makeitequal.org
A protest flag in support of gay marriage rights in the United States, called 'the Flag of Equal Marriage.' It only has stars for the states with fully legal same-sex marriage.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Via Gay Marriage USA: Obama bars U.S. entry for violators of LGBT human rights abroad
Order could apply to supporters of Uganda 'Kill the Gays' bill
Via JMG: Tony Perkins On Rick Perry's Prayer Rally
Barry Lynn of the Americans for Separation of Church & State takes on FRC's Tony Perkins. The rally takes place today in Houston. Halfway through the clip, Matthews runs a montage of the outrageous comments made by the event's sponsors.
Labels: Americans United, Family Reseach Council, hate groups, Rick Perry, separation of church and state, Tony Perkins
Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - David Barton
"The letter reminds school superintends that it is ‘not uncommon for adolescents to experience transient,’ that’s a big word, ‘transient confusion about their sexual orientation,’ and is telling 14,800 superintendents that ‘most students will ultimately adopt a heterosexual orientation if not otherwise encouraged.’ And they’re saying, guys, back off. This indoctrination you’re doing. If you’ll just let this develop naturally, they’ll end up being heterosexual unless you force them to be homosexual. Well that’s a remarkable letter coming from the leading pediatric association in America." - Historical revisionist David Barton, citing a letter sent to the nation's schools by an essentially fictitious group of pediatricians.RELATED: The real "leading pediatric organization," the American Academy of Pediatrics (with 60,000 members), is quite gay friendly. OMG, that Christianist dude just totally LIED! Shocking!
Via AmericaBlogGay: Thomas Roberts asks NOM’s Brian Brown why same-sex couples "are less than you"
MSNBC's Thomas Roberts interviewed NOM's Brian Brown and Marriage Equality USA's John Lewis.
Brian thinks "Same-sex marriage is a big issue in this country." Yes, it is. And, it's getting better for our side every day. NOM is leading the GOP down a sink hole. Have at it, I say.
And, Thomas Roberts is having none of Brian's hypocrisy. Brian seemed especially bitter today. He probably hasn't recovered from New York. And, knows where the trendline is heading. The American people are on our side, not his. Well, he does have Romney, Bachmann, Pawlenty and Santorum. He can have all of them.
Via AmericaBlogGay: Homophobia is a family affair for the leader of CPAC, Al Cardenas, and his wife, Diana
Last week, CPAC, the biggest gathering of conservative wingnuts, kicked out GOProud. The new chair of the conference, Al Cardenas, doesn't want the gays around anymore.
Seems that homophobia runs deep in the Cardenas household. His wife, Diana, was exhibiting her hatred of the gays on Facebook, where she had to "ventilate" her feelings about the LGBT community. Classy. Very classy.
Steve Rothaus has the details and the actual Facebook chat. I feel bad for any member of that family who happens to be gay.
What a nasty bunch.
Anyway, the trendline is moving in our direction -- and moving fast. Support for LGBT equality has overwhelming support among young voters. But, CPAC and NOM are holding the GOPers hostage to their anti-gay agenda. Homophobia actually is a choice. In 2011, it's very stupid from a political perspective. Oh well. Have at it, haters.
Friday, August 5, 2011
I received this from a close friend, and believe it to be true
Despite the negatives flooding the airwaves and our lives, the good in all of us shall come out and form a cover to protect us and those around us. Positives will win.
A Spiritual Conspiracy
On the surface of the world right now there is war and violence and things seem dark.
But calmly and quietly, at the same time, something else is happening underground.
An inner revolution is taking place and certain individuals are being called to a higher light. It is a silent revolution. From the inside out. From the ground up. This is a Global operation... A spiritual conspiracy.
There are sleeper cells in every nation on the planet. You won't see us on the T.V. You won't read about us in the newspaper. You won't hear about us on the radio. We don't seek any glory. We don't wear any uniform. We come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles.
Most of us work anonymously. We are quietly working behind the scenes in every country and culture of the world. Cities big and small, mountains and valleys, in farms and villages, tribes and remote islands. You could pass by one of us on the street and not even notice. We go undercover. We remain behind the scenes. It is of no concern to us who takes the final credit. But simply that the work gets done.
Occasionally we spot each other in the street. We give a quiet nod and continue on our way. During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs. But behind the false storefront at night is where the real work takes a place. Some call us the 'Conscious Army'. We are slowly creating a new world with the power of our minds and hearts. We follow, with passion and joy. Our orders are from the Central Spiritual Intelligence. We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no one is looking.
Poems - Hugs - Music - Photography - Movies - Kind words - Smiles - Meditation and prayer - Dance - Social activism - Websites - Blogs - Random acts of kindness.
We each express ourselves in our own unique ways with our own unique gifts and talents. 'Be the change you want to see in the world.' That is the motto that fills our hearts. We know it is the only way real transformation takes place. We know that quietly and humbly we have the power of all the oceans combined.
Our work is slow and meticulous. Like the formation of mountains. It is not even visible at first glance. And yet with it entire tectonic plates shall be moved in the centuries to come.
Love is the new religion of the 21st century. You don't have to be a highly educated person. Or have any exceptional knowledge to understand it. It comes from the intelligence of the heart. Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human beings.
Be the change you want to see in the world. Nobody else can do it for you.
We are now recruiting. Perhaps you will join us. Or already have.... All are welcome... The door is open.
~Author Unknown
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Bal wrote: "Thanks , the author is Brian Piergrossi. http://www.facebook.com/l/PAQCQXVeh/brianpiergrossi.com/"
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Bal wrote: "Thanks , the author is Brian Piergrossi. http://www.facebook.com/l/PAQCQXVeh/brianpiergrossi.com/"
Via JMG: Last Known Gay Surivor Of The Nazis' Concentration Camps Dies At Age 98
Rudolf Brazda, believed to be the last known gay survivor of the Holocaust, has died at the age of 98. Brazda was sent to the Nazis’ Buchenwald concentration camp in August 1942 and held there until its liberation by U.S. forces in 1945. Nazi Germany declared homosexuality an aberration that threatened the German race, and convicted some 50,000 homosexuals as criminals. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 gay men were deported to concentration camps, where few survived. When a memorial to the Nazis’ gay victims was unveiled in Berlin in 2008, the LSVD said the last ex-prisoner that it knew of had died three years earlier. But the group said it was then contacted by Brazda, who visited the memorial at its invitation and became an honorary member. Brazda was born in 1913. He grew up in the eastern German town of Meuselwitz and repeatedly ran into trouble with Nazi authorities over his homosexuality before being sent to Buchenwald.Earlier this year Brazda was named a knight in France's Legion of Honor.
Via JMG: NOM Is Astroturfing Facebook
According to NOM defector Louis Marinelli, NOM is paying people to plant anti-equality comments on Facebook pages.
As social media manager for the National Organization for Marriage, Louis J. Marinelli, the then 24-year-old behind the "Protect Marriage: One Man, One Woman" page, was asked to put together a "SWAT team" of people to comment in favor of NOM's content and opinions. "There was a system where we would track what they did and they would accumulate points.... We were working on a program where they would redeem those points for prizes," said Marinelli. The group also planned to create media teams in key 2012 election states who would be asked to take online actions as well as attend events or write letters to editors, according to Marinelli. When he resigned on April 7, he said about 15 people were on the online astroturf team.The author of the above-linked story says that NOM has refused multiple requests to comment on the issue.
Via JMG: Log Cabin Denounces NOM's Hate Pledge
Radio silence from GOProud, of course.
Via Gay Politics Report:
- Anti-LGBT group wields clout in 2012 race for the White House
The American Family Association is influencing presidential politics ahead of the 2012 elections, despite having leaders who have said the Nazi party was created by homosexuals and that Muslims should be prevented from becoming American citizens, according to this article. The association has hosted several Republican presidential candidates on its radio show, and is underwriting a prayer gathering organized by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is considering a presidential run. "Many Republican candidates see no shame in lending credibility to the extremism and bigotry on [the group's] radio shows," said Peter Montgomery of People for the American Way. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/3)
- U.S. tribe legalizes marriage for same-sex couples
The Suquamish tribal council, based in Washington state, has voted unanimously to allow same-sex couples to marry. "It is part of our tradition and our culture to be inclusive, to accept people who may be different," said an attorney for the tribe, explaining that the vote was not controversial. Google/Agence France-Presse (8/4)
- N.J. gay couple separated by arrest, deportation
A New Jersey gay couple who had entered into an official civil union have been separated after an immigration agent tracked down one of the men -- a Peruvian national who had overstayed his visa. Unlike straight married couples, gays and lesbians cannot sponsor their foreign partners for naturalization in the U.S. because the Defense of Marriage Act bars recognition of their legal relationships. Daily News (New York) (8/4)
- National psychology group backs marriage equality
A policymaking body of the American Psychological Association has voted unanimously to approve a resolution supporting marriage rights for same-sex couples. Some say the move could have a big impact on the political debate surrounding the issue. USA TODAY (8/5)
Via Gay Politics Report: Romney, Bachmann and Santorum sign new marriage pledge
Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., have signed a new pledge to oppose marriage equality, support a federal marriage amendment and restrict their judicial nominations to judges who disagree that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry. The pledge, put forward by the National Organization for Marriage, also says signers promise to establish a presidential commission to investigate claims that marriage-equality opponents are being harassed or threatened.
CBS News
CBS News
From My wonderful US Senator:
Dear Dr. Orey:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for efforts to repeal the discriminatory Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA). I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue, and I share your opposition to DOMA.
The Defense of Marriage Act has nothing to do with defending marriage - all it does is discriminate against millions of Americans by denying them equal treatment under the law. It is long past time to repeal this unjust law and start treating all our families with the dignity and respect they deserve.
I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of S.598, the Respect for Marriage Act of 2011. This bill would repeal DOMA and establish equal rights for all lawfully married couples - including more than 18,000 legally married same-sex couples in California - and allow them to receive federal marriage benefits.
S.598 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Be assured that I will work with my colleagues to pass this important bill and see it signed into law.
Again, thank you for writing to me. Please feel free to contact me again about any issue of importance to you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
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