Catholic bishop - Voting for the Democratic Party could endanger your eternal salvation

While it is not my aim to offend anyone of the Catholic faith, I simply have to ask what's up with the Bishops?

Not only have they declared war on marriage equality, but recent incidents show that they have declared war not only on the Democratic Party but gay equality in general.

From Right-Wing Watch comes this unbelievable clip of Thomas John Paprocki, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield, IL. In it, he implies that voting for the Democratic Party could endanger one's soul:

 Transcript:

There are many positive and beneficial planks in the Democratic Party Platform, but I am pointing out those that explicitly endorse intrinsic evils. My job is not to tell you for whom you should vote. But I do have a duty to speak out on moral issues. I would be abdicating this duty if I remained silent out of fear of sounding "political" and didn't say anything about the morality of these issues. People of faith object to these platform positions that promote serious sins. I know that the Democratic Party's official "unequivocal" support for abortion is deeply troubling to pro-life Democrats.

 . . . Certainly there are "pro-choice" Republicans who support abortion rights and "Log Cabin Republicans" who promote same-sex marriage, and they are equally as wrong as their Democratic counterparts. But these positions do not have the official support of their party. Again, I am not telling you which party or which candidates to vote for or against, but I am saying that you need to think and pray very carefully about your vote, because a vote for a candidate who promotes actions or behaviors that are intrinsically evil and gravely sinful makes you morally complicit and places the eternal salvation of your own soul in serious jeopardy.

 And Paprocki is not the only bishop raising eyebrows.

Last month, Washington State officials had to warn Bishop Joseph Tyson not to proceed with his plan of raising money for an anti-marriage equality referendum in that state. According to Reuters, Tyson had sent a letter to  area pastors asking them to distribute donation envelopes to parishioners during the weekend of September 8-9. The money was supposed to go to Preserve Marriage Washington, the campaign to defeat legalization of same-sex marriage on the state's November ballot.

According to Think Progress, Omaha, Nebraska Archbishop George Lucas is asking all priests in his diocese to speak on behalf of an effort to repeal recently passed sexual orientation non-discrimination law.

Think Progress also points out that in New Jersey:

 . . .a Newark Archbishop recently sent a pastoral letter to implore over 1 million Catholics in his New Jersey parish to stop supporting same-sex marriage. In fact, Archbishop John Myers even went so far as to suggest that any Catholics who support same-sex marriage, regardless of their own sexual orientation, should refrain from taking communion at Catholic mass because they are “unable to assent to or live the Church’s teaching in these matters.”

Lastly, according to the San Diego Lesbian and Gay News:

 Minnesota’s 400,000 Roman Catholic households are scheduled to receive a letter this week from all of the state’s bishops, urging them to donate money for television ads asking voters to say yes to a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage. John Green, a political science professor at the University of Akron (Ohio), said that the mailing is “unusual” compared to Catholics’ roles in marriage amendment campaigns in other states. “I can’t think of anything as direct and as explicit,” Green said. “I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it legally, but certainly I’m sure it’s very controversial. Catholic leaders have been involved in fundraising. I know of examples where they have reached out to parishioners, but I’ve never heard of anything quite this comprehensive,” he added. 

These incidents should make us all extremely uncomfortable as to the power Catholic bishops seem to be flexing. No doubt, they plead victimhood and claim that they are merely protecting "traditional values" and "religious liberty."

However, to me the entire thing stinks of an abuse of power.

There is an old saying about "paying the piper," and I have a feeling that a while from now, the tune the piper will be playing for these Roman Catholic Bishops will be titled Internal Backlash.

 

'Anti-gay group sued for theft of gay couple's photo' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Cultivating the deranged vote: a look at a survey question from Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom coalition- What I don't get is that if this is a Christian group, then why does it stoop to such a nasty level. When did Jesus say "do unto others before they do it to you?"

 Brian Edwards And Tom Privitere, NJ Gay Couple, To Sue Over Anti-Gay Political Attack Mailer - Homophobic group steals picture from gay couple and gets sued. I hope the group loses.

 Collusion and Corruption of the New Family Structures Study by Dr. Mark Regnerus- Lengthy but necessary break down of that recent discredited study on gay families.

 Ron Crews Calls Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell a 'Grave' and Ominous 'Threat to Freedom' - A claim which is a lie but when do religious right groups and their spokespeople worry about being truthful? 

  General Mills defends gay marriage stance - General Mills is standing firm against anti-marriage equality groups. Good. 

Documentary focuses on the relationship between gays and the Church

Mark your calendars. On October 29 on PBS - Love Free or Die:

Watch Can a Church Preach Love and Discriminate at the Same Time? on PBS. See more from Independent Lens.

Watch Bishop Robinson on Persevering in the Face of Hatred on PBS. See more from Independent Lens.

Ad - Obama will force doctors to allow gays to 'buy' babies

We are officially in the silly season of the 2012 election as evidenced by this ad which, according to the Huffington Post, ran in a number of newspapers on Sunday, including The Sarasota Herald-Tribune:

All of these claims are false, but I especially get a kick out of the claim that Obama will "force doctors to assist homosexuals in buying surrogate babies."

Not only does it dehumanize us, but it makes us look like we are treating babies like turkeys in a Thanksgiving dinner.

The ad is run by an organization called GINGPAC.org

From its webpage, GINGPAC stands for Government is Not God and it claims to be a political action committee for social conservatives. Its chairman is William J. Murray. Supposedly Murray is the son of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the late atheist whose lawsuit in front of the Supreme Court led to the eradication of required prayer in public schools.

But that's not the most interesting thing I found out about Murray. Apparently GINGPAC is only one of the organization he leads. There is also the Religious Freedom Coalition and We The People Nation. All three groups claim that their desires are to bring America back to its supposed "Judeo-Christian" heritage.

Murray asks for "contributions" through GINGPAC and the Religious Freedom Coalition (surprise, surprise!) In addition, he also has a youtube channel.

So what we are talking about here is a one-man operation causing all sorts of chaos in the name of God.

And I thought the Catholic League and William Donohue was bad.

But to be fair, I don't think Donohue ever made a move to physically assault someone. In spite of all Murray says about "Godly values," he has a good left hook as this video from last year demonstrates:



The Tampa Bay Times contains a full list of the newspapers where Murray's ad ran. Also, according to the Times, some people are highly angry at the ad, so angry in fact that they intend to protest.
 

 

'DUI Archbishop wants to deny gays the Holy Communion' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

In San Francisco, Prop. 8 backer to head Catholic Church - And Salvatore Cordileone - archbishop in question - has already declared that "Gays and lesbians who are in sexual relationships of any kind . . .  should not receive the sacrament of Holy Communion." The grand irony is that he is the SAME GUY who was arrested in August for drunk driving. Maybe HE should refrain from taking the Holy Communion.

 Iowa Newspapers Condemn Politicized Campaign To Oust Supreme Court Justice - This campaign by religious right groups is designed to oust judges, not for any type of corruption, but for handing down decisions which these groups don't agree with. Such a thing is a slap in the face to our republic.

  In which ActRight and Preserve Marriage Washington feign disinterested party status - those interested in the hidden finances of NOM and where these monies go, have at it.  

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: ‘Homosexuality Ceases Procreation’ - Is he for real? Famine, flood, or tornado couldn't stop anyone from "procreating" or at least trying. 

Fringe 'black leader' attacks Obama, Democratic Party

E.W. Jackson

Batten down the hatches. We have another wannabe black leader urging African-Americans to leave the Democratic Party.

Not vote for Romney, mind you, but leave the party period.

Bishop E.W. Jackson of S.T.A.N.D. (Staying True To America's National Destiny) has launched a project called "Exodus Now," which calls for a "mass exodus of Christians from the Democrat Part."

"We believe that the Democrat Party has shown itself to be anti-Christian, anti-Bible, anti-family, anti-life and anti-God, and it's time for Christians to come out," Jackson explains. "We are focusing particularly -- not exclusively, but particularly -- on black Christians who in our view have been held captive by the Democrat Party with a tissue of lies."

While S.T.A.N.D. is encouraging people to vote their conscience, the group's founder asserts, "We have stayed away from either endorsing Mitt Romney or saying that this is a call to vote against President Obama and make it personal. But I will say this," Jackson adds. "We're calling people to come out of the Democrat Party and not support candidates who represent its values and the rebellion that it represents against God. That certainly would include President Barack Obama."

Bishop Jackson notes that the Democrat Party has "manipulated, deceived and misled the black community" for a long time, and it's time "to awaken them that they are being used in a power game by Democrats who could care less about the black community, only care about staying in power, and they will use the black community for as long as they will allow them to use them."

You say you have never heard of E.W. Jackson? Good. Then count yourself lucky. For one thing, he is a failed candidate for the United States Senate in Virginia (losing in the primary to George Allen) and  has been apparently "waging public war" with the Democrat Party since 2010 when he started his organization, S.T.A.N.D.

And like all members of the religious right, Jackson has been extremely homophobic in his rhetoric.

Bishop Harry Jackson performs excellent 'tap dancing' for religious right

From my online blogging friend Jeremy Hooper, I grabbed the following:

You will notice that one of the special guests of this laughable summit will be Bishop Harry Jackson of the High Impact Leadership Coalition. I've written about Jackson many times recently because I think it's safe to say that Jackson has replaced the Coalition of African-American Pastors as the wedge in which the religious right's attempt to sabotage President Obama's African-American support.

At first, CAAP seemed to have been getting a lot of attention until it was discovered that it was receiving monies from religious right groups and also its leader, William Owens, may have misled folks with regards to his alleged participation in the civil rights movement. It seems to me that the group thought it was best to perform soft-shoe dance into the background.

Bishop Harry Jackson

And in it place has come Bishop Jackson, a long time black face in the religious right. He is practically present at almost every major religious right event since he first came on the scene in 2004 while spewing all sorts of hateful nonsense about the gay community from accusing them of "recruiting children" to claiming that gays are bringing Hitler's time to America.

 According to People for the American Way in its report, Harry Jackson: Point Man for the Wedge Strategy :

 His media profile, and his embrace by Religious Right leaders and right-wing politicians have led to his being anointed a “conservative Christian A-lister” by Beliefnet’s Dan Gilgoff and “one of the 50 most influential Christians in America”  by the Church Report.   In 2005, then-President of the National Association of Evangelicals Ted Haggard said of Jackson, “He’s building a bridge between white evangelicalism and African American evangelicalism that we haven’t had in 20 years.”

 . . . Jackson’s profile has been boosted significantly by his alliance with Religious Right leaders James Dobson, Tony Perkins, and Lou Sheldon.  They’ve invited him into insider leadership circles like the Arlington Group.   They’ve made him a regular speaker at Religious Right events, where he builds his public profile and raises money from white evangelicals.  At a Values Voter Summit he told white evangelicals something they don’t hear very often – the notion that racism is a continuing reality in America and it’s their responsibility to do something about it.   He told the whites in the room that the olive branch of peace has to be put forward by white churches: “If you don’t do it, the blacks aren’t coming.”

Jackson is also on the board of The Call, an organization that mobilizes evangelical youth and which waded deeply into politics last year with a national rally on the National Mall and a pro-Prop. 8 stadium rally in California.  He told journalist Michelangeo Signorile last fall that he serves on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals.  He was among the participants at a three-day conference  “commemorating the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown as evidence of America’s heritage as a ‘Christian nation.’”

. 
As we get closer to the election, Jackson is taking a larger public role.  People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch has counted at least over five times this month and the last in which Jackson has given speeches or written columns on the need for the black community to escape the "so-called" Democrat plantation or stand hard against marriage equality.

Does Jackson do it because of his religious beliefs? Maybe. But one thing is clear, he is getting paid nicely.

According to Mother Jones magazine, Jackson has received $20,000 from the National Organization for Marriage’s “education fund” for his efforts to exploit the opinions of those in the black community who do not agree with marriage equality.

In addition, in 2010, Jackson attempted to get a measure on the ballot opposing marriage equality in D.C. In pursuit of that  effort, he led the group Stand for Marriage DC.  According to documents attained by Mother Jones magazine, NOM gave $60,000 for that effort.

Mother Jones also points out that this was a NOM effort all the way:

As the head of the political action committee Stand4MarriageDC, Jackson was meant to be the voice of local opposition (he had a condo in the city). NOM's fingerprints, however, were obvious: The two groups shared an address; NOM gave Stand4MarriageDC direct financial support; and Brian Brown, NOM's executive director, was its treasurer. The measure passed, and NOM then spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to unseat councilmembers who supported the bill, without success.

Apart from NOM, Jackson also has tried to raise money in other ways. In July of this year, he sent out a request asking for donations for a vague project against marriage equality. He had hoped to raise $1.5 million:

According to People for the American Way, he may have another reason for his participation in religious right endeavors - the need for political power:

Jackson, the pastor of a congregation in Maryland, has been ushered into the Religious Right’s inner circle since he announced in 2004 that God had told him to work for the reelection of George W. Bush.  Since then, Jackson has become somewhat of an all-purpose activist and pundit for right-wing causes – everything from judicial nominations to immigration and oil drilling -- but his top priorities mirror those of the Religious Right: he’s fervently anti-abortion and dead-set against gay equality.  And he has enthusiastically adopted the Right’s favorite propaganda tactic: he routinely portrays liberals, especially gay-rights activists, as enemies of faith, family, and religious liberty.

Jackson has big ambitions.  He sees himself as a game changer in the culture war, someone who can help conservative Christians “take the land” by bringing about a political alliance between white and black evangelicals.  Religious Right leaders see him that way, too, which is why they’ve helped Jackson build his public profile. 

Because of this, the report says, Jackson has towed the religious right and conservative line on other issues including immigration, health care, energy and the environment, and falsely claiming that abortion is leading to genocide in the black community.

And Jackson has been successful because he knowingly exploits his ethnicity:

Jackson has become popular with the media, not only because he is a smooth performer, but also because a black pastor and self-described “registered Democrat” is viewed as a desirably atypical right-wing spokesperson.   Jackson understands this dynamic, telling an interviewer on Daystar Christian television that it “takes blacks like myself to speak up.”  Jackson bragged that when he got a group of African American pastors to hold a press conference (falsely) attacking a federal hate crimes bill as a threat to religious liberty, he got media coverage that traditional Religious Right groups had been unable to generate. 

Jackson may be successful and popular in the religious right, but he has faced somewhat of a backlash. In April of this year, he complained that there have been ministers who would not work with him supposedly because they were jealous of his success and "were resentful that he has God's favor."

Perhaps these ministers see Jackson the same way I do.

Bishop Harry Jackson constantly reminds me of the only African-American I would see when watching "The Lawrence Welk Show" as a child. And that black man was always performing a tap dance number.

   

'Did Rick Perry threaten to sue to clamp down on gay rumors' and other Monday midday news briefs

Report: Rick Perry Aides Battled Gay Rumor With Lawsuit Threat - Now I ain't one to gossip but (dodges a big bolt of lightning) but this is an interesting story.  

Jesse Ventura: MN marriage ban is 'most flagrant discrimination you've ever seen - I always did like Jesse Ventura, even when he was a bad guy in pro-wrestling.  

Washington Archbishop Claims ‘Human Society Would Be Harmed Beyond Repair’ By Marriage Equality - I personally think sexual abuse of children would be a bigger problem for human society, but far be it from me to be "implying" anything.  

NJ Defender of Ex-Gay Therapy Can’t Even Provide One Client As Evidence Of Success - Surprising who? 

There was a LOT of anti-gay hate in May

Submitted for your perusal, a little bit of the anti-gay speech stuff which occurred in May 2012. Please don't think that I am reflecting on the negative. In my defense,  my lgbt brothers and sisters have a nasty habit of forgetting important matters.

My attempts to get you to remember that all of this stuff happened in May 2012 is not meant to get you frustrated or just anger. It's intended to motivate you to do something positive with your anger.

Remember, this is an election year:



 

Ann Coulter wants to choose who gets civil rights

Ann Coulter is has just written a book on racial issues. Yes THAT Ann Coulter.

Now knowing the Ann Coulter formula - which has reaped a lot of success for her, this is what is going to happen:

1. Her book will be filled with nonsense and ad hominem attacks

2. In promoting the book, she will say some absolutely shocking and outrageous things

3. Coulter will then exploit the controversy to sell more books while whining about how she is merely trying to press a point of view. She will also whine about being "silenced" by liberals.

I'm here to report that we are now at point two, as evidenced by today on the ABC news program "This Week." Coulter gives her view on just what is civil rights and who deserves civil rights: Ann Coulter tires me out. She is a fraud who likes to be provocative to make money but when all of the controversy and insanity dissipates, she really isn't saying anything thought-provoking or intelligent. Or better yet, my feeling about Ann Coulter is shared by this snippet from the episode of the Adult Swim program, "The Boondocks" (Editor's note - The following clip is NOT safe for work):

Racism and homophobia - different sides of the same coin

1938 - U.S. Senator (and former Governor of Mississippi) Theodore Bilbo speaking against the Costigan-Walker anti-lynching bill.  The Costigan-Walker anti-lynching bill would have outlawed mob violence against African-Americans

"If you succeed in the passage of this bill, you will open the floodgates of hell in the South. Raping, mobbing, lynching, race riots, and crime will be increased a thousandfold; and upon your garments and the garments of those who are responsible for the passage of the measure will be the blood of the raped and outraged daughters of Dixie, as well as the blood of the perpetrators of these crimes that the red-blooded Anglo-Saxon White Southern men will not tolerate."

2011 - Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council speaking against the Obama Administration's support of the "It Gets Better" campaign. The "It Gets Better" campaign was created to combat the prevalence of suicide amongst lgbt children:

"The videos are titled “It Gets Better.” They are aimed at persuading kids that although they’ll face struggles and perhaps bullying for “coming out” as homosexual (or transgendered or some other perversion), life will get better. . . It’s disgusting. And it’s part of a concerted effort to persuade kids that homosexuality is okay and actually to recruit them into that “lifestyle.”

No other comments on my part are necessary.

Know Your LGBT History - Roy Cohn

Roy Cohn is proof that not every figure in gay history is a good one. He was a powerful gay man associated with the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy. He was also one of the most powerful lawyers of his time. But if you did a poll, he would be near the top of the list of one of the most hated people by the gay community:

Roy Marcus Cohn was born in New York City on 20th February, 1927. His father, Albert Cohn, was a New York State judge and an important figure in the Democratic Party. After being educated at the best private school in Manhattan, he entered Columbia Law School. Admitted to the bar at twenty-one, he used his connections to become a Assistant U.S. Attorney in Manhattan. He played a prominent role in the trial of eleven leaders of the American Communist Party and in the prosecution of Julius Rosenberg and Ethel Rosenberg in 1951.

 In 1952 Joseph McCarthy appointed Roy Cohn as the chief counsel to the Government Committee on Operations of the Senate. Cohn had been recommended by Edgar Hoover, who had been impressed by his involvement in the prosecution of the Rosenburgs. Soon after Cohn was appointed, he recruited his best friend, David Schine, to become his chief consultant. For some time opponents of McCarthy had been accumulating evidence concerning his homosexual relationships. Rumours began to circulate that Cohn and David Schine were having a sexual relationship. Although well-known by political journalists, it did not become public until Hank Greenspun published an article in the Las Vegas Sun in 25th October, 1952. Joseph McCarthy considered a libel suit against Greenspun but decided against it when he was told by his lawyers that if the case went ahead he would have to take the witness stand and answer questions about his sexuality. In an attempt to stop the rumours circulating, McCarthy married his secretary, Jeannie Kerr. Later the couple adopted a five-week old girl from the New York Foundling Home. In October, 1953, McCarthy began investigating communist infiltration into the military.

Attempts were made by McCarthy to discredit Robert Stevens, the Secretary of the Army. The president, Dwight Eisenhower, was furious and now realised that it was time to bring an end to McCarthy's activities. The United States Army retaliated by passing information about Joseph McCarthy to journalists known to be opposed to him. This included the news that Cohn had abused congressional privilege by trying to prevent David Schine from being drafted. When that failed, it was claimed that Cohn tried to pressurize the Army to grant Schine special privileges. The well-known newspaper columnist, Drew Pearson, published the story on 15th December, 1953. The televised hearings of the Senate hearings exposed the tactics of Cohn and Joseph McCarthy. Leading politicians in both parties, had been embarrassed by McCarthy's performance and on 2nd December, 1954, a censure motion condemned his conduct by 67 votes to 22.

'Gays, African-Americans unite to fight for marriage equality' and other Friday midday news briefs

Maryland Marriage Equality Vote Brings Together LGBT, Black Civil Rights Groups - Lgbt groups, African-American civil rights groups, and Black clergy are uniting in Maryland for marriage equality. I certainly hope we win this particular fight, but regardless, you have to admit that this is a BFD (thanks Vice President Biden).  

Paris Hilton Apologizes For Homophobic Comments About Gay Men And AIDS - Since I posted about this yesterday, I should post this follow up. It's been said that when you forgive someone, sometimes it's less about not just about their sincerity, but the strength of your heart.  

E.W. Jackson: Blacks are Selling Themselves into Slavery By Supporting the Democratic Party - I feel safe in speaking for a vast majority of African-Americans when I ask, "just who is this fool?"

 On This DADT Repeal Anniversary, Let’s Not Forget The T - An excellent point about the DADT repeal. 

General Mills' Profits Rise Despite Boycott Over Gay Marriage - NOM's General Mills boycott is failing hard. 

Family Research Council should admit lies about DADT repeal

Tony Perkins

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the DADT repeal and I was VERY disappointed.

Don't get me wrong. I was happy about the anniversary and reading the articles about how gays and lesbians can now openly serve in the Armed Forces. And I loved the pictures that came with it.

But the bitch in me needed to be fed.

I can remember when the repeal was about to happen, many folks in the religious right were up in arms about it. The Family Research Council, in particular, were making all sorts of dire predictions. From reading what was said by Tony Perkins, Peter Sprigg, and company, one got the impression that repealing DADT would be THE THING which would cause Gabriel to blow his trumpet and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to streak across the skies.

Now that the repeal has been in place for a full year, the gay community seems to be so wrapped up in celebration that it allows Perkins, Sprigg, and company to walk away while nonchalantly whistling a tune with their hands in their pockets.

Peter Sprigg

But not so fast. Thanks to Equality Matters and the Palm Center, there is a list of the top five horror stories spun by the Family Research Council about the repeal of DADT which did not come true.

Allow me to summarize the list.

FRC: Repeal Will Increase The Rate of Sexual Assault

Palm Center Report: Experts “All Concur That Repeal Has Not Led To Any Increase In Assaults.” According to the Palm Center’s report:

[A] comparison of pre- and post-repeal Military Times surveys suggests that the rate of male-male sexual assault did not increase after DADT repeal went into effect. In response to a July/August 2011 pre-repeal Military Times survey, 1.4% of male respondents said that they had been a victim of sexual assault while in the military, compared to 1.1% of male service members who indicated on a January 2012 post-repeal survey that they had been victimized. The pre-repeal percent of men who reported having been sexually assaulted during their military service, in other words, was roughly equivalent to the post-repeal rate. These data call into question any assertion that repeal has led to an increase in assaults.

FRC: Repeal Will Undermine Servicemember Morale

Palm Center Report: No Apparent “Measurable Consequences” As A Result Of Morale Change. According to the Palm Center’s report:

The new policy of open service produced a decrease in morale for a small minority of service members, and enhanced the morale of an even smaller minority. Yet few of those troops who experienced a decline in morale appear to have suffered any measurable consequences. This should come as no surprise, as the extensive scholarly literature on the determinants of military morale does not mention the presence or absence of LGB colleagues. [Palm Center, “One Year Out,” September 2012]

  
FRC: Repeal Will Undermine Recruitment And Retention

Palm Center Report: “DADT Repeal Has Not Had Any Measurable Impact On Recruitment Or Retention.” According to the Palm Center’s report:

As discussed, a minority of service members reports that DADT repeal has influenced their likelihood of remaining in the military, with some indicating that repeal has made them less likely to re-enlist and others suggesting that they are more likely to remain. What the preponderance of evidence shows, however, is that DADT repeal has not had any measurable impact on recruitment or retention, even among chaplains.  It is certainly true that the weak domestic economy and disengagement from two wars have made recruitment and retention easier. But in an era when enlistment standards have tightened, service members were just as likely to say that they plan to re-enlist  after DADT repeal  as  was the case pre-repeal. [Palm Center, “One Year Out,” September 2012, emphasis added]

  
FRC: Repeal Will Undermine Unit Cohesion

 Palm Center Report: “Cohesion Did Not Decline” After DADT Repeal. According to the Palm Center’s report:

Even in those units that included openly LGB service members, and that consequently should have been the most likely to experience a drop in cohesion as a result of repeal, cohesion did not decline after the new policy of open service was put into place. In fact, greater openness and honesty resulting from repeal seem to have promoted increased understanding, respect and acceptance. [Palm Center, “One Year Out,” September 2012]

  
FRC: Repeal Will Undermine Religious Freedom For Military Chaplains

Palm Center Report: DADT Repeal Has Had “No Measurable Impact” On Chaplain Retention. According to the Palm Center’s report:

Even among chaplains, the evidence suggests that DADT repeal has had no measurable impact on retention. Chaplains were thought to be among those most likely to leave the military after DADT repeal, in part because  contracts allow them to resign more quickly than other military members, and many threatened to resign if LGB troops were allowed to serve openly. Such concerns, however, have proven to be unwarranted. Lieutenant Colonel Lisa H. Tice, a chaplain who serves in the personnel, budget and readiness division of the Air Force Office of the Chief of Chaplains, told us that no Air Force chaplains left the military as a result of DADT repeal. Navy Chaplain Capt. John H. Lea III reported that one Navy chaplain separated because of repeal. Lieutenant Colonel Carleton Birch, a spokesman for the Army Chief of Chaplains, said that in March 2011, one Army chaplain left the military over the pending repeal of DADT. But when we called the Army Chief of Chaplains office in June 2012, a spokesperson told us that, “We’ve had nobody else leave for that stated reason in the Army out of the 3,000 or so full-time and part-time chaplains” and that no endorsing denominations had withdrawn their endorsements as a result of DADT repeal. [Palm Center, “One Year Out,” September 2012]

Claiming that gay equality will lead to chaos is a hallmark of religious right deception. You will remember that FRC and other religious right groups claimed that lgbt-inclusive hate crimes legislation would lead to pastors being arrested for simply saying that homosexuality is a sin.

That claim has yet to become reality.

So the way I see it, the religious right is 0 for 2 in claiming that the passage of gay rights initiatives will cause harm.

Unfortunately, the gay community is also 0 for 2 in pushing the issue. While we celebrate our steps to full equality - however tiny they may be - there is nothing wrong with noting that the groups and people who are against us attaining full equality are wrong when they claim that we are somehow the doorways to destruction of American society.

In cases like hate crimes legislation and the DADT repeal, rubbing the religious right's collective face in the fact that they were wrong is not a sign of bad manners, but something which should be embraced as a necessary tactic.

'Paris Hilton on tape saying extremely hateful things about gay men' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Paris Hilton Makes Homophobic Comments, Proclaims Most Gay Men 'Probably Have AIDS' - Paris Hilton is on tape saying some NASTY things about gay men in general. Let this be a lesson to our community. Stop falling over vapid celebrities and anointing them as our heroes just because they may pretend to support our causes. Our heroes should be everyday people from our community who rarely get the due they deserve. It is THESE people who deserve the spotlight.

 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' One-Year Repeal Anniversary: 25 Amazing Moments - Remember what the religious right said would happen if DADT was repealed? It's not hard to remember. They said the same things would happen if lgbt-inclusive hate crimes protection was passed. And now they are 0 for 2. The problem is that we have not brought it to anyone's attention. Lesson two for the gay community - when egg is face of the religious right, please broadcast it for the world to know.  

Televangelist Joel Osteen Did Not Choose To Be Straight, But Still Says Homosexuality Is A Choice - Televangelist Joel Osteen caught in a contradiction. Will he pray about it? Doubtful.

 Blackwell: Obama Administration 'An Active Participant' in Labeling Conservatives 'As Haters and Bigots' - I PERSONALLY resent that seeing that I have been an active participant in labeling some conservatives as "bigots and haters." Hey, if the shoe fits.

 Broward County Schools in South Florida First in Nation to Recognize LGBT History Month - Awesome news! 

FRC's Tony Perkins should keep talking about the 'hate group' label

The way Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council is milking that shooting at his organization's headquarters, pretty soon those who are gripped more by paranoia than good sense are going to start to believe that FRC itself was actually behind it.

Ever since the awful incident, Perkins has been exploiting it to attack the Southern Poverty Law Center as supposedly the reason why that demented young man tried to shoot down FRC employees.

Perkins' latest bit of nonsense comes at the right place for such trash, Fox News' online site. The following is a snippet:

 . . . a gay-rights activist entered the building of our organization, Family Research Council (FRC), where he told our operations manager that he objected to our politics and opened fire with a handgun. Our political beliefs reflect our Christian faith. This comes in the context of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) designating FRC a “certified hate group” because of our biblically-based beliefs regarding marriage and human sexuality. We encourage love and respect for all people including those seeking to redefine marriage, and we have made clear we abhor and reject all violence directed against anyone for their sexual behavior.

 . . . This war of words launched by the SPLC as cover for its allied organizations on the left has led to an open assault upon those with whom they disagree. This type of demonizing must stop. FRC’s belief in marriage has prevailed in 32 states where the voters have spoken, is the official position of the Republican Party, and until three months ago was Mr. Obama’s position. If the religious foundation of our convictions makes us a “hate group,” then every other Christian ministry or historically orthodox church could be likewise designated. SPLC’s tactics are intended to intimidate and ultimately silence. Nothing could be more threatening to the future of our republic.

So now FRC is labeling that young man as a "gay rights activist," which is a deliberate attempt to connect his deplorable actions to the gay community at large.

But more importantly - and I don't want to sound gleeful here - Perkins continues to mess himself up. As has been stated numerous times, SPLC did not label FRC as a hate group because of the organization's supposed Christian beliefs or because it does not agree with marriage equality.

FRC is a hate group because it deliberately demonizes and spreads untrue propaganda about gays in order to create an image that the gay community is a detrimental harm to American society.  The way Perkins is messing himself up is thusly - every time he comes out in public with his lies, every time he speaks or publishes an op-ed which misstates the truth about FRC's hate group designation, enterprising bloggers (like yours truly)  produces footage which exposes him to be a liar, like such:



So as much as I hate to say this, keep talking, Tony. And we will keep pumping out the videos.

Maryland online store exploits African-Americans, babies, and slavery to promote homophobia

Remember the tactics of those who defeated the marriage equality bill in Maine in 2009? In case you forget, remember this snippet of the documentary Question 1. It features Marc Mutty, the head of the campaign to stop marriage equality in Maine talking about how the dishonest fear tactics regarding children that his side used:

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 I bring up this point because there is now a fight regarding a law allowing marriage equality in Maryland. It's up for referendum in November and the folks fighting it are using the same tactics, but with a twist with attention to the Maryland's African-American population:

 According to Jeremy Hooper, this lovely snippet comes from an online store, Jump the Broom for Marriage, which sells all of the anti-marriage equality in Maryland apparel one would need.

Jeremy posted two examples on his blog but I refused to post them on mine. Ugly mess.

One could easily guess that the postcard above is a combination of the National Organization for Marriage's two plans of driving a wedge between the gay and African-American community on the subject of marriage equality and exploiting fear about children and gays espoused by the organization's strategist Frank Schubert (spoiler alert - who has a sister raising a child in a same-sex household).

And it gets worse. In using the name "Jump the Broom," this site also exploits African-American tradition. In the days of slavery, African-Americans could not legally marry so they would have a ceremony in which the couple would signify their commitment to each other.

How much do you want to bet that NOM is behind this online store?

'Chick-Fil-A retreating from anti-gay position, 'girly-men' in the White House?' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

PRESS RELEASE - Chick-fil-A Ceases Anti-gay Donations, Clarifies Stance on Gay Customers & Employees - When this was first pointed out to me, I said that I don't believe it. But looks legit (FOR NOW), plus NOM seems to be backtracking a bit from its support of Chick-Fil-A.  

GOP Congressional Candidate Says Mideast Turmoil Is Because Of ‘Girly Men’ In The White House - Excuse the %^$!@#! out of me!

What Do Student Attendees Have To Say About NOM’s Anti-Gay Summer Conference? - Interesting fallout from Carlos Maza's expose on NOM's anti-gay conference.

 Washington DC 'Transgender And Gender Identity Respect' Campaign Launched - Awesome and groundbreaking!

George Will doesn't know the difference between gay sex and a gay relationship

George Will

George Will, the esteemed Pulitzer Prize winning conservative columnist, has been lauded for his prose on several subjects.

However, in the case of gay equality, he is woefully ignorant.

In a recent piece, he recounts the story of the New Mexico photographer who refused to take pictures of a same-sex wedding. Vanessa Willock successfully sued Elane Photography for refusing to photograph her same-sex wedding.

Now this case has caused a lot of controversy with even some gay advocates thinking that Elane Photography should be allowed to refuse customers.

Naturally, Will is in the corner of Elane Photography and that doesn't bother me. It is this portion near the end of his piece which disturbed me:

The Huguenin case demonstrates how advocates of tolerance become tyrannical. First, a disputed behavior, such as sexual activities between people of the same sex, is declared so personal and intimate that government should have no jurisdiction over it. Then, having won recognition of what Louis Brandeis, a pioneer of the privacy right, called “the right to be let alone,” some who have benefited from this achievement assert a right not to let other people alone. It is the right to coerce anyone who disapproves of the now-protected behavior into acting as though they approve of it, or at least into not acting on their disapproval. So, in the name of tolerance, government declares intolerable individuals such as the Huguenins, who disapprove of a certain behavior but ask only to be let alone in their quiet disapproval. Perhaps advocates of gay rights should begin to restrain the bullies in their ranks. 

So to Will, this case is about Willock "forcing" Elane Photography to recognize her "sexual behavior." It's a conclusion which left me scratching my head and wondering just when did we start talking about sexual intercourse rather than taking pictures of a wedding? As far as I am concerned, that's a huge problem.

 And it's not the only problem. Will epitomizes two concept that so many folks have when it comes to gay equality - concepts that drive me batty:

1. Gays are like whimpering dogs begging heterosexuals to tolerate us or leave us alone. People like Will batter the gay community with that "tolerance" semantic constantly. "You people are always talking about tolerance," they say, "but you can't tolerate that others don't like your lifestyle."  Tolerance is something you give to your dog after he accidentally urinates on the rug because he is your pet and therefore is dependent on you.

Too many folks think of gays as pets, i.e. that our lives are dependent on getting them to accept us. Not necessarily. Our lives are consumed with ordinary things - working, paying taxes, taking care of our families. We just don't want people like Will interrupting our normal flow based upon their ignorance. Nor do we want them to interpret the law in a way which would diminish our rights as Americans.

2. Which brings me to my second point.Why do people like Will conflate so many parts of our lives to a sex act. Willock wanted pictures taken of her wedding, not intercourse with her partner. Will's belief that this is all about "sexual activities" is the heart of so much ignorance about our lives.

Will is a married man so I know that he wouldn't appreciate someone diminishing the relationship between he and his wife to what they may or may not do in the bedroom. But yet, he sees no problem with doing that to gay couples.

I think at the heart this controversy is the fact that the lives of lgbtqs are about more than sex acts. We are talking about relationships and love, the raising of families, and the caring of our loved ones.

The irony is that while folks like Will claim that we can't move past the physical aspects of being gay, it is obvious that they neither can or want to.

Religious right continues to attack murdered ambassador

There seems to be this idea amongst religious right evangelicals that their religious freedoms are in danger. It's a lie, of course.

However, there is a huge number of people who have a serious problem with Christianity and it doesn't have a thing to do with their personal beliefs, i.e. atheism, but rather the actions of some people who call themselves Christians or those who consider themselves spokespeople of the evangelical right.

While they call themselves "Christians" and claim to stand for God, their actions are extremely unsavory.

Yesterday, I blogged about how some conservatives and religious right members were spreading ugly lies about Ambassador Chris Stevens, who was recently murdered due to an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

They were saying that he was openly gay, deliberately sent to Libya by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, and that his corpse was sodomized.

Michelangelo Signorile refuted these lies, but leave it to Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association to repeat them:



The saddest part about Fischer's lie is no matter how many times it will be refuted, he will continue to repeat it.