A note from Kay Gilliland:

Tom Preston sent this to me. I wrote to Dr. Kauffman to thank him. He wrote back a remarkable letter and I answered. Do read it all. Kay

In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet.

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan,

James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education, University of Virginia

(It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian :)

On Jun 13, 2010, at 5:53 PM, KAY GILLILAND wrote:

Hello Dr. Kauffman:

Thank you for your wonderful piece on questions for Dr. Laura Schlesinger. I hope your message is widely read and understood. Then we will be able to get on with the real business of faith/religion/God/whatever: learning to live with one another, to care for each other and for the environment and to make this a better world for all its inhabitants.

Kay

(address deleted)

On Jun 14, 2010, at 8:04 AM, James Kauffman wrote:

I quite agree with you, but...

You contacted me recently about a letter to Dr. Laura Schlesinger. I did not write the letter. Neither do I know who did. I think it is very clever, and I applaud the work of the person who wrote it. I forwarded it to some of my friends, but apparently someone sent it on to others with my name appearing as the writer. Please check www.snopes.com/politics/religion/drlaura.asp.

The Internet can be misleading. Not so, Scripture.

I wish I could take credit for writing the letter, but, alas, I cannot. “Thou shalt not raise a false report” (Exodus 23:1). I obviously need to consult Dr. Laura for spiritual advice, though. I need to ask her, for example, whether, if I took credit, I would be bearing false witness against my neighbor, as prohibited by the commandment of God in Exodus 20:16.

Dr. Laura is without doubt correct in her Scriptural condemnation of homosexuality. But she somehow missed the far more common sin of Onan (Genesis 38:9), for which God slew him (Genesis 38:10). Onanism is nothing to trifle with, and it is undoubtedly the cause of much human suffering. Scripture clearly states that it brings God’s wrath upon guys who practice it. Dr. Laura’s failure to comment on Onanism is a mystery.

I feel certain that Dr. Laura has made an altar of earth, as specified in Exodus 20:24 and regularly burns sheep and oxen on it to obtain God’s blessing, as commanded in the same passage. I’m sure she understands that making an altar of hewn stone is forbidden because putting tools on the stone would pollute it (the altar), as stated in Exodus 20:25. And I am sure she can interpret the last verse of Exodus 20 correctly: “Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.” I praise Jehovah that Dr. Laura would neither go up steps to any altar nor be discovered naked thereon.

I think we’d all agree that if Dr. Laura bought a Hebrew servant, she would not require him to work for her for more than six years and would free him in the seventh (but would feel free to keep his wife and children as property, given that said servant had married the wife given him by Dr. Laura’s husband and that he had had children by this wife during the six years of his purchased service), as commanded by the Lord God in the opening verses of Exodus, chapter 21.

I could go on. So could you. But what’s the point? We all know that Dr. Laura knows her Scripture and lives by every verse. She would never select a Scriptural statement and use it to confirm her bias while ignoring other Scriptures.

James M. Kauffman, Ed.D.

Professor Emeritus of Education

University of Virginia

www.people.virginia.edu/~jmk9t/

Via JMG: LAS VEGAS: Gay Wal-Mart Worker Forced To Wear Special Vest

An 18 year-old employee at a Las Vegas area Wal-Mart says that after his bosses forced him to confirm his gayness, he was made to wear a special yellow vest and was shunned by his co-workers.

Back in March, 18-year-old Fernando Gallardo got a seasonal job at a Las Vegas Walmart, hoping to make a few extra dollars. But a few weeks into the job, Gallardo says, his immediate supervisor asked him "point-blank" in front of four of his coworkers if he was gay, and from then on alienated him from the 50 other associates at that location. "I told her yes, and after that she was very rude and short with me," he tells The Advocate. Gallardo says that soon after the incident, he was stripped of many of his daily duties and asked to wear a yellow vest and walk around the store. By mid May his supervisor and two other managers stopped talking to him completely.

Gallardo, who compares the vest to the Star of David worn by Jews during WWII, has filed a complaint with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission.reposted from Joe

California Gurls music video Katy Perry

I am Human NOH8 Campaign PSA

Via the Courage Campaign

Yes, that's essentially what Prop 8's lead attorney Charles Cooper claimed yesterday to Judge Vaughn Walker during yesterday's closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger -- the federal Prop 8 trial:

"The marital relationship is fundamental to the existence and survival of the race. Without the marital relationship, your honor, society would come to an end."

Unbelievable. Fortunately, Ted Olson, the legendary conservative attorney leading the case to overturn Prop 8, delivered an absolutely brilliant closing argument simultaneously destroying Cooper's case and moving many to tears.

As Ted Olson said yesterday, "if there was ever a trial in the history of our country that the American people should have seen, it was this one." That's why we need your help to get the truth out ASAP about the closing arguments in this historic trial through our Prop 8 Trial Tracker and "Testimony: Equality on Trial" campaign. Will you contribute $25, $50, $100 or more before Friday's 11:59 p.m. deadline?:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker

Dear Daniel --

When I graduated from high school in East Tennessee more than three decades ago, I knew a few things for sure. One was that I cared deeply about social justice. Another was that I was a homosexual -- and desperately did not want to be.

More than 30 years later, I am live-blogging the closing arguments of the historic Prop 8 federal trial today from a courtroom in San Francisco -- a city that I had once been afraid to visit for fear that people might think I was gay.

I'm one of the lucky ones. Unfortunately, many people still grappling with the ghosts and demons of self-loathing will not be able to see the trial for themselves. That's why -- when the U.S. Supreme Court banned cameras from the courtroom in January -- the Courage Campaign immediately launched into live coverage, blogging and analyzing every day of the trial for weeks.

More than 2 million views and 32,000 comments posted later, our Prop 8 Trial Tracker blog is relaunching today as a part of "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

I'm live-blogging the Prop 8 trial today because I know from personal experience that the testimony in this trial can literally change lives -- and transform America. With cameras once again being banned from the courtroom, we urgently need your support to relaunch the Prop 8 Trial Tracker. Will you contribute $25, $50, $100 or more today to help us keep it going? DEADLINE: Friday, 11:59 p.m.:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker

We need to make the Prop 8 trial a part of America's heritage. The arguments being made by attorneys Ted Olson, David Boies and their colleagues at the American Foundation for Equal Rights are as foundational to our freedoms as the speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

That's why we launched Testimony: Equality on Trial, to enable Americans to reenact the trial and, soon, give their own personal testimony. Based on what I have witnessed and the reactions to our Prop 8 Trial Tracker, we knew that we had to create a long-term public engagement and education effort to get the story of this trial out to the American people.

Wednesday's closing arguments will again demonstrate the case for equality -- and the real reasons behind the opposition to equality. But it is just the start of what will be a long journey to the U.S. Supreme Court, where this case and our rights will ultimately be decided.

That's why we need your support urgently. Will you help us relaunch the Prop 8 Trial Tracker as a part of "Testimony: Equality on Trial" today? Please contribute $25, $50, $100 or more right now so we can bring this trial to the American people. DEADLINE: Friday, 11:59 p.m.:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker

Thank you for helping us tell the story of this trial so that we can shine a light on the bigotry that brought us to this point in our nation's history. We really can't do it without you.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

Courage Campaign Equality is a part of the Courage Campaign's multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. To get involved in Courage Campaign Equality, visit "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

To get the truth out about the Prop 8 trial, please chip in what you can today:

Via JMG: NEW STUDY: All That Money Spent On Prop 8 Advertising Was For Nothing

According to a new study just released, those zillions of dollars spent by both sides during the 2008 Prop 8 advertising battle didn't actually change anybody's mind.

The warring sides in the 2008 battle over same-sex marriage in California may have spent a combined $83 million for nothing, according to an academic study released Tuesday. The study by Patrick Egan of New York University looked at polling on gay marriage and domestic partner elections in 33 states since 1998 and found that no minds were changed despite millions in spending, hard-hitting advertising such as the much-quoted "like it or not" TV spot with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and emotional pleas from both sides. By election day, voters who opposed same-sex marriage before the campaign still opposed it, and those who backed it continued to back it. "The study indicates that when all of this (campaigning) is over, the result is a wash," said Egan, who was joined by supporters of same-sex marriage at a news conference at San Francisco City Hall.

According to the above-linked story, the new study should serve as a warning to marriage proponents intent on putting the issue on the 2012 ballot. Equality California's Geoffrey Kors agrees that a majority support will be required before even considering the attempt: "We're not going in if the numbers don't make sense."

(Tipped by JMG reader Huntington)

reposted from Joe

Tel Aviv Gay / Pride Parade 2010 - P.1 מצעד הגאווה 2010 בתל אביב

Parada gay 2010 São Paulo

Via SacBee: clic pic to follw SacBee Coverage

Via SacBee: Prop. 8 gay-marriage trial goes to judge in California

By Susan Ferriss

SAN FRANCISCO – The lead attorney defending Proposition 8 on the final day of a historic federal trial Wednesday said that gays have been subjected to a "shameful history" of discrimination but that voters had a right to limit them from marriage. - Read More

Via Bilerico: Why We Must Tell America the Truth About the Prop 8 Trial

Filed by: Cleve Jones

June 16, 2010 8:00 PM

In his most famous speech, my good friend Harvey Milk urged LGBT people to come out of the closet. "For invisible, we remain in limbo," he said.

Harvey knew that full equality would not become reality as long as the public was also shielded from the truth about who we are. The hollow arguments at the foundation of our institutionalized second class citizenship would never be challenged unless we embraced our identities publicly.

With closing arguments in the Prop. 8 trial this morning, Harvey Milk's words ring as true today as they did when they were first uttered in 1978. And all parties to the Prop. 8 trial know it.

Continue reading "Why We Must Tell America the Truth About the Prop 8 Trial" »

Via JMG: National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Of Commerce Cuts Ties With McDonald's

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has sent a blistering letter (PDF) to McDonald's cutting their ties with them, perhaps partially in response to COO Donald Thompson's "I am a Christian" statement about the company's ad in France.

We strongly believe that McDonald’s plan to distance itself from LGBT and other diverse business segments, coupled with the release of the French TV ad, is ill advised and counter to the spirit of good business and sound ethics. We sincerely hope that McDonald’s will reconsider its position and that the company will again show its support for LGBT people, our families and our businesses -- not just where it is politically expedient, but around the globe.

Barring a significant change in policy on the part of McDonald’s, please consider this letter as official notice that the NGLCC will not accept future support or membership by McDonald’s or any of its subsidiaries. Additionally, please note that we will answer any questions about this communication, the past relationship between our organizations or any other questions by members of the NGLCC, the media or other interested parties with nothing less than factual and accurate information based on our communications and experiences with McDonald’s and its representatives.

The NGLCC says they represent the interests of about 1.4 million LGBT-owned business in the United States. Read their entire letter.reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Rick Jacobs

"The bailiff just made Maggie NOM put her bare feet down. She is so disrespectful." - Rick Jacobs, live-blogging for the Courage Campaign from the closing arguments at the Prop 8 trial. SRSLY? Slaggie had her bare feet on the back of the seat in front of her?

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Slaggie Gilamonster Concedes Prop 8

"Chuck Cooper is a heckuva lawyer. At stake in this case is the future of marriage in all 50 states, and he's right that this attempt to shut down the debate by constitutionalizing gay marriage will backfire. Americans have a right to vote for marriage. Ted Olson doesn't seem to understand the argument, and judging from today's exchanges neither does Judge Walker. I expect Judge Walker will overrule Prop 8. But millions of Americans do understand why marriage is the union of husband and wife and I believe the majority of the Supreme Court will as well." - NOM former president Maggie Gallagher, in a statement just posted to their Prop 8 site.reposted from Joe