Obama supports overturning DOMA - It's about time

I'm sure everyone has heard the big news of the day:

A day before the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to hold hearing on the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, the Obama administration has endorsed Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) legislation to repeal it. Responding to a question from Metro Weekly’s Chris Geidner, White House Press Briefing, Jay Carney said Obama was “proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act” to “take DOMA off the books once and for all.” “This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples,” he added.

Obama has long favored repealing the 1996 measure and has instructed the Department of Justice not to defend Section 3 of the law, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. But in backing Feinstein’s measure, Obama is also signaling his opposition to Section 2 of the statute, which stipulates that same-sex marriages — unlike heterosexual marriages — shall not be automatically recognized across state lines unless the state has legalized marriage equality or allowed for the recognition of out-of-state marriages between same-sex couples.

Feinstein’s bill currently has 27 Democratic co-sponsors. It would extend over 1,000 federal laws and protections to same-sex couples, including: the right to file joint federal income taxes and claim certain deductions, receive spousal benefits under Social Security, take unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act when a loved one falls seriously ill, and obtain the protections of the estate tax when one spouse passes and wants to leave his or her possessions to another.

Unfortunately the odds of the bill passing don't look so good. But still, it's nice to see the President make a move forward. Now keep it up, Obama.

Anti-gay leader likes a good 'fag' joke and other Tuesday midday news briefs

FAMiLY LEADER’s Bob Vander Plaats Erupts In Laughter At Faggot Joke: ‘That’s Pretty Good’ - More proof that the "super duper we break for Jesus" crowd is comprised of hypocrites.

70 Percent of Anti-LGBT Murder Victims Are People of Color - This is scary. Period.

Hypocritical. Just an example. - The hypocrisy of NOM's supporters defined.

BREAKING: Senate confirms first out gay male to federal bench - Just in case you haven't about this very good news.

Perry Won't Take Responsibility For Radical Attendees At His Prayer Event - Can you blame him? Assorted nuts belong in a can and not on their knees at a huge prayer event.

What NOM really thinks about the black community

One thing I found interesting about the controversy regarding Michele Bachmann and that ridiculous Family Leader pledge (the one which said African-American families fared better under slavery rather than now) is not who weighed in with their opinion, but whose words were conspicuously absent.

The National Organization for Marriage gave no criticism about the pledge. On the contrary, the organization actually praised not only the Family Leader, but also Bachmann for signing the pledge.

In this blog entry, NOM actually brags about being partners with the Family Leader in one of its endeavors (Presidential Lecture Series).

In another one, NOM praises Bachmann for being the first person to sign the now infamous pledge.

In this linked blog entry, NOM claims that Bachmann's signature of the pledge has put her in a first place lead in the Iowa primary.

Lastly, in this entry, NOM mentions that the other Republican candidates - Romney, et. al. - has refused to sign the pledge.

Now what's missing here?

Any criticisms or mention at all about the controversy regarding how the pledge seemingly embraced slavery.  And that's a pretty conspicuous omission seeing how NOM brags about how it has teamed up with the black church on more than one occasion to stop marriage equality.

NOM seems to be a master at exploiting the race card when it can be used against the gay community. In both Maryland and New York, the group allied itself with members of the black community under the pretense that it is trying to preserve the integrity of the African-American struggle for equality  from "homosexual interlopers" out to "exploit that legacy for their own hedonistic purposes."

How ironic is it that the organization sneaks out of the room when it is shown that one of its own is exploiting that legacy.

Of course it's not an irony for those of us who haven't bought NOM's lies about being the black community's best friend.

But it's still something to bring up and repeat. NOM doesn't care about the black community. It never has and it never will.

Now what it can get from the black community is another matter.

Related posts:

Reminder - Marriage equality also affects the black community

From one black man to the black community - stop the homophobic madness!

Reminder - Marriage equality also affects the black community

Whenever you have time, please check out this very awesome episode of NoMoreDownLow.TV

It serves as a reminder that, in spite of the spin by those on the right, marriage equality is also an African-American issue.

Churches supporting gay equality and other Monday midday news briefs

Straight Man Who ‘Appeared Gay’ Not Allowed To Give Blood - Well this is a first.

Us: 'Hey, this person said this'; Maggie: 'STOP ATTACKING US!!!!' - Maggie Gallagher of NOM shows herself to be a hypocrite . . . again.

Growing Number Of Churches Consider Allowing Same-Sex Ceremonies - Good to see more churches getting hip to gay equality.

Andrew Sullivan and Cynthia Nixon on what marriage means - Not one for making it about celebrities here, but both posts are excellent.

Michele Bachmann bashes Whoopi Goldberg to raise money

Michele Bachmann recently accused President Obama of having chutzpah (mispronouncing the word which means lack of shame in some circles). However, based on a recent fundraising letter, perhaps she should look in the mirror.

In the email - sent to me by a friend from Pam's House Blend - Bachmann actually had the nerve to attack recent comments made by The View's Whoopi Goldberg as a way to pump her base for money:

Concerned Fellow Conservative,

Looks like the Democrats have sounded their alarms in Hollywood. Donate

The Hollywood elite have been on the attack this week, falsely berating our campaign for President and our supporters.

On Tuesday, while on The View, Whoopi Goldberg spewed senseless accusations aimed at our campaign. Her comments were not only incorrect, but wrongly attacked my stance on single parents. As the daughter of a single parent, I learned firsthand the difficulties of growing up with one parent. However, it was from my strong and independent mother I learned when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

In order to show Whoopi, we won’t stand for her attacks, I have set a goal to raise $40,000 in the next 24 hours. Please follow this link right away to chip in $25, $50 or even $100 to help me reach my goal of $40,000 by tomorrow.

I am proud of my record and I refuse to allow liberals like Whoopi Goldberg to bully our campaign. This is yet another example of how the liberal Democrat establishment has put a target on my campaign for defeat. They'll say and do anything. The comments from Whoopi Goldberg have hit a new low and I must have the resources to defend myself and fight back.

Liberals across the country believe if they defeat our campaign, the Tea Party movement will be eliminated. I need your support to defend myself and our shared constitutional values right away.

I won't back down and today, I need to know you stand with me. To accomplish my goal of $40,000 in 24 hours, I'm relying on friends and supporters like you to step up to the plate to help me today. Please follow this secure link to make your donation of $25, $35, $50 or more.

I'm reaching out to you for help because the liberal media credits me with being an undaunted conservative who routinely leads the opposition to President Obama. That's why the radical supporters of President Obama's agenda are so committed to defeating me.

The Hollywood liberals believe if they attack my campaign, they have a shot at defeating me and dismantling the Tea Party movement. Your immediate donation will send a strong message to Hollywood, that we are not going anywhere. That's why any amount you can donate to my campaign today - up to the $2,500 legal limit - is appreciated.

I look forward to your immediate response and I thank you once more for your friendship and support.

Sincerely,

Michele Bachmann

P.S. As the big name liberals continue to come out of the woodwork to attack our campaign, I need your support. I ask that you make a generous donation of any amount you can afford to help me fight back against the millions of dollars liberals are flooding into Obama’s bank account. Can I count on your donation of $25, $50, $100 or even $250 today? Your support - no matter the size - makes a big difference. Please follow this link to make a donation today. Thank you

If that's not good enough for you, then you go to the page where you will be treated to not only the same plea but a photo of President Obama kissing Goldberg on the cheek.

Bachmann is referring to Goldberg calling into question her signing the Marriage Vow, a pledge put together by the Family Leader, an Iowa conservative group. Bachmann came under fire for signing this pledge, mostly because of an inaccurate passage which said African-American families benefited from slavery because supposedly more black children were born from two-parent households during that time.

Goldberg specifically went after the pledge for that point, calling for folks to stop bashing single-parent households and to also stop giving opinions on subjects they know nothing about.

Of course Bachmann claimed that she did not endorse the part about slavery. However, she also admitted that she never read the pledge.

Bachmann's fundraising letter, however, pushes the controversy to a new point and gives a very good clue about her ability to raise money.

The answer is quite simple.

Bachmann is a hateful monster in a skirt who will manipulate the ignorance of people to further her own political ambitions.

Or to put it another way, Bachmann is a demagogue. A demagogue is defined as a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

This is Bachmann to a tee. She doesn't challenge people to think or find solutions to their problems. She gives them excuses to either hate, fear, or egotistically put themselves above others.

And when caught in a contradiction or lie, she doesn't apologize. She parries. She points the finger of blame at others. "The liberals are out to get me," she tells her followers, "because they hate YOU."

In Bachmann-land, Goldberg attacked her not because she was dumb enough - or rather uncaring enough -  to sign some ignorant pledge which actually praised slavery, but Goldberg is a part of the "conspiracy by liberals to harm America."

And people are either criticizing or laughing at her campaign not because of her basic disregard for facts, but because it's a part of the "conspiracy by liberals to harm America."

While folks laugh at Bachmann's supposed cluelessness, she is doing some laughing herself as she goes to the bank and on the talk shows. Or as her name is mentioned in the media countless times, thereby giving her some type of leadership status.

To me, that simple fact makes Bachmann nothing to laugh about but something to cry about simply because she is a perfect example of how this folks in this country never seem to learn the hard lessons which come from enabling past demagogues.

And how easily some of us will anoint as a leader any manipulative monster who utters the phrase "my faith" or the words "Jesus" and "God" as practically every fifth word of their speech.

Marcus Bachmann lies again - 'Barbarian' tape not doctored

In response to the controversy regarding his clinic's use of "ex-gay" therapy, presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's husband, Marcus, gave an interview with the Star-Tribune in which he tried to shoot down the allegations.

However, if Bachmann was using the interview in order to quell the controversy, he was very unsuccessful. The interview raises more questions, specifically about a claim he made regarding gays.

The claim, that gays are like barbarians, has gotten the most play in the media. In the Star-Tribune interview, Bachmann claimed that the tape of him making the claim was doctored:

 . . . an audiotape circulating on the Internet depicts Bachmann as calling gays barbarians in a 2010 interview he gave to the "Point of View" Christian radio talk show.

"We have to understand: Barbarians need to be educated,'' Bachmann's voice is heard saying on the tape. "They need to be disciplined. Just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean that we are supposed to go down that road.''

Bachmann said that someone must have doctored the recording of the interview, in which he addressed child discipline as well as homosexuality and sex education.

 . . . "I was talking in reference to children. Nothing, nothing to do with homosexuality. That's not my mindset. That's not my belief system. That's not the way I would talk," Bachmann said.

In response to Bachmann's claim, the news program Hardball played the entire clip. And what does it show?

The simple fact that Bachmann was being deceptive. He was talking about children who come out to their parents.

Therefore, he was in fact talking about gays:



For those keeping score, that's two lies which can be attributed to Bachmann. The first lie was when he initially denied that his clinic engages in "ex-gay therapy."

Related post:

Michele Bachmann bashes Whoopi Goldberg to raise money

Know Your LGBT History - All in the Family: Cousin Liz

This is the second All in the Family episode which has been featured in Know Your LGBT History. The first one had to deal with stereotyping gay men.

This episode deals with Archie and Edith going to a cousin's funeral and wake. During this event, Edith finds out that she may be getting a family heirloom - the cousin's valuable silver tea set.

However, her deceased cousin's roommate reveals to Edith why she wants the tea set. Apparently she and and Edith's cousin were partners and that tea set is a memento of their relationship.

Edith has no problem giving up the tea set. But Archie does and he threatens to sue, thereby endangering the woman's teaching job. Edith, however, steps in with the sensitivity which made her character so loved and takes care of the situation.

Not only one of the best episodes of All in the Family, but one of the best portrayals of our community from K. Callan as Liz's partner.

Past Know Your LGBT History Posts:

Marcus Bachmann lied and other Friday midday news briefs

And the Warhag has returned!

Marcus Bachmann Speaks Out, Confirms He Would Perform Ex-Gay Therapy Upon Patient’s Request - So apparently he did lie.

‘Moralists’ Defend Bachmann Family’s Right to Lie - So much for that commandment about bearing false witness.

Gary Glenn For Senate? - Great. Senator Homophobe.

Related post - Linda Harvey and Gary Glenn - the sad meeting of two homophobic people

Audio: To 'discredit' pro-science voices, FRC turns to discredited junk science - The Family Research Council and junk science is like peanut butter and jelly. The two just can't help but to go together.

CA Gov signs pro-gay bill and other Thursday afternoon news briefs

What a drag. My modem is shot so I am here in McDonalds trying to download AOL so i will have access to dial-up until I get to Time Warner. And my patience is low. God help those two black men next to me criticizing the gay community. Anyway, please enjoy these news briefs and I hope to have things fixed by tomorrow morning:

California Governor Signs FAIR Education Act - Religious right head explosion imminent.

Surprise, Surprise: NOM Endorses Ex-Gay Therapy - Apparently NOM is getting really deep into anti-gay territory. Like I'm actually surprised.

Why Does The Right Still Insist Being Gay Is A Choice? - Because they live in a parallel universe of EXTREME stupidity.

Gay, lesbian households increase in Okla. - We only did it to piss off Sally Kern. lol

NEW YORK: Another Town Clerk Quits - Bye, bye, bye.

Michele Bachmann, This Gay Man Thanks You - I couldn't have said it better myself.

Daily Show destroys Bachmanns' ex-gay nonsense and other Thursday midday news briefs

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Field of Dongs
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Comedy Repression Therapy
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

Hilarious! I'm all for this!

And in other news . . .


Rick Perry Ally Bickle Says Marriage Equality Is "Rooted In The Depths Of Hell" - Imagine having Rick Perry in the White House.

Oakland A's suspend minor league prospect for gay slur - Good

Governor Brown To Veto CA's SB 48 Education Bill? - Don't do it, Gov. Brown.

GOP Senators Who Voted For Marriage Equality In New York See Fundraising Spike - Excellent news out of New York.

Bachmann controversy exposes religious right liars

The controversy about Michele Bachmann's husband, Marcus, and his clinic is sad on so many levels.

There is the sadness at the thought of the men and women exposed to the fraudulent idea that somehow their God-given sexual orientation is evil and therefore should be eliminated.

And then there is just how low those on the right will stoop to cover for the Bachmanns.

Witness the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg during an interview espousing the view that the controversy is not a big deal:



And then there is this madness by the National Organization for Marriage giving cover to "professional ex-gay" and known deception artist Greg Quinlan:

That theme - that the Bachmanns are the "victims of a conspiracy" is recurrent throughout religious right talking points about this controversy.

Yet none of these so-called "moral folks" have addressed the question that if Bachmann's clinic is providing such a good service then why did he feel the need to lie about it.

Indeed more than anything I could ever say, the Bachmann controversy underscores how broken the moral compass is for those in the religious right.

I've said it before and I will say it again:

Lies in the name of God are still lies.

Phony victimization ruining American Christianity

According to Religious Right Watch, the Family Research Council is asking for folks to pray for Marcus Bachmann's clinic because supposedly it's "under siege" by the gay community because of its use of the faulty practice of reparative ("ex-gay") therapy"

Christian Counseling under Assault – This week a homosexual activist group reported findings from their undercover “sting” operation at Minnesota Christian counseling clinic owned by Republican Presidential candidate Michelle Bachman and her husband, Marcus. Sympathetic national media seemed shocked that the Christian counseling center offered help for homosexuals to break free from addiction to homosexuality through faith in Jesus Christ. Where will the homosexual assault on religious liberty stop?

Meanwhile, the right-wing website Lifesite News is sounding the alarm simply because NY Gov Andrew Cuomo has told the state's marriage clerks that they must comply with the law and sign their names on same-sex marriage licenses.

In these two stories is a theme which is recurrent throughout many religious right Christian and evangelical circles - the idea that someone's religious beliefs trumps the fact that they are not honest or that they have a job to do.

Both stories are really simple.

Bachmann lied and was caught in his deception. He initially said that his clinic does not engage in ex-gay therapy. And he was proven to be a liar by the undercover video.

But some folks who call themselves Christians aren't questioning the fact that Bachmann lied because they are too busy spinning conspiracy theories as to how the entire controversy is a "plot against Marcus and Michele Bachmann and evangelicals."

What's more, these folks actually embrace the fraudulent therapy done by Bachmann's clinic while conveniently omitting the fact that he lied about it.

And to top it all off, they do all of this while talking about "morals" and "values" and "upholding God's truth."

It's a bizarre gymnastic conundrum which should alarm anyone who really do care about morals and values.

The case in NY is even easier to figure out.

As shown by Lifesite News, some folks actually believe that someone working for state government should be absolved from following the rules of their job simply because they are Christian.

The question of where the line should be drawn is a serious one. It should not be taken lightly.

If state workers can use the Biblical verses as an excuse to not sign same-sex marriage licenses, then what's the justification of them not using Biblical verses to deny interracial couples their licenses  (i.e. the Tower of Babel story) or refusing to sign licenses because the woman in the potential marriage may have signed it before the man (in defiance to what some say about the supposed subservient position of a woman in a relationship in accordance to Scripture).

Just when was the Biblical verse "render to Caesar what is Caesar's"  replaced by "I'm a Christian so I deserve more rights than you?"

It's ironic that the same evangelicals and Christians who support all of this mess are constantly complaining about how Christianity has a bad name in this country.

Maybe these "Christians" should stop acting like a bunch of self-righteous, spoiled brats who want their way all of the time.

NY anti-gay activists throwing tantrums and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Don't you just hate people who name-drop? Well too bad because I am going to be one of those people. Witness my online buddy Evan Hurst of Truth Wins Out on Hardball as he expertly eviscerates Marcus and Michele Bachmann for the ex-gay mess both are embroiled in.

And in other news . . .

NYT profiles homophobes who lost, but are still fighting marriage in NY - Disappointing one-sided article by The New York Times. But still the law is the law.

California Board Accepts Credits From NARTH for Licensing Renewal - So apparently being a bogus group trafficking junk science means nothing against your credibility as long as you beat up on the gays.

Audio: Bachmann in '04: 'It’s part of Satan, I think, to say this is gay' - It's never a dull moment with Michele Bachmann.

Illinois Judge Reinstates Catholic Adoption Contracts - For the time being that is.

Religious right circling the wagons around Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann

The controversy over presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's husband (Marcus Bachmann) and his clinic engaging in the dangerous practice of reparative therapy (attempting to convert gay men into heterosexuals) has gained an added dimension.

While Bachmann herself refuses to comment about it, several religious right figures have come out in support of not only her but her husband's practice.

However, rather than address the issue of the dangers of reparative therapy, these folks are whining that Bachmann is the "victim" of a "scorched earth" media campaign out to destroy her:

Marcus Bachmann

 Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel - "Marcus Bachmann is providing a therapeutic service to those who struggle with same-sex attractions and who seek to get their minds around those same-sex attractions," Barber notes. "So this is nothing short of yellow journalism, and we have come to expect this kind of stuff from the left."

Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth - "Incredibly, ABC even went so far as to title its piece “Pray Away the Gay at Bachmann Clinic?” — recycling TWO founder Wayne Besen’s mocking and bigoted attack-slogan for the idea that people can overcome homosexual desires through faith in God."


Cliff Kincaid of Accuracy in Media - "Once a greatly feared investigative reporter, Brian Ross has been reduced to recycling left-wing material from the homosexual lobby. But the pathetic hit job he narrated on Monday’s ABC Nightline show on GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has backfired in a big way. The charge was that the Bachmann family counseling service engages in terrible things by teaching homosexuals how to leave their disease-ridden lifestyle."

The Family Research Council - "The Bachmanns are unapologetic for their views on homosexuality--views that are rooted in the faith that a majority of Americans share. Apart from Washington, D.C. and homosexual interest groups, the majority of the country will view Marcus's work for what it is--a ministry of hope. Pointing men and women who struggle with same-sex attractions to God isn't "a discredited form of therapy," it's the path to sexual healing."

The irony is that none of these statements are helping Bachmann or her husband. The initial undercover investigation - done very excellently by the group Truth Wins Out - took place because Bachmann's husband was denying that his clinic engaged in reparative therapy.

If what Marcus Bachmann is doing is so beneficial, then why would he lie about it?  Apparently members of the religious right are so caught up in fighting the supposed sin of homosexuality that they give the actual sin of lying a free pass.

Perhaps Michele Bachmann advise these folks to keep their mouths shut. If they are trying to help her, they aren't succeeding.

'Interfaith' website lies about SPLC and its hate group designations

An "interfaith" site, Beliefnet, has weighed in on the controversy regarding the Southern Poverty Law Center and its labeling of several religious right groups as anti-gay hate groups.

But the site is very deceptive in terms of what it chooses to highlight . . . and omit.

Rob Kerby, Beliefnet's Senior Editor, said the following in an article:

Why would anybody accuse 13 Christian organizations, including the American Family Association and Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council, of practicing “hate?”

. . . Could the intent be to smear and silence some of the most effective Christian ministries in America? To blacken their names because they have dared to speak out in the political battle over same-sex marriage?

When a smear campaign against the Family Research Council began last year, it was immediately denounced by Speaker of the House John Boehner and 150 other national leaders, including 24 members of Congress.

 . . . That time the smear was led by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which for years has pursued anti-discrimination cases. It received considerable well-deserved publicity for suing the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups.

However, the SPLC in recent years has taken up the same-sex marriage cause and the battle against “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the military.

In late December 2010, the center advised the national press to shun 13 Christian groups because they were hate groups. Among the groups smeared were the American Family Association, the Family Research Council and the Traditional Values Coalition. The smaller groups included Abiding Truth Ministries of Springfield, Massachusetts; the Chalcedon Foundation of Vallecito, California; and the Faithful Word Baptist Church of Tempe, Arizona.

That's the tone of the article - i.e. SPLC is trying to "silence these groups because they are standing up against the supposed "gay agenda."

Kerby's article omitted several important facts about SPLC's designation of these organizations as hate groups.

Homophobe Sally Kern displays her ignorance to Alan Colmes

Sally Kern

A couple of years ago, Oklahoma legislator Sally Kern said that the supposed "gay agenda" was as bad as terrorism and caused a media firestorm.

Unfortunately, very few on our side handled the controversy in a way which I felt was beneficial to the community. First folks made awful personal comments about her, then some of us waited until Ellen DeGeneres had something to say before we weighed on. Lastly, a lot of us focused on whether or not her son was gay.

And Kern stood above it all in false piety while repeating some of the most ridiculous lies about our community, which no one called her on.

The culmination was a huge astroturfed event held by those on the right - especially Peter LaBarbera - calling her a hero for "standing up to the supposed radical gay activists."

As stated before, I was not happy at how many of us acted during that time. The point we should have made was the danger in the fact that a legislator with voting power in state government could be so ignorant.

However, we missed the boat in making that point.

Thank goodness, however, for Kern's ego because it has given us a second chance. She took the liberty to write a book with a ridiculous title (The Stoning of Sally Kern) which revisited the controversy, thus presenting another chance to demonstrate to folks just how clueless she is.

And thanks to Alan Colmes, we now see this cluelessness on full display.

In an interview with him, Kern reveals herself to be not a Christian woman, but a very dim individual whose religious beliefs consistently leads her down a path of noble stupidity - an oxymoron if there ever was one.

Listen to the entire interview if you like or fast forward to 11:00 for some very hilarious stuff about gays and the closet.

It just goes to show how quickly false piety disappears when confronted with logic.

Hall of Fame football player defends marriage equality

Former Dallas Cowboy football player and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin is on the recent cover of the gay magazine Out. In the magazine,  he talks about his late gay brother and defends marriage equality.

As an African-American, Irvin has a special message to his community:

"I don't see how any African-American, with any inkling of history, can say that you don't have the right to live your life how you want to live your life," he said, according to the magazine. "No one should be telling you who you should love, no one should be telling you who you should be spending the rest of your life with. When we start talking about equality, and everybody being treated equally, I don't want to know an African-American who will say everybody doesn't deserve equality."

Kudos to Mr. Irvin. Now I will wait to see if anyone bends over backwards to mention how Irvin's words are "free speech" like some did when David Tyree spoke against marriage equality.

Bachmann tried to protect ex-gay therapists and other Tuesday midday news briefs

If you haven't seen this video, then you should. Excellent job by one of my mentors Wayne Besen and the folks at Truth Wins Out for their excellent work on Michele Bachmann!

Bachmann Tried To Pass State Law Protecting Ex-Gay Therapists - And the plot thickens, which is a real shame to a degree. I was kinda hoping that Bachmann would get the Republican presidential nomination.

Yes, We Exist. And So Does Our Past - An awesome piece which explains why it is so necessary for lgbtq history to be taught and remembered.

Catholic Charities in Court Over Ill. Adoptions - Forget it guys. If you can't follow state rules, you don't need state monies.

NY Broome County Clerk Resigns Over Same-Sex Marriage, Cites Biblical Law - She did the right thing. If she can't perform her duties, she should resign.

Guess who's coming to Rick Perry's prayer event

Kyle Mantyla of Right Wing Watch put together a nice video of various religious right leaders who are coming to TX Governor Rick Perry's August prayer rally:



I think it's safe to say that a wearing a crucifix would be very apropo when coming anywhere close to this bunch.


Related post: 

Perry's prayer event will put Christianity's worst on display

Shocker! A child meets his first gay couple . . . and nothing happens!

The talk of the National Organization for Marriage, the Family Research Council, and the rest of that bunch about how the subject of marriage equality will " either confuse children or turn them gay" is a bunch of nonsense which is geared to exploiting people's fears.

I could say this all day until I am red in the face, but I think I will let the following video speak for itself. In it, a young boy meets a gay couple for the first time. Just watch what happens:



There are times when children are more intelligent than adults.

Hat tip to the Huffington Post.

Rick Perry, sex with demons, and other Monday midday news briefs

Opponents Of CA LGBT History Bill: Learning About Gay People Will Turn Kindergarteners Gay - That did it for me. When I learned that Alexander the Great was gay, I began doing my Diana Ross impersonations.

The Company That Rick Perry Keeps: Peter Wagner On Sex With Demons - I'm speechless. Really I am.

Focus staffer tweets about 'noise and nonsense; so here, have some calm clarity - Focus on the Family staffer defends her organization. Good luck on that.

Nobody Pays Attention To Preambles Anyway - About that thing about slavery, Michele Bachmann . . .

New York DA: Clerks Who Refuse To Issue Marriage Licenses To Gay Couples Will Be ‘Subject To Criminal Prosecution’ - I'm all for it. Either do your job or quit. You are representing the state, not yourself. And the state says yea marriage equality.

NOM's declaration against violence rings hollow

Here is an interesting item coming from the National Organization for Marriage's blog:

Some creative minds came up with a poster comparing NOM to the KKK. It's outrageous of course. We wouldn't normally bother to notice such stuff, which is par for the course, but even on the gay blogs circulating it a lot of fair minded people are questioning that kind of over the top rhetoric.

So we point out once again, for the fair minded on either side of this debate: When a man came to a NOM rally with a hateful sign, he was immediately told he wasn't welcome. This is why the photo of the hateful sign is not of a sign being held up at a NOM rally but a sign discarded across the street.

Just to make it crystal clear, we then issued a statement denouncing violence, harassment or threats of violence against any one on any side of the marriage debate, including against gay people and gay marriage supporters.

Which we are happy to reiterate again for our gay readers--we know we have many: We stand with you abhorring any threat to the person and property of gay people, or gay marriage supporters. We hope you do the same for marriage supporters.

But we do it because it's the right thing to do not because anyone demands this of us.

There are good people on both sides of this debate, and we need to have a country where even intense moral disagreements can be aired without violence or threats or incivility.

Forgive me for not being impressed.

Better yet, forgive me for saying that NOM is basically full of it.

We are talking about an organization whose very existence is dependent on making people believe that the gay community (and I speak on a colloquial sense) is a hedonistic army out to supposedly redefine marriage to the detriment of heterosexual relationships.

We are talking about an organization which sends out fliers claiming that gays want to "teach children how to be homosexual," such as the one below:

Or commercials claiming the same thing:



 And I haven't even touched the organization's phony claims of religious persecution.

NOM certainly isn't advocating violence, but with the spreading of these lies, the organization is creating a very hostile atmosphere by exploiting people's fears that their livelihood will be taken away from them, their children will be harmed, and they will be persecuted for their religious beliefs.

Seems to me that if NOM doesn't want people to be violent, the organization should stop giving them a reason to gather up the pitchforks and torches.  

NOM begins astroturfed campaign against marriage equality in NY

NOM president Brian Brown

Under the guise of  "the people have been denied the right to vote," the National Organization for Marriage is launching a campaign to yank marriage equality away from New York.

NOM President Brian Brown sent out this letter:

I've got really exciting news to announce to you this week: a new coalition, a new plan, a rebuilt PAC. And here's the most exciting news: a huge multi-city series of rallies and protest marches taking place across the state of New York to win a vote to protect marriage in New York's constitution!

Let the People Vote!

Save the date: Sunday, July 24, 3 p.m. Go here to get the practical details. And here's the good news: You can show up to let Albany know you've had enough of the corruption, the backroom deals, the lying, the politics as usual. Let the people vote!

Don't forget to send this link to Let the People Vote to your five best friends, the folks you know who are mad enough not to take this from Republicans and other pols lying down!

We at NOM have promised to raise $2 million to help defeat the politicians who've betrayed marriage in 2012.

The good news is that in our first week alone, hundreds of you sent donations adding up to $40,000 to NOM's NY PAC. 

Interesting thing about Brown's letter. While it was extremely sketchy on details of just what NOM's plan will be, he asked for donations at least five times. Talk about your hard sells.

It's always extremely fascinating to me how NOM throws around the hyperbole. In the same letter, Brown labels lone anti-gay marriage Democrat Ruben Diaz as virtuous and heroic in spite of the fact that Diaz acted like a damn fool before the final vote.

But this is what he says about the legislators who voted for marriage equality:

On Sunday July 24 evangelicals, Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Jews will come together in love all across the state to take back marriage from the politicians who betrayed it.

NOM claims to speak for New Yorkers but the majority of them actually support marriage equality. One would have to ask just who is NOM speaking for. It would seem to me by passing the marriage equality bill, NY legislators did follow the will of the people. 

Yet Brown makes them seem like the Hun army during a day of wanton pillaging.

Granted, Brown will say that "opinion polls don't matter,"   or "the only opinion poll is at the voting booth," or "31 states have voted against gay marriage."

Of course Brown and his fellow NOMbies will omit mentioning the mailers, the robocalls, and  the commercials linking marriage equality to the "indoctrination of children" and the deep pockets NOM uses to filter this mess throughout whichever state they are working at time.

Proving yet again that you can scare people to vote anyway you want, provided you have the money.

However, I really question NOM's intelligence here. NY will start issuing licenses on July 24.  And I am suspecting that a lot of people are going to be getting them.

I don't think that anything resembling an attempt at a referendum would be smart or politically advantageous to anyone pushing it.

Once people get a taste of ambrosia, they don't go back to scraps so easily.

And starting on July 24, there is going to be a lot of ambrosia eaters in NY.

Know Your LGBT History - Rebecca

Rebecca (1940) was a classic film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and is remembered for several reasons.

For one, it was the only one of Hitchcock's movies to win Best Picture (although he didn't win statuette because he didn't produce the movie). For another, it cemented actress Joan Fontaine as mega star actress (between her turns in The Women in 1939 and another Hitchcock movie, Suspicion in 1941 for which she won the Oscar, Fontaine was definitely having some couple of good years).

Lastly, it is remembered for its lesbian subtext of possible unrequited love.

Rebecca tells the the story of the second bride (Fontaine) of a wealthy man (Laurence Olivier) who finds that she has to compete with the memory of his first wife, the deceased Rebecca.

Pushing that competition hard is the maid of the house, Mrs. Danvers (Dame Judith Anderson in absolutely diabolical performance) who seemed to have had a serious cruch on Rebecca.

Although the movie never comes out and says this, it leaves it to audience interpretation throughout many scenes as Mrs. Danvers plays tricks on Fontaine to slowly drive her mad or get her to commit suicide.

But the one scene which stands out is where she shows Fontaine the bedroom of the deceased Rebecca. It's eerie and pitiful at both the same time:



Then things take an ugly turn when we find out that Rebecca was murdered. By whom is not a shock (it wasn't Mrs. Danvers) but the reason why is tells us just what type of person Rebecca was.

Past Know Your LGBT History Posts:

NOM issues statement about anti-gay violence? and other Friday midday news briefs

 Hate Rhetoric? - I NEVER put items from the NOM Blog on my news briefs but this is just weird not to repeat. NOM is issuing a bizarre mea culpa about anti-gay violence. Great. Now if you would only cool it with the homophobic rhetoric (children being "forced" to learn about homosexuality) then I would actually buy what you say.

Fox News’ Obsession With The “Gay Indoctrination” Bogeyman - Pay attention, folks. One-sided attacks featuring members of anti-gay hate groups repeating lies without challenge will definitely be in the lgbtq community's future as long as Fox News has something to say about it.

We don't need LGBT-inclusive education, says person who pushes 'ex-gay'-inclusive 'education' - Candi Cushman, another phony expert.


Texas Gov. (& potential GOP Clown Car occupant) Rick Perry runs with a really batsh*t fundie crowd - And they REALLY want him to run, too.


Archbishop Timothy Dolan: Now That New York Passed Marriage Equality, Polygamy Is Next - Give it up, Mr. Dolan.

CNN spotlights Minnesota parents of gay soldier and their fight for marriage equality

This is a sad and, at the same time, awesome video. It's a tribute to the soldier that his parents are standing up for the rights he gave his life to protect.

There is nothing wrong with teaching gay history

According to Equality Matters, Fox News seems to be waging a war of misinformation against a recently passed California bill which will require public schools to teach students about the contributions of gay, lesbian, and transgender Americans.

I personally don't see anything wrong with mentioning the contributions of lgbtqs throughout history, especially in this environment when our gay youth don't have the sense of their own history. Lgbtq history goes way beyond the Stonewall riots. We built up kingdoms, we organized marches, and we saved the world on many occasions through our ingenuity. What's wrong with learning about these things?

But leave it to Fox News to basically lie about this bill:

Since April, Fox has had a field day misinforming viewers about California’s SB 48 -- also known as the FAIR Education Act -- a bill that would require public schools to teach students about the contributions of gay, lesbian, and transgender Americans. The bill is aimed at reducing anti-LGBT bullying and promoting respect for members of the LGBT community. Fox consistently misinformed viewers about the bill, calling it a “shocking lesson plan” that would present students with “propaganda” and force them to learn that people “can have more than one gender or no gender at all.” Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox News’ Fox & Friends, spoke volumes about Fox’s view of LGBT people when he wondered “should public school teachers be ordered to tell their students why it’s okay to be gay?

Typical Fox News crap. It's bad enough when folks think that your life consists of only empty sexual encounters, shame, and basic unhappiness. But it's even worse when they try to prevent education which would dispel these false notions.

Here is the real story about the bill, according to MSNBC:

Video issues nasty attack on same-sex parenting and other Thursday midday news briefs

The religious right constantly whines that the gay community doesn't show "tolerance" for their views. But I ask you, could you tolerate this madness:



In other news:

Is Bradlee Dean Michele Bachmann’s Rev. Wright? - Look who is sharing the stage with Michele Bachmann.

All the views are fit to print? Not in the marriage debate. Not in the MSM. Not yet. - A PERFECT example of why us lgbtq bloggers need to step up when the mainstream media won't do their job.

Gay marriage, bishops and the crisis of leadership - FINALLY! An article which takes the Catholic Church leadership to task over their fight to harm marriage equality.

Anti-gay groups still trying to salvage victory over Kevin Jennings

Two anti-gay hate groups claimed victory recently with the elimination of the Education Department's The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. That office was led by Obama appointee Kevin Jennings.

Those on the right waged a huge, unsuccessful war to get Jennings removed over a year and a half ago by smearing him as a pedophilia-enabling, Christian-hating, monster who likes to teach children about bizarre sexual practices.  None of these charges stuck, however and Jennings stayed employed until finally resigning early this year to become president and CEO of  Be the Change, a nonprofit organization.

Because he left on his own, no one on the right could take credit for Jennings's resignation. However, it would seem that they are trying to salvage a victory out of the embarrassment they endured over Jennings by claiming victory because the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools is being eliminated.

From the Family Research Council (with a cute, but highly immature graphic):

It took 18 months of protest, but FRC can finally celebrate a major victory at the Office of Safe and Drug-free Schools. The agency, which (until two weeks ago), was headed by radical homosexual activist Kevin Jennings, has been eliminated. In a statement, the Deputy Secretary for Education announced that Congress had cut the Office's funding by almost $80 million, and it could no longer operate at the level which the Department had grown accustomed. Starting this summer, its duties will be absorbed by another program--knocking the Office's LGBT indoctrination campaign down several rungs on the Department's ladder. For more than a year, FRC had fought the administration on Jennings's appointment, which seemed to be a front for advancing the homosexual agenda in American classrooms. With the help of 53 Congressmen, FRC battled for Jennings's removal, even launching a special website to inform parents about his real motives. Now, a year and a half after his appointment, the Office of Safe and Drug-free Schools is finally where it belongs: on the cutting room floor.

And from Mass Resistance, the group behind many of the smears lodged against Jennings:

Although it's difficult to pinpoint the exact amounts, it's estimated nearly three-quarters of the funding to [Kevin] Jennings' "Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools" is being cut by Congress in the upcoming 2012 budget!
...
This follows nearly over eighteen months of pressure from Mass Resistance and media outrage (using our research and reports) about Jennings' horrible history as a homosexual activist and his use of his Federal office to push the homosexual agenda in schools across the country, and our demand that his office be de-funded.

In actuality, neither group had anything to do with the elimination of the "Safe Schools" office. It would seem that the office became the victim of budget cuts - the thing that everyone seems to be talking about in Washington these days.

So in short, neither FRC nor Mass Resistance had anything to do with Jennings's leaving his office or the elimination of the "Safe Schools" office.

But like the old saying goes - "If that's the story they want to tell . . ."

NOM pushing junk science about gays, cigar smoking

It appears that the loss in New York has affected the National Organization for Marriage intensely.

Is it just me or is the organization seemingly more vindictive on its blog. Yesterday, it took a cheap shot at NY governor Andrew Cuomo's mother. And today comes this bit:

From a Catholic Culture summary:

In a powerful editorial for The Anchor, the official newspaper for the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, Father Roger Landry calls attention to the pastoral damage done by priests who refuse to convey the Church’s teaching on human sexuality, fearful of opposition from gay-rights activists.

A sample:

If doctors and nurses at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute were aware that a patient was chain-smoking cigars and out of a desire not to displease him said nothing, they would be guilty of unconscionable neglect. If the patient was flaunting his cigar-smoking and attempting to persuade others that, rather than harmful, cigar-smoking was a great practice deserving of celebration instead of censure, the destructive consequences of their reticence would be magnified. Similarly, pastors and parishes who are aware that parishioners are unabashedly engaging in practices contrary to the practice of the faith and who do not strive, with patient, tender and firm preaching and accompaniment, to help them eliminate whatever in them is leading them to sin, are culpable of the worst type of pastoral malpractice.

You mean NOM is citing the work of a Catholic priest after all of the rumors and speculation involving the Catholic church in NOM's activities? I'm shocked, really I am.

But that part about cigar smoking is nothing new. NOM and its affiliate organizations in New York encouraged supporters to make the same sort of claims in letters to the editor.

The idea of comparing homosexuality to cigar smoking is rooted in junk science. The first person who made this comparison (even though he was talking about cigarettes) was Paul Cameron, the infamous discredited researcher who, amongst other things, was either dismissed or censured by several medical professional groups.

What's next, NOM? Citing Cameron's work on gay men and gerbils?

Bachmann endorsed 'ex-gay' group and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Bachmann Endorsed ‘Ex-Gay’ Group In 2004, Said They ‘Will Present The Truth About Homosexuality’ - Surely Bachmann had to know that this would come up when she decided to run for president, as well questions about her husband's sexuality. That's the weirdest thing about ambition. It will blind to you to the presence of fully loaded freight train headed in your direction.

Why is NOM so into hiding Thomas Peters' role? - NOM caught hiding allegiances again.

Brenda 'Sue' Fulton, Openly Gay Veteran, Named To West Point Advisory Board - Not a bad achievement at all!

California lawmakers pass bill to teach gay history - Good for California! It's something which is needed nationwide.

Introducing The NOM Files

Brian Brown of NOM

The National Organization for Marriage thinks of itself as the preeminent organization to stop marriage equality.

However under its so-called Christian exterior is a vast forest of secrets, lies and blatantly dirty tactics.

NOM has quickly become a controversial group not only because its anti-marriage equality zeal, but also because of the lengths it has gone to in hiding its donors from public view.

Unfortunately a lot of folks, particularly folks in the gay community, aren't aware of this group. There are various resources out there about NOM if one took the time to search for them.

However, wouldn't it be nice if there was a place where one could find information regarding all of NOM's underhanded tactics (particularly inferring that gays want to either recruit or confuse children through marriage equality), chronicles its attempts to hide its donors, and provides resources to other sites and folks fighting NOM?

That's what I hope to accomplish with the NOM Files.

The NOM Files is a new facebook group dedicated to shedding a light on NOM's activities. Every distortion of the group will be trotted out, every lie will be remembered, and every time NOM tries to hide its donors, it will be given front page coverage.

The rules for The NOM Files are simple. Anyone can join and anyone can post. But I reserve the right to edit posts - which I will only do if the posts don't fit the mission of the facebook group.

NOM has a lot to answer for. But until the lgbtq community and our allies make it a point to demand these answers, then we're aren't going to get them.

Click here to join.