Ravenhurst

Blog Moved To NEW Address

2009-11-05T08:41:00.000-08:00

This Ravenhurst blog has become Richard of Ravenhurst at:

http://richardofravenhurst.blogspot.com/

Please change your favorites and join me at my new home.

Richard

Hate Crime Law

2009-10-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

Riding in the car today, I listened to a conservative radio show with an Alliance Defense Lawyer guest bemoaning the proposed federal hate crime law. Their basic tenets were two:

1. Crimes are already crimes and do not need federal law to make certain the states prosecute crimes. It is wrong to criminalize the motive of homophobic criminals who bash and kill because they hate queers (even the Bible teaches that God hates homosexual behavior)

2. Hate crime law MAY have a chilling effect on pastors after the first pastor is called to testify in a hate crimes trial .... NOT that the pastor who preaches homophobic hatred will be in criminal trouble ... but the very fact that a pastor MAY be called to testify will make other pastors self-censor themselves.

Therefore the hate crimes law is bad.

Of course, the ADF brought up the case of the pavilion in New Jersey and the photographer in New Mexico. Let's deal with those cases quickly.

In New Mexico, a state with an anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation, a woman was open for business as a photographer. A lesbian emailed her and asked for a quote on photographs for her commitment ceremony. The photographer emailed that she did not photograph homosexual events.

This was clearly the case of a public business discriminating against customers based on their sexual orientation. The Human Rights Commission of NM found her discriminating and fined her $6,000+. She has appealed. How dare the government NOT allow her the Christian right to discriminate against queers? I am fairly certain she will lose on appeal. After all, Christians do not have the right to refuse to do business with Latinos or Blacks or Whites. Christian businesses do not have the right to refuse to do business with Muslims or Pagans. Businesses open to the public should NOT have the right to refuse to do business with glbt persons.

In New Jersey, a Methodist organization received PUBLIC money AND a tax exemption to fix and open a pavilion on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. The PUBLIC money and the PUBLIC tax exemption were awarded the Methodist organization on the grounds that the pavilion would be open to the PUBLIC.

A gay couple wanted to hold their commitment ceremony at the pavilion. The Methodist organization refused. Since the Methodists CHOSE to renege on their agreement that the pavilion was open to the public for public use, the government withdrew its tax exemption for the pavilion. You cannot take PUBLIC money and then refuse to offer services to the PUBLIC.

Reminds of the Catholics saying they had to close their adoption services in Massachusetts or else they would be forced to place kids in gay and lesbian households. In fact they did close ... BUT what they fail to say is that the Catholics were receiving PUBLIC money for their adoption services. It was the PUBLIC money that was at issue, not the Catholic's beliefs. You cannot discriminate IF you receive PUBLIC funds.

Mormons on the other hand run a successful adoption agency in Massachusetts that absolutely refuses to place a child with a gay person. BUT there is NO PUBLIC money involved ... the Mormons pay their own way. It remains legal in Massachusetts to discriminate as a church operation IF you pay your own way.

Back to hate crime law. The conservative host and the ADF pointed to Matthew Shepard's case where the murderers are serving life sentences. No hate crime law needed, right?

What they did NOT mention was the case of Sean Kennedy of South Carolina. A clear case of homophobic murder ... the killer even left a phone message explaining that he had killed a faggot. What happened to this young white killer in SC? He served a few MONTHS in prison and then went free. 1951? 1968? 1987? NO! This was less than 24 months ago ... 2007 in Greenville South Carolina. Tell me justice would not have better served by a federal prosecution.

What he Right refuses to recognize is the chilling effect any gay bashing has on ALL gays and lesbians. This past weekend in Queens NYC, a gay man was brutally attacked as he left a convenience store in his neighborhood at 3:00 AM. They have arrested the attackers though the victim remains in an induced coma.

This crime on the other side of the country, at a time I am normally asleep has a chilling effect on my behavior and life. NOTHING terrifies more than seeing two or more white males between the ages of 14 and 30 on the street. Young white homophobes attack and kill almost every month of the year. Every time I hear of such an attack, it makes me fearful in my own community. Hate crimes have a chilling effect on the glbt community and make us all afraid. They deserve to be federal crime so they are properly prosecuted in EVERY state ... even South Carolina.

The ADF lawyer and the conservative host bemoaned the fact that the hate crime law makes them "second class citizens" because they believe homosexuality is sinful and wrong and to be put down in society. They are absolutely correct. And it is about time. I am tired of being a second or third class citizen because of who I am. It is about time the homophobes became second class citizens based on their CHOICE to hate homosexuals.

SC and similar states need the hate crimes law to put murderers of gays and lesbians in prison. I and all gay men and lesbians need the hate crime law to protect our own sense of safety.

The religious Reich is FREE to continue to preach and broadcast their hate. I have NO problem with that, none at all. I strongly support the 1st amendment. BUT just like racists are now second class citizens in this country, it is time homophobes joined them ... along with those who consider women 2nd class to men.

BTW ... RELIGIOUS ANIMUS is covered in the hate crime bill. Anyone who desecrates a church for, let's say, giving money to Proposition 8, can be prosecuted under the federal law. BUT when was the last time you heard the relious right or the conservative right bemoan that fact? Yeah, I thought so.

Hellcat Plane Landing On the USS Langley

2009-09-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a photograph of a Hellcat plane landing on the USS Carier Langley in October 1944. This may or may not be a photograph of my Dad flying in World War II.

My Dad Met My Grandmother Today

2009-09-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

My Dad went on to meet his Mother this morning around 9 am EDT. As he left, he held the hand of the woman he loved with all his heart for more than 70 years. My family has lost its patriarch.

Dad was born on the kitchen table at an orphanage in Richmond VA. His father ran the dairy farm there. Dad had an older brother, Billy, who greeted him this morning, and an older sister, Anne. They both called my Dad, Pete.

When Dad was two years old, his mother Louise died of hemorrhage while sitting under a tree in her front yard. She felt poorly, told her husband she felt real badly, and died.

Dad's father, Melford Cary, had some civil lawsuit problem and moved to North Carolina to farm land in the name of his second wife, Ola. My grandfather left his three children, including my Dad, in the hands of his wife's relatives. He never felt truly wanted.

He spent most school months with George and Amy Guy in Richmond. Amy was a pioneer working woman making a career of Goodwill Industries. My Dad was a latch key child. For the summers, the Smith family (originally from South Hill VA) gathered and negotiated who got my Dad for the vacation months. He would eavesdrop on the stairwell - listening as others defined his fate. It was rare that anyone came forward willingly to care for Dad.

But Dad made a happy childhood for himself. He really enjoyed model airplanes - the large kind that fly with gasoline engines. When he was a mere 16 years old he went to a high school football game. There he met a 15 year old girl named Mary Lee from his school's rival. This morning Mary Lee held the hand of the man she loved for more than 70 years. Neither of them ever looked for love in anyone else after that fateful ball game. She called him Minor or Sweetie or Honey.

After World War II broke out, my parents got engaged. Like all other men, my Dad joined the Armed Services as soon as possible.   Dad memorized the eye chart for the Navy recruiter so he could sign up as a pilot in the Navy.

Prior to deployment, my Dad took my Mom to visit his father in North Carolina. Along the way, they decided to elope. Mom had a friend in Greensboro so there they drove. At the marriage license bureau, Mom had to fudge her 20 years into 21 years in order to legally marry. My parents stood before a Methodist minister, with Mom's friend as a bridesmaid, and became man and wife forever. They telegraphed Mom's parents, intending to say "Married in NC. Very happy.  Home soon." However the Western Union clerk was either slack or mischievous. My grandparents got this telegram from Mom:

"Marooned in NC. Very happy. Home soon."   Mom's folks were quite worried about the morals and safety of their only daughter until she showed up with a wedding ring.

And Dad went to war.

He trained in Florida and San Diego CA before heading to the Pacific theater of war. He flew a single prop Hellcat plane off the deck of an air carrier - the US Langley. He only shared with his family glimpses of his experience.

He spent one New Year's in Hawaii. There the guys made a punch with all the liquor anyone had and pineapple juice. Dad said, "And to this day, I can't stand the taste of pineapple juice!"

After flying very low and strafing enemy territory, Dad's Hellcat had mud covering the US insignia. When he flew back to the carrier, they refused to let him anywhere near the carrier. The Navy feared Dad was a Japanese kamikaze plan. Dad said he had to name a lot of baseball players and the winners of several World Series before they believed he really was Lt. MCS.

During the war, Mom followed Dad as long as he was in the USA. She drove across the continent with one friend to be with Dad in California. The war ended, Dad was returned to San Diego, and my older brother Mike was born in 1946.

Dad and Mom returned to Virginia where Dad enrolled in VPI under the GI Bill. With a tight budget the young couple lived in a two story home with the heating stove on the first floor. Many a morning my parents awoke to find Mike happy as a clam with his diapers frozen firmly to his butt.

Receiving a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Dad took his wife and son back to Richmond VA. He began working as an engineer for a local company. In 1951, I came along. I had a minor birth defect - but Mom and Dad moved mountains to see that I was made good as new by the respected Dr. Butterworth. Almost as soon as my last operation, my twin brothers Rob and Dave were born - 22 months younger than I. Of course, I was jealous of the attention given these invaders and immediately forgot all my toilet training. So Dad spent most of his time off changing diapers and tosses kids into the air to hear them squeal with delight.

Around 1956, Dad began working for the DuPont Corporation. He eventually retired from his career there. Dad was first assigned to Waynesboro VA through my elementary school years, then Wilmington Delaware for my junior high years, then Camden South Carolina for my high school and college, then Newark Delaware where Dad retired.

Dad invented the term "Minimum Adequate" for the company and his sons. "Minimum Adequate" means you do not necessarily purchase the most expensive item to meet your needs.   Nor do you necessarily go with the lowest bidder or price. You purchase that which minimally meets your exact needs - you get the best price possible for that which is adequate for the job. Dad saved DuPont a lot of money with this idea.

Dad was also in a large meeting one day with lots of chemists in research and lots of managers of the various artificial yarns DuPont made. My Dad was explaining that if certain workers turned off their equipment when it was not in use, the company would save thousands of dollars. The folks in the yarn industry snoozed. My Dad asked one derider of his proposal what the goal of that DuPont plant was? The guy answered: "To make nylon." My Dad looked him straight in the eye and said, "Your wrong. The goal of this DuPont plant is to make money!"  Dad won the day and equipment use was changed.

Dad not only worked - he came home as husband and father. Every year he took he took Rob and Dave and me to Little League tryouts. Every year we were cut and cut first. So Dad enrolled us in the "farm league" program for other baseball losers.  Every summer he came to game after game in support of his sons. On the first night of summer vacation, after dinner, the sons met Dad at the picnic table in the back yard. There he used electric razors to buzz our heads of hair for our summer of fun. It was a nice and practical ritual.

Through the divorces, alcoholism, drug use, coming out, flunking out of college, dropping out of college, and all the other stuff four sons put their parents through in the 60's and 70's, my Dad never for one moment stopped loving all of usand doing every thing within his power to "make it right."

I also need to say that my Dad always and everywhere loved my Mom. We boys faced a solid front. There was no playing one parent off another - they were a solid front. To us, they were Mom and Dad. To neighbors, they were Mary Lee and Minor. Theirs was a most solid marriage.

Dad treated every woman his sons married as a daughter from the day of the engagement. He never had a daughter-in-law, only more children to love. With divorce most of his grandchildren's mothers drifted away. But one, Julie, stayed close to my Dad until he died this morning. As a young bride, Julie called Dad "Father Christmas" because of his generous and loving ways. In later years she felt free to call him Minor.

Dad was a good friend to neighbors and pals. He also instilled acceptance in his sons. In Waynesboro one next door neighbor was a lovely Jewish family at a time where anti-semitism was just dying away in polite society. Mom and Dad treated them with respect and dignity and interest. We were honored to attend some Jewish religious observations and festivals in their home - as they were welcome in ours. Our other next door neighbor was a family of refuges from Cuba. Again Dad accepted them and found interest in their story and way of living. He brought us up to respect differences and to accept people as they are - until their actions prove them untrustworthy.

When Dad married my Mom, he asked only one thing of her ... he asked her to be home when the children got home from school. He made certain his childhood was not repeated - all four of us felt wanted and secure and loved all our lives. And Dad had one life goal for himself - he wanted to put all four sons through college. And he did. I will be forever grateful to Mom and Dad for that gift,

After retirement, my Dad and Mom got a 5 month old miniature poodle they named Sandy. Every day possible, Dad and Sandy would take a five mile walk. At night Sandy sometimes had trouble deciding to snuggle up with my Mom or to snooze in Dad's lap. He was definitely Dad's boy until his death a few years ago.

In retirement Dad loved to play golf and to travel. He and Mom visited their sons in Alaska and South Carolina and took a trip driving across country. He also loved playing generous host to family and friends - especially during the holidays. "Father Christmas" was a good name for Dad.

Parkinson's disease and macular degeneration blindness slowed Dad down quite a bit in his final years. But he never lost that twinkle in his eyes, his loving heart, or his great generosity.

I wrote about his final days in a post yesterday. Today I just wanted and needed to tell you a small bit about my Dad's life. Whether Pete, Minor, Dad, Minor Carey, Honey, Sweetie, or Father Christmas - my Dad lived his life as carefully and responsibly and lovingly as he could imagine. The world is a less wonderful place now that he has gone on to meet his Mother and scratch Sandy behind his ears.

I offer all my love and deepest sympathy to my Mom. I know how very, very lonely she will be. I know how lonely I am for Steve.

The USA of the Religious and Far Right

2009-09-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

Here is the United States the conservatives at Free Republic desire. Maybe they skipped class when the Civil War was taught ... secession is a big no-no in the UNITED States.

A Part of Life

2009-09-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

I spent Christmas 2008 with my Mom and Dad at their home in Delaware. They invited me to insure I was not alone that first Christmas after Steve died in January 2008. It was a tough holiday for me - oh, how I missed Steve. But that is how my Mom and Dad live - always looking out for me.

One sunny afternoon I wandered into the living room where my Dad spent his days. Hour after hour Dad would listen to the music of his youth and the "easy listening stations" on his treasured BOSE radio and CD player. Dad closed his eyes and danced with his hands and head - swaying back and forth in time to the music. I delighted in spying on his dancing - he looked so happy and content as he chair danced to youthful tunes of the big bands and the crooners.

That afternoon my grief was getting the better of me. Dad asked if I was all right. I replied "no" and sat on the sofa across the sun beams on the floor from my Dad. I asked him what he thought about death.

"Death," Dad said without hesitation "Death is just a part of life." He said it with such peace and certainty that I knew it was true and nothing ever to fear.

"But what do you think happens after we die?" I asked. I had been struggling with this question since the death of my beloved husband.

Dad waved an arm into the air like a magician making magic. "You go on" Dad said. It did not matter to Dad what one called "going on" be it the Summerlands or Heaven or a rest between incarnations. It just did not matter. Death is a part of life and we go on. That is the heart of the matter after all.

Dad added, "I look forward to seeing my Mother."

Dad's Mom died when he was a toddler. He has no independent memory of his Mom, Louise. But that is not all Dad told me in that single sentence of 7 words ... "I look forward to seeing my Mother."

In those 7 words Dad said he knew his own death was nearing but he saw his own death as not only inevitable but also simply a part of his greater life. He knew he was going on though he did not need to describe or understand the nature of his "going on." (I first wrote "the nature of his afterlife" But that is wrong. Dad saw death as a part of life, another step in life, a moving on and continuing of life. No "after" life but just another part of life.) Dad also was looking forward to his own death so he could meet his Mother - not his Mom - but the Mother he never knew but longed for all his life, even at the hour of his death.

And that is all my Dad said about death - but it was enough. He did not need to say "look after your Mom" or "Be good" or to discuss financial or memorial arrangements. All that had already been taken care of and prepaid. My Dad was so responsible all his life. And he always took pains to insure that his whole family was well taken care of. In this final year, he did not need to do anything but act his final scene with us.

Today my Dad is dying. He fell a few weeks ago and broke a bone in his neck. He was hospitalized and then sent to hospice. He hated the nursing home and just wanted to come home. I believe it was his utter depression at not being home that caused him to stop eating at the nursing home. Dad was sent back to the hospital for IV's and nutrition. The family gathered.

I had the honor and the privilege of staying up through the night until 4 AM with Dad at the hospital. He told me something very special that made my life worthwhile - Dad said I was a most loving son. A midnight statement that still makes me tear up to recall that moment. He soon returned to sleep.

The next day the family decided enough was enough. We had all trusted Dad for decades and years and lifetimes to know what is best. And he wanted to go home.

A hospital bed was set up in the living room and an around the clock vigil was begun. There were 11 of the family gathered ... we all sat with Dad during the day. My sister Candy and I had the 10 pm to 4 am shift of the night. Such quiet hours. Such an awesome time.

It was such a rare honor and privilege to be able to feed and clean and care for this man who has loved me all my life. How I enjoyed each minute, each moment of sitting quietly with Dad. What joy it was to feed him, to give him drink, to move him as needed, to help clean him. Such an honor, such an awesome and joyous duty.

But after a week we realized that 11 people was too many. Dad wanted quiet and a set routine. Eleven family members talking and caring were just too many to meet Dad's needs. Two of my brothers and their wives and children and I left.

Today my Dad is proceeding in his dying. He has stopped eating and moving except for a few facial expressions. He is not in pain. Today my Mom authorized the removal of his neck brace - collar. That thing holding his head still for weeks had driven Dad batty. It was very uncomfortable for him to wear and for us who love him to watch him wear. I am glad it is gone. My Mom is not certain Dad knows it is gone - but I bet he does.

The nurse from hospice tells us that hearing is the last function to shut down. Dad indicates sometimes that he can hear us, even today - or so I am told.

I want nothing more than to get on a plane and fly to my Dad's side. Mom and my brother there tell me not to come ... Dad may or may not, but probably would not know I was there. And he needs quiet and the routine of the reduced household. So I ask myself, "What would Dad do?" The answer is simple.

All my reasons for flying to the comfort of my family and to my Dad's side are selfish reasons. All the justification for going are based on my needs - not my Dad's needs. He actually is better off without me. So I listen to Dad's voice in my head and I choose to stay away from his side. I choose NOT to be there in his final days.

It is a difficult choice for me. I am alone here in California and need the support and love of my family. I need to comfort and be comforted. I know grief well and I know I am grieving the loss of my Dad. But I will bear this burden of additional grief alone, without hugs, without family near me. Until Dad goes to see his Mother. Only then will family gather once again.

Until then, I write and cry and go on with my life. Oh, but it isn't easy ... not easy at all for me to act as lovingly as my Dad always lived. I admire him more and more with each passing day.

I have come to terms somewhat with the death and loss of my beloved husband Steve. Not totally but close. I am convinced that my Steve is waiting for me - but as he waits, Steve is caring for all the cats awaiting the arrival of their people. And Steve is caring for a few select dogs. Sandy was Mom and Dad's pride and joy. What a loving poodle, Sandy was. My folks doted on him with good reason. I have never known a more loving dog.

Steve is taking care of Sandy as they both wait. Sandy is probably dancing around as he did as he waits for Dad. Steve and Sandy and Grandmother Louise and Grandmother Carol and Uncle Billy and Aunt Jean and Uncle Rod are all waiting expectantly for Dad. I expect though it will be Sandy who first brings joy to Dad when it is time.

I know my dearly departed are fine. But that knowledge does not alleviate our losses. We grieve and go on with our lives. One day we will be together again. Some days I can hardly wait. Such a blessing my family has been. How very fortunate I am to be born to my Dad and Mom when I was.

Mom and Dad - I love you.

Photograph of "My Dad's Chair" by my brother Rob.

2009-09-11T02:41:00.000-07:00

From Fox News we learn:

If you tuned in to the soap "One Life to Live" this week, you may have noticed there's been a change of character. One character in particular.

Actress Patricia Mauceri says she was fired and abruptly replaced for objecting to a gay storyline because of her religious beliefs.
Mauceri played the recurring role of Carlotta Vega on "OLTL" for the last 14 years. But when she objected to how the writers wanted her deeply religious character, a Latina mother, to handle a storyline involving homosexuality, she objected. And for that she claims she was fired.

Mauceri, 59, a devout Christian, told FOX News that character Vega's gay-friendly dialogue was not in line with the character she helped create by drawing on her own faith.

"I did not object to being in a gay storyline. I objected to speaking the truth of what that person, how that person would live and breathe and act in that storyline," she said. "And this goes against everything I am, my belief system, and what I know the character's belief system is aligned to."

Peter Labarbera, the homophobic leader of the hate group AFTAH, declares this exemplary of religious discrimination against christianists who wish to impose their bigotry on all society. He declares this as a good reason to oppose the Employment Nondiscrimination Act - i.e. he wants to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

But Mauceri and Labarbera wre really missing the point. An actor does not write - that is what writers do. And actor repeats the lines written by the writers, under direction of the director to create a character with their acting talent. If an actor refuses to repeat the lines provided to the actor, then the actor ought to quit ar they will be fired ... not for religious discrimination, but for refusal to do their job.

And it is silly of an actor to believe they have the right to write their own lines. Mauceri had creative differences with her employer and she refused to do her job. Thus, she was fired.

Besides, she has been part of a soap opera - adultery, lies, manipulation, and often murder and other crimes are common fare for the soaps. Did Mauceri object when the story line included divorce? Adultery? Criminal acts? No, she only objected when a mother expressed unconditional love for her son who she believed to be gay. It was a mother's unconditional love that she found so "morally reprehensible" that she felt forced to stop doing her job.

Sounds like her own personal bigotry got in her way. Too bad. We all have bosses and we all have to do work assignments we do not like. Why should christianist bigots get any special rights?

Shall We Learn From History ??

2009-09-11T02:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a website I want you to visit. This is not an ordinary request of mine - I really want you to visit this website and spend time reading it.

This website is from the Metropolitan Community Church. The MCC has placed billboards along a major highway in Texas. Discussion is hot and heavy about these billboards - why? Because they teach the drivers that God and Jesus approve of gay and lesbian people AND their committed relationships. Yep, that would definitely start people talking in Texas or most anywhere in the USA.

This website gives the Biblical justifications, in plain English, for the proper translations from the original Greek and Hebrew. The creators of this website do not gag on gnats and swallow camels - they give clear, scholarly and quite faithful studies of the Bible and its support of gays and lesbians. This website also puts forward the proposition that Christians in the USA have been wrong before now - REALLY WRONG!

Some quotes from the website on human slavery:

Some quotes on Women Suffrage - giving women the right to vote in America:

"The doom of Ham has been branded on the form and features of his African descendants. The hand of fate has united his color and destiny. Man cannot separate what God hath joined." United States Senator James Henry Hammond

."[Slavery] was established by decree of Almighty God... it is sanctioned in the Bible, in both Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation... it has existed in all ages, has been found among the people of the highest civilization, and in nations of the highest proficiency in the arts." --Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.

"The right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example." --Rev. R. Furman, D.D., Baptist, of South Carolina

"There is not one verse in the Bible inhibiting slavery, but many regulating it. It is not then, we conclude, immoral." Rev. Alexander Campbell

"The hope of civilization itself hangs on the defeat of Negro suffrage." -- statement by a prominent 19th-century southern Presbyterian pastor, cited by Rev. Jack Rogers, moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Council of Congregationalist Ministers of Massachusetts said:

"The appropriate duties and influence of woman are stated in the New Testament.... The power of woman is in her dependence, flowing from the consciousness of the weakness which God has given her for her protection.... When she assumes the place and tone of man as a public reformer... she yields the power which God has given her... and her character becomes unnatural."

Opponents even called into question the character of those who supported equality:

"Who demand the ballot for woman? They are not the lovers of God, nor are they believers in Christ, as a class. There may be exceptions, but the majority prefer an infidel's cheer to the favor of God and the love of the Christian community. It is because of this tendency that the majority of those who contend for the ballot for woman cut loose from the legislation of Heaven, from the enjoyments of home, and drift to infidelity and ruin." -- Justin Fulton, 1869, in opposition to women's right to vote.

Those who fought against women's suffrage most often used selected verses from Paul's writings to make their case. [ 1 Corinthians 11:3, 4, 7-9, 7-12, I Corinthians 14:34-35, 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Ephesians 5:22-24, and 1 Timothy 2:11-14.]

On Interracial Marriage we learn:

Here is what the judge in the state case wrote:

"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix. " -- Statement by Virginia trial judge in 1959 case that led to 1967 U.S. Supreme Court striking down laws in 16 states that prohibited interracial marriage.

To this list of Christian mistakes, I add:

The Inquisition
The forced conversion of Native Americans (all of the Americas) by the Conquistadors
The whites of South Africa dearly held belief in apartheid
The USA hesitancy to let women in colleges and universities and workplaces + the glass ceiling
All Protestant vs Catholic religious wars from the Defeat of the Grand Armada by Elizabeth I to the recent war in Northern Ireland under Elizabeth II.
And finally, the ongoing discrimination of gays and lesbians and transgender persons around the world, including the USA and the State of California.

Please, take the time to look at this website

Amazing Letter From Ted Kennedy

2009-09-09T23:22:00.000-07:00

The following letter was delivered to President Obama from Ted Kennedy on the occasion of Senator Kennedy's death. It proves once again how amazing both these gentlemen are.

May 12, 2009

Dear Mr. President,

I wanted to write a few final words to you to express my gratitude for your repeated personal kindnesses to me – and one last time, to salute your leadership in giving our country back its future and its truth.

On a personal level, you and Michelle reached out to Vicki, to our family and me in so many different ways. You helped to make these difficult months a happy time in my life.

You also made it a time of hope for me and for our country.

When I thought of all the years, all the battles, and all the memories of my long public life, I felt confident in these closing days that while I will not be there when it happens, you will be the President who at long last signs into law the health care reform that is the great unfinished business of our society. For me, this cause stretched across decades; it has been disappointed, but never finally defeated. It was the cause of my life. And in the past year, the prospect of victory sustained me-and the work of achieving it summoned my energy and determination.

There will be struggles – there always have been – and they are already underway again. But as we moved forward in these months, I learned that you will not yield to calls to retreat – that you will stay with the cause until it is won. I saw your conviction that the time is now and witnessed your unwavering commitment and understanding that health care is a decisive issue for our future prosperity. But you have also reminded all of us that it concerns more than material things; that what we face is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.

And so because of your vision and resolve, I came to believe that soon, very soon, affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family’s health will never again depend on the amount of a family’s wealth. And while I will not see the victory, I was able to look forward and know that we will – yes, we will – fulfill the promise of health care in America as a right and not a privilege.

In closing, let me say again how proud I was to be part of your campaign- and proud as well to play a part in the early months of a new era of high purpose and achievement. I entered public life with a young President who inspired a generation and the world. It gives me great hope that as I leave, another young President inspires another generation and once more on America’s behalf inspires the entire world.

So, I wrote this to thank you one last time as a friend- and to stand with you one last time for change and the America we can become.

At the Denver Convention where you were nominated, I said the dream lives on.

And I finished this letter with unshakable faith that the dream will be fulfilled for this generation, and preserved and enlarged for generations to come.

With deep respect and abiding affection,

[Ted]

Poor Jealous and Certifiable Nika

2009-09-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

Well, well. Nika on my migraine is at it again. Here's her most recent diatribe in relevant part:

"Since you ask ... - what happend was that Richard was caught lying here, on this forum. More then once . It was not a little mistake as he later claimed, it was a deliberate and totally unnecessary lie. ... I am not the only one who would wish to know what is real, and what is fantasy in Richard's world when he writes here, as this would make for much better relationships on this forum. ... He just cannot help himself still telling tales and stirring troubles like in the case of Richard's stament that he has never, ever met Seantor Kennedy then few hours later telling us that he has actually been questioned by him on Capitol, no less. Just as such events happen every day. Right? ...

This is what happend ... This is why many people find it difficult to believe what Richard is saying like giving up all medicines overnight recently and immediately feeling fine etc, etc like the story above and so many others. ... NikaB

XXX, ... You like Richard's lies and lying - fine. But many, many other people here do not.
If you only look at this particular example of his recent kind of obvious fantasy on this forum which cannot be true:

"After visiting my 3 docs, I bid a fond farewell to:

Nuvigil Wellbutrin
Topamax Luvox
Lovastatin Lisinopril

I feel 500% better already!! My friends and neighbors and grocery clerks have all noticed the difference. It is truly amazing what a few less drugs can do to a person!"

Well if you know anything or read about giving up any of the above medication and still believe that it is possible from one day to next not only you have no withdrawals of any kind, but instantly feel better by 500% (yes, yes!!! we are in total fantasy land) and also have everybody noticing the difference, you are obviosuly not prepared to look at any facts connected with that perosn more closely, XXX. YOU might like to read such lies, but they can be very harmful if people actually believe him, or follow such stories. This is a serious issue, you must see that.
...
NikaB"

What is interesting about this person from the UK (an immigrant from Poland) is how she believes her disbelief, her jealously, MUST mean I am lying. She cannot get it through her head that, yes indeed, I have spoken with, partied with, and strategized with many national and state politicians in my working life. My testifying before Congress was a significant deal to me - but it was one among many, many significant deals in my career. If I were to write to her about my work with killers and rapists, she would not believe that either. Or if I were to write to her or on the forum about my many protests and confrontations with authority - as part of my work and after, she would not believe it either. I worked with a group of people who went downtown during a coffee break at a staff meeting to get arrested at Wells Fargo bank for trespassing. But such a concept is beyond Nika's imagination.

Nika, real sorry your life has been boring and uneventful. But your boring life is no reason I have to live a boring life also.

If you wish to discuss the withdrawal symptoms and effects of stopping medication, Nika, please take it up with my Board Certified Internist, Neurologist, Cardiologist, and Pain Manager. Maybe you are right and all my highly educated and experienced MD's are wrong. I would not bet on it, but it might be true (LOL). So have at it, take on the USA medical establishment and explain to them why you are correct and they are wrong.

While you are at it, I will ask my neighbors and friends and store clerks who read this to contact you - so you can explain to them that they were lying when they noticed a night-and-day difference in me after I stopped the medications. Of course they all must be lying, Nika ... you do not believe them so they must ALL be liars ... right? (ROTFLMAO)

But you correct in one thing, Nika. This is a serious matter. Your constant accusations and disbelief speaks volumes about yourself - it truly appears that you may benefit from serious counseling. Your inability to recognize the fact that people have lives different from yours is fairly delusional. Seriously, Nika, counseling may do you a world of good. AND get you off my back.

Of course my friends in Northern California have made many other recommendations that may help you ... especially help you "get a life of your own." They have recommended certain adult physical acts that may relieve some of the tension that screams out from your tirades. Most have simply recommend that you try and try hard to develop a life of your own so that my life experiences do not threaten you so.

But Nika, know this. I am rigorously honest is all I write. Your maniacal disbelief does not change reality at all. Your accusations are comical at this point. I hate to say it, but the laughter is AT you, not with you. For your own good, leave me alone with your false and malicious accusations. Believe the truth or not - it is immaterial to me. But do recognize that your disbelief will not change reality. And I am rigorously honest in all my affairs whether you say so or not.

In other words, get off my back!

Call The Governor About Harvey Milk Day

2009-09-08T15:31:00.001-07:00

The Religious Reich is up in arms again. This time they want to convince the Governor of California to veto for the second time a bill creating "Harvey Milk Day" in California.

Harvey was recently inducted to the California Hall of Fame by the Governor and his wife Maria Shrivley. President Obama gave Harvey Milk the Medal of Freedom this summer. It is getting more and more difficult for the Governor to consider Harvey Milk simply as an honored San Franciscan. Harvey Milk was a great American who led the gays and lesbians of his time in a true Civil Rights Movement. As Harvey always said, his candidacy for any office was a candidacy of the LGBT Movement - not just himself.

As proof this, during one of his elections, the Teamsters approached him to get Coors Beer out of the gay bars - to help the Teamsters in their strike against Coors Beer. Harvey agreed with a quid pro quo.

Any other candidate in all of American politics would have asked for money for his campaign or volunteers for hi campaign, or at the very least, an endorsement by the Teamsters. But not Harvey.

All he wanted in return for getting Coors Beer out of the gay bars was this - The Teamsters would hire gay and lesbian drivers and let them into the Teamsters Union. The Teamsters agreed, the beer was boycotted by all gays and lesbians, the strike was won ... and gay folk got work with the Teamsters.

That is what he meant by his candidacy was a candidacy of The Movement For Civil Rights.

But the Religious Reich has a different, historically false, and hate filled view of "Harvey Milk Day." Remember the holiday will NOT be a day off for State employees ... merely a day for Harvey to be remembered and taught in public school and universities. Here's some of their comments at Free Republic - the nation's primary forum for conservative views:

Placing a pervert on a pedestal and declaring a holiday is yet another nail in California's coffin.

Here’s how you celebrate Harvey Milk day - you rat out one of your best friend’s most dire secrets and get him to commit suicide out of despair. If you don’t get what I mean by that, read up on Mr. Milk and you’ll realize he deserved every bullet. (historically false)

The constant reiteration that Milk was “assasinated” is nothing but a lie. Milk was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He caught a bullet merely because he was there, not because of some targeted rage or anti-homosexual sentiment. (historically false)

I bet Hostess is behind this for the Twinkie sales alone.

Speaking of suicide, how about Harvey’s hand in the People’s Temple? (twisted history - so twisted as to be totally false)

Harvey Milk acolytes - Providing employment in AIDS medical research for more than 30 years.

Shot Milk? ( allusion to "Got Milk" commercial)

I seem to remember that Dan White’s real targets were Moscone and Willie Brown. He felt betrayed by Harvey for a variety of reasons, but was not the focus of White’s rage. (absolutely historical false)

Will all the bath houses be open for the kids? Will there be instructions on how to perform a three way or orgy? What about cocaine, pot and crank for the kiddies?

When my school starts a Harvey Semen day I shall take Ipecac and then sit in the office lobby with my mouth pointed towards the principal’s desk.

Milk was a snarling, arrogant, condescending pos who sneered at the wrong guy.

Why don’t they just have “Jim Jones Day” while they’re at it. Milk was a huge supporter of “The People’s Temple.” (historically twisted to the point of falsehood)

Harvey Milk was a a**hole. He finally chose the wrong person to be an a**hole to and got popped. End of story. Unless they want to remind kids that being a a**hole can get you killed what would the motive be for having a day to remember Harvey Milk?

I thought we were always supposed to teach children that they should never cry over spilt milk.

Obama, too, wants them studying this stuff hard in school so that they can grow up to be just like him. These legislators are not trail blazers; they’re cowards. California parents, speak up now. This is absurd. If this passes, insist in groups and as individuals that the kids be taken out of the Harvey Milk lessons. Insist on knowing what will be taught apropos of Harvey Milk (”Got Milk?”) and keep them home on this day and our of the classroom for all homosexual indoctrination. Spend that time and other time teaching them your values on love, sex and marriage and abotu who your heroes are and what constitutes a hero. If parents would keep their kids home on the pseudo public education days, the schools would sit practically empty and get the message that the parents don’t buy it. I think the public schools get money from the state on a per capita basis for every student who sits in class every day.

I beg you, wherever you are but particularly Californians, to grab your phone and call 1-916-445-2841. The phone tree for English speakers is 1-2-1.

ELCA's Righteous Pastoral Letter

2009-09-06T01:40:00.000-07:00

In August, an American synod of the Lutheran Church - ECLA - voted to respect non-celibate ministers. Now married or partnered gays and lesbians can openly follow the call of their spirit and their God to minister in ELCA Lutheran Churches. (Not the larger Missouri synod of Lutherans in the USA)

Many (most) of the Religious Reich in the USA have lambasted this act ... as evidenced by comments made on Free Republic and AFTAH. Horrible things have been said about this Christian Community - calling them non-Christians is the kindest blow. Regarding this specific Pastoral Letter, our conservative citizens write on Free Republic:

“It’s hard now to remember, but ordination of women was just as controversial 40 years ago” No, that is exactly why the GLTB (did I miss anyone?) issue will not go away. The “church” bent the rules to allow ordination of women, then why can’t the church bend the rules for everyone else? “He accepted women as worthy of respect in a time when they were considered chattels. Indeed, in John’s gospel a woman, Mary Magdalene, was the first person to see the risen Lord on Easter Sunday.” BUT, he selected 12 MALE disciples."

"It’s a woman. That tell you anything?"

" ... This letter is an infuriating twisted blasbemy of the word of God. ...
Pastor Pat is justifying by twisting the meaning of what Christ is saying here to suit his means!"

Here is the pastoral letter from one Lutheran minister who was NOT at the conference that made this historic vote.

FROM PASTOR PAT’S DESK

Dear Friends,

You have read two eloquent pastoral letters in this issue, one from Mark Hanson, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, and one from B. Penrose Hoover, our own bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. As your pastor, I feel that I also ought to share my thoughts with you about what was decided at the churchwide assembly regarding ordination of gay and lesbian persons in long-term committed same sex relationships.

In his “Prefaces to the Old Testament, “ Martin Luther said, “Here [in the Scriptures] you will find the swaddling cloths and manger in which Christ lies.” In “Preface to the Epistles of St. James and St. Jude, he said, “Whatever does not teach Christ is not yet apostolic, even though St. Peter or St. Paul does the teaching.”

No matter which side of the debate one might take, As Lutherans we see the Bible first and foremost for what it teaches us about Jesus. And I believe that what Jesus taught, preached and lived is very instructive to us in this situation.

First, Jesus never said one word about homosexuality. He did, however say a great deal about self-righteousness. In Matthew 7 we read, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?” .

Second, Jesus could, and did challenge long accepted and deeply held religious beliefs and practices. He healed on the Sabbath; in the gospel lesson for August 30 he challenges the practices of ritual washing and declared that there were no forbidden foods. In the next few verses he healed the daughter of a gentile, a foreigner.

Third, Jesus chose as his followers, tax collectors and other sinners. He accepted women as worthy of respect in a time when they were considered chattels. Indeed, in John’s gospel a woman, Mary Magdalene, was the first person to see the risen Lord on Easter Sunday.

From this we learn that Jesus was not afraid to challenge accepted practices. He was not afraid to make waves. He was not afraid to befriend those who were considered to be outcasts by the religious people of the day.

Yet, Jesus preached a high, even impossible standard of morality. He taught that all of us are liars, adulterers, and murderers, if we’ve every even thought about those things. He spoke very plainly against divorce and remarriage. He taught that we must love our enemies and forgive endlessly.

For me, what we learn first from Jesus in regard to the decisions of the churchwide assembly, is that we are all sinners, and that we are all desperately in need of God’s grace. No matter where we stand on these issues, none of us is good enough to judge those who are on the other side. Second, we are already doing things that are contrary to the literal interpretation of Scripture. It’s hard now to remember, but ordination of women was just as controversial 40 years ago as are the issues we are facing today. We also accept divorced and remarried people as members of the clergy because we believe in God’s forgiveness and grace. We can do these things because we believe that as times change, the Holy Spirit can and does speak to us in new ways.

Third, as a very practical matter, these new rulings do not change the process by which a congregation calls a pastor. Authority to call a pastor rests with the congregation. No congregation will be forced to call a pastor that they do not feel is right for them, for any reason.

You will hear many things said about these issues in the coming weeks and months. However each of us may feel about these issues, let us remember the life and teachings of or Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and struggle to act in love to God through love to neighbor, as he would have us do.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Pat

Pastor Pat rally makes sense to me. I hope you enjoyed reading her letter also.

3rd christianist Prays for Presidents Death

2009-09-04T11:52:00.001-07:00

Bruse Wilson does an excellent job of exposing the christianists who are relious terrorists in the USA.

He does a GREAT job of explaining why these guys are so dangerous these days. His short pieceis definitely worth a read. HERE

This is an exerpt - read his entire short article!

"Over the course of the summer, a string of murders - from NeoNazi Richard Poplowski's murder of three Pittsburgh cops to a murderous rampage at the National Holocaust Museum and the murder of abortion doctor George Tiller, New World Order conspiracy beliefs appear to have had played significant role in the world views of the men who have committed or been charged with these crimes.

In early August, a New Jersey woman was arrested while scoping out an Air National Guard base. Authorities found an XM-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and 500 rounds of ammunition in her cart. Nancy Genovese claimed, as part of her inspiration, Glenn Beck's Fox show - especially his discussion of FEMA camps.

While much of the rising tide of right wing violence driven in part by New World Order conspiracy theory is associated with the racist right, militant right wing anti-government populism is far from a wholly racist phenomenon. Consider the parishioner of pastor Steven Anderson's church, Chris Broughton, who recently helped put Anderson in the national media spotlght:

He could have stepped right out of the pages of history, from one of Martin Luther King’s civil rights marches: a handsome young African American man, perhaps a march organizer, carrying a bullhorn. Articulate, impeccably attired in spotless white shirt and black formal slacks, hair close cut, clean shaven."

Strange But Fascinating Site

2009-09-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

My migraine firends led me to ths strange website of awkward photographs such as this one. You can waste mucho time here!

Cur For Migraines

2009-09-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you Leslie, for leading me to this sure cure for migraines. It takes only a minute to watch and all migraines are cured for good!

Another christianist For Death of President

2009-09-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

Like Steven Anderson of Arizona, Pastor Wiley Drake of California is also praying for the death of President Obama. Rev. Drake is not a looney but was Second Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2006 to 2007. These christianists who hide behind the shield of religious freedom to shield them from the legal consequences of their hate and bigotry disgust me. But they are also frightening - how many people are listening and believing these guys?

Islamic Scholars Say Homosexuals Are Created By God and Natural

2009-09-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta reported on August 28, 2009:

Homosexuals and homosexuality are natural and created by God, thus permissible within Islam, a discussion concluded here Thursday.

Moderate Muslim scholars said there were no reasons to reject homosexuals under Islam, and that the condemnation of homosexuals and homosexuality by mainstream ulema and many other Muslims was based on narrow-minded interpretations of Islamic teachings.

Siti Musdah Mulia of the Indonesia Conference of Religions and Peace cited the Koran's al-Hujurat (49:3) that one of the blessings for human beings was that all men and women are equal, regardless of ethnicity, wealth, social positions or even sexual orientation.

"There is no difference between lesbians and nonlesbians. In the eyes of God, people are valued based on their piety," she told the discussion organized by nongovernmental organization Arus Pelangi.

"And talking about piety is God's prerogative to judge," she added.

"The essence of the religion (Islam) is to humanize humans, respect and dignify them."

Musdah said homosexuality was from God and should be considered natural, adding it was not pushed only by passion.

WOW! This is really good news to me after all I have reading about Sharia Law and the Muslim treatment of gay men and lesbians in the Middle East. RGS

Rev Steven Anderson - Dangerous christianist

2009-09-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

Michelangelo Signorile has a daily radio show on Sirius Radio. Yesterday he interviewed Paster Steven Anderson. Here's what he has to say about the interview.

Steven L. Anderson is one of two evangelical Christian pastors who have received a lot of attention lately for their vocal calls -- prayers and hopes -- for President Obama to die. Anderson also believes that "homosexuals," among others, should be executed.

I had Anderson on the show (below is a video of selected parts of the interview, ...) because I believe we can't afford to ignore these violence-inciting individuals, not in this time in which Republicans are whipping them into a frenzy.

One of the men who brought an assault weapon to President Obama's speech in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago attends Anderson's church. Better to expose them and let the world hear them.

Anderson actually told me that, though he wouldn't encourage it, he would not condemn any person who killed President Obama or call that person a murderer. He does not believe that the man who allegedly killed Dr. George Tiller, the Kansas doctor who performed late-term abortions, a murderer. And he said he would not call someone who shot a group of gays and lesbians with a machine gun a murderer:

MS: You want all gay people to be executed, correct?

SA: That is correct. It is what the Bible teaches.

MS: If somebody were to go out with a machine gun and spray down a crowd of gay and lesbian people, would you think that was okay?

SA: , I would not think it's okay because I believe in due process.

MS: Would that person be a murderer?

SA: No, I would not judge them as a murderer, no.

Toward the end of the interview, as he went on a rant calling all gays child molesters, I let him know I was gay, something I can't believe he didn't already know:

MS: You know, I'm gay..I'm gay, and I don't molest any children. What do you think of that?

SA: Well, I'd say you're lying.

MS: You think I must be molesting children, right?

SA: Exactly, right.

MS: Do you pray that I'll die tonight?

SA: If you're a homosexual, I hope you get brain cancer like Ted Kennedy.

Click. He hung up (though I didn't realize it until a minute later, and offered my final thoughts.)

Steven Anderson is what I call a christianist. He is no more Christian than the Dalai Lama. Anderson uses the Gospel as a shield to legally protect him while he incites himself and others to bigotry, hatred, and violence. He calls for the assasination of President Obama and the extinction of all gays and lesbians. He has every right to do so.

And I likewise have every right to call him what he is. No better than a KKK Grand Dragon talking in front of a burning cross before the lynching. He is a hate filled bigot and a very dangerous man. I pray he sees the error of his ways and learns to live and let live in love and kindness. RGS

Christianist Crimes

2009-08-31T15:33:00.001-07:00

I have nothing but respect for the good folks who exercise their freedom of religion without hurting anyone. I have nothing but respect for folks who base their votes on their religious and moral values.

I do have a real problem with christianists. These are the folks - usually men - who use their "faith" as a cover for their own bigotry and prejudice. These are the folks who use their "faith" to hurt others and to cause others to hurt others - physical hurt, emotional hurt, spiritual hurt, political hurt. Christianists using the loving message of the Christ to justify their own hatred and bigotry and acts of causing pain really get my goat.

Christianists are the people who regularly take a singular example of a criminal who happens to be gay to justify their hatred of all gay people. Well Joe at Joe.My.God decided to even the scales a bit. Weekly he runs this post of crimes perpetrated by christianists - people of "faith" who act to hurt others.

I am copying it here because today I am angry with christianists. Not Christians, only christianists.

This Week In Holy Crimes .... Over the last seven days...

New York: Pastor Victor Figueroa sued for $30M for sexually assaulting congregant.
Alabama: Pastor John Picard convicted of 42 counts of sexual battery of six women.
Ontario: Father Bernard Prince defrocked by the Vatican for his conviction for molesting 13 boys.
Virginia: Pastor Gregory Biehl pleads guilty to possession of kiddie porn. Biehl was formerly convicted of climbing a tree to videotape a woman undressing.
North Carolina: Pastor Keith Devon Pettis charged with molesting 12 year-old girl.
Alabama: Pastor David Webb sued by underage victim he transported across state lines for the purposes of sex. Webb was sentenced to five years in prison in May.
Louisiana: Pastor Martin Denesse accused of defrauding 175 people out of the money they paid him to secure a FEMA trailer home after Hurricane Katrina.
Oklahoma: Pastor Joshua Spires charged with ten counts of child molestation.
Virginia: Pastor Steven Bruce Joplin charged with five counts of felony child molestation of pre-teen girls.
Peru: Father Antonio Jose Calle arrested for molesting 9 year-old girl with Down's Syndrome.
New York: Rabbi Yaskov Weiss charged with molesting two 13 year-old boys.

This Week's Winner-Florida: Pastor Wiklan Moran-Mora didn't want his wife to catch him cheating, so he concocted his own kidnapping, sending his wife multiple text messages saying he was negotiating his release from his captors, all so he could spend more time with his mistress. Moran-Mora's wife called the police and more than a dozen Hillsborough County deputies closed in on his cell phone signal, finding him with his paramour.

Adult Education

2009-08-31T15:11:00.000-07:00

I am writing this about Gay Men.

I am NOT writing about lesbians - frankly I know too little. And I am NOT writing this about straight folks. they are a whole different ball of wax.

This blog post is ONLY about Gay Men.

My question is "How can I (or anyone) increase the average gay man's knowledge of what is going on in the world of the LGBT Community?"

There are a few guys like me who enjoy keeping up on the news and views of gays and lesbians and their organizations around the world. I am coming to discover that I am in a real minority among gay men.

I admit that recently I have been hanging out at some Internet gay men "dating" sites. On these sites, you make a profile about how fabulous you are, you post some very flattering pictures of yourself, and you exchange messages with other guys who have done the same. Sometimes you and another guy "click" and you arrange to meet face-to-face.

The Internet has in many ways taken over from the Gay Bar for gay men. The Internet is the way we meet one another, socialize, and make friends and lovers. I met Steve on the Internet. I met Lee, the man I am dating, on the Internet.

However, on these gay men sites, there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, about what is happening in the lgbt world. No news, no politics. And that is pretty normal. Even in the straight world, there are very few parties where news and politics are welcome. Or so it seems to me.

Of course we gay men retain our oldest and dearest institution, the Gay Bar. I was speaking with a bartender this weekend. He tells me that lgbt news and politics never comes up among his patrons. Never. And this is in the oldest gay bar in Reno, Nevada - a veritable institution.

When Steve and I lived in San Francisco, there were times and especially places at the bar (the smoking patio for example) where guys discussed lgbt news and views. However, with the Internet becoming the primary social scene for guys, very few guys are affected by these conversations.

Of course, the Internet itself makes the spreading of lgbt news and views possible today like never before. More lgbt blogs and news sites exist than ever before. But with ANY blog and ANY news site, no matter how wonderful it is, the guy has to decide to go there. It takes an act of will to seek out lgbt news.

It is 8:00 PM, you have had a long day at the office and are finally home and relaxing. You sit at your computer. You can decide to spend an hour or so catching up on the blogs and news sites OR you can seek out partners and otherwise socialize with guys and oogle naughty pictures. Which do you think most men would decide? Yeah right!

My issue is how to insert the most important lgbt news items into the Internet social sites in a manner that spoon feeds the masses. Take for example the recent release of the report proving the organized murder of gay men and lesbians in Iraq - by the militias and even the police that we pay for. I believe this was a very important story for all lgbt folks. Yet, to take a wild guess, I imagine that only 1/3 or maybe 40 percent of gay men and women are even aware of it.

Hmmmm, I may have to run a poll on a social site and see. But I know in my heart the number is less than 50 percent. And that is just wrong. And needs to be fixed.

But how? In the noise of healthcare, recession, Afghanistan, trying to make a living and have a social life ... how to get a guy to take 5 minutes and hear about the plight of our brothers in Iraq?

The answer has to be EASY for the guys, really spoon fed. The answer has to be "no decision" - the answer has to be tied into the websites he is already going to visit or at the bars where he is.

I am still thinking, but the answer will come to me.

Any ideas out there?

Monday - August 31 , 2009 LGBT News for All

2009-08-31T14:48:00.000-07:00

A Rare Story of Gay Activism From China

(GUANGZHOU, china - Population 13.5 Million) More than 100 gay men in this southern city protested this week against recent actions by the police to push them out of a park frequented by homosexuals. The protest was held Tuesday night in People's Park, not far from the Guangzhou municipal government building, said Ah Qiang, a volunteer of a Guangzhou-based gay organization. "The park is open for everyone," Ah said. "Why are we not allowed to stay here?" Sometime during the night, the protesters verbally clashed with police officers after park guards asked the large group to leave the premises. ... "But, we eventually got the police to leave the park," Ah said.

The park, according to both the police and the organization, is a popular gathering spot for male homosexuals. About 100 gay people meet there each day, Ah said. A police officer with the Guangwei subdistrict public security station, who declined to be identified, said the move to ask homosexuals to leave the park was a preventive measure because gay people are allegedly committing crime in the park. "An increasing number of local citizens have told us they have been harassed by gay people in the park," the unnamed officer said. The officer also said homosexuals are committing minor crimes such as robbery and stealing. "We can hardly distinguish those who have harassed local citizens. That is why we have to push all of them out," he said.

Ah Qiang refuted the police officer's claim and said that male homosexuals are the victims of crimes, not the perpetrators. Many gay people are robbed in the park, he said. "Police should protect us from being victims of such crimes, instead of pushing us away," said Ah, who added that fewer gay people dare to enter the park after the police's recent action. Ah said his group has about 30 volunteers in Guangzhou and they go to the park to educate others about safe sex.
"We also have discussions with gay people to behave decently in the park. Otherwise, they will be pushed away by police given the city's strengthened efforts to prepare for next year's Asian Games," he said.

Some gay people and volunteers were questioned in the park's public security house for several hours before the protest, he said. "As far as I know, all people who were questioned in the public security house have been set free," Ah said. (ChinaDaily.com.cn)

Lesbians in England and Wales Get Equal Birth Rights

Women in same-sex relationships can now register both their names on the birth certificate of a child conceived as a result of fertility treatment. Female couples not in a civil partnership but receiving fertility treatment may also both be registered. The law change applies to female couples in England and Wales who were having fertility treatment on or after 6 April 2009. (BBC.co.uk)

National Organization For Marriage Under Multi State Investigation

On the heels of news that officials in Maine were investigating the campaign practices of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), we just learned that authorities in Iowa are questioning the group over potential violations of campaign finance laws. Turns out NOM has failed to register as a PAC and disclose contributors. NOM even boasts in their fundraising letters that they offer donors anonymity. Said the Iowa board letter: “The independent expenditure process in Iowa is not a vehicle to shield political contributions.” Read the entire Iowa letter here [pdf] as well as the Maine letter [pdf]. (HRC Backstory)

RGS NOTE: Fred Karger of California brought the allegations to the attention of the Maine authorities after his work in California following Proposition 8's Campaign. Mr. Karger found that the "National Organization for Marriage" is actually a front group - formed and funded by the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints - The Mormon church.

This week, the National Organization for Marriage finally released its 2007 tax report - as required by law. They have withheld this information for months - with good reason. It seems they paid $166,000 for "consulting" to Aaaaand. BUT this consulting "firm" is run by the HEAD OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE! So Brian Brown as the head of NOM is paying himself $166,000 to consult for NOM.

Nice work if you can find it and have no conscience.

The real problem with the Catholic Church, the4 Knights of Columbus,, the National Organization for Marriage, and Focus on the Family funding the bigotry in the Maine election is that there is NO ACCOUNTABILITY. The campaign finance laws were made so that voters knew WHO was funding the various sides. Through the use of organizations - the individual's identity is hidden.

In the real world, we call this MONEY LAUNDERING! The officials of California, Iowa, and Maine are no dummies. They will figure this out and bring these shenanigans to a halt. RGS

What's NEWS To LGBT Folks And All

2009-08-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday (8/27/09) that discriminating against gay people shouldn't be illegal, ... In his most definitive comments yet on gay rights, Herbert told reporters he doesn't believe sexual orientation should be a protected class in the way that race, gender and religion are. ... In Utah, it is legal to fire someone for being gay or transgender. (AP - Salt Lake City)

A Dallas man has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for a vicious attack on a gay man in July 2008. Bobby Singleton, 30, was convicted of aggravated robbery earlier this week, according to The Dallas Morning News. He was found guilty of assaulting and robbing Jimmy Dean (pictured) at gunpoint in the Oak Lawn section of Dallas. Singleton said he and his friend Jonathan Gunter did not attack Dean because he was gay, but in his police confession, he said they went to the area to specifically target gays. (Advocate.com)

The Head of the Republican Pary, Michael Steele, says Republicans are against a
government run healthcare program but strongly support Medicare. Rachel Maddow points out that Medicare is indeed a "government run healthcare program." Is Mr. Steele for real? (YouTube - MSNBC)

Concert promoter Live Nation canceled a series of upcoming shows by Jamaican dancehall star Buju Banton (pictured) on Thursday after gay rights activists pressured the company to drop the antigay performer through an e-mail campaign, reports Change.org. Banton was scheduled to perform in October at House of Blues venues in Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Houston, among other dates and locations. However, last week, activists began contacting the Beverly Hills–based Live Nation to express their objections to the promotion of his violent antigay lyrics. (Advocate.com)

The Congress in Uruguay has passed a bill allowing adoption by gay and lesbian couples to adopt children. ... In December 2007, Uruguay's parliament passed legislation to recognise same-sex civil unions. The country of 3.6m people was the first nation in South America to grant such protections, although some cities and regions throughout the continent have made similar legal provisions. (Pink News.co.uk)

Teen murder defendant Brandon McInerney pleaded not guilty Thursday to first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the fatal shooting of classmate Larry King, 15, at an Oxnard school. McInerney, 15, who is being prosecuted as an adult, was accompanied by his attorneys in Ventura County Superior Court as he formally received the criminal charges against him. His arraignment had been postponed repeatedly since the February 2008 shooting. ... McInerney is accused of murder and a hate crime in the killing of King, who wore female clothing to school and told classmates he was gay. Prosecutors allege McInerney waited 15 to 20 minutes in a classroom before shooting King, ... (Ventura County Star )

The bad guys in Maine are getting ready for the political TV season. Casting Director James Stiles is putting out the word that he’s looking for two “real Maine” women to appear in a television ad produced by supporters of traditional marriage. Stiles is looking for a “teacher type” and a “working waitress type,” both in the 35-45 age range. If you want to try out, he’s holding auditions from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 2) at the Howard Johnson in South Portland. If you’re hired, it’s a three day gig that pays $500 a day. (Kennebec Journal) $1,500. Is that the going price of a bigot?

On June 28, 2009, Texas law enforcement officers reviewed two straight bars and then raided the Rainbow Lounge, a gar bar, in Ft. Worth Texas. One gay man was seriously injured and hospitalized. Many others were injured. The raid itself, occurring on the anniversary of the Stonewall Raid in NYC, was like something of yesteryear. Police swarming in, swinging batons, attacking patrons for no reason other than they are gay - a nightmare. The lgbt AND the straight community rose in indignation. At first the law enforcement agencies were defensive. Then as the facts came forward, the Chiefs had to take action. Here are the results as reported this weekend.

On August 28, 2009, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) Chief of Field Operations Joel Moreno terminated the employment of three Fort Worth employees for their involvement in the Rainbow Lounge incident occurring June 28, 2009.On June 28, 2009, TABC agents and officers from the Fort Worth Police Department arrested several individuals at three TABC-licensed locations in Fort Worth: The Rosedale Saloon located at 150 W. Rosedale, Cowboy Palace located at 160 W. Rosedale, and the Rainbow Lounge located at 651 S. Jennings. A patron at the Rainbow Lounge was seriously injured while in the custody of TABC.Administrator Alan Steen immediately initiated an internal affairs investigation into the actions of the agents involved.

Agent Christopher Aller and Agent Trainee Jason Chapman were placed on desk duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Shortly after the start of the investigation, Sergeant Terry Parsons announced his intent to retire effective September 2, 2009. Parsons has been using his accrued leave since that time.

On July 31, TABC Captain Andy Pena submitted an investigation report finding that Aller, Chapman and Parsons violated various agency policies. (See previous press releases here: www.tabc.state.tx.us/home/press_releases.asp) The complaint investigation revealed additional management issues.

Disciplinary Actions: As a result of the policy violations found during the internal affairs investigation:* Agent Trainee Jason Chapman (hired 4/1/09) has been terminated effective August 28, 2009. In accordance with agency policy, Chapman does not have the right to file a grievance because he is still on his six-month probationary period as a new employee.*

Agent Christopher Aller (hired 4/4/04) has been terminated effective August 28, 2009. In accordance with agency policy, Agent Aller has been informed of his right to file a grievance with Administrator Alan Steen within ten working days.*

Sgt. Terry Parsons (hired 9/1/89) has been notified of his termination effective September 2, 2009. In accordance with agency policy, Sgt. Parsons has been informed of his right to file a grievance with Administrator Alan Steen within ten working days.

Additionally, Fort Worth District Lt. Gene Anderson has been notified that he will receive three days suspension without pay and six months probation for inadequate monitoring of the training of new agents and inadequate supervisory oversight of his employees and their activities. In accordance with agency policy, Lt. Anderson has been informed of his right to file a grievance with Administrator Alan Steen within ten working days.

Finally, Captain Robert “Charlie” Cloud has received a written reprimand for failure to follow the incident notification policy, inadequate monitoring of the training of new agents and inadequate supervisory oversight of the Fort Worth employees and their activities. ... (DallasVoice.com)

Budapest, Hungary Pride Celebration 2009

Romanian fans of singer Madonna showed their displeasure during a concert yesterday when she condemned discrimination against Roma people and gays. The 51-year-old American performer is currently on tour. During her concert in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, she said:

"We don't believe in discrimination against anyone. We believe in freedom and equal rights for everyone…right? Gypsies, homosexuals, people who are different — everyone is equal and should be treated with respect, OK? Let's not forget that."

There were loud boos from the crowd as well as some cheering. (Pink News)

The Budapest embassies of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, France and Germany have expressed their support for Pride events in the city.

Budapest Pride was the target of violent fascist attacks last year. An estimated 1,500 people participated in an LGBT solidarity demonstration and Hungarian police were forced to use tear gas and a water cannon to clear the route for marchers to leave. There were also violent scenes at Pride in 2007.

Today a joint press release was issued by the Embassies of Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"On the occasion of the 2009 Budapest Pride Festival, we express our support for, and solidarity with, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Hungary," they said.

"We support the right of these communities to use this traditional occasion to march together peacefully and lawfully, in order to express their desire to end the silence surrounding the specific issues that affect them.

"Human rights — including justice, equality, humanity, respect and freedom of expression — and the rule of law are the foundations upon which democratic states are built.

"Indeed, international human rights law is grounded on the premise that all individuals are entitled to the same rights and freedoms, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"It is this respect for fundamental human values that obliges governments to protect all citizens from violence and to ensure that all people enjoy equal opportunities.

"Today, many individuals face discrimination, both systemic and overt, based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

"Our governments seek to combat such discrimination by promoting the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"We urge all governments to ensure that neither sexual orientation nor gender identity form the basis for criminal penalties."

Budapest Pride begins on Sunday (8/30/09)and includes events such as parties and a film festival alongside seminars and self-defence classes. (Pink News)

Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg has recorded a special message of support for a Pride event marred by violent attacks in recent years. The Oscar-winning actor's message will be played publicly on Sunday, the first day of Pride in Budapest. "Whoopi has filmed and traveled in Hungary, and has spoken publicly of her love for Hungary," Pride orgainisers said. (Pink News)

Wonderful Weekend

2009-08-30T14:53:00.001-07:00

What a nice weekend I had. Two friends drove me to Sacramento - one to go to the airport and one to go home.

I checked into a hotel and touched base with Lee. We met and talked and got to know one another a bit. Dinner was Italian and pleasant. We went to a gay bar that was having an event with speeches and demonstrations and things. It was outside on the bar's patio and supposed to be quiet(er) - but lots of folks were there and lots of folks were talking.

I often have trouble discerning voices when lots of people are talking - they all sound the same and I can't hear any particular person. So we went inside where the weekend music was blaring. And we left. He was understanding and ready to leave too. We made an early night of it.

Saturday we met for breakfast and then went to Old Sacramento to walk about and see all those little shops. A cool toy shop caught my fancy and I bought some old time balsa wood and rubber band gliding airplanes for the kids I like - two planes for $6.00 - which I thought was a great price. I also got them each a bamboo flute for OUTSIDE playing! LOL

Picked up some fun things for Carey and Dave's Christmas box and a cool dragon decoration for me for a few dollars - did not spend hardly any money which is very very good!

We both needed naps in the afternoon. Dinner was at a funky New Orleans restaurant. Really hot and spicy food with a great waiter who brought us samples of the various Cajun dishes before we ordered. Not too many restaurants do that! And I had homemade keylime pie for dessert! Yummmmm.

After dinner we strolled and talked. Found a penny candy - taffy store that sold by the half pound. Fun old time candies - MaryJane's and SugarDaddies and horehound candies and many good things.. I got half a pund of sugar free goodies and went to the check out counter. The nice young clerk asked me if I qualifed for the family discount. I said I did not know - what constitutes a family? He replied it was all over their walls. I looked up and saw nothing but rainbows - we grinned at one another and I said I fully qualifed for that particular family! And I got a 10% discount.

That was completely and totally illegal under the laws of California. Totally. You can NOT discriminate based on sexual orientation! Period! BUT it certainly did feel great to both Lee and me. First time being gay has ever gotten me a discount instead of a hassle! LOL

Instead of heading out to a movie or another loud bar, we then sat in a hotel room watching movies on TV, eating penny candy, and talking all night - well till 1:00 AM which is all night to me at my age! LOL It was most pleasant.

Met for breakfast and goodbye this morning.

We both liked each other. I am very different from his first husband and he is very different from Steve. Is he husband material? I have absolutely no idea. Still way too many things I want to know about him. Time will tell.

I do know we both would like to spend some more time together ... and for now that is pretty good. Very good indeed.

I feel ... well it feels amazing. Like a whole new chapter is opening in the book of my life. Lee and I dating, the possibility of a new roommate ... a whole new chapter of life.

Steve is very, very proud of me.

Spoil Sport Nika

2009-08-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am heading out in a few minutes to Sacramento for a date. The housesitter is scheduled, others are going with me, my date is probably on the road from Reno, all is set.

I really enjoy participating in a forum for Migrainers run by a great woman, Ronda - she's the best. On the forum is a person - I think she's a woman, I would not dream of calling her a lady, named Nika. She is one of the saddest people I have ever run into. She is forced by her character to attack me at all times. She just cannot stand my very life for some reason. We have been on the same forum for years ... at least almost nine now.

She keeps calling me a liar when I talk about my life. It is like she just cannot believe that I have lived the life I lived. Like this week she is calling a liar for my telling them first that I did not know Kennedy personally when I mourned his loss then I remembered something. Back in the 1980's I testified before a Senate hearing and bantered a bit with Senator Kennedy on an esoteric topic regarding the constitutional setup of Alaska as regards Medicare contributions by state employees who do not participate in Social Security. What a topic! It was not personal - and frankly compared to what followed in my life, it was not as big a deal as it was at the time.

Nika would be shocked to learn all the politicians I have met and spoken with - from President to Speaker of the House and down. I have been in strategy meetings with Senators and Congressmen, I have held political strategy meetings with so many State officials I do not remember their names, I have been on the inner workings of so many political campaigns that I lost track years ago. It was my career for over a decade. I have attended gubernatorial inaugural balls and only missed Clinton's Ball by illness. Steve's first night in Alaska was at a Mayor's house being introduced to the Governor and Lt Governor of Alaska by me.

Nika would be shocked to learn that in 1999, the Advocate, the largest lgbt magazine in the USA, named me in the top 100 most influential people to the lgbt American community ... along with Oprah and 98 others.

So it really was not odd that it took me a bit to remember my hearing in Congress in the 1980's.

I am really not bragging. I am explaining about Nika - and hoping she reads this here because I will never write this stuff at Ronda's. I refuse to give a full explanation of my background there. It does not matter there - I am just a migrainer like everyone else there.

Nika is chastising me for going on a date when my Dad is ill. He broke his neck ten days ago. He is out of the hospital, in a nursing home. I have daily contact with my Mom. All is well. I tried to go and be there but I was vomiting and ran a slight fever - that was all they needed. I canceled my flight. My niece went in my place then her Mom visited. Now my brother is arriving Sunday to live there. All is covered. I and my other two brothers are not going at this time - MY MOM DOES NOT WANT US THERE NOW. But frankly that is none of Nika's business. Yet she feels fine giving me advice that I ought to be worried and with my Dad instead of working on healing my grieving heart.

No Nika, the problem is this. You cannot stand the thought of me experiencing any happiness. You just cannot stand me. I do not know why. You even refused to offer sympathy when my Steve died. You can't stand to see me sad. You can't stand to see me happy for a day. You just have to do what you can to spoil it.

Well, Ronda is not here to delete this. I did not write anything to be deleted on the forum - you did. You crossed all sorts of lines. You accused me of ignoring my Dad. You accused me of lying.

Well, Nika, I accuse you. You are a spoil sport. You are an unqualified counselor. If indeed you ever were a professional counselor - which I sincerely doubt - you would know MUCH better than to offer advice without knowledge of the problem. Yet you do so over and over again. You diagnose and offer prognosis without the most basic knowledge of a person. No counselor worth their salt would EVER do such a thing. EVER!

If your life is boring, fine.
If no one will date you (no surprise) fine.
If you have no friends (no surprise) fine.

Just stay out of my life and quite calling me a liar. Just because you have led a boring life does NOT mean I have to have led a boring life or have to lead a boring life.

If you are miserable in your life does NOT mean that I have to keep you company in your misery.

Nika, as we say on this side of the Atlantic in the lgbt community - Fu*k Off !

Whew, I feel better.

Follow The Profitable Dollars In Healthcare Debate

2009-08-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

This cool flow chart courtesy of Joe.My.God blog shows the flow of money in the healthcare debate. You can see the millions spent to maintain the status quo of profits to the few.

Click the image to embiggen it and see it more clearly!

A Good Argument IN FAVOR OF DADT

2009-08-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a very good argument in favor of DADT. It surprised me with its logic. I found it on Free Republic by Tom T Gradeczek. My comments follow these relevant excerpts from his piece:

The question is, if it were legal for gays in the military to declare their gay status, why would that eliminate all gays from the US military? The answer is simple, and logical. Right now, in order to preserve the dignity of military service people, and protect their self-respect, men and women are not mixed in the military. Although certain exhibitionist women or men might enjoy parading around naked in open barracks, or in communal showers, in front of members of the opposite sex (OR THE OPPOSITE SEXUALITY), it is military policy that women cannot be forced to undress and be naked in front of men in open tents, barracks and in communal showers (which means with naked men).

The reason why women are not forced to be naked changing clothes in open, group tents, barracks, or communal showers is to preserve the privateness of women who AS Women, would be viewed by some men as the objects of their sexual desires and interests. No matter how gentlemanly, or disciplined the men in the barracks, tents or communal showers would be, in the presence of naked women, it is considered a strike against the dignity of women to force them to expose their naked bodies to the view of heterosexual men in open, group barracks, or communal showers.

Why this impacts gays in the military, and why attempts by gay military personnel to be allowed to proclaim openly that they are gay, IS SO MISGUIDED, is because the first time gay men are allowed to openly proclaim they are gay, then a gigantic group of heterosexual male, military personnel, would be able to successfully sue to be separated from any gay male, who by the declaration of their gayness, would also be declaring that they find male bodies the object of their sexual desires.

So imagine this; Gays win the right to proclaim their gay status in the military, the next day heterosexual men (the majority in the military) sue to be separated from any gay male who would view a heterosexual male in a sexual way, and then we have 4 groups in the military, all separated; gay females, and heterosexual females, gay males and heterosexual males. The cost of supporting completely separate platoons in open tent and barrack conditions, completely separate showers, etc. would mean we would basically have a gay and heterosexual military at that point, AND THAT Would be the end of ANY gay military personnel who came out and declared their gay status (although gays might be allowed to stay stateside doing support functions). The costs involved would be deemed so high, gays would be forced out of any front line participation (although their might be a token Coast Guard cutter or two fully manned by gays, (joke)).

Clearly heterosexual males in the military have rights equal to females in the military. This is an issue of basic rights to protect one's dignity and self respect. I guess if all women in the military were forced into mixed units requiring them to be naked in open tents and barracks, and communal showers, then it would be hard for heterosexual men to argue they don't want to have their bodies viewed by gay men as possible objects of sexual interest. But That's Never Going To Happen (except maybe in Israel).

OK, so:

Women do not appear naked before men because:

We assume men and women are heterosexual and:

We assume men will look at women with lust in their eyes.

Such is against the dignity of women, therefore;

Women shall not appear naked before men.

******************

Problems with argument.

1. Women look at men with lust in their eyes also. To assume all lust in in the man's eyes is to be rather sexist.

2. Everyone agrees that gay men and lesbian women are a vital part of the Armed Services of the USA. This is the part that really gets to me. We all agree that lesbians and gays are already a vital part of our Armed Services !?!?!?!?!?!?!

3. If everyone in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard knows that lesbians and gay men are PROBABLY in their unit already, then what are they really saying? As long as we are not certain WHO is lusting in his heart after me, I am OK.

4. This assumes that EVERY soldier-sailor-etc. is lust-worthy to the gay/lesbian in their unit. NEWSFLASH: you aren't! Chances are pretty good none of you are lust worthy - you are all too "brotherly."

5. And why, oh why, are we Americans so hung up on being naked around one another? It would be amusing if it did not have such horrid consequences.

Still, this is an interesting argument.

Quote of the Day

2009-08-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

In response to the Human Rights Watch report of gays being executed by the militia, the Interior Ministry and the police force in Irag, one of our fellow Americans at the conservative forum "Free Republic" had this to say:

That’s the one thing Muzzies are good for: fag eradication.

In response to the Administration's recent Supreme Court brief that does not exactly support the Defense of Marriage Act:

Hiatory (sic) reveals a number of ways a President’s term has been cut short while in office.

and

Bear in mind that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. If you’re the first to man the breastworks, you might find some followers. and others might join you if you’re still in this world.

and

There’s impeachment, which will only happen when our congresscritters get their homes torched so they too can experience homelessness.

and

What is that saying the tree of liberty needs to be watered with the blood of tyrants and traitors? (sic - it is "Patriots and Tyrants" )

and

That may be true but the seeds of civil war are being planted and the tree of liberty will be brought to spring forth and bear fuit. (sic)

and

If this keeps up there’s just no other way to get around breaking into 2. Personally I am in favor of it. I am getting sick & tired of seeing 0bozo & his thugs & lying media, enact some new atrocity or hideous offense every day. I hate the liberal socialist demoRAT bastards. Give em NY and the upper NE, along with CA, OR & WA, and we will keep the rest. Force all the libtards to leave our country and slither to their liberal cesspool.

and on another thread about the Obama Administration's lukewarm brief "defending" DOMA, our fellow Americans at the Free Republic say this:

One day he will stand before God Almighty and have to answer for these things. He cannot alter or change the way the real Law says. He is not the messiah I know.

and

What about polygamy? Will it be up next on Obama’s agenda?

and

If gays were covered in the health care bill, they could get treatment and become straight. And then no discrimination.

and, the argument that shows up over and over again ....

homosexual behavior fetishists are free to marry members of the oposit sex.
likewise heterosexuals are not allowed to marry members of the same sex.
everyone is equal.

Gays Executions Increase in Iraq

2009-08-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

CNN reports August 17 that Gay Men are being executed and murdered throughout Iraq, some by the nations's security forces.

The primary source of the CNN report is the 70 page report released today by the Human Rights Watch. Here are the opening paragraphs of this well reseached and gripping report:

Hamid, 35, developed a speech impediment from strain and grief after the murder, in April
2009 in Baghdad, of his partner of ten years. We spoke to him three weeks later; he still
could only haltingly force out words. Two friends who had helped him flee Baghdad
accompanied him. All had been in hiding through the intervening time. He said:

It was late one night in early April, and they came to take my partner at his
parents’ home. Four armed men barged into the house, masked and wearing
black. They asked for him by name; they insulted him and took him in front of
his parents. All that, I heard about later from his family.

He was found in the neighborhood the day after. They had thrown his corpse
in the garbage. His genitals were cut off and a piece of his throat was ripped
out.

Since then, I’ve been unable to speak properly. I feel as if my life is pointless
now. I don’t have friends other than those you see; for years it has just been
my boyfriend and myself in that little bubble, by ourselves. I have no family
now—I cannot go back to them. I have a death warrant on me. I feel the best
thing to do is just to kill myself. In Iraq, murderers and thieves are respected
more than gay people.

Their measuring rod to judge people is who they have sex with. It is not by
their conscience, it is not by their conduct or their values, it is who they
have sex with. The cheapest thing in Iraq is a human being, a human life. It
is cheaper than an animal, than a pair of used-up batteries you buy on
the street. Especially people like us.

Hamid began to weep:

I can’t believe I’m here talking to you because it’s all just been repressed,
repressed, repressed. For years it’s been like that—if I walk down the street, I
would feel everyone pointing at me. I feel as if I’m dying all the time. And now
this, in the last month—I don’t understand what we did to deserve this. They
want us exterminated. All the violence and all this hatred: the people who
are suffering from it don’t deserve it.

It is enough, enough that I was able to talk to you.

A killing campaign moved across Iraq in the early months of 2009. While the country remains
a dangerous place for many if not most of its citizens, death squads started specifically
singling out men whom they considered not “manly” enough, or whom they suspected of
homosexual conduct. The most trivial details of appearance—the length of a man’s hair, the
fit of his clothes—could determine whether he lived or died.

At this writing, in July 2009, the campaign remains at its most intense in Baghdad, but it has
left bloody tracks in other cities as well; men have been targeted, threatened or tortured in
Kirkuk, Najaf, Basra. Murders are committed with impunity, admonitory in intent, with
corpses dumped in garbage or hung as warnings on the street. The killers invade the privacy
of homes, abducting sons or brothers, leaving their mutilated bodies in the neighborhood
the next day. They interrogate and brutalize men to extract names of other people suspected
of homosexual conduct. They specialize in grotesque and appalling tortures: several doctors
told Human Rights Watch about men executed by injecting glue up their anuses.

Their bodies have appeared by the dozens in hospitals and morgues. How many have been killed
will likely never be known: the failure of authorities to investigate compounds the fear and
shame of families to ensure that reliable figures are unattainable. A well-informed official at
the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) told Human Rights Watch in April
that the dead probably already numbered “in the hundreds.”

The killings leave families terrorized and bereaved. One Iraqi magazine, in an article
sensationally promoting the need for supposed social cleansing, could not disguise or
sideline the spreading grief:

A 45-year-old mother said that an armed group of individuals entered her house in Zayouna a week ago. They kidnapped her son from his room,pointed a gun in her mouth and imprisoned her sick husband who is a retired military officer in the bathroom of the house. She never saw her son again until, a few days ago, she found his corpse in the morgue. Crying, the mother
described her son as a fashionable man who had done nothing unusual: a sensitive man pursuing his studies at the college of arts. ... Her son’s friends had disappeared and she does not know anything about them, besides the list of phone numbers her son left on a spare phone card among his personal belongings.

I have long been horrified by the monster let loose in Iraq by the USA invasion and occupation of that country. So many gay men and lesbians have seen their lives destroyed since the Bush Administration lied to the American people and led us to invade these Iraqi people. But at least Halliburton profits are way up and the USA has access to Iraqi oil! (end satire)

This report reads quickly and is worth your time.

Gone But Not Forgotten

2009-08-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

This is a photograph of me taken by Kendal Yim. Kendal is an artist working out of San Francisco. He has been exhibited in San Francisco, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Toronto, and New York City. I treasure his friendship and was very honored when he agreed to photograph me one afternoon. It was the day before I saw Carey and Dave for Father's Day.

You probably noticed that I have been silent for some time. I have been ill. In bed ill. The few times I have been out have required lots of medicine and lots of sleep to get ready. I have needed a fried or two to go to the grocery store. It has been a rough summer but I made it.

I am better now. What changed? I am taking LESS medicine. I discovered there were 27 bad interactions among my 13 medicines. My 3 doctors agreed to take me off a majority of my pills - much to my happiness. I am still not well - still fatigued and still a migrainer. But I am better and thankful for that.

Is Obama REALLY Hitler?

2009-08-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

This is easily one of the funniest websites I have seen this summer. Remember it is satire - as in funny - and great satire it is! Enjoy!

Patience

2009-07-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

President and Michelle Obama encourage the gay and lesbian Americans to exercise PATIENCE to give them time to be the "fierce advocates" for lgbt issues they are. What they are saying is that the Obama Administration does not want to make the mistake of the Clinton Administration on wasting political capital on the gays and lesbians in the military in its first year. That's how Clinton ended up with DADT.

So I have a few questions for President Barack Obama.

I have a few questions for First Lady Michelle Obama.

I have a few questions for the First Family.

1. How patient would you be if African American patriotic Americans were NOT allowed to serve in the Armed Forces?

2. How patient would you be if members of your family were fired from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps just for being Obama's?

3. How patient would you be if Black Americans could not get married in most states but in some states could enter into Black Civil Unions?

4. How patient would you be if the federal government did NOT recognize Black American families at all - Barack and Michelle had to file taxes as single people and their kids could NOT tell their teachers that their parents were married? How patient?

5. How patient would you be if your friends with sickle cell anemia could not visit you in the USA? (like HIV friends cannot visit me)

6. How patient would you be if International Baptist Conferences could not be held in your country? (like AIDS conferences can't be held in the USA)

7. How patient would you be if Black Americans could be fired for being Black in 30 out of 50 states? If apartment owners could refuse to rent to Black families in 30 states? If banks could refuse to loan money to Black families in 30 States? If restaurants and hotels could refuse service to Black families in 30 states? If the federal Civil Rights Act covered sex and religion and sexual orientation but not race ... how patient would you be?

8. How patient would you be if Back Americans could not sponsor foreign partners into America like everyone else? How patient would you be if you foreign husband or wife were deported while white or Asian foreign spouses were sponsored into America? Just how patient would you be?

9. How patient would you be if your race was a legitimate religious issue in America? How patient would you be if the President of the United States told you he needed time to bring along the older generation who did not understand you were a human being with human rights ... rights to a family and a home and a job. The right to serve your country and the right to health care. Just how long would you be willing to wait, Barack Obama & Michelle Obama?

10. How long would you be willing to have your daughters tell their teachers and classmates you are not married, that you cannot get married?

11. How long are you willing to have your daughters worry that your family is not "real" or will fall apart because you are not married like everyone else?

12. Will you cover you face with white make up an be in the closet? Or will you wit patiently? For how long?

Frankly, I doubt either of you would be willing to wait one week before yelling your heads off and fighting like hell. For your kids, for your dignity.

I am not willing to wait either.

Iraqi Gays Seek Help From YOU

2009-06-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

Organization for Refuge, Asylum, and Migration (ORAM). ORAM’s mission is to advocate for refugees fleeing sexual- and gender-based violence. And it’s motto is, “None of us are secure until we are all safe.”

With this in mind, ORAM was asked by the Toronto-based Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO) the voice of Iran’s LGBTs in North America, to help distribute an open letter written by a network of LGBT students from within Iran. And ORAM has, in turn, asked LGBT websites to help spread the letter. Here it is:

********************

Open letter By the Network of Homosexual University Students of Iran To The International Community:

We know that our realities can sound like passages from an Eastern tale. For this reason, queer students in Iran feel compelled to tell of these tragic measures to the world and to stand witness.
. . . The Homosexual community of Iran has been living under harsh conditions of harassment and fear. We identify with the pain the People endured this last week; those who fought back tears and kept calm under attacks and assaults in which silence was the most effective or only shield.

These days, the Government is dismissing demands for justice, opening fire on people, and calling them “less then dust,” “dirt,” “dirty” and “fags,” eliciting years of dual oppression in the mind of homosexual community.

Iranian queers have been struggling with the merciless oppressive Regime for years; we know very well what it means to endure cruelty. In recent days, the Islamic Regime has been treating people in the same way it has treated the queer community over the past three decades.

It is with this understanding in mind and with a hope for a fair and free future based on equality that we fight side by side, hand in hand against the dictator. We urge the international LGBT community to hear our voice and hear the People of Iran in their demand for new elections.

We ask the international LGBT community to assist us in alerting the world of the cruelties and the killings taking place in Iran during these days.

We fear that in the days to come, if the dictator wins, a generation — our generation — will simply be eliminated. These days, the queer movement of Iran is alongside the people’s movement. We are certain that the death of democracy in Iran will sooner or later mean the death of all humanity.

We are certain that in the denial of civil and individual rights – as Ahamdinejad did in his first speech after his second round of his appointment to power, calling all protesters “thieves,” “ruffians”, and “fags” – all hopes for a civil society will be wiped out. Yet we live with the hope of rescuing Iran from the spread of fascism.

. . . We ask the international community, the international LGBT community, and human rights organizations or the world to be watchful of the atrocities in the streets of Iran today, to respect the Iranian people’s vote and their wish to live in a democratic society, and to refuse to recognise Ahmadinejad as Iran’s elected president until a new election is held in the presence of UN monitors

. . . For the people of Iran, particularly for the queer community and all other minorities, this is the only possible way forward.

Today the Iranian People are relying on their own capacity to resist and assert their quest for justice. This will not happen without the support of the international community.
Praised be the day when Iran is responsive and responsible for all its children and citizens.

In the name of freedom and social justice, Homosexual Students of Universities in Iran

Our Great Ally At It Again!

2009-06-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

ADN-Kronos-International reports:

Saudi Arabia: Police arrest 'homosexuals' at party

Riyadh, 17 June (AKI) - Saudi Arabian police are reported to have arrested 71 foreigners accused of homosexuality in the capital Riyadh. According to a report in the Arab daily, al-Quds al-Arabi, police raided a party in the al-Manar district of the capital and arrested the group.

Several residents are reported to have notified police about people who were doing things that did "not conform" with Islamic sharia law.

When police arrived they reportedly found people wearing "indecent" clothes and conducting themselves in an "indecent" manner.

Seventy Filipinos and one Yemeni were arrested by police.

A few weeks ago police arrested 55 young men accused of homosexuality at a party at a farm in the Sihat area. Homosexuality and cross-dressing are widely seen as immoral acts and are treated as serious crimes.

While the kingdom has faced criticism from human rights organisations, it insists that it always acts in accordance with Sunni Islamic law.

GAYS RIOT IN THE STREET !! Homo 101

2009-06-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

43 years ago, in 1966, men dressed in drag and transexuals, who did not have a word yet for their condition, rioted at the Compton Cafeteria in San Francisco. As the Gay Peoples Chronicle.com says:

(The) August 1966 riot at Gene Compton’s Cafeteria in the Tenderloin, a poor and working-class area of the city where many transgenders lived, and still do. The incident started after a rowdy queen refused to leave the popular hangout and management called the police.

The account of the riot from the Pride program reads like a description of a lot of the social unrest of the 1960s: “Gays began breaking out every window in the place, and as they ran outside to escape the breaking glass, the police tried to grab them and throw them into the paddy wagon, but they found this no easy task for gays began hitting them “below the belt” and drag-queens smashing them in the face with their extremely heavy purses. A police car had every window broken, a newspaper shack outside the cafeteria was burned to the ground.”

Though many positive changes occurred after the riot, including a better relationship with the local police district and the establishment of social services for the trans community, the incident didn’t give birth to the kind of national mass movement that followed a similar night of rioting in New York’s Greenwich Village after cops raided the Stonewall bar.

Nearly three years after Compton’s, the Stonewall riots were the spark that gave birth to the modern gay liberation struggle. Literally, overnight, thousands of students and others, many from the antiwar and other radical movements, came pouring out of their closets to form the in-your-face organizations that eventually replaced the existing “homophile” groups.

“Compton’s happened too early,” says Stryker. “In 1966, things were just starting to bust out all over: The Black Panthers, the anti-war movement, the kids using psychedelics. Three years later, a lot more gay people were waiting for their own moment. Stonewall happened. A lot more people were primed to take advantage of it.”

Word spread about the rebellion in New York. Eventually, the Compton story was forgotten.

40 years ago, on June 25, 1969, on a sultry night in Manhatten, the gay men and drag queens were raided in a routine raid at the Stonewall Bar. The queens and queers were used to raids. They happened all the time at gay bars. But this one night, for no known reason, enough was enough. And the drag queens fought back. Then the gay men and lesbians fouht back. And a six night riot ensued between the homosexuals ofNew York City and the riot squad of the NYPD. No one was seriously injured ... except the pride of the police department.

Joe Pervis of Joe.My.God found this New York Daily Post articlefrom 1969. Notice the way the reporter treats gay people as an alien life form. We've come a long way!

HOMO NEST RAIDED - QUEEN BEES ARE STINGING MAD

-by Jerry Lisker, New York Daily News, July 6th 1969
She sat there with her legs crossed, the lashes of her mascara-coated eyes beating like the wings of a hummingbird. She was angry. She has so upset she hadn't bothered to shave. A day old stubble was beginning to push through the pancake makeup. She was a he. A queen of Christopher Street.Last weekend the queens had turned commandos and stood bra strap to bra strap against an invasion of the helmeted Tactical Patrol Force. The elite police squad had shut down one of their private gay clubs, the Stonewall Inn at 57 Christopher St., in the heart of a three-block homosexual community in Greenwich Village.

Queen Power reared its bleached blonde head in revolt. New York City experienced its first homosexual riot. "We may have lost the battle, sweets, but the war is far from over," lisped an unofficial lady-in-waiting from the court of the Queens."We've had all we can take from the Gestapo," the spokesman, or spokeswoman, continued. "We're putting our foot down once and for all." The foot wore a spiked heel. According to reports, the Stonewall Inn, a two-story structure with a sand painted brick and opaque glass facade, was a mecca for the homosexual element in the village who wanted nothing but a private little place where they could congregate, drink, dance and do whatever little girls do when they get together.The thick glass shut out the outside world of the street.
Inside, the Stonewall bathed in wild, bright psychedelic lights, while the patrons writhed to the sounds of a juke box on a square dance floor surrounded by booths and tables. The bar did a good business and the waiters, or waitresses, were always kept busy, as they snaked their way around the dancing customers to the booths and tables. For nearly two years, peace and tranquility reigned supreme for the Alice in Wonderland clientele.
The Raid
Last Friday the privacy of the Stonewall was invaded by police from the First Division. It was a raid. They had a warrant. After two years, police said they had been informed that liquor was being served on the premises. Since the Stonewall was without a license, the place was being closed. It was the law.

All hell broke loose when the police entered the Stonewall. The girls instinctively reached for each other. Others stood frozen, locked in an embrace of fear. Only a handful of police were on hand for the initial landing in the homosexual beachhead. They ushered the patrons out onto Christopher Street, just off Sheridan Square. A crowd had formed in front of the Stonewall and the customers were greeted with cheers of encouragement from the gallery.The whole proceeding took on the aura of a homosexual Academy Awards Night. The Queens pranced out to the street blowing kisses and waving to the crowd. A beauty of a specimen named Stella wailed uncontrollably while being led to the sidewalk in front of the Stonewall by a cop. She later confessed that she didn't protest the manhandling by the officer, it was just that her hair was in curlers and she was afraid her new beau might be in the crowd and spot her. She didn't want him to see her this way, she wept.
Queen Power

The crowd began to get out of hand, eye witnesses said. Then, without warning, Queen Power exploded with all the fury of a gay atomic bomb. Queens, princesses and ladies-in-waiting began hurling anything they could get their polished, manicured fingernails on. Bobby pins, compacts, curlers, lipstick tubes and other femme fatale missiles were flying in the direction of the cops. The war was on. The lilies of the valley had become carnivorous jungle plants.
Urged on by cries of "C'mon girls, lets go get'em," the defenders of Stonewall launched an attack. The cops called for assistance. To the rescue came the Tactical Patrol Force.
Flushed with the excitement of battle, a fellow called Gloria pranced around like Wonder Woman, while several Florence Nightingales administered first aid to the fallen warriors. There were some assorted scratches and bruises, but nothing serious was suffered by the honeys turned Madwoman of Chaillot.
Official reports listed four injured policemen with 13 arrests. The War of the Roses lasted about 2 hours from about midnight to 2 a.m. There was a return bout Wednesday night.Two veterans recently recalled the battle and issued a warning to the cops. "If they close up all the gay joints in this area, there is going to be all out war."
Bruce and Nan
Both said they were refugees from Indiana and had come to New York where they could live together happily ever after. They were in their early 20's. They preferred to be called by their married names, Bruce and Nan.

"I don't like your paper," Nan lisped matter-of-factly. "It's anti-fag and pro-cop.""I'll bet you didn't see what they did to the Stonewall. Did the pigs tell you that they smashed everything in sight? Did you ask them why they stole money out of the cash register and then smashed it with a sledge hammer? Did you ask them why it took them two years to discover that the Stonewall didn't have a liquor license."Bruce nodded in agreement and reached over for Nan's trembling hands.
"Calm down, doll," he said. "Your face is getting all flushed." Nan wiped her face with a tissue. "This would have to happen right before the wedding. The reception was going to be held at the Stonewall, too," Nan said, tossing her ashen-tinted hair over her shoulder.
"What wedding?," the bystander asked.
Nan frowned with a how-could-anybody-be-so-stupid look. "Eric and Jack's wedding, of course. They're finally tying the knot. I thought they'd never get together."
Meet Shirley
"We'll have to find another place, that's all there is to it," Bruce sighed. "But every time we start a place, the cops break it up sooner or later.""They let us operate just as long as the payoff is regular," Nan said bitterly. "I believe they closed up the Stonewall because there was some trouble with the payoff to the cops. I think that's the real reason. It's a shame. It was such a lovely place. We never bothered anybody. Why couldn't they leave us alone?"
Shirley Evans, a neighbor with two children, agrees that the Stonewall was not a rowdy place and the persons who frequented the club were never troublesome. She lives at 45 Christopher St."
Up until the night of the police raid there was never any trouble there," she said.
"The homosexuals minded their own business and never bothered a soul. There were never any fights or hollering, or anything like that. They just wanted to be left alone. I don't know what they did inside, but that's their business. I was never in there myself. It was just awful when the police came. It was like a swarm of hornets attacking a bunch of butterflies."
A reporter visited the now closed Stonewall and it indeed looked like a cyclone had struck the premises.Police said there were over 200 people in the Stonewall when they entered with a warrant. The crowd outside was estimated at 500 to 1,000. According to police, the Stonewall had been under observation for some time. Being a private club, plain clothesmen were refused entrance to the inside when they periodically tried to check the place. "They had the tightest security in the Village," a First Division officer said, "We could never get near the place without a warrant."
Police Talk
The men of the First Division were unable to find any humor in the situation, despite the comical overtones of the raid.
"They were throwing more than lace hankies," one inspector said. "I was almost decapitated by a slab of thick glass. It was thrown like a discus and just missed my throat by inches. The beer can didn't miss, though, "it hit me right above the temple."
Police also believe the club was operated by Mafia connected owners. The police did confiscate the Stonewall's cash register as proceeds from an illegal operation. The receipts were counted and are on file at the division headquarters. The warrant was served and the establishment closed on the grounds it was an illegal membership club with no license, and no license to serve liquor.
The police are sure of one thing. They haven't heard the last from the Girls of Christopher Street.

Isn't THAT the truth !!

Out History.org has cateloged and placed on the Internet many of the actual police reports filed that night in June by the police participating in the Sonewall raid. Here's a picture of one. I chose it because I have this photograph of one of te named "criminals" Raymond Castro in 1969 AND because it names the only woman arrested, Marilyn Fowler.

Raymond Castro cica 1969

Of course the police believed that they were in the right. AKA William All Kinds Of Gay has an interview with Officer Pine from the Stonewall riot that you can listen to at his website. Here is a partial transcription of that interview:

When pressed about the motivation for the raid, Pine, speaking by telephone, said, “I don’t think not liking gay people had anything to do with it.” Instead, the former member of NYPD’s vice and gambling unit listed complaints from the community about the Stonewall Inn that included Mafia connections, dirty drink glasses, and the violation of contemporary dress codes. (Earlier, panelist Garvin mentioned the preponderance of “flame queens” at the establishment.)
While Pine acknowledged that the Stonewall Inn in the West Village was known as a “gay headquarters,” he sounded genuinely confused when asked whether any antigay bias existed among police officers on the streets at the time. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that,” said Pine. Audience members, who were present in the studio for the live broadcast, chuckled.
Finally, host [Brian] Lehrer asked Pine directly, “Do you think that the police were on the side of right?”
“Yes, of course,” Pine answered. “When we took the action that we took that night, we were on the side of right. We never would have done something without supervision from the federal authorities and the state authorities. They were involved with this just as well as we were.”

Dirty glasses? Give me a break! I do not doubt that the state and the federal authorities were just as gayist as the city police. Of course it was an anti-gay raid. Everyone except officer Pine knows it. I do not doubt that as an officer of the law, basing his entir life on following the letter of the law and following orders, he believes he did the correct thing. Most New Yorkers at the time probably agreed. I don't.

The final image from 1969 is the cover of the national lgbt magazine "The Advocate." This magazine was just getting off the ground and covered the riot ... of course the BIG story was the movie "The Midnight Cowboy" with Jon Voight (father of Angelina Jolie for you younger people). But in 1969, a movie with a gay story line was a much bigger national story than a New York riot - or so we thought initially. How wrong we were!

I include The Advocate because it holds a special place in my heart. In 1999, The Advocate named me one of the 100 most influential people to the lgbt American community. Steve was VERY impressed. They wanted a picture for the publication and I sent them a picture of Steve and me. MOST unfortunately, they cut Steve out of the picture before printing it. We were VERY disappointed ... but he still framed the magazine turned to "my" page. LOL It was pretty easy to impress Steve ... just get named in the same 100 list as Oprah Winfrey! Why did they name me? I worked for the AFL-CIO on the national level and I had written a Letter to the Editor in airbanks Alaska when someone had attempted to the fire to the rainbow flag hanging in front of my house. I think they needed an Alaskan and I was the best they could come up with in a hurry. LOL But Stonewall lives on, even in the Far North and on top of my mountain.

Exorcism of Gay Teenager

2009-06-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the short version of the Manifested Glories Ministries exorcising demons from a homosexual teenage boy. More scary than The Exorcist movie. Quite close to child abuse to my untrained eyes ... wait I have trained eyes, I worked as a Social Worker for a hile in Alaska! Yep, I would call this abuse and take custody of this boy. A court may over rule my decision, but if I say this, I would immediately take custody of this boy and place him in a safe foster home!

But take a look and see for yourself. It is under two minutes. There is a 9+ minute also on YouTube.

My Message To The President

2009-06-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

Here's what I wrote on the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force form for their Excutive Director to bring along to the White House on Monday for the cocktail party celebrating the 40th anniversary fo the Stonewall Riots:

Please tell the President that I am a huge fan but am VERY disappointed with the DADT and the DOMA briefs - HUGELY disappointed in the OFFICIAL position of his administration which he has NOT said he disagrees with.

I know Mr. Gibbs says NO to a Stop Order on DADT - but 265 and counting? And he is Commander in Chief? This is a huge waste of MONEY and a huge issue of National Security. He HAS TO issue a STOP ORDER until Congress has time to fix this. He just HAS TO for civil rights. This is JOB DISCRIMINATION.

President Obama is the BOSS who has fired 265 people and counting for being gay. HE HIMSELF is the BOSS doing the FIRING. He must issue a STOP ORDER or be held accountable for discrimination HIMSELF!

It, like ENDA, is a simple matter of job discrimination, national security, and a huge waste of tax dollars. The American public will support him.

Thank you.
Richard XXXXXXX

Address XXXXXX

Your Chance To Talk To Obama

2009-06-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force executive director Rea Carey will be attending Monday's LGBT cocktail party at the White House and wants to know what you'd like her to tell the president.

What would you like to say to the president?
I will be joining a group of LGBT leaders that President Obama has invited to a reception on Monday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the 1969 Greenwich Village demonstrations that gave birth to the modern LGBT rights movement.
When I go to the White House, I want to take your voice with me.
What would you say to the president? What would you ask? What story would you want told? Let me know by filling out the form below and I'll deliver your message:

Hmmm, what to say? I am sure you and I both will think of something. This is too good an opportunity to waste! Just click on the link above and have a go at it!

Moving On

2009-06-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

Jim suggested a few months ago that I may want to take down a few pictures of Steve in the house. Looking around this week, I see what he means. This morning I took down eight to ten framed photographs all over the house - I had two in the bathroom!!

His favorite picture of himself remains in the living room. One is enough for now.

I am also on two Internet social sites for older gay men. I had listed myself as a grieving widower and put up pictures of Steve and me at our wedding anniversary party. I received lots of friendly messages and sympathy messages. Met some very nice guys who had lost their loved ones too. But all my energy was spent on Steve and grief.

I have removed all photographs of "us" and left only pictures of me. I have removed all references to widower and grief. I did add information about my disability ... it is important to understand that from the git go.

Time to accept and move ahead.

On the other hand ...

I was reading James Van Praagh's book on Grief. He is the medium who speaks with the dead or is a vast fake - depends on who you listen to. He wrote of his father who still grieves for his mother who died a decode ago. He wrote that his father will get his smile back when he is reunited with his wife - and he writes that such is deep and true love.

When I first took my wedding rings off a few months ago, a guy on my migraine list said his father still wore his wedding ring even though his wife died four years ago. My mother said that my grandmother wore her wedding ring until her death - about 15 years after my grandfather's death.

I am getting pulled in two (or more) directions. Is it romantic and noble for me to wear my wedding rings and be faithful to Steve to death? Or should I move on with my life and be open to another intimate relationship? One minute I feel one way and another minute I feel another.

It is very confusing.

I am going to San Francisco Pride with Jim this Sunday. Jim was taking me to my doctor appointments in The City on Monday and he has never been to Pride. So I got a hotel room (can NOT beat Priceline.com!) and we are headed south early Sunday. I will have lots of time to talk with Jim. He is usually sensible. I have to admit, my heart says to stay married to Steve and my head and soul say to move on and stay open to possibilities.

Yet how can I stay married to a memory? I can see it, I really can.

Even I am curious as top how this will turn out! LOL

I am going to allow comments on this post - only be VERY gentle. I am real fragile on this question right now. Pushing hard one way or the other may have the opposite effect. But I do welcome your gentle advice.

Those Incredible Southern Baptists

2009-06-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

My daughter's maternal grandparents are retired Southern Baptist missionaries to Alaska. I graduated from Furman University which at the time was deeply affiliated with the South Baptist Convention. Yet I never quite understood the Southern Baptist mindset. They say each church is independent to itself - but they discipline one another more than Methodists or Presbyterians ever dream of doing. They say they love the person and hate the sin but they are the most judgemental folks I have ever run up against as a whole. Frankly, they confuse me as a people of faith. Some of my professors and friends were so righteous, so good, so nice ... other Baptists are so judgemental, so mean spirited. It is a puzzlement! Here's the current bruhaha.
Box Turtle Bulletin reports in part:

The Southern Baptist Convention has ousted Broadway Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas over the church’s acceptance of gays. Even though that church had sent their own gay-tolerant pastor packing over a controversy surrounding photos of same-sex couples in the church directory, it appears that what remained still wasn’t anti-gay enough to appease the powers that be.
Meanwhile, another Southern Baptist preacher, Rev. Wiley Drake of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, California, has been practicing “imprecatory prayer” for President Barack Obama’s death. Drake and his church remain in good standing.

So ruining the life of a gay tolerant preacher is not mean enough for the SBC - they have to kick the whole congregation to the curb. Yet a congregation being led in prayer for the President's death? Why that is A-OK with the Convention. Can you tell why the Southern Baptist Christians confuse this simple Pagan guy?

Acceptance

2009-06-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

I disabled comments for this post. I do not want to hear any. When I have written on this subject in the past, well meaning and loving people have written "That sounds healthy" or "Sounds like you are finally beginning to heal" or "Good for you" Those comments or similar ones made me angry. I have no idea why. It's not fair. Grief is not fair. Grief is raw, nasty, bitter emotions - one right after the other. I have to feel them and deal with them day in and day out. You don't; I do. So I disabled comments so I won't get angry at people I care about who care about me.

I am trying very hard to accept Steve's death. I am trying very hard to move on with my life. The last three days have been very, very difficult for me.

I have taken off my wedding rings again. My ring and Steve's ring. I did not put them on a chain around my neck ... I put them away in the jewelry case. At this moment I could not tell you exactly where they are. I can find them in a second or two ... but I do not know exactly where they are. That's OK.

This afternoon, I took Steve's picture off the main page of this blog. Did you notice? It seemed the correct thing to do. Steve is not my Beloved Husband. Steve was my Beloved Husband. But our marriage ended around 4:00 PM on January 27, 2008. I am coming to see that now ... to accept that now. We can no longer be married.

When we renewed our vows, we vowed "as long as we both shall live." Well, we are not both alive now, are we. And we haven't both been alive since 4:00 PM 1/27/08. Steve was not here for the Deputy Sheriff negating me and our family. He was not here for the Memorial Service or the horror of my grief afterwards. He did not share my summer with Carey and Dave or my Christmas with my family. He never met my son outlaw Dave or my dog Madison. He never saw my Toyota or went to a play with the kids and me.

That's all my life. Not Steve's life. My life without Steve. My life after Steve.

I still love Steve. I love him with all my heart still. But I know that will change. I feel it changing. There will be room for me to love others. Maybe not another husband. But I will be able to love others. I have not loved in a while. I want to love again. I have gone through the motions of love. But I want to really love again. To care more for others than I care for me. I need that in my life. I want that in my life. There will be room for that again. I feel it.

But I will always love Steve. I love my Grandfather and my Grandmother. They both passed to the other side of the veil too.

I know ... well I have a very strong suspicion that Steve is doing well. I honestly suspect that he is caring for cats, and maybe a dog or two like Sandy and Tango, but primarily cats who are waiting for their people to come home to the other side. Yes, I see Steve stroking and playing with lots of cats and kittens as they wait for their people. I know he is enjoying that.

I also know he is loving me. I can easily accept that. Now I can. At first I just knew he was miserable and shocked as I was. He easily may have been. But I feel in my heart of hearts that he has accepted things - long ago - and is happy taking care of his critters over there and lovingly looking over at me. Yes, I feel that strongly.

But me, I need to let go of our marriage. I need to move on and love again. I need to be strong again. That is not correct. I need to be a new me ... a new, strong me. A me that is new and stronger for having loved Steve and been loved by Steve. A man made better by the crucible of grief.

So I am trying, struggling, working hard at acceptance. I am going to make it.

The next step is removing Steve's photographs from all over everywhere in the house. And turning his bedroom into my bedroom. Hard steps. Lots of tears, I expect. But I will survive and grow.

Think of me.

Frank Kameny - An American Hero

2009-06-25T22:02:00.000-07:00

I cried reading this letter tonight:

The Letter of Apology from the Office of Personnel Management:
Dear Dr. Kameny:

In what we know today was a shameful action, the United States Civil Service Commission in 1957 upheld your dismissal from your job solely on the basis of your sexual orientation. In one letter to you, an agency official wrote that the Government “does not hire homosexuals and will not permit their employment…” He went on to say that “the homosexual is automatically a security risk” and that he “frequently becomes a disruptive personnel factor within any organization.”

With the fervent passion of a true patriot, you did not resign yourself to your fate or quietly endure this wrong. With courage and strength, you fought back. And so today, I am writing to advise you that this policy, which was at odds with the bedrock principles underlying the merit-based civil service, has been repudiated by the United States Government, due in large part to your determination and life’s work, and to the thousands of Americans whose advocacy your words have inspired.

Thus, the civil service laws, rules and regulations now provide that it is illegal to discriminate against federal employees or applicants based on matters not related to their ability to perform their jobs, including their sexual orientation. Furthermore, I am happy to inform you that the Memorandum signed by President Obama on June 17, 2009 directs the Office of Personnel Management—the successor to the CSC–to issue guidance to all executive departments and agencies regarding their obligations to comply with these laws, rules, and regulations.

And by virtue of the authority vested in me as Director of the Office Of Personnel Management, it is my duty and great pleasure to inform you that I am adding my support, along with that of many other past Directors, for the repudiation of the reasoning of the 1957 finding by the United States Civil Service Commission to dismiss you from your job solely on the basis of your sexual orientation. Please accept our apology for the consequences of the previous policy of the United States government, and please accept the gratitude and appreciation of the United States Office of Personnel Management for the work you have done to fight discrimination and protect the merit-based civil service system.

Sincerely yours,
John Berry, Director

Upon receipt of ths letter from Mr. Berry, 82 year old Dr. Kameny, a life long gay activist and a hero of mine, said: "Apology accepted."

Box Turtle Bulletin had this to say:

In 1957, Frank Kameny was fired from his job as an astronomer at the Army Map Service when his supervisors found out he was gay. He protested to the U.S. Civil Service Commission and argued his case all the way to the United States Supreme Court, which denied his claim. That experience turned Kameny from an anonymous government employee to one of the most tireless activists of the LGBT movement.

No Longer ‘Unsuitable for Federal Employment’ (Laura McGinnis, Renna Communications)
Yesterday, more than fifty years after his firing, Frank was on hand at a special ceremony to receive a formal letter of apology from John Berry, the openly gay Director of the Office of Personnel Management. Kameny was also bestowed the Teddy Roosevelt Award, the department’s highest honor. Upon receiving the apology, Frank Kameny tearfully replied, “Apology accepted.”

We often think of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York as being the start of the Gay Rights movement, but that assumption ignores the bold, aggressive action by Frank Kameny, Barbara Gittings, Del Martin and Phylis Lyon, along with other pre-stonewall landmark events like the Black Cat Raid and the White House pickets. (Not to mention San Francisco's pre-Stonewall Compton Cafeteria Riot - RGS) Frank Kameny was right in the middle of many of those bold initiatives in demanding equality for gay people when relatively few gay people themselves believed they deserved equality. Remember, this was a time when the medical profession regarded homosexuality as a mental illness.

Frank would have none of that. He co-founded the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., which in 1963 launched a long campaign to overturn sodomy laws and remove homosexuality from the American Psychological Association’s list of mental disorders. He participated in the very first picket line in front of the White House on April 17, 1965. Along with other activists from New York they expanded those pickets to include the Pentagon, the U.S. Civil Service Commission, and, more famously, to Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia pickets would become an annual event for the next five years.

In 1968, Kameny coined the phrase “Gay Is Good,” basing it on the slogan “Black Is Beautiful.” It was a bold and radical gesture for many gays and lesbians who hadn’t before dared to believe that about themselves. While Frank points to that phrase’s popularity as his most proud accomplishment, it wasn’t his last. He became the first openly gay candidate for Congress in 1971 (he lost), and he played a pivotal role in the APA’s removal of homosexuality from its list of disorders in 1973 (he won).

Yesterday, Frank’s life of advocacy completed its full circle with the apology and recognition from the Office of Personnel Management, the successor department to the U.S. Civil Service Commission which upheld his firing. In Joyce Murdoch and Deb Price’s book, Courting Justice: Gay Men And Lesbians V. The Supreme Court, Frank called his 1957 firing the spark which energized his long dedication to securing equality for all LGBT people:

“I just couldn’t walk away,” recalled Frank Kameny, a brilliant Harvard-educated astronomer who became nearly destitute after being fired from his government job in 1957. The phrase echoed through many interviews with gay people who fought against dreadful odds after losing a job, being embarrassed by a “sex crime” arrest or suffering some similar humiliation. “For the rest of my life, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself,” Kameny added. “I would be dead of stomach ulcers by now. There’s simply a burning sense of justice.”

Frank Kameny is 82, and is still active in Washington, D.C. where he makes his home. His home, by the way, was designated as a D.C. Historic Landmark by the District of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Review Board in honor of his activism. His papers are now in the Library of Congress, and a collection of original picket signs, a “Gay is Good” button, and other memorabilia are a part of the Smithsonion’s collection.

New From The United Kingdom

2009-06-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Here's What The Good Folks @ PnkNews.co.uk are reporting on today (I give you a bit of the story, click on the headline for the rest of the story):

Human rights group condemns Saudi Arabia for "cross-dressing" arrests

Tony Grew

The arrests of 67 men in Saudi Arabia on charges of cross-dressing is a violation of basic human rights, according to activists. The men were arrested in Riyadh on June 13, 2009, reportedly for wearing women’s clothing. Human Rights Watch called on Saudi authorities to drop charges against the men, most of them from other countries, and release any they are still holding.
“If the police in Saudi Arabia can arrest people simply because they don’t like their clothes, no one is safe,” said Rasha Moumneh, researcher in the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch.

Stonewall riots deputy inspector claims police were “on the side of right”

Nell Frizzell

Just before the 40th anniversary of the legendary Stonewall riots, a high-ranking New York police officer has said that the force was right to raid the bar. Speaking yesterday on a special edition of the Brian Lehrer Show on the American radio station WNYC-FM, Deputy Inspector Seymour Pine argued that police were called to the bar because of complaints about mafia connections, dirty drink glasses, and the violation of contemporary dress codes. According to Advocate.com, Pine admitted that although the Stonewall Inn was unofficially known as the “gay headquarters” of the West Village, the sexuality of the patrons had little to do with the decision to raid the bar.

Catholic agency to cease new adoptions over gay parents

Nell Frizzell

The Catholic Children's Society has announced it will stop placing children with adoptive parents due to new legislation which requires it to cease discriminating against gay couples.
The Sexual Orientation Regulations of 2007 made it illegal if “a person… discriminates against another… on grounds of the sexual orientation".

Google discreetly celebrates Pride month

Nell Frizzell

Internet users searching Google this month may notice an addition to their usual search screen. Instead of a plain blue 'dividing bar' along the top of the search page, certain searches will bring up a rainbow bar graphic. This discreet rainbow bar, Google explains, is a way of celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans Pride month, as proclaimed by US President Barack Obama earlier this month. Instead of being a universal Google graphic, the rainbow bar only appears when the user searches specific terms such as 'gay', 'lesbian' and 'transgender'.

Jerusalem ready for a peaceful Pride event

More than two thousand people are expected to take part in a Pride march in Jerusalem today.
In previous years the event has been marred by violence, threats of violence and the disapproval of some devout Jews. However this year organisers are confident there will be no disruption. "These are the results of talks and agreements reached with the leaders of the ultra-Orthodox sect over the past year and a half," Amit Lev, spokesman for Jerusalem's Open House, told YNet News. "For the first time in Jerusalem the hawkish camps have reached a settlement, and I hope this will affect Jerusalem's future as a pluralist city."

British parliamentarians condemn Lithuania's anti-gay law

A new law passed in Lithuania that "protects" minors by restricting publication of information on homosexual and bisexual relationships has been condemned across Europe. British MPs and Lords at the Assembly of the Council of Europe joined with colleagues to condemn the law, which was passed earlier this month.

Tory MP Tim Boswell, Labour peer Baroness Gale and Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock signed a written declaration, saying they are "shocked" that such information has been classified with the promotion of drugs or suicide, and the portrayal of killings, mutilation or torture. They said the legislation will serve only to perpetuate discrimination and intolerance and deny young lesbian, gay and bisexual persons access to information which they need in order to live in accordance with their sexual orientation.

Photographs primarily from PinkNews.co.uk. If you see a photograph of yours on my blog and wish it removed or given proper credit, please contact me immediately. Thanks.

Anti-Discrimination - Italian Style

2009-06-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

A migraine friend of mine, Antonella, lives in the northern part of Italy. This blogger lives in Rome, I believe. I got to his blog by way of Joe.My.God ... one of the blogs I follow and you can find on the lower right of this blog.

This poster is translated in rough and direct language to get the point across. Apparently "Mafioso" is a very nasty term to call an Italian just because he/she is Italian.

Here is the rough and insulting translation as it is appears on the Italian blog ... no offense meant to anyone of any race, sex, nationality, or sexual orientation:

You call me a dirty nigger or a disgusting lesbian,

But you are offended if I call you Mafioso.

Racism (prejudice) is a boomerang.

Sooner or later it comes back to you.

In my journey around the web, it appears to me that Europeans are a bit more direct than we Americans. This poster certainly does not beat around the bush, does it. I think I like it ... though it makes me VERY uncomfortable. VERY.

And it looks so innocent and pleasant if you cannot read Italian! LOL

ENDA Introduced In Congress

2009-06-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

6/24/2009

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, hailed today the bipartisan reintroduction of an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would create federal protections against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The lead sponsors of the measure are Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA), IIeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Michael Castle (R-DE), George Miller (D-CA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), John Conyers (D-MI), Todd Platts (R-PA), Rob Andrews (D-NJ), and Leonard Lance (R-NJ).

“Just like our friends, neighbors and coworkers, LGBT Americans work hard, provide for our families and contribute to our nation’s economy,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We all share the challenges of today's economic downturn, but our community also faces arbitrary discrimination in the workplace, simply because of who we are and who we love. Congress must pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and ensure that all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, get a fair chance to succeed at work.”

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill would reflect the values, shared by the vast majority of Americans, that employment decisions should be based on a person’s qualifications and work ethic.

An estimated 85% of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their equal employment policies, and more than one-third also include gender identity. More than 60 companies have joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of leading U.S. employers that support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. To view a list of the companies, visit: http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/06/enda-introduction-tomorrow-corporations-agree-fairness-is-good-business/

“Although more and more businesses in the United States have started addressing workplace fairness for LGBT employees, we still need a federal standard that treats all employees the same way. That’s why Nike is part of the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of leading companies that support passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act,” said Orson Porter, U.S. Director of Government Affairs.

“Chubb is unwavering in its support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The principles it fosters are consistent with our corporate principles of treating all employees with fairness and respect,” said Donna Griffin, senior vice president and chief diversity officer, The Chubb Corporation. “ENDA will have a positive impact on our country’s ability to compete on the world stage, by extending legal protection in the majority of states where employees can still be turned down for a job, or fired, simply because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”

ENDA is supported by a broad range of civil rights, religious, civic and professional organizations, including the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAACP, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, AFSCME, National Education Association, National Employment Lawyers Association, Anti-Defamation League, Religious Action Center, Unitiarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, American Civil Liberties Union, and many others.

Currently, federal law provides legal protection against employment discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, age and disability, but not sexual orientation or gender identity. In 30 states across America, it is still legal to fire someone based on his or her sexual orientation, and in 38 states, it is still legal to fire someone for being transgender.

NC Passes Anti-Bully Law

2009-06-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

James Hipps of GayAgenda.com reported in part on 6/23/09:

According to a post on the News & Observer, the North Carolina House passed legislation earlier today that would add the state to the small list of those that have anti-bullying laws, which include specific protections for students harassed about their “real or perceived sexual orientation.”

North Carolina lawmakers voted 59 to 57 to preliminarily approved the measure, but it wasn’t approved before some intense debate. It is expected the House a final vote will be held today then it will be passed on to Beverly Perdue, the state’s Governor for approval or veto.

Harvard Creates LGBT Professorship

2009-06-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Durango Herald News and GayAgenda.com report:

Harvard University is creating a visiting professorship in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies with a $1.5 million gift from the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus. It’s certainly about time that something like this has happened. Plenty of programs are really flourishing in colleges and universities all over the country.

Tom Parry, past president of the Caucus, said he believed the professorship will be the first specifically for sexuality or sexual minorities in the United States. The University of Louisville has a chair in race, class, gender and sexuality studies named for lesbian poet and activist Audre Lorde.

Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust said the professorship was “an important milestone” for LGBT studies at the university.

Gay and lesbian studies is a relatively young field of academic study. The first programs began in the 1980s, and the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at the City University of New York Graduate Center opened in 1991 as the first university-based research center.

Ann Coulter Encourages Murder

2009-06-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

In this short clip, Ann Coulter clearly encourages and supports the concept of murdering doctors who provide healthcare services to women who seek to terminate their pregnancies. I firmly believe Ms. Coulter has crossed the moral and ethical line if not the legal line. She is not a good person to say this.

Sen Dodd Supports Marriage Equality

2009-06-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

"Public officials aren’t supposed to change their minds. But I firmly believe that it’s important to keep learning.

Last week, while I was in Connecticut meeting with members of the gay and lesbian community from across the state, I had the opportunity to tell them what I’ve learned about marriage, and about equality. While I’ve long been for extending every benefit of marriage to same-sex couples, I have in the past drawn a distinction between a marriage-like status (“civil unions”) and full marriage rights.

"The reason was simple: I was raised to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. And as many other Americans have realized as they’ve struggled to reconcile the principle of fairness with the lessons they learned early in life, that’s not an easy thing to overcome. But the fact that I was raised a certain way just isn’t a good enough reason to stand in the way of fairness anymore.

The Connecticut Supreme Court, of course, has ruled that such a distinction holds no merit under the law. And the Court is right."

- Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), posting on his official site that he has reversed his position and now supports full marriage equality for LGBT Americans.

- via Pam's House Blend

SC Gov On His Hypocritical Oath

2009-06-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Here is SC Governor Mark Sanford five months into his adulterous affair with an Argentine woman explaining why he against Marriage Equality or even Civil Unions. After all, children deserve a mother and a father.

He must mean children other than his own. He ditched his kids and his job and his state to sneak off to his mistress over the Father's Day Weekend in 2009.

If you look closely, you can see the hypoctite's lips move.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Thanks to Dan Savage !

Sally Kerns Rides Again

2009-06-25T13:59:00.001-07:00

Last Year Sally Kerns of the Oklahoma State House was telling us that gays were a greater threat to the USA than terrorists. Amazing. And amazing that Democrat Ron Marlett could not beat her in November. But that's the way things work in Oklahoma.

This summer old Sally is after President Obama. She says in part:

For the first time in America’s history, we have a president who has no understanding of the Biblical worldview and who has even less understanding of the truths of the Bible. This is evident when he says that support for homosexual “marriage” [unions] can be found in the Sermon on the Mount or that certain passages in Romans are just obscure passages. Whereas George Washington expelled from his military those who practiced sodomy, President Obama honors sodomites by proclaiming an entire month as Gay Pride Month, but he won’t acknowledge one day for our National Day of Prayer.

You are free to read more of her diatribe at Pam's House Blend (a most excellent lgbt blog)

There you will also find Sally's Declaration for a Moral Oklahoma and USA. I am going to copy the whole amazing document. I would take things like this more seriously if the authors would simultaneously introduce bills to do away with divorce except in the case of adultery, bills to make the wife the property of the husband, bills to make women silent outside the home, bills to reinstate slavery of Canadians and Mexicans by Americans - you know - all those great things the Bible puts forth as moral and good. But they only pick on the gays and lesbians. Anyway, here it is.

OKLAHOMA CITIZEN'S PROCLAMATION FOR MORALITY
We the People of Oklahoma, Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessing of Liberty; to secure just and rightful Government; to promote our mutual Welfare and Happiness, do establish this proclamation and call upon the people of the great State of Oklahoma, and our fellow Patriots in these United States of America who look to the Lord for guidance, to acknowledge the need for a national awakening of righteousness in our land.
WHEREAS, "It is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand" (John Adams); and
WHEREAS, "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by Religion and Morality" (John Adams); and
WHEREAS, "Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people" (John Adams); and
WHEREAS, "We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government...but upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God" (James Madison); and
WHEREAS, "Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God (Benjamin Franklin); and
WHEREAS, "God who gave us life gave us liberty and can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God" (Thomas Jefferson); and
WHEREAS, "Whether any free government can be permanent, where the public worship of God, and the support of Religion, constitute no part of the policy or duty of the state" (Joseph Story); and
WHEREAS, "We hold sacred the rights of conscience, and promise to the people...the free and undisturbed exercise of their religion" (Roger Sherman); and
WHEREAS, "This great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians" (Patrick Henry); and
WHEREAS, "When you...exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed upon your mind that God commands you to choose just men who will rule in the fear of God" (Noah Webster); and
WHEREAS, "The principles of genuine Liberty and of wise laws and administrations are to be drawn from the Bible" (Noah Webster); and
WHEREAS, the people of Oklahoma have a strong tradition of reliance upon the Creator of the Universe; and
WHEREAS, we believe our economic woes are consequences of our greater national moral crisis; and
WHEREAS, this nation has become a world leader in promoting abortion, pornography, same sex marriage, sex trafficking, divorce, illegitimate births, child abuse, and many other forms of debauchery; and
WHEREAS, alarmed that the Government of the United States of America is forsaking the rich Christian heritage upon which this nation was built; and
WHEREAS, grieved that the Office of the president of these United States has refused to uphold the long held tradition of past presidents in giving recognition to our National Day of Prayer; and WHEREAS, deeply disturbed that the Office of the president of these United States disregards the biblical admonitions to live clean and pure lives by proclaiming an entire month to an immoral behavior;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we the undersigned elected officials of the people of Oklahoma, religious leaders and citizens of the State of Oklahoma, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world, solemnly declare that the HOPE of the great State of Oklahoma and of these United States, rests upon the Principles of Religion and Morality as put forth in the HOLY BIBLE; and
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned, believers in the One True God and His only Son, call upon all to join with us in recognizing that "Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord," and humbly implore all who love Truth and Virtue to live above reproach in the sight of God and man with a firm reliance on the leadership and protection of Almighty God; and
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned, humbly call upon Holy God, our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, to have mercy on this nation, to stay His hand of judgment, and grant a national awakening of righteousness and Christian renewal as we repent of our great sin.
Signed on the second day of July in the year of our Lord Christ Two Thousand and Nine.

So only Christians should be Americans, eh? Seems old Sally conveniently forgot a few Founding Father and Presidential quotes:

Thomas Paine's views on Christianity:

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."

"Whenever we read the obscene stories the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we call it the word of a demon rather than the word of god. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel."

"The age of ignorance commenced with the Christian system"

And then we have:

Twenty times, in the course of my late reading, have I been on the point of breaking out, 'This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there was no religion in it.'

-John Adams, letter to Jefferson

The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva from the brain of Jupiter.

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Adams

Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to his nephew

"The United States is in no way founded upon the Christian religion."

-- George Washington & John Adams in a diplomatic message to Malta

"The Bible is not my book, and Christianity is not my religion. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

-- Abraham Lincoln

"I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature."

-- Thomas Jefferson

But one has to thank Sally for encouraging me and others to look up all the great quotes from our Presidents and Founding Fathers. LOL

Hurray! I Can Visit My Folks!

2009-06-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

My folks live in Delaware - the little arrow points at them (Hi Mom and Dad!) Last night at 8:30 PM the House of Representatives added sexual orientation to their list of prohibited classes for discrimination. Their Senate had done so a half hour earlier. Their governor promises to sign the bill. In 2009 - but better late than never! Thanks Mom for writing your Senator!

Hurray! Now I can visit Mom and Dad without fear of getting thrown out of hotels and restaurants and stores and malls. Hurray! You straight folks have idea how much this means ... it really is a big deal. Hurray for little Delaware!

Holy Crimes This Week

2009-06-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

I am copying this from the blog Joe.My.God. Not certain why except that like joe, I hate hypocricy. The Religious Reich has done its best to harm and hurt the lgbt community over the years. I think it is fitting to point out that those who live in glass houses really should not be throwing quite so many rocks at us.

This Week In Holy Crimes

Over the last seven days....

Texas: Pastor William Frank Brown charged with eight counts of child molestation and aggravated sexual assault.
Missouri: Pastor Aaron Rodgerson charged with failure to report child abuse, neglect, or death and practicing law without a license.
Florida: Pastor Jose Sos Santos charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of 12 year-old girl.
South Carolina: Pastor William Ralph Wilson III charged with three counts of a lewd act upon a child under 16 years of age.
Arkansas: Pastor Jason Wayne Floyd sentenced to four years in prison for statutory rape of 14 year-old girl.
New Jersey: Monsignor Patrick Brown takes "leave of absence" in FBI probe over missing parish funds.
Minnesota: Pastor Donald Budd sued by parishioner over inappropriate sexual conduct.
Pennsylvania: Father Joseph Macanga sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of kiddie porn.
New York: Rabbi Leib Glanz resigns over charges that he arranged a jailhouse bar mitzah for the son of a wealthy imprisoned felon.

This week's winner:
New York: Rev. Paul "defender of marriage" Lewis arrested in Jamaica for for having sex with a 15 year-old girl while a 14 year-old girl watched. Lewis was on a "crusade" in Jamaica for his church and paid the girls $30-$60 each. In February Lewis was accused of raping a 19 year-old in a parking lot, but his accuser later recanted her statement. From Rev. Lewis' bio: "Only once in a lifetime does someone come along with such a gifting yet humble and caring spirit." You can buy an "annointed prosperity kit" including "miracle olive oil soap" on Lewis' site for a mere $24.95 + $9.95 shipping and handling.

The Essence of Pride Parades

2009-06-19T21:44:00.001-07:00

Steve was a bit put out to learn that neither Chico, nor Paradise, nor Oroville had a Gay Pride Parade. So each June he put on his own Parade. Often it was just him - beads and rainbows everywhere! Steve would stand at the corner of 2nd and Main Street in downtown Chico on a busy Saturday morning and wave to the people walkng and driving by. He always had a ball ... and felt great for doing his part for Pride.

Pride is about being visible in rural Chico. Pride in San Francisco is a magnificent party: a Mardi Gras and a Christmas and a New Years all rolled into one huge celebration.

Joe on his blog Joe.My.God posts his most excellent writing on Pride each June. He says what is in my heart better than I can. So go on over to his blog and read his excellent post - learn about what Pride really means to gay and lesbian Americans. But do remember to come back here sometime soon! LOL I be here waiting for you ... go on now .... but hurry back.

June 2009: CDC Issues Report - HIV and Oral Sex

2009-06-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

I think the basic rule is have a healthy mouth and you are probably OK ... but here's their opening paragraph:

Oral Sex Is Not Risk Free

Like all sexual activity, oral sex carries some risk of HIV transmission when one partner is known to be infected with HIV, when either partner’s HIV status is not known, and/or when one partner is not monogamous or injects drugs. Even though the risk of transmitting HIV through oral sex is much lower than that of anal or vaginal sex, numerous studies have demonstrated that oral sex can result in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Abstaining from oral, anal, and vaginal sex altogether or having sex only with a mutually monogamous, uninfected partner are the only ways that individuals can be completely protected from the sexual transmission of HIV. However, by using condoms or other barriers between the mouth and genitals, individuals can reduce their risk of contracting HIV or another STD through oral sex.

Read the full report here:

Bill to equalise age of consent in Gibraltar defeated

2009-06-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

A Private Members Bill aimed at equalising the age of consent for gay men in Gibraltar was defeated in parliament today.

However, a gay group has argued that the wording of the bill meant it could not have been passed and that several factors had prevented full debate on the issue.

The bill was brought by Daniel Feetham MP, a Gibraltar Social Democrat and the Minister for Justice. It was intended to amend the Criminal Offences Ordinance in order to lower the age of consent for gay men from 18 to 16, in line with the law for heterosexuals and lesbians, which is a requirement of European human rights laws.

Equality group GGR have said the bill is "flawed on many levels", citing "19th century" language on sex with disabled people, which used words such as "defectives" and "imbeciles".

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk, GGR chairman Felix Alvarez said the opposition are in favour of an equal age of consent and civil partnerships, compared to Chief Minister Peter Caruana, who has stated he is not in favour of gay equality measures.

This is only part of the story written by Jessica Geen on June 18, 2009 for PinkNews.co.uk.

Photograph courtesy of PinkNews.co.uk.

Iran's President Notices Gays In Iran !

2009-06-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused his opponents to pandering to the gay vote, despite previously saying gays do not exist in his country.

Two years ago during a controversial World Leaders Forum, Ahmadinejad told students at Columbia University: “In Iran we don't have homosexuals”.

However, the president, whose re-election has caused huge protest across the globe, yesterday disproved his own comment. In a statement referring to claims of electoral fraud, Ahmadinejad accused his opponents of "officially recognising thieves, homosexuals and scumbags" in exchange for their votes.

Responding to his statement, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: “The old tyrant has let the cat of the bag. Gay people exist in Iran and they voted against him. Hurrah.”

In Part by Nell Frizzell with PinkNews.co.uk on June 19, 2009.

Obama Throws Us Another Bone

2009-06-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Obama Administration decided this week to gather information about gay and lesbian married couples and couples in civil unions, domestic partnerships, and otherwise coupled. This administration will then release this data.

Prior administrations have been provided this data (Steve and I always marked ourselves as "married") However prior administrations decided that releasing data regarding lesbian and gay families would violate DOMA.

Throwing the LGBT community another bone this week after the horror of its DOMA and DADT briefs, the Obama Administration opines releasing the information does not violate DOMA.

The Wall Street Journal continues:

An accurate statistical snapshot of legally married same-sex couples may be elusive. Before the White House's plan emerged, Howard Hogan, associate director for demographic programs at the Census Bureau, said data from its 2007 American Community Survey showed more than 340,000 same-sex couples as being in marriages. But according to data from Massachusetts, the only state that permitted gay marriages in 2007, about 11,000 marriage licenses were issued for same-sex couples.

The Obama administration was under pressure to change the Census policy. Rep. Mike Quigley (D., Ill.) sent a letter Tuesday to Mr. Obama, urging him to order the bureau to release same-sex marriage data as part of its standard tabulation of the 2010 Census.

Democratic Reps. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Steve Israel of New York and 51 other lawmakers wrote to White House Budget Director Peter Orszag last month, asking him to work with the bureau's parent agency, the Commerce Department, to reconsider the policy. Mr. Israel said the broad support for his letter shows that Congress has a real "appetite" for movement on this issue. ...

William H. Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, said it is important to release this data for policy and social analysis. Gary Gates, an expert in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender demographic data at the University of California at Los Angeles, called the administration's move "a very positive step," adding that he would like to see more details.

2008 Bad Year For Gay Motivated Murders

2009-06-18T19:45:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs released a report that confirms the number of LGBT killed in bias-motivated crimes jumped by 28% from 2007 to 2008. The report also concludes the number off murders last year, 29 in all, is the highest number recorded since 1999 when there were also 29 documented LGBT murders that were committed directly based on the persons sexuality.

The report says the overall number of victims who reported gay bias violence in 2008 increased by 2 percent.

The coalition states their figures are more accurate than those reported by law enforcement agencies, mostly because groups like the FBI don’t record bias crimes against transgenders as gender identity isn’t covered by federal hate-crime law.

The full report with breakdowns for major cities and comparisons between years can be found here.

James Hipp of GayAgenda.com

US Conference of Mayors Press Release on Marriage Equality

2009-06-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

New York, June 15, 2009 — The U.S. Conference of Mayors today passed a resolution in support of ending the exclusion of gay couples from marriage. The resolution, titled "Equality and Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans," included support for the freedom to marry along with endorsement of federal bills such as Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

“By passing this resolution, America's mayors spoke for the families they know and serve in communities across the country, and said that excluding those families from the freedom to marry must stop,” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People's Right to Marry. “The mayors have their fingers on the pulse of the country, and their voices today said loud and clear that ending discrimination in marriage is the way to go.”

In reference to the freedom to marry, the resolution stated,

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and the recognition and extension of full equal rights to such unions, including family and medical leave, tax equity, and insurance and retirement benefits, and opposes the enshrinement of discrimination in the federal or state constitutions.”

“The nation’s mayors are proud to take the lead in recognizing the importance of protecting all our citizens equally. It is now time for state legislatures and our federal government to enact the same protections for all our nation’s citizens,” said U.S. Conference of Mayors President Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle.

“The mayors' leadership reaffirms that the freedom to marry should not be partisan or political, but rather is part of the security and respect all couples who've made a commitment to care for one another and who are dealing with life's ups and downs should have, especially in these challenging economic times." said Wolfson. “Now the New York State Senate should be the next to lead the nation on the path to equality by swiftly passing the freedom to marry bill into law.”

Press Release by US Conference of Mayors

People Dropping Out of Democratic Fund Raiser

2009-06-18T19:01:00.000-07:00

David Mixner started a stampede when he announced he would NOT be attended the huge Democratic fund raiser this month. ""I will not attend a fundraiser for the National Democratic Party in Washington next week when the current administration is responsible for these kind of actions. How will they ever take us seriously if we keep forking out money while they harm us. For now on, my money is going to battles within the community such as the fight in Maine or the March on Washington!I am so tired of being told by Democratic operatives to 'suck it up' because so many other profound issues are at stake. It is as if our fight for our freedom is single-handedly responsible for the fate of all other issues. Bullshit. Maybe, just maybe, it is time for others to 'suck it up' for us and finally, without conditions, join our fight for our freedom!"

Vermont Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin has said no, protesting the DOMA brief: "One thing I have learned dealing with marriage equality in Vermont is that we all have a responsibility to stand up for the civil rights of all Americans. This memo from the Justice Department is more Bush than Bush. It takes the only minority group left in America that national politicians can publicly discriminate against and still see their numbers go up in the polls and it reinforces the horrible stereotypes about our friends and neighbors."

Prominent donor Bruce Bastian went a step further, saying he'll no longer be donating to the DNC, at least for now: "'I will continue to support certain congressmen, congresswomen and senators whom I believe will continue to fight for our rights, but I don't think blanket donations to the Democratic Party right now are justified, at least not in my book,' he said. Bastian, a major donor to many LGBT groups, said he sent an e-mail to the DNC on Wednesday saying he wouldn't attend the event 'because of the remarks on DOMA.' He found the filing 'very offensive.' ... Bastian said the brief was the "tipping point" for him in his perception for how the Democratic Party supports LGBT issues. 'The LGBT community raised a lot of money in support for Obama, and, I think he has to have the courage — well, not just him — but, I think the Democratic Party now has to have the courage to fight back, and when they do, they'll have my support,' he said."

I ask, “Mr. President how can you argue for the legality of DOMA, when you are for its repeal?” You really are talking out of both sides of your mouth and my community knows it. The Administration’s specious argument was extolled in a press release “As it generally does with existing statutes, the Justice Department is defending the law on the books in court. The president has said he wants to see a legislative repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act because it prevents LGBT couples from being granted equal rights and benefits. However, until Congress passes legislation repealing the law, the administration will continue to defend the statute when it is challenged in the justice system.”

Oh really, so can I expect the same response when your brief is filed in a Massachusetts federal case on June 29th? I certainly hope not. Mr. President make a different choice. Choose to lead.
Both Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton filed legal briefs arguing against existing law. The president says he is a “fierce advocate” for LGBT rights. Really? I don’t think comparing a marriage to my partner, to marrying my niece or sister, is being my fierce advocate. I expect the president will try to distance himself from the brief and even the press statement, but it is too late. If how I feel, as one of the president’s most ardent supporters, is any indication, Obama is in for a world of trouble over the next year with the LGBT community.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBT rights organization, rightfully condemned Obama for the filing of the government’s DOMA brief. I could not agree more with the leadership of HRC. President Obama, your legal brief was clearly a mistake, a big mistake. After Prop 8, my partner and I feel we are playing a tragic game of Wipeout. Traveling through an obstacle course that we must master to get our rights; making it to the end in California, only to be told by voters that heat didn’t count. I expected obstacles to be placed in our path by our enemies; I just didn’t expect it from the President. I thought he was on our side; I still want to believe that.

Unfortunately, I will see everything that the Obama administration does for LGBT Americans through the lens of the DOMA brief. Meaning, I will be waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop, while praying President Obama delivers on his promises.

Next week, I am boycotting the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council Democratic National Committee event honoring Vice President Biden to drive home my discontent. Many other prominent LGBT donors have also joined in the boycott. Is the announcement of benefits for LGBT federal employees to squash the boycott and the general uproar? Hmm…In politics, money talks. It is unlikely that Obama just put together this announcement in the last week to throw a bone to my community; it has been in the works for many weeks. I would have celebrated loudly had this been announced before the DOMA debacle, but now I will only give polite, muted applause. That pesky DOMA brief has ruined everything.

Mr. President, your DOMA mistake awakened a sleeping giant. He is mad as hell and is not going to take it anymore. You better get LGBT affirming legislation moving quickly or the coffers of the LGBT community will be slammed shut on the fingers of your administration and the DNC. You and the DNC may find themselves asking about our donations “if not now, when” as we have been asking about our rights for the last few months.

That’s simply the way I see it.

Stampp Corbin is a San Diego City Commissioner and LGBT rights activist

Andrew Sullivan has called for an end to donations to the Democratic Party until action is taken on issues of importance to the LGBT community. Writes Sullivan: "We need actions to highlight the administration's betrayals, postponements and boilerplate. We need to start confronting the president at his events. We need civil disobedience. We need to tell him we do not want another fricking speech where he tells us he is a fierce advocate for our rights, when that is quite plainly at this point not true. We will not tolerate another Clinton. No invites to these people for dinners or fundraisers. No cheering him at events while he does nothing to follow up on his explicit promises. Of course these things can be done. If anyone high up in the Obama administration or the Pelosi-Reid Congress gave a damn, much would have been done."

Stonewall Democrats, the largest grassroots network of LGBT activists in the nation, has publicly dropped its support of the Democratic Party's LGBT fundraiser scheduled for next week. The Stonewall Democrats join a growing list of high-profile individuals who have decided not to support the event in anger over the Department of Justice's disturbing defense of DOMA brief. The Stonewall Democrats have an additional complaint however. They say that while the Democratic Party has offered them financial support in the past, they were unexpectedly cut off from funding this year. Wrote the board members to DNC finance director Tom Petrillo:

"[W]e are incredibly disappointed that the DNC has made a decision to withhold any financial support to National Stonewall Democrats this year but is in turn asking us to help raise money for the DNC in a difficult financial environment. The DNC has historically supported National Stonewall through sponsorship of the annual Capitol Champions event. This year, we did not receive any support.

The DNC has traditionally provided materials for the many Pride parades and festivals around the country to help educate the LGBT community about why the Democratic Party is the Party for full LGBT equality. This year we were informed that we would not be receiving any materials or support for producing materials for the various nationwide Pride activities. These decisions were very disappointing."

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These fine people and many others are mad as hell and not going to take it any longer. We are tired of giving money, tired of sitting hour after hour at the phone banks, tired of walking the precincts, tired of blogging for the Democratic Party ... only to be told our families are comparable to those of incestuous relations. We are tired of promises whole more than 250 qualified men and women are fired from the armed services while Obama is commander in chief and the Democrats control Congress.

We are OUTRAGED that even though President BUSH authorized the Secretary of Health and Human Services to change the regulations so persons with HIV could enter the USA ... SIX MONTHS INTO THE OBAMA ADMINIOSTRATION, THIS SIMPLE REGULATION HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED! PEOPLE WITH HIV ARE TURNED AWAY AT THE BORDERS.

Someone please explain to me why the most powerful man in the world cannot get this regulation changed.

So stick around ... the best is yet to come!

Many thanks to Joe.My.God and to TowelRoad

Transexual To Run For Mayor In Town Of Idaho

2009-06-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

On June 18, 2009, Nell Frizzell of Pink News in the United Kingdom reports:

Melissa Sue Robinson, a trans woman, is running in the mayoral election for Nampa, Idaho. Robinson is the founder of civil rights organisation the National Association for the Advancement of Transgendered Persons, which was established in Michigan in 2000.
The association was disbanded in 2007 when Robinson moved to Seattle, although she set up a new, affiliated organisation this year called Idaho Equality which, according to the group's website, has “the sole purpose of securing LGBT anti-discrimination and hate crimes ordinances and laws in the state of Idaho and various cities within the state.”

According to Nampa’s regulations, Robinson will not be able to file her application until August, but in an email announcement she stated: “I am running because I am progressive and I feel that Nampa is a city that needs progressive people in city government.”

She added: “If elected Nampa mayor or not, I intend to push for a LGBT rights ordinance in both Nampa and Boise in the near future.”

Robinson has a background in telecommunications and has focused much of her campaign on taxes to support public transport and construction ordinances for the city. She has also said she is aware that her candidacy may provoke some negative responses in the voting public, but plans to stand regardless.

One local news source, the Ridenbaugh Press, described Robinson’s declaration as “provocation rather than substantial candidacy”, adding that she has “not been active in civic life in Nampa, hasn’t been in the city long enough to get to know it [and] evidently lacks relevant experience at Nampa city hall.” Robinson will be going up against the incumbent mayor Tom Dale in the elections, which are due to take place in November.

Straight Scottish Teacher Alleges Sex Harassment

2009-06-18T18:36:00.000-07:00

The Pink News of the United Kingdom reports in part:

A straight teacher has told an employment tribunal that he suffered homophobic taunts from pupils who called him "perv", "gay", "poof", and "weirdo".

James Campbell, who took early retirement in 2007 from his job as an art teacher at Denny High School in Scotland, claimed that the homophobic insults he received amount to sexual discrimination, the Scottish Daily Mail reports.

"Somebody has called me all these names,” Campbell told the tribunal in Glasgow. “I think it is just and equitable that the case is heard. It is still affecting me. When I see kids nowadays, I hate them because I expect the same thing as what happened to me at school."

Campbell, who is married and described himself as “far from gay”, had brought a previous disability claim to tribunal after arguing that jibes about his baldness had forced him to take early retirement. This case was lost on the grounds that baldness did not constitute a disability.

"At one stage they'd call me baldy. At another stage they'd call me poof," argued Campbell. “It shouldn't have happened. Nobody should have called me all these things. Surely there should be some retribution for this.”

Fears For Gay Athletes At World Out Games

2009-06-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

LGBT people may face imprisonment or even capital punishment after taking part in the annual World Outgames, a policitian has warned.

Eighty-five of the participants taking part in the World Outgames in Copenhagen this year come from countries where homosexuality is illegal.

Copenhagen city councillor Manu Sareen, who represents the Social Liberal party, has warned of the possible repercussions for these participants.

“If these participants will have problems returning home after being in Denmark, then we need to find some solution,” Sareen told The Copenhagen Post.

It is feared that if it people from countries where homosexuality is illegal are found to have taken part in the games, they may put themselves at risk imprisonment or even death.
Some councillors have argued that council leadership should lobby the state to grant such participants political asylum or residence on humanitarian grounds.

The World Outgames describes itself as “a joyous and celebratory event, but that this celebration springs from the deeply serious social oppression that is a fact of life for many peope in the global LGBT community.”

The nine-day event will include competition in 38 different sports disciplines, various city-wide arts and cultural activities and a three-day international Human Rights conference.
Thorbjørn Nesjan, the head of security for the games, has said that they have allowed participants to take part using an alias and that in order to protect their safety, they may choose not to take part in the public opening and closing ceremonies. So far 13 people have asked to do so.

The World Outgames will be held from 25 July - 2 August 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Pinknews.co.uk by Nell Frizzell on June 18, 2009

2nd British Ambassador In A Week Criticized For supporting Pride Event

2009-06-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

The British ambassador to Bulgaria has been criticised for his support of gay Pride.
The attacks on Steve Williams follow criticism of British ambassador to Poland Ric Todd last week, when he gave gay groups a translated guide to LGBT rights.
Williams had extended a message of support to the Rainbow Friendship Rally in Sofia, to be held on June 27th.

He said: "Guaranteeing human rights of LGBT persons requires an active, consistent, determined policy of the authorities, both at the level of central government and at the level of local government, as well as by other state institutions.

"We express our wholehearted support to all those who - whether as individuals, working for government organisations or for nongovernmental organisations – are working to ensure that all of us can fully enjoy our human rights, without distinction of any kind, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"Celebrating diversity is not about promoting a lifestyle - it is about promoting respect for fundamental human rights. It is about the very essence of our European democratic values."

However, Bojan Rasate, the leader of the Guardia Bulgarian National Alliance, attacked the remarks, saying Williams should "mind his own business and his country's business".

According to the Daily Telegraph, Rasate added: "He has no right to tell Bulgarians how to live in Bulgaria. Europe has been ruled by homosexuals for a long time. We do not care how they live, but we do not want them to impose their pervert values on us."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The FCO promotes human rights around the world regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Showing support for Pride events, where people seek to assert their rights and highlight the challenges they face, is part of this work."

Last week, British ambassador to Poland Ric Todd was told by the country's civil rights ombudsman he was "exceeding his authority" by promoting a gay Pride march in Warsaw.
Janusz Kochanowski, the Polish civil rights ombudsman, said Todd was being "improper", adding that Polish gays do not live in fear of persecution.

Poland and Bulgaria were named in an EU report in March as two countries which routinely block gay events.

A 2008 poll found that 80 per cent of Bulgarians have negative attitudes to gays and lesbians.
Seventy per cent would not allow their child to be educated by a gay teacher and 50 per cent would not work with someone who was gay.

By Jessica Geen in PinkNews.co.uk on June 18, 2009

Turkish Football Referee Fired For Being Gay

2009-06-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

Nell Frizzell of Pink News in the Unted Kingdom reports:

A 33-year-old Turkish football referee who was sacked for being gay has said he will take his fight to the European Court of Human Rights.
Halil Ibrahim Dincdag, who is from Trazbon, in the Black Sea coast area of the country, was sacked as a referee after announcing last month on television that he was gay.

Speaking on a Turkish football show on Kanalturk on Saturday, Dincag said he would continue to fight the legal battle against his dismissal.
The Turkish Football Federation revoked Dincdag's refereeing license on the grounds that, as homosexuals are declared 'unfit' for compulsory national military service, Dincdag would also be physically unfit to referee sporting events. Unlike other predominantly Muslim countries, being gay in Turkey is not illegal.

Dincdag told AFP: “I have not committed a crime, I have not defamed my profession. I’m only a homosexual.”

Dincdag was speaking from Istanbul, where he has gone in “self-exile” since coming out. “Since then, my life has turned into hell. I have inadvertently become a standard-bearer of the homosexual struggle,” he said.

The “homosexual struggle” in Turkey has arguably improved in recent years, due to the country's bid to join the European Union. Ali Erol, a senior member of the Turkish gay and lesbian right group KAOS-GL said the bid has "contributed to a better understanding of homosexuals" in the country.

However, the 2008 Amnesty International annual report said of Turkey: “Laws continued to be interpreted in ways that discriminated against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.” It cited several examples of anti-gay incidents.

During his recent appearance on Kanalturk, Dincdag said he still had the support of his family, including his brother who is an imam.

Dincdag appealed to colleagues and other Turkish people who have experienced discrimination, saying: "Please stand tall against the unfairness against you. Whenever something wrong is happening, say that it is wrong. Say what is right for you."

photograph courtesy of pinknews.co.uk

UK Foreign Office Condemns Violence On Gays

2009-06-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Jessica Geen of Pink News reports in part:

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has released a statement on the killings of gay men in Iraq, following strong condemnation of the reports from the US State Department last week.

An FCO spokeswoman told PinkNews.co.uk: "We have received reports of violence committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation in Iraq. Although it is difficult to get precise information, officials in Baghdad will continue to monitor the situation carefully.

"FCO officials remain in contact with vulnerable groups and organisations such as the UK-based Iraqi Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-Gender Group, and are looking into their most recent reports.

"The UK condemns the persecution of any individual because of their sexual orientation and has raised the issue with the government of Iraq's Minister for Human Rights."

Obama The Day After

2009-06-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I listened to Tammy Baldwin, the lesbian Congresswoman from Wisconsin, on the Rachel Maddow show speak about Obama's throwing us a bone yesterday. She is pushing a bill to give federal employees full rights - just like straight employees get. She is also pushing for repeal of DOMA. Hon. Baldwin's position was that for the President to state he was in favor of her bill and in favor of repealing DOMA was a very good thing. It would help her on the hill get the votes necessary to pass her bill. Well, I wish her all the luck in the world. I am still furious.

I also read what the Hon Barney Frank, Congressman from Massachusetts, had to say about the Administration's brief in the DOMA case before the Supreme Court. Earlier Hon Frank had come out publicly blasting the brief ... before he actually read it. After reading it, Barney said it was JUST FINE! He said he had no problem with it!

So Barney Frank has no problem with gay and lesbian marriages being compared with incest.
So Barney Frank has no problem with gay and lesbian marriages being denied to spare the pocketbooks of straight folks in the South.
So Barney Frank has no problem with gay and lesbian families being denied equal protection under the Constitution of the United States because some states just don't like them for no good reason - they just don't like them yet.

Well, good for you Barney. You just quit being the chief spokesperson in Congress for the LGBT Community. You blew it and blew it big time. So long! Good Bye! Fare Well! You were my hero and now you aren't. You were my leader and now you aren't. If I could vote for you, I would not.

Thank goodness Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jared Polis of Colorado are in the House!

Marriage Equality Could Add 9.5 BILLION to Economy

2009-06-17T21:12:00.001-07:00

Nell Frizzell of PinkNews.co.uk reports on June 17, 2009 that:

A survey carried out by the Williams Institute has predicted that legalising gay marriage across America could prove a lucrative move.

The institute, which carries out research for the University of California, has said that if gay marriage were made legal in every state, about half of all cohabiting gay couples would get married. That would mean around 390,600 weddings.

Although gay couples tend to spend about 34 per cent less on weddings that their straight counterparts, the revenue from catering, photography and gifts would still be considerable.

Based on the details given by the Williams Institute, the news agency Forbes estimates that if half of all same sex couples did get married, the wedding industry would make about $9.5 billion.

CA's Gov. & Atty Gen Say Prop 8 Is UnConstitutional

2009-06-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Both Governor Schwarzenegger and California Attorney General Jerry Brown are arguing in federal court that California's Proposition 8, which amended our state constitution to define marriage as one man and one woman, is unconstitutional under the federal if not the state constitutions. Mr. Brown says he he is under sworn oath to uphold not only the laws of California but also the Constitution of the United States. Proposition 8 and prohibiting Marriage Equality is clearly a violation of the Equal Protection provisions of the 14th Amendment, he argues. They argue that having 18,000 gay and lesbian marriages recognized in California but prohibiting other gay and lesbian couples from marrying is clearly a violation of California's and the Federal Constitution's Equal Protection provisions.

It is hard to see where they are wrong.

Now ... contrast their arguments with the arguments of our "fierce advocate" in the White House who compares gay marriages to incest in order to defend DOMA which he says he is against. Even Arnold is better than Barack. Never though I would say THAT!

Obama Memo Gets Even WORSE

2009-06-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

All those great benefits that President Obama is giving federal employees today? Federal employees have had those benefits for YEARS ALREADY !!!

John Aravois in his Americablog reports:

Is Obama giving federal agencies a right they already have?

by John Aravosis (DC) on 6/17/2009 02:59:00 PM

UPDATE: The answer is "yes." I just asked OPM Director John Berry, on a White House media conference call, whether in fact federal agencies already have the right to give these benefits to gay employees. The answer, "yes." So what's new about tonight? Obama is going to "tell" the agencies to give the benefits - as if any agency in the Obama administration would dare tell a gay employee no to a request for time off to attend their partner's funeral?

OK so color me cynical, but this is really out of hand. The President is going to have all of straight America thinking he has done something wonderful for the gays and lesbians when he has done NOTHING!

I am FURIOUS!

Christians Consider Book In Library To Be "Hate Crime"

2009-06-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

God bless em. Advocate.com has a great article by Julie Bolcer.

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A group calling itself the Christian Civil Liberties Union filed a claim with the city of Milwaukee seeking the right to burn a public library’s copy of a young-adult book with gay content, according to the American Library Association.

The CCLU presented trustees of the West Bend Community Memorial Library with the complaint on June 2, asking for the right to burn or otherwise destroy in public a copy of Baby Be-Bop. The group also demanded $120,000 in damages for being exposed to the book on display, and requested the resignation of West Bend mayor Kristine Deiss for allowing the title to be viewed by the public.

Baby Be-Bop, written by Francesca Lia Block, tells the story of a teenager struggling with his homosexuality and an attack by a homophobic gang. It has been the subject of local complaints for months, and has thus far survived attempts to eliminate it.

The CCLU claim describes Baby Be-Bop as “explicitly vulgar, racial, and anti-Christian,” and charges that the four plaintiffs, “all of whom are elderly, claim their mental and emotional well-being was damaged by this book at the library” because the book contains the word "nigger" and derogatory sexual and political epithets that can incite violence and “put one’s life in possible jeopardy, adults and children alike.”

The plaintiffs want a grand jury to determine whether the book should be declared obscene and whether making it available is a hate crime.

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This reminds me of the huge brouhaha in Fairbanks Alaska on 4th of July. The School Board met from 7:00 pm on July 3rd until 8:00 am on the 4th of July. They let all who wanted comment on the appropriateness of the book "A Way Of Love, A Way Of Life" in the middle school library. Of course the book was about homosexuality. I testified and stayed until the bitter end. At the 3:00 am break, the Religious Reich decided to pray the devil out of me. They encircled me so that I had no escape and began praying loudly for my salvation. I actually could not escape ... the big guys blocked every exit I attempted. A woman on the school board bullied her way from the outside of this group to me and demanded that she need to consult with me. She pulled me to safety about ten yards away. I thanked her and asked her what she needed. She said she just thought I needed help ... I thanked her profusely!!

The Fairbanks School Board, on a tie vote, ruled that the book stayed in the library. The Religious Reich checked out every copy from the public library and every school library and burned them. Theft is OK for the Christians I guess. Ahhhh, memories.

And here the Christian Religious Reich goes again ... wanting to burn a book ... calling a book a hate crime in and of itself. Give me a break.

The Savage Truth Has A Better Idea

2009-06-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

Dan Savage says he neutral on the idea of a March on Washington. I am not neutral ... I think it is a horrible idea, a huge waste of time and money, and a giant waste of time. I also believe a march will do nothing to get us any closer to getting DOMA repealed.

However Savage, in his blog, has an idea that is very much worth consideration. Think about it. This activism just may work. He writes:

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But I have suggestion for an ongoing, smaller-scale action that would have a larger impact than a one-off "march" through an empty city. My idea would need fewer than a 1000 people to succeed—730 to be exact—and it wouldn't be over in a day. It would go on, day-in, day-out, every day, for a year. Hell, it could go on indefinitely. It involves civil disobedience and the 730 volunteers would have to be willing to get arrested. People who are unable to participate could make donations to help cover the expenses—legal expenses and travel expenses—of those who can.

Here's the idea: one gay or lesbian couple—a couple currently denied their rights under DOMA—shows up at the entrance to the White House grounds. A different couple every day. They ask to speak to the president about DOMA. They're refused. They sit down. They refuse to leave. They're arrested, carried away by the police. Couples would be recruited from all over the country, demonstrating that gay marriage isn't just an issue in liberal California or godless New England, and the media in each couple's home city and state would be notified in advance of their arrest. The occasional famous couple—Rosie and Kelli? Ellen and Portia?—would participate to pull in celeb media. But most of the couples who come to D.C. to get arrested would be average folks. The couples would need support, legal and logistical, and we would need someone to organize media outreach and maintain a website. The website would include a photo and profile of each couple that comes to D.C. to get arrested, collect all the press, and be used to recruit couples willing to travel to D.C. and get arrested.

The action would be small scale—it would be human scale—and it would go on and on and on. It would demonstrate better than another gay march just how seriously we take this issue: we take it seriously that we're willing to travel to D.C. and get arrested. It wouldn't be a one-day event that the White House could ignore or bluff its way through with some lame statement about its "commitment" to ending DOMA. The couples would keep coming. Every day an arrest. Drip, drip, drip. Members of the White House press corps would see couples getting arrested every day on their way to work. Gibbs would be forced to address DOMA on a near-daily basis. The president would be asked about the issue again and again.

My boyfriend—who doesn't do demonstrations (or interviews or photos or anything public)—is so upset about the DOMA brief that he's willing to go to D.C. and get arrested. So am I. We can't be the only couple that feels this way.

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I really like this idea. Drip drip drip. Day in and day out. Celebrities and honest Americans - day in and day out. Good idea, Dan. Good sentiment, Terry!

Barack Throws The Gays A Bone

2009-06-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

As I predicted:
A memoranda, not an Executive Order
NO Health Insurance & NO Retirement Benefits
As little actual money as humanly possible
A real big NOTHING

Joe.My.God blog reports: The White House has released details of the president's memorandum granting some benefits to gay federal employees. Obama will make the announcement at a 5:30pm news conference today.

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In an Oval Office event later today, President Barack Obama will sign a Presidential Memorandum on Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination. The Memorandum follows a review by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management ant the Secretary of State regarding what benefits may be extended to the same-sex partners of federal employees in the civil service and the foreign service within the confines of existing federal laws and statutes.

Over the past several months, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Secretary of State have conducted internal reviews to determine whether the benefits they administer may be extended to the same-sex partners of federal employees within the confines of existing laws and statutes. Both identified a number of such benefits.

For civil service employees, domestic partners of federal employees can be added to the long-term care insurance program; supervisors can also be required to allow employees to use their sick leave to take care of domestic partners and non-biological, non-adopted children. For foreign service employees, a number of benefits were identified, including the use of medical facilities at posts abroad, medical evacuation from posts abroad, and inclusion in family size for housing allocations.

The Presidential Memorandum to be signed today will request that the Director of OPM and the Secretary of State act to extend to same-sex partners of federal employees the benefits they have identified. The Memorandum will also request the heads of all other executive branch departments and agencies to conduct internal reviews to determine whether other benefits they administer might be similarly extended, and to report the results of those reviews to the Director of OPM.

The Memorandum will also direct OPM to issue guidance within 90 days to all executive departments and agencies regarding compliance with, and implementation of, the civil service laws, which make it unlawful to discriminate against federal employees or applicants for federal employment on the basis of factors not related to job performance.

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Folks, do NOT be fooled by the main stream media! He is throwing us a bone! It really is NOTHING! Remember the saying that is as true today as it always has been:

SHOW US THE MONEY!

Obama - What A Poser

2009-06-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

HEY !! DO NOT BE FOOLED BY OBAMA TODAY !!

Do not get me wrong. I generally like Obama and his policies. I like him a lot better than the alternatives. BUT he is taking the LGBT community for a hike! He is treating us badly! Real badly!

Today is just one more example.

President Obama is signing a Memorandum, NOT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, to give very limited benefits to Federal employees. A Presidential Memorandum lasts as long as Obama is in office. An Executive Order lasts until another Executive Order supercedes it.

I PREDICT THAT HEALTH INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS WILL NOT BE PART OF THOSE BENEFITS!!! DOMA WILL NOT ALLOW IT111

I predict that our good president will give the Federal employees relocation costs ... the costs of moving when transferred.

So we are being thrown a bone ... a Memorandum with hardly anything in it!

Does this make up for no leadership on DADT and for comparing our marriages to incest before the Supreme Court? Not to me it doesn't. How about to you?

Promises - Promises

2009-06-16T19:30:00.001-07:00

Life is musical theater. The theme song of the Obama Administration is "Promises, Promises." You may remember it:

Promises, promises

That's all I get

Are promises, promises now ...

Well, that is the truth of it for the lgbt community. You will remember that President elect, Barack Obama, labeled himself as a "Fierce Advocate" for gays and lesbians. Well, Mr. President, with friends like you, who needs enemies.

Every American should be aware that since Barack Obama became Commander in Chief of America's armed forces, over 200 well trained and qualified men and women under arms have fired from the armed services. This includes a graduate of West Point who is an interpreter of the Arabic language - and whose team has no problem with his being gay. This includes a pilot with over 18 years in the service who also has a medal for heroism in the Iraq war. A certified American hero is being kicked out for being gay by Commander in Chief Obama.

The President says he is waiting on Congress. The leader of the Senate says he is waiting on the President. Candidate Obama said all it would take was leadership. President Obama is absent.

Not really absent ... his administration filed a brief before the Supreme court last week. Guess what Obama's position is? He SUPPORTS DON'T ASK DON'T TELL. He thinks it is necessary for military readiness and unit cohesion. All the old homophobic arguments that have been proven false over and over are now the official position of BARACK OBAMA.

But wait! There's more!

His administration filed a brief with the Supreme Court defending the Defense of Marriage Act. It could have been written any leader of Religious Reich. It could have been written by any member of the KKK or the Pope or the head of the Mormon Church. Gay families were compared to marriages between uncles and nieces. It was argued that gay marriages were are a financial burden on straight families ... forgetting that gays and lesbians pay taxes too. I could go on and on ... all the worst arguments, all the most homophobic arguments possible are in that brief. It is a nightmare. AND IT IS THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF BARACK OBAMA.

The LGBT Community is furious. And rightly so.

What does the White House say?

Chill, President Obama will get us:

1. Hate Crimes

2. ENDA

3. Repeal DADT

4. Repeal DOMA

But don't be pushy, it may be his second term. For now, don't get all hot and bothered about those briefs ... maybe you gays should be lining up votes on DOMA. Just relax ... we'll get to you by and by.

Well, Whitehouse, BS! Again I say BS! Now is the time for full Civil Rights. Not next year, not next term ... right now. Get used to it. The time is now!!

Obama, I have a feeling you ain't seen nothing yet.

Can't Find Senator To Sponsor Repeal of DADT !!!

2009-06-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaking at a press conference Monday said he has no plans to introduce a bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" in the Senate.

"I haven't identified any sponsors," he said. "My hope is that it can be done administratively."

A Democratic aide later clarified that Reid was speaking about the possibility of using an executive order to suspend discharges or perhaps halting enforcement of the policy by changing departmental regulations within the Department of Defense.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has continually said in recent months that President Barack Obama believes the only "durable solution" to repealing the military's gay ban would be to do so through legislative action.

Senator Reid also indicated that he is waiting on the House of Representatives to take action on the bill that was introduced there in March.

"If the House moves on this," he said, "I would be happy to take it up."

(Advocate.com, June 15, 2009, By Kerry Eleveld)

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This is crazy!!! Are you telling me that the good Senators from California, Oregon, Washington, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Iowa, and elsewhere are not willing to sponsor a law to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell? Senator Reid isn't prepared to do so? This is an outrage, an utter outrage!!

David Mixner - Good Quote

2009-06-16T18:41:00.000-07:00

"I will not attend a fundraiser for the National Democratic Party in Washington next week when the current administration is responsible for these kind of actions. How will they ever take us seriously if we keep forking out money while they harm us. For now on, my money is going to battles within the community such as the fight in Maine or the March on Washington!

I am so tired of being told by Democratic operatives to 'suck it up' because so many other profound issues are at stake. It is as if our fight for our freedom is single-handedly responsible for the fate of all other issues. Bullshit. Maybe, just maybe, it is time for others to 'suck it up' for us and finally, without conditions, join our fight for our freedom!"

- Longtime LGBT rights activist and former Clinton White House advisor David Mixner, writing on his personal blog.

Calvin Klein Selling Like Crazy

2009-06-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

This soft core porn ad by Calvin Klein appears as a billboard in the Soho neighborhood of New York City. It is the talk of the city, the state, the nation. Calvin Klein must be horribly pleased! If all the talking heads on radio are condemning this picture, it is sure to sell a lot of clothes!

Heck, I am am even repeating it here - free ad on a silly blog! LOL

One strange mystery is the reaction at ultra conservative Free Republic. Those folks are calling this ad homosexual in nature ???? I do not understand that perspective ....

Anchorage At War Over Equality

2009-06-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Living in California it is hard to remember these battles. But did live in Alaska for nineteen years and the cries and shouts are all too familiar ... those cries and shouts were one of the reasons I left the Last Frontier.

It is difficult to believe that in 2009, in the largest metropolitan city in Alaska - a real city with sophisticated tastes, decent theater, good shopping, a couple of good gay bars and dance places, great AIDS support network - a real city ... it is hard to believe that a great portion of the population is demanding the religious right to fire people they think might be gay or lesbian.

In this modern city, people - for the love of Christ - are demanding the right to refuse to serve lesbians in restaurants, to refuse to rent a motel room to a gay man, to refuse to rent an apartment to an elderly woman they think may be a lesbian ... all for the love of their God.

Really, isn't that amazing?

This year, the HATERS have made identification easier. They have all decided that RED is the color of HATE. Isn't that a riot? All the HATERS are wearing read! LOL

Here's some of the story from the largest newspaper in Alaska - the Anchorage Daily News:

Hundreds of people converged on the Anchorage Assembly chambers Tuesday night to discuss a question that has challenged the city for decades: whether legal protections in city law against discrimination in employment, housing and finance should be extended to gays, lesbians and bisexuals.

A public hearing on the issue stretched late into the night, with speaker after speaker standing before the Assembly for their three minutes and the panel itself nowhere near a decision on a proposed ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The first hours of the extended proceeding brought emotional testimony from both sides. Some seemed angry, others afraid, many were nervous. Voices quavered. Some people cried.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people talked about being fired and ridiculed and treated badly in the workplace and in trying to find a place to live.

Ordinance opponents labeled the idea of banning discrimination because of sexual orientation as a "special right" that infringed on their own religious beliefs and rights.

"Taking away rights from one entity so that more rights may be given to another ... is not equal rights," one person said.

Barbara Bernard likened the attempts to secure protections for gays and lesbians to the fight for civil rights by blacks and other minorities in the 1950s and 1960s.

She said her gay son lives and works in Oregon, because "in Portland he is treated as a citizen with civil rights." She urged Assembly members to vote for the measure.

"As an Assembly you are creating a legacy," she said. "What will that legacy be?"
Susie Dove, however, said the ordinance goes too far.

"This ordinance crosses the boundaries of any human right," Dove said. "It pushes, it pushes, it pushes the beliefs and lifestyles (of homosexual and bisexual people) onto heterosexual people," she said.

Phyllis Rhodes said she's been in a same sex relationship for more than 20 years, and has felt the pressure of discrimination because of her orientation a number of times. "I was fearful of losing my job and I was fearful of being harassed," Rhodes said.

"This is a wonderful city," she said. "It could be even more wonderful ... if fear and hate were not being taught. If fear and hate were not being tolerated."

Allison Mendel, an attorney, told the Assembly, "I want to be able to put my wedding picture on my desk just like you do without being fired for doing it." She said she's had other attorneys, "on the record in court cases accuse me of having particular opinions in a case because I'm a lesbian and therefore I should not be listened to."

"Clients tell me horrible stories ...(about being) fired because someone thought they were gay whether they were or not," she said.

Others, including former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman, opposed the proposal, reminding Assembly members that Alaska voters have come down against same-sex marriage in a 1990s constitutional amendment.

Stan Roach, pastor of the Independent Baptist Church, likened the ordinance to the early days of legal abortion, which he said started in cases of rape and threats to a woman's life and expanded. "That's what this sexual orientation is going to do," he said. "It's going to grow. ...

"God made man and God made woman, and I've seen some people tonight, I don't know what they are," Roach said.

More than one opponent compared the timing of the Assembly's consideration of the sexual orientation ordinance with what they termed rushed consideration of several long-term labor contracts at the end of former Mayor Mark Begich's administration.

Those deals were approved before the Assembly knew all the facts and had to be revisited when city officials discovered a big budget deficit, they said. They argued for postponing action until Mayor-elect Dan Sullivan is sworn in on July 1.

Sullivan's father, then-Mayor George Sullivan, vetoed a similar law in the 1970s.
Donna Edmunds said she has many gay and lesbian friends. "Nevertheless," she said, she believes the lives most gay people lead are "not healthy, acceptable lifestyle choices."

She added that she thinks political supporters of the measure are "trying to railroad this through before Mayor Sullivan takes office." She also predicted opponents will put a referendum on the ballot next spring if the Assembly passes the measure.

Tony Glavinic, however, said he's a Steller High graduate who attends college in Washington, D.C., because the city is more tolerant of gays.

"I feel safe, respected and valued there," Glavinic said.

"I don't think Anchorage wants to be known as a city where you can be legally discriminated against because of who you are, who you love."

Chastity Transitioning To Chaz Bono

2009-06-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

TMZ reports that:

Chastity Bono, civil rights advocate, journalist, author and musician, is in the early stages of changing his gender -- transitioning from female to male, TMZ has learned.

Bono, the child of legendary entertainers Sonny and Cher, began the process earlier this year, shortly after his 40th birthday.

"Yes, it's true -- Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity," confirmed Bono's publicist, Howard Bragman."He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones. It is Chaz's hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his 'coming out' did nearly 20 years ago.

We ask that the media respect Chaz's privacy during this long process as he will not be doing any interviews at this time."

US State Dept Reacts To Iraqi Attacks On Gay Men

2009-06-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

The United States Department of State has finally reacted to the horrific violence perpetrated against gay men in Iraq. As reported in The Times of India:

**********

The United States on Wednesday condemned alleged violence and abuse against homosexuals in Iraq, adding the US embassy in Baghdad has raised the issue with Iraqi government officials.

"In general, we absolutely condemn acts of violence and human rights violations committed against individuals in Iraq because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.

"This is an issue that we've been following very closely since we have been made aware of these allegations, and we are aware of the allegations," Kelly told reporters when asked about anti-gay violence in Iraq.

"Our training for Iraqi security forces includes instruction on the proper observance of human rights," Kelly said.

"Human rights training is also a very important part of our and other international donors' civilian capacity-building efforts in Iraq," the spokesman said.

"And the US embassy in Baghdad has raised, and will continue to raise, the issue with senior officials from the government of Iraq, and has urged them to respond appropriately to all credible reports of violence against gay and lesbian Iraqis," Kelly said.

Kelly did not respond directly when asked about recent remarks by radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr who, his spokesman said, ordered the "depravity" of homosexuality be eradicated while warning against anti-gay violence.

London-based Amnesty International wrote a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in April urging government protection for homosexuals.

Homosexuality is forbidden in Islam, frowned upon in Arab society and illegal in many Middle Eastern countries. Iraq has no law against homosexuality but prominent religious authorities have harshly condemned it.

**********

You will remember my blog entries about Iraqi militias obeying Islamic preachers' call to murder gay men. The most horrific instance being the recent use of super glue on men's asses and then force drinking of laxatives. The victims died when their bowels literally exploded - caught on video and shared around Iraq on cellphones.

Iraqi police are also known to have tortured and killed a gay man. It is about time the US State Department reacted. Still I am glad to see them taking action!

LGBT group claims Iraq is waging a 'campaign of violence and murder' against gays

2009-06-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

Jessica Geen of PinkNews.co.uk reported, in part, on June 5th:

An Iraqi gay group has said it has evidence the Iraqi government is involved with militia groups advocating violence and murder towards gays.

Iraqi LGBT also described a statement from the Baghdad US Embassy as "offensive and insulting".

In response to US representative Jared Polis, who has spoken out on behalf of gays in Iraq, chargé d’affaires Patricia Butenis said: "We have no evidence that [the Iraq government's] security forces are in any way involved with these militias."

However, the LGBT group claims it has evidence of the Ministry of Interior Intelligence waging a campaign of murder and violence against gays.

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk, Ali Hili of Iraqi LGBT said: "A police office from the Ministry of Interior Intelligence told us secretly that there is a campaign of murder and violence against gays. We had to pay him $5,000 US to help release one of our members from jail."

He added: "With all the evidence we have been presenting, including some from one of our members who was recently released from prison, we have evidence of mass arrests [of LGBT Iraqis].

"Still, the US is denying Iraqi government involvement, doing nothing to stop it and not assisting with our efforts to help gays in Iraq."

He added that politics is preventing the US from stepping in to help, claiming that Hillary Clinton's State Department and Obama's administration will not upset the Iraqi government as they have no other allies within the country.

A statement from Iraqi LGBT says: "These words from the American embassy officials are insulting to us, and to those many friends of ours who have murdered. This statement is evidence that the Iraqi government is doing nothing to protect its citizens.

"They are responsible for these crimes through bringing no one to justice, refusing to acknowledge their police's involvement and providing no rights for Iraqi LGBT in law.

"People should not forget that what's happening in Iraq right now is a direct result of the unlawful US invasion.

Last week, Moqtada Sadr, a radical Shiite cleric in Iraq, ordered that the "depravity" of homosexuality must be eradicated, yet urged an end to violence against gays and lesbians.
His spokesman Sheikh Wadea al-Atab said: "The purpose of the meetings is to fight the depravity and to urge the community to reject this phenomenon. The only remedy to stop it is through preaching and guidance. There is no other way to put an end to it."

Hili described Sadr's comments as "another attempt to polish and distract from what is happening". He added: "Homosexuality cannot be cured. This is just another denial of our existence."

Homosexuality is not illegal in Iraq but religious leaders condemn it.

In April, US State Department spokesman John Fleming said: "Homosexuality is not a crime in Iraq … Frankly, there are other issues they’re concerned about like basic survival, getting food and water. It’s a luxury for the average Iraqi to worry about homosexuality."

Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT Rights Programme, refuted Fleming's comments in an interview with Boston Edge, saying that the fact that homosexuality is not a crime punishable by death "would be an interesting fact if the law, or the rule of law, mattered in Iraq".

Human Rights Watch is currently helping LGBT Iraqi citizens to escape the country.

Polis has written with fellow representatives Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank to the US ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, urging the embassy to "prioritise the investigation" into the allegations.

It said: "As LGBT Americans and co-chairs of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, we are disturbed and shocked at allegations that Ministry of the Interior Security Forces may be involved in the mass persecution and execution of LGBT Iraqis … The persecution of Iraqis based on sexual orientation or gender identity is escalating and is unacceptable regardless of whether these policies are extrajudicial or state-sanctioned."

Polis is drafting another letter that would be signed by more members of Congress and sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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Looks like it is time to write my Congressman and Senators again. We need to make our own representatives aware that WE are aware of this tragedy in Iraq. We need to give Polis some back up. It is easy to write your representatives an email from their websites. Just Google them. If you don't know who they are, head for Congress's website and they will tell you.

2009-06-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

Bill Mears of CNN reports (in part):

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A former Army captain who was dismissed under a federal law dealing with gays and lesbians in the military lost his appeal Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene in the challenge to the "don't ask/don't tell" law.

James Pietrangelo and 11 other veterans had sued the government over the "don't ask/ don't tell" law passed in 1993. Pietrangelo was the only one who appealed to the high court, but the justices without comment refused to intervene.

The provision forbids those in the military from openly acknowledging or revealing their homosexuality, and prevents the government from asking individual soldiers and sailors about their sexual orientation.

The Obama administration had asked the high court not to take the case, and White House officials had said they would not object to homosexuals being kicked out of the armed services.

During the presidential campaign last year, President Obama said he supported throwing out the federal law but has taken no specific action on the controversy.

The Justice Department said in a high court filing the law was "rationally related to the government's legitimate interest in military discipline and cohesion."

********************

This is utterly outrageous. I mean really unbelievable. "White House officials had said they would not object to homosexuals being kicked out of the armed services."

It is hard for straight people to imagine what it felt like for candidate Obama to state over and over that Don't Ask Don't Tell was wrong and he was going to change it (PERIOD.) And then his press spokesman Gibbs was asked if President Obama was going to get rid of DADT. Mr. Gibbs did the impossible - he gave a one word answer. "YES!"

Now the Whitehouse does not object to homosexuals getting kicked out of the armed services? WTF? I feel so betrayed by this President. I feel like I have sold a bill of goods that is rotten at the core. I feel like the Whitehouse is laughing at every gay and lesbian they got to vote for them.

Now that they are in power they have given us NOTHING. They have said NOTHING about the advances in Marriage Equality ... not one word. They have NOTHING about the systemic murders of gay men in Iraq, not one word. they have said NOTHING until today about Don't Ask Don't Tell - except the President "intends" to at some point in the future when the time is right to maybe work with the Congress to see about changing it.

He promised us a changed in Social Security so our families have rights. Have you heard or seen ANYTHING on that?

He promised us that DOMA would be repealed. Have you seen anything on that?

He promised us ENDA. Have you seen anything from the Whitehouse on that?

And the Whitehouse would not object to homosexuals being kicked out of the armed forces.

Well Mr. President, I would not object to seeing you kicked out of the Presidency!

The time has come to put up or shut up, Whitehouse. Empty promises will no longer suffice. I am mad enough to spit nails. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Well, I will not be fooled again, Sir.

Town Crier June 8th

2009-06-08T10:36:00.001-07:00

South Carolina: Lesbian politician outs three conservative Republicans in SC. "An openly lesbian politician who came close to unseating incumbent South Carolina Representative Henry Brown in November has outed three Republican lawmakers.Linda Ketner's narrow loss to Brown heartened South Carolina gay politicos who never expected such a tight race. A longtime businesswoman and community activist, Kerner's clear leadership attracted strong support from a community mostly cool to gay rights." ""We have more gay people serving in South Carolina than probably in any place in the United States," Ketner said. "They're just not out of the closet."Ketner gave three examples: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, state Senator Glenn McConnell and Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer." ChicagoPride.com

Ranier Beach, Washington: Naked Man Vanadlizes Church, Splatters HIV-Positive Blood Inside. "Services were moved to the parking lot of a Rainier Beach church after a naked man smashed through a window Saturday, spattering HIV-positive blood inside and leaving a trail of destruction through the house of worship. Officials believe the 46-year-old suspect was high on PCP during his unholy rampage through the Unity Church of God in Christ - and now the church interior is considered a bio-hazard because of the tainted blood inside." KOMO News TV

Charleston, West Virginia: Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a same-sex couple fighting to retain custody of an 18-month-old foster child. "In an unsigned opinion issued Friday, the court barred enforcement of a Fayette County Circuit Court order that the girl should be taken away from Kathryn Kutil and Cheryl Hess. Judge Paul Blake Jr. had ruled the child should be placed with a heterosexual couple who might adopt her. The court says that was an error. The justices say Blake blurred legal principles applicable to abuse, neglect and adoption. Current law, the court says, encourages adoption by qualified foster parents and either Kutil or Hess should be considered - and perhaps favored - as a prospective parent." WSAZ News Channel 3

Sacramento, California: Bank of America, Verizon, Chipotle and other companies have pulled advertising from a Sacramento radio station after talk show hosts referred to transgender people as "freaks" with mental disorders: "During a May 28 show, one of the three hosts on KRXQ's "Rob, Arnie & Dawn" show said he would hit his son with his shoe if he put on high heels. Another said he would tell a boy he was "a little idiot" if he asked to wear a dress. Officials with Bank of America Corp. and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. said Friday their companies pulled advertising because they found the comments offensive. "We listened to the segment and the follow-up comments, and found it quite difficult to defend," Bank of America spokesman Joe Goode said. Representatives of Verizon Communications Inc., Nissan Motor Co. and Carl's Jr. restaurants also said they stopped advertising. Transgender advocates and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have sought an apology from two of the show's three hosts, Arnie States and Rob Williams. The third host, Dawn Rossi, defended transgender people on the show." Google

Brighton, United Kingdom: Catholic mother's fury after mental breakdown sees son fostered by gay couple: "A ten-year-old Catholic boy is being placed in the care of homosexual foster parents against the wishes of his religious mother. The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to arrive tomorrow at his permanent new foster home, a hotel in Brighton run by a middle-aged male couple. In the latest row over gay adoption and fostering, social workers at Brighton and Hove Council, which has full custody of the child, decided his long-term placement last month. A religious mother is unhappy that her son is being fostered by a gay couple, as she feels they could 'encourage him' into a lifestyle that she does not agree with. A Catholic legal charity is representing the mother in an attempt to change the placement. A devout Catholic, she has told friends she is worried about the environment in which her son will be placed and wants him fostered by a heterosexual couple, in line with her Church’s belief in the traditional family." Mail Online

And that's the news I find interesting today!

Town Crier for June 4th

2009-06-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

Scotland passed a hate crimes law. England and Wales have also instituted hate crime laws covering sexual orientation and gender identity. (pinknews)

Pennsylvania is set to debate a law for marriage equality in the state. Simultaneously, a Republican is introducing a state constitutional amendment of the one man one women variety (pink news)

Hong Kong will NOT recognize gay marriage or gay relationships however Hong Kong IS taking steps to protect folks in gay or lesbian relationships from domestic violence. (pink news)

New Hampshire now has Marriage Equality. State Senate and House pass revised legislation on Wednesday. Governor John Lynch immediately signs bill into law. Marriages to begin in New Hampshire on January 1, 2010. (many sources)

What I Should Have Said

2009-06-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

I bet you all have been there. After a conversation is long over you think of what you should have said. It happened to me the day the CA Supreme Court decision on Proposition 8 came down. I was giving a statement to a newspaper reporter, a very nice and very young woman. I ended my statement with how insulted I was that I was no longer a "widower" but was once again a "survivor of a domestic partnership." She turned off her tape recorder and then said, "You are still a widower."

I know she meant well and I know she is young. And I know her saying that made her feel good. I know she meant for me to feel better. But here's the thing.

She is powerless to tell me how to name myself. That power resides with the people of California and the Supreme Court of California and with me. She is completely out of the picture. If she voted and voted "no" on 8 last November, then fine and dandy. She lost just as I and millions and millions of others did. She still does not have the power to name me "widower."

When straight folks realize that, when they realize they can't kiss this boo-boo and make it all better - then maybe they will get outraged like we are outraged. I am told lgbt rights, including the right to form a family through marriage with the person of our choice, is THE civil rights issue of the4e day - according to a growing number of straight people.

But at the rallies I usually see lgbt folks and parents of lgbt folks. Where are the straight folks who say they really care about our civil rights? Then again, I do not see many white faces in the great civil right marches for African Americans in the '60's. Maybe everyone has to fight their own battles.

In the meantime, I suppose we have to let the young straight women kiss our boo-boo's and pretend it helps. It actually feels demeaning. Next time I may say something. I'm not sure.