Via JMG: Sharron Angle: The Wicked Ways Of Gay Marriage & Medicare Are Destroying Us

Speaking to a Nevada church, Sharron Angle got all caught up in Jeebus and denounced social programs, abortion, divorce, and gay marriage as the "wicked ways" that are destroying America.

"I confess that we are a nation who has killed our children. I confess that we are a nation who has walked away from the family and allowed divorce even among our ranks. We have walked away from the biblical definition of marriage; one man, one woman, the two become one flesh," Angle said. "We as a nation have been walking away from our constitutional freedom and relying on government instead to take care of the widow and the orphan...we're saying 'well, the government we have all these programs now, aid for families with dependent children and medicare and social security."

According to Angle, "the people" should help their needy, not the government.

Labels: 2010 elections, bigotry, Jeebus, Nevada, religion, Sharron Angle

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Via HimalayaCrafts:

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
--Mahatma Gandhi

Facebook Quote of the Day (via Tim Van Den Bos):

They can out spend your candidate. They can drag you down and stomp on your head because you are carrying a sign they don't like. They can even try to ruin your life because you can't be bought. What they can't do is take away your convictions, your soul, or your vote.

It Gets Better: Facebook Employees

Via JMG: It Gets Better: DNC Staff

I have totally lost all respect for Evangelicals...

Via JMG: Tony Perkins: Gay Kids Kill Themselves Because They Know They're Abnormal

Tony Perkins appeared on NPR today to declare that the rate of suicides among LGBT youths is so high because those kids know they are freaks. And not because they're taught every day of their hopeless lives that God hates them. Via Right Wing Watch:

Tony Perkins, president of the evangelical Family Research Council, says gay activists are exploiting the concern over bullying — and twisting the facts. "There's no correlation between inacceptance of homosexuality and depression and suicide," he says. Rather, Perkins says, there is another factor that leads kids to kill themselves. "These young people who identify as gay or lesbian, we know from the social science that they have a higher propensity to depression or suicide because of that internal conflict." Homosexuality is "abnormal," he says, and kids know it, which leads them to despair.

Joe goes on to say: "Repulsive and typically full of Christianist love. But what the FUCK was NPR doing hosting Tony Perkins? Do they bring on the KKK to discuss affirmative action? Would they give airtime to Faisal Shahzad to provide an opposing view on the political value of car bombs? Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council are spending millions of dollars every fucking month to enable the murders and suicides of LGBT Americans. What about that is unclear to NPR?"

Labels: assholism, bigotry, hate speech, LGBT youth, NPR, religion, suicide, Tony Perkins

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ViaJMG: Obama Breaks Bill Clinton's Record For Number Of Openly Gay Appointees

He's only halfway through his term, but President Obama has broken Bill Clinton's record for the number of openly gay appointees to his administration.

Gay activists say the estimate of more than 150 appointments so far — from agency heads and commission members to policy officials and senior staffers — surpasses the previous high of about 140 reached during two full terms under President Bill Clinton. "From everything we hear from inside the administration, they wanted this to be part of their efforts at diversity," said Denis Dison, spokesman for the Presidential Appointments Project of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute. The pace of appointments has helped to ease broader disappointment among gay rights groups that Obama has not acted more quickly on other fronts, such as ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military. In a sign of how times have changed, few of the appointees — about two dozen required Senate confirmation — have stirred much controversy.

Obama's highest-ranking openly gay appointee so far is Office of Personnel Management director John Berry, who oversees almost two million federal employees.

Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Obama administration

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Via JMG: Whoopi Fights Back

Via JMG: Elvira's Scissor Sisters Halloween Special

AFL-CIO President Trumka: It Gets Better

Message from GetEQUAL Youth to President Obama and Congress

Via JMG: ARKANSAS: School Board Member Celebrates Gay Suicides And AIDS

From Independence County, Arkansas: Midland School District board member Clint McCance took to Facebook to mock the suicides of LGBT youth and celebrate the deaths of gay people from AIDS. This is what the queer youth of Arkansas face in their schools. Repulsive. Another Facebook page calling for McCance's firing has already appeared. It looks like the Midland School District has wiped the names of its board members from its website, but Midland Superintendent Dean Stanley can be reached at dstanley@midlandschools.org. Be polite, yet forceful.

Labels: AIDS, Arkansas, assholism, bigotry, education, hate speech, LGBT youth, suicide

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I so gotta have this book

Quote of the Day

Armistead Maupin ‎"She preferred the kind of (Facebook) Friends who just talked about the weather, or showed off their vacation snaps of Fiji, or wondered aloud whether to eat that bar of 70% dark chocolate right now. There was a terse, sewing-circle flavor to this discourse, a genial brevity, that she found appealing." -- MARY ANN IN AUTUMN

Via JMG: Will Ireland Elect A Gay President?

Openly gay Sen. David Norris decided to run for president of Ireland after supporters launched a Facebook campaign urging him to enter the race. And now polls show him far ahead.

Although, like the British monarchy's, the Irish president's power is more symbolic than real, elections to the post have previously been used to protest against the Republic's political establishment. Norris is non-aligned, and is hoping to tap into the widespread discontent over the profligacy of the Celtic tiger years and the way the state's main party, Fianna Fáil, handled the economy. Norris denies his sexuality will be an issue even in more conservative rural parts of Ireland. "It's a non-issue," he says. "It's a non-issue with the people of Ireland. Some may have some concerns, and I hope I am able to address them. I have just had a major radio interview in Dublin and the interviewer asked me about it, and people came on the programme to say 'Will you get out of that? What does it matter! We want someone with vision ... someone who is independent.'

Norris says he has lived a "decent and respectable life" and that those seeking to embarrass him for his sexuality "will find no scandal."

Labels: Ireland, LGBT History

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Via JMG: That's Gay Salutes the "The A-List"

The Weather is a Dick

Share This Video With Friends

Dan Savage & Jim McGreevey On Joy Behar

Via JMG: Will Angry Gays Cost The Dems?

Today the Associated Press wonders if gay voters disillusioned with the Obama administration will cost the Democrats seats in tightly contested races.

Across the country, activists say gay voters are angry — at the lack of progress on issues from eliminating employment discrimination to uncertainty over serving in the military to the economy — and some are choosing to sit out this election or look for other candidates. President Barack Obama's hometown of Chicago, with its large, politically and socially active gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, offers a snapshot of what some are calling the "enthusiasm gap" between voters who came out strong for Obama and other Democrats in 2008 and re-energized Republican base voters, including tea party enthusiasts who say they are primed to storm the polls. [snip]

In places like Cook County, Ill., where the gay population represents about 7 percent of voters, that could mean the difference between victory and defeat in some races, said Rick Garcia, director of public policy for Equality Illinois. One of those races is a much-watched and close battle for Obama's old Senate seat between Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk. "If (candidates) can mobilize the gay community and get them out to vote, it could make all the difference in the world in some of these key races," said Garcia. But volunteers who've been calling the 18,000 or so members of Equality Illinois to urge them to vote have been getting an earful. Many members say they won't vote or will vote against incumbents, regardless of their party affiliation or stance on gay issues.

Folks, you must vote. And yes, you should vote Democrat, even as disappointed as you may feel, if for no other reason than this is the year that we vote in the candidates that will control post-census redistricting. Are you so angry about DADT that you'd put the fucking teabaggers in charge of redrawing the boundaries of your district?

 

Labels: 2010 elections, Democrats, LGBT rights

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Via SacBee:

Bobblehead Meg Whitman Video

Speaker Pelosi: It Gets Better

Via TheWorkingGroup: Embracing Differences

Enough

Via HRC:

Dear Daniel,  As the leaves begin to fall and the temperatures dip, many of us are pulling out sweaters and putting away the artifacts of summer. But as we shift from swimsuits to warm soups, tough elections across the country are in full swing. As beautiful as the fall can be, we can't simply sit around and watch the leaves change. There are critical elections contests underway that impact what matters most to us: our families, safe workplaces and equality for all Americans. This fall, HRC staff is across the nation, digging in and making sure our members know how critical these races are for LGBT people and our allies. Election results matter and we have some big challenges. By Nov. 2nd, 30 HRC staff members will have been on the ground in 16 states, their efforts multiplied by volunteers dedicated to ensuring our community's voice resonates in the outcome. Stop by our DC headquarters almost any night and we'll enlist you in phone banks alerting members in key states to get involved and, most importantly, to vote. In Pennsylvania, Regional Field Director Sultan Shakir has been leading a team assisting several key races. Sultan and other HRC staff have been emboldened by amazing volunteers, who are doing what it takes to win, whether that's canvassing door-to-door, making calls or swelling the ranks of a rally. Mobilizing HRC members to vote is essential to ensuring a supportive Congress or State House. There's no better example than Minnesota, where the outcome could determine the future of marriage equality. The state legislature is poised to pass a marriage equality bill next year, but it means little without a governor in the corner office to sign it into law. That's why HRC has made a big investment in Minnesota and with contributions and staff, including Regional Field Director Tony Wagner, on the ground. The promise of marriage equality also sits on the horizon for New Yorkers. After narrowly losing last year, it was clear we needed to change the composition of the New York state Senate to win. That's why for months, HRC has been involved in races throughout the state; including our campaign strategist Brian Ellner. As we ramp up in this final full week, several prominent New Yorkers have lent their voice to our New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign. There is real momentum in New York, and these last days will be critical. While these examples may be some of the headline states for our community, we have mobilized a grassroots army from Washington State to Florida, and from Delaware to Nevada. In the space I have here, I can only offer a snapshot of our electoral and field work. I do know that none of this would be possible without the support of our HRC members. Whether donating to pro-equality candidates or campaigns, canvassing where you live or emailing your family and friends to vote, all of you make change possible.  As we east coasters bundle up, we are reminded of the changes that arrive each season. Let’s stand together to make sure that the changes in November lead us closer to a policy-making landscape of men and women who will truly represent our families and communities. And that means, one final push for equality until Election Day, Nov. 2nd. Thank you for all you are doing this Fall. Joe Solmonese President, Human Rights Campaign P.S. In other news, this week HRC released our Congressional Scorecard that rates Senators and Representatives on LGBT equality issues. Find out how your leaders rate.

nonprofit software

Via JMG: Majority Of Americans Agree: Churches Contribute To LGBT Suicides

A large majority of Americans, two-thirds in fact, believe that the way that churches treat gay people contributes to LGBT suicides. (This is probably self-apparent, to you.)

Two out of three Americans believe gay people commit suicide at least partly because of messages coming out of churches and other places of worship, a survey released Thursday found. More than four out of 10 Americans say the message coming out of churches about gay people is negative, and about the same number say those messages contribute "a lot" to negative perceptions of gay and lesbian people. Catholics were the most critical of their own churches' messages on homosexuality, while white evangelical Christians gave their churches the highest grades, the survey found. The Public Religion Research Institute asked 1,017 Americans their views on religion and homosexuality between October 14 and 17, in the wake of a highly publicized rash of suicides by gay people. Gay rights campaigner Dan Savage said the idea that churches send out an anti-gay message "totally jibes with my experience and that of millions of other gay and lesbian people."

Tony Perkins? Slaggie? Reaction?

Labels: bigotry, LGBT youth, religion, suicide

reposted from Joe

VIa JMG: AUSTRALIA: New Poll Shows Majority Support Gay Marriage

A just-released poll reveals that 62% of Australians now support marriage equality.

Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson Alex Greenwich and PFLAG national spokesperson Shelley Argent OAM called on both major parties to listen to the Australian people and allow a conscience vote on the issue. "Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott cannot ignore the majority of Australians who believe same-sex couples should be able to marry and the even greater majority who want a conscience vote on the issue", Greenwich said. PFLAG national spokesperson, Shelley Argent, said "if Catholic counties like Spain, Argentina and Portugal can right this wrong then why can't Australia?" The Galaxy poll also showed that 80 per cent of Australians aged between 18 and 24 support same-sex marriage and 72 per cent of households with children aged under 18 were also in favour. 74 per cent of Labor voters and 48per cent of Coalition voters support equality. Support for a conscience vote is uniformly high with 80per cent of Labor voters and 75 per cent of Coalition voters supporting it.

Full polling results here (PDF).

Labels: Australia, LGBT rights, marriage equality, polls

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Via JMG: Janet Porter Prays for Control of Government

And This We Pray: Please, Jeebus, Put Christians In Charge Of America

Janet Porter prays that America "recognizes the lie of separation of church and state, which exists only in the Soviet Union." (Soviet Union?) Janet also prays that Jeebus knock some sense into those 19 states without anti-gay marriage laws! Glory! Prai$e Hi$ Name! The donation plate is now being passed!

Labels: bigotry, Christianists, dominionists, Janet Porter, religion, Right Wing Watch

posted by Joe

Via JMG: Dan Savage's Reaction To President Obama's "It Gets Better" Video

thank you Mr. President!

Daniel -- Yesterday, President Obama recorded a video message for the "It Gets Better" project. Take a look: Recently, several young people took their own lives after being bullied by their peers for being gay or being perceived as gay. The President's message -- like thousands of others that have been recorded and uploaded to the project -- is one of hope and support: You are loved, you are not alone. It gets better. Please watch the video, and then share it with anyone you think may need to hear this message: http://my.barackobama.com/ItGetsBetter Thanks, Mitch Mitch Stewart Director Organizing for America

Via Freedom to Marry:

Daniel, NOM's Maggie Gallagher is at it again. In a New York Post column earlier this week, Maggie used made-up facts to attack LGBT youth and LGBT activists, including Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson, to justify NOM's relentless campaign against LGBT people and their families. Even as she and other anti-gay activists continue to use damaging rhetoric that promotes fear and bullying against LGBT youth, Maggie says, "These kids need help, real help. They should not become a mere rhetorical strategy, a plaything in our adult battles." Join Freedom to Marry and Evan Wolfson in telling Maggie she can't have it both ways. Sign our open letter to Maggie Gallagher calling on her to end her attacks against LGBT people and their families: http://freedomtomarry.org/WriteMaggie For years, Maggie has been a leading figure in the anti-gay movement. Along with activists like Brian Brown, president of NOM, and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, she has helped create a toxic climate of prejudice that sends the message to youth that being gay is a "dysfunction" that one should work to "overcome." In light of recent anti-gay bullying and a series of tragic suicides, Maggie's continued use of anti-gay rhetoric is especially troubling. Join us in telling Maggie Gallagher to get out of the discrimination business and to stand with those of us who support equal protection and respect, for all. http://freedomtomarry.org/WriteMaggie Thanks for all you do, Michael Crawford New Media Director, Freedom to Marry © 2003-2010 Freedom to Marry | http://freedomtomarry.org/unsubscribe

It Gets Better - Turtle Creek Chorale

Via JMG: Tweet Of The Day II - Barack Obama

Labels: Barack Obama, bullying, Dan Savage, LGBT youth, suicide, Tweet Of The Day

reposted from Joe

President Obama: It Gets Better

Via JMG: Buddhists Win Google Stereotypes

Buddhists Win Google Stereotypes

When you begin a Google search with the question "Why are [Christians, Jews, Muslims] so" - you get the above suggestions. The same query regarding Buddhists yields only "happy."

UPDATE: It's not listed in the above-linked story, but I've done the same query on atheists.

Labels: Buddhism, Google, religion

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Via JMG: Andrew Sullivan On Homocons And GOProud: They Are Nauseating

In a video essay posted today on Big Think, Andrew Sullivan muses "How Can Anyone Be Gay And Republican?" Here's an excerpt.

You know, I used to say, we have to stay in these parties because certainly gay people do not want to become a Democratic Party constituency that is totally taken for granted, which is, of course, what has happened. When you have no leverage over the party, they don’t do anything for you—except take your money and invite you to cocktail parties, which is all that’s happened really in two years under Obama with two houses of Congress.

But at the same time, you know, this Homocon thing... it was in someone’s apartment. I mean the idea that this has been any genuine meaning out there for most people, there are plenty of gay people; many, many, many more I think than other minority groups actually, who would love a party of limited small government, prudent, strong foreign policy, balanced budgets, live and let live, like the British Tories. And if the Republican Party ever becomes that again, I think there will be plenty of places for gay people in it.

But to do so and join a party on condition that we oppose our own civil rights and our own basic civil equality seems a non-starter for me. I mean, it’s... there’s something quite nauseating about it actually. And you see even, like, Chris Barron who is the head of Homocon, or whatever they are calling themselves, GOProud, having to say that when Jim DeMint goes on and says that no gay person should be a school teacher, which is to the—which Ronald Reagan rejected in 1978—where are you left?

Watch the video on Big Think. Obviously, we agree.

Labels: Andrew Sullivan, Christopher Barron, GOP, GOProud, homocons, Quislings

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Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Ted Olson

"It happens every once in awhile at the federal level when the solicitor general, on behalf of the U.S., will confess error or decline to defend a law. I don't know what is going through the [Obama] administration's thought process on 'don't ask, don't tell.' It would be appropriate for them to say 'the law has been deemed unconstitutional, we are not going to seek further review of that.'" - Former Bush administration Solicitor General Ted Olson.

Labels: DADT, Obama administration, Quote Of The Day, Ted Olson

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Via JMG: Tweet Of The Day - AFER

Labels: AFER, California, David Boies, marriage equality, Perry v Schwarzenengger, Proposition 8, Ted Olson

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Via JMG: DOD Revises DADT Discharge Procedure

In response to the murky legal waters currently swirling around DADT, the Pentagon has announced it is raising the rank of persons able to make the call to eject a gay or lesbian servicemember. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly:

Discharges under the military's ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy will now take the approval of the service branch secretary, and only in consultation with the defense department general counsel and the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, according to a pair of memoranda issued by senior military leadership today.

Until further notice, pursuant to a memorandum from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and a follow-up memorandum from Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley, no service member can be discharged under DADT without the ''personal approval of the secretary of the military department concerned, and only in coordination with me and the General Counsel of the Department of Defense.''

The message I'm seeing is that the Pentagon intends to make it extremely hard to kick someone out.

Labels: DADT, DOD, military, Pentagon

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Via JMG: Openly Gay Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns Speaks To Ellen DeGeneres

Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns & Husband J.D. Angle On "The Last Word"

JMG:

Morning View - GLAAD's Spirit Day

I haven't shaved in ten days, hence the cropping, but at least I remembered to wear purple for GLAAD's Spirit Day. Hopefully the folks at Chirpin' Chicken will find this meaningful when I leave the apartment for lunch.

L

abels: GLAAD, LGBT youth, Morning View, suicide

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