!

From JMG: DADT: "Homosexual" Vs. "Gay"

A fascinating CBS poll reveals that support for the repeal of DADT varies greatly depending on whether "homosexual" or "gay" is used in the wording of the question.

In the poll, 59 percent say they now support allowing "homosexuals" to serve in the U.S. military, including 34 percent who say they strongly favor that. Ten percent say they somewhat oppose it and 19 percent say they strongly oppose it. But the numbers differ when the question is changed to whether Americans support "gay men and lesbians" serving in the military. When the question is asked that way, 70 percent of Americans say they support gay men and lesbians serving in the military, including 19 percent who say they somewhat favor it. Seven percent somewhat oppose it, and 12 percent strongly oppose it.

John Aravois at AmericaBlog reacts:

Bottom line: Homosexual is a nasty, clinical-sounding word with nasty connotations for far too many Americans. It's what I've argued for years, and have been routinely beaten up by some in the gay community who claim I'm nuts - namely, that no one should use this offensive word and we should correct anyone who does. It now appears I'm not so nuts after all.

As longtime readers know, I tend to use "homosexual" rather frequently. I have no issue with it. It's what most of us here are. I understand that some resent its almost universal usage by our enemies, who only use "gay" in scare quotes. But when the wingnuts say "homosexual," I'm not remotely insulted, even though that's their intent. Still, this CBS poll result is very interesting.

Reposted from JMG

Subject: Uganda

Hi,

Have you heard about the brutal new anti-gay law in Uganda?

A bill in the Ugandan parliament proposes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of having same-sex relations and imposes the death penalty for "serial offenders." NGO employees working to prevent the spread of HIV could be imprisoned for up to 7 years for "promoting homosexuality." Even members of the public face up to three years in jail if they fail to report homosexual activity to the police within 24 hours!

The bill had been delayed because of some initial international criticism. But after a well-funded and vicious lobbying effort by extremists, it now looks set to be passed -- threatening widespread persecution and bloodshed.

With the decision expected in days, only an irresistible wave of worldwide pressure will be enough to save the lives of gay people in Uganda.

I just signed a new international petition to stop the gay death law. Will you join in?

http://pol.moveon.org/uganda/?r_by=18903-538505-6zqYbFx&rc=comment_paste

Thanks!

Parisian Love Too

From JMG: Orlando Man To Marry Total Stranger In Protest Of Anti-Gay Marriage Laws

As a Valentine's protest against anti-gay marriage laws, heterosexual Orlando performance artist Brian Feldman announced that he would randomly marry any woman who happened to show up at the Orange County Courthouse this past Monday. Three women appeared! Therefore, having filed the paperwork and paid the license fee, Feldman will marry one Hannah Miller on this Friday. From the Facebook event page:

Is this entire project a mockery of marriage? Not at all! It’s completely within the legal rights of Brian and any other heterosexual couple with $123.50 (plus $6 for a standard marriage certificate). Sound absurd? Not nearly absurd as denying the equal right to marry for same-sex couples who truly care about each other; who’ve been in committed, productive and, most importantly, loving relationships for upwards of 20+ years. That, to Brian, and millions of Americans who believe in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, is truly absurd - to say nothing of a civil injustice.

(Tipped by JMG reader John)

Reposted from JMG

Quote of the day

"If I am lying by the road bleeding, I don't care if the medic coming to save me is gay. I just hope he is one of those buff gay guys who are always in the gym so he can throw me over his shoulder and get me out of there." - anon

From a post on JMG

Derek Webb's controversial song "What Matters More"

Derek Webb's controversial song "What Matters More" from his new album, Stockholm Syndrome.




Lyrics:

You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
'Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak

'Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn't be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn't silently conceal when the liars speak
Denyin' all the dyin' of the remedy

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it's about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin' the wind while the pendulum swings

'Cause we can talk and debate until we're blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he's comin' to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don't give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin' today

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

From JMG: Christian Leader: Don't Worry About Gay Marriage, Worry About Your Own Lives

Well, this is one of the more interesting items to pop up on Christian Newswire. Pastor Ken Eastburn, who leads a network of at-home worshippers in California and Colorado, says that regardless of the outcome of the Prop 8 trial, Christians should worry less about imposing their own morality on others and worry more about their own lives.

"It is a common mistake for Christians to spend time, energy and resources in advocating for a morality that is consistent with their faith," says Eastburn, "But at the end of the day our goal, the command given to us by Jesus Christ, is to make disciples. When our time and energy is spent on moralizing a secular nation, we are sacrificing our ability to obey Christ's command." Eastburn is a leader with The Well, a network of home-based churches in California and Colorado. After selling their building in 2005, members began meeting in each other's homes where there is a strong focus on discipleship. He continues, "Many Christians have their faith intertwined with their nationality and, as a result, believe that their efforts to legislate a specifically Christian morality are glorifying to God. But just the opposite is true. No matter how good America becomes, people are still separated from God by sin. The only agenda we should be spending ourselves on is the redemption offered through Jesus Christ."

Eastburn's group advocates forgoing building ostentatious churches and focusing on small group worship services in private homes. That his position on Prop 8 is being publicized by the extremely conservative Christian Newswire is rather shocking, but certainly welcome. Read more about Eastburn's philosophy at his blog, Leaving The Building.

Reposted from JMG

From AmericaBlog: Children are victims of DADT as well

Posted by Timothy Beauchamp at 2/08/2010 07:29:00 PM

I'm a children's advocate. I can't stand to see a child suffer. From Bilerico:

[Author, Dana Rudolph's note: I first published this piece two years ago, when I had the honor of interviewing a lesbian-mom couple, one of whom is an active-duty military officer. Given the recent news about possible progress on a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, it seemed timely to repost it, to remind us all of DADT's impact on the youngest members of our society. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the family.]

Five-year-old William and three-year-old Ryan are the children of decorated U.S. Army officer Cheryl Parker. Like other children of service members, they have dealt with cross-country moves and months without their mother while she was deployed in Iraq. Unlike the others, however, they must forgo many benefits, conveniences and support services offered to military families, or risk revealing that they have another mother, Donna Lewis. This could lead to Parker's dismissal under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, even in LGBT-friendly Massachusetts.

In the close-knit community of an army base, there is a strong chance the young children will inadvertently out their mothers. "When I tried to put William in on-base daycare," explains Parker, "he would talk about having two moms. A lot of the daycare workers are spouses of military personnel. I don't need somebody's wife saying 'What's the deal with William Parker?'" The same applies to the other activities provided by the Army family centers, such as kiddie gym classes. "The questions start and then the lying begins, and it's just too complicated."

Reposted from AmericaBlog

sally hawkins on little britain