Ken Blackwell cures this brotha's Monday blaahs
Lord, it's so hard to keep up with all of the mess emanating from the religious right.
For the benefit of those who don't know, in addition to updating my two blogs, I have an 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. job. So sometimes I can't keep up with the news like so many other lgbt blogs. Subsequently when I post, I try to make it a doozy - i.e. either show something new and different or throw out a different dimension to exposing religious right lies.
Today, I was a little under the weather
I turn 38 this upcoming Sunday and I'm not looking forward to it. You can chalk it up to wondering if I have done something relevant with my life so far. I've had this notion many times before.
When I turned 30 and felt that I had not hit the nadir of relevance, I calmed my hysteria by noting that legendary actor Burt Lancaster didn't really start cooking until he reached 32 and that Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison didn't start writing until she was 35.
These days as I approach 40, I tell myself that Jerry Seinfeld didn't really hit it big until he was in his 40s.
I guess if I haven't done anything of relevance by the time I reach 50, I will be pulling Grandma Moses out of my hat.
Right now, I am trying to get together a serious column regarding ENDA, gays, African-Americans and the "privilege of oppression."
Sounds good, don't it?
But leave it to possible GOP National Committee Chairman Ken Blackwell to wake me up.
'Change' Ken Blackwell can believe in
The GOP may select Ken Blackwell to be the first African-American chairman of their National Committee. Something that we can blame on Obama no doubt.
Now I suppose we are going to be inundated with cross conversations between the lgbt community and the heterosexual African-American community on just what is a "civil right." This interview looks to be the possible first salvo.
Personally speaking, the entire conversation drives this black gay man to distraction. Every time lgbts and African-Americans get into this discussion, I feel like a child caught in the middle of a nasty custody battle. (Eat your heart out, Gloria Vanderbilt)
Now while I feel that the lgbt community in general can do more to help black gays and lesbians be more visible, I can't shake the notion that the entire argument puts my heterosexual black brothers and sisters in some of the most unlikely of positions.
Not only does the subject of homosexuality make the black community seem hypocritical (i.e. citing religious belief against homosexuality as a defense when some forms of popular African-American music embrace sexualized images of women and fornication - which you hardly ever hear Harry Jackson or Ken Hutcherson talk about) but it also causes the black community to forget its own history.
Take the notion pushed by some of my heterosexual black brothers and sisters that "gays have it easy because they can hide who they are."
Those who say that tend to forget a sad bit of African-American history.
It's not talked about much now but a while ago, there were some African-Americans who took advantage of their lighter skin tone in order to "pass" for white. They did this to escape the potential dead end life that racism subjected black America to.
Needless to say, those who could not pass weren't exactly happy with the actions of their lighter-skinned brothers and sister.
It was a controversial thing. Books were written about "passing," and vigorous conversations were had about the practice in meeting places such as barbershops and churches.
Hollywood even did several movies on the subject. The most famous had to be Imitation of Life, in which a light-skinned black woman ran away from home in order to pass for white.
Her mother gets so distraught that she dies of a broken heart, And this leads to the climactic, tear jerking ending in which the daughter interrupts the funeral, flings open the hearse and collapses on her mother's coffin in surfeit of hysterical tears.
You can see the scene here.
This leads to me to ask if passing caused so much trouble for African-Americans back then, then why in the hell would it be a good idea for the lgbt community right now?
Trying to be something you aren't isn't good for anyone, be they black, gay or black and gay. It's a practice that must never been encouraged.
News briefs:
Family advocacy group announces Pepsi boycott - brought to you by those who define boycotts by the lgbt community as acts of terror.
Right Wing Leftovers - Mike Huckabee says he is not "pro-sodomy." THANK YOU JESUS!!! I mean we don't just accept anybody.
DADT WITHOUT THE DA - In 1993, those who opposed gays in the military had Colin Powell, Congressman Sam Nunn, the phony studies of Paul Cameron, a host of public officials, and the full force of religious conservatives on their side. Now in 2008, all they have is a phony expert who gets destroyed every time she opens her mouth. I love America.
Always With The Bathroom; Always With The Misrepresentations - There are situations that can only be described as earring-yanking, wig snatching-off moments. What's happening now in Florida is at least 10 of them.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Violence is fine, just as long as no one gets naked
This isn't necessarily a gay issue but it illustrates the mindset of those who think that lgbts are the ruination of America:
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of Macbeth left one audience member outraged over some surprising content.
Laurie Higgins, the director of the division of school advocacy at the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), is a fan of Shakespeare and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. But while attending a recent production of Macbeth, she was shocked when the actress portraying Lady Macbeth performed scenes topless.
. . . The play also included simulated sex scenes -- with one of the actors fondling Lady Macbeth's bare breasts -- and one scene was set in a strip bar with scantily clad actresses in leather thongs.
Higgins is the "activist" who helped give Deerfield High School in Illinois so much uncalled for attention last year. She helped create a moral panic because the lgbt play Angels in America was being read in a senior honors English class.
Higgins and those who agreed with her point of view (including our friend Peter LaBarbera) incorrectly said that children were being "indoctrinated into homosexuality" and were "forced" to read the play.
LaBarbera even posted some of the more questionable play dialogue on his webpage in an attempt to induce further outrage.
Of course Higgins, LaBarbera, and others who tried to say that Deerfield was "under siege" by the lgbt community convienently omitted that Angels in America was not required reading (students had a choice between the play and The Plague by Albert Camus). They also failed to mention that students were required to get their parents' permission in order to read Angels in America.
So much for that moral panic. What makes this one interesting is the play itself.
Those who are familiar with Shakespeare know that Macbeth tells the tale of a loyal soldier whose ambition leads him to become king of Scotland through violent means.
The play is filled with images of witchcraft, violence, blood, and murder. One scene even has a child being killed in front of his mother.
But Higgins makes no mention of Macbeth's violence in the article.
Maybe she thinks that Macbeth's violence is fine, just as long as we don't get to see Lady Macbeth's breasts.
Perhaps Higgins would be placated if Lady Macbeth was given a sharp left hook instead.
This isn't necessarily a gay issue but it illustrates the mindset of those who think that lgbts are the ruination of America:
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of Macbeth left one audience member outraged over some surprising content.
Laurie Higgins, the director of the division of school advocacy at the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), is a fan of Shakespeare and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. But while attending a recent production of Macbeth, she was shocked when the actress portraying Lady Macbeth performed scenes topless.
. . . The play also included simulated sex scenes -- with one of the actors fondling Lady Macbeth's bare breasts -- and one scene was set in a strip bar with scantily clad actresses in leather thongs.
Higgins is the "activist" who helped give Deerfield High School in Illinois so much uncalled for attention last year. She helped create a moral panic because the lgbt play Angels in America was being read in a senior honors English class.
Higgins and those who agreed with her point of view (including our friend Peter LaBarbera) incorrectly said that children were being "indoctrinated into homosexuality" and were "forced" to read the play.
LaBarbera even posted some of the more questionable play dialogue on his webpage in an attempt to induce further outrage.
Of course Higgins, LaBarbera, and others who tried to say that Deerfield was "under siege" by the lgbt community convienently omitted that Angels in America was not required reading (students had a choice between the play and The Plague by Albert Camus). They also failed to mention that students were required to get their parents' permission in order to read Angels in America.
So much for that moral panic. What makes this one interesting is the play itself.
Those who are familiar with Shakespeare know that Macbeth tells the tale of a loyal soldier whose ambition leads him to become king of Scotland through violent means.
The play is filled with images of witchcraft, violence, blood, and murder. One scene even has a child being killed in front of his mother.
But Higgins makes no mention of Macbeth's violence in the article.
Maybe she thinks that Macbeth's violence is fine, just as long as we don't get to see Lady Macbeth's breasts.
Perhaps Higgins would be placated if Lady Macbeth was given a sharp left hook instead.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Enough of going to the streets - let's go to the library
I am currently reading an excellent book, Perfect Enemies: the religious right, the gay movement and the politics of the 1990s.
Perfect Enemies breaks down the culture war between the lgbt community and the religious right by zeroing in on key battles such as the argument about gays in the military that nearly screwed up Clinton's presidency and statewide anti-gay initiatives that took place in Oregon, Colorado, and Maine.
The authors, Chris Bell and John Gallagher, are very thorough and make several points that I agree with. Probably my favorite is:
At heart of the gay movement's lack of success in American politics is its failure to understand its opposition. By the start of the 1996 presidential campaign, the gay groups still lacked a research arm that would allow them to monitor the religious right's anti-gay activities.
To this day, I still don't see that comprehensive research arm. Certainly there are efforts in pockets (i.e. Truth Wins Out, Box Turtle Bulletin, myself , and probably a few others) but there doesn't seem to be a concerted effort by the lgbt community at large to educate themselves about the religious right.
Some of us instead paint people of faith with a broad intolerant brush and that's not only incorrect but it is damaging to our spirits. When we do this, we forget that lgbts are also people of faith.
We also forget that people of faith are not the enemies of lgbts. Our enemies are the spokespeople and organizations who exploit the beliefs, egos, and anxieties of some people of faith.
It's been my experience that there is some resistance to the idea that maybe lgbts should learn the language and methods of the religious right. Some view it as beneath the community and others view the idea as wasting time with compiling "gotcha" moments.
Seems to me that planning and anticipation would do us a lot more than waiting until the inevitable happens and then making speeches about protesting in the streets.
Everybody seems to want to be the firebrand or the fiery activist.
I say what is wrong with being the pragmatic manipulator whose quiet studies allow him or her to not only anticipate the actions of the religious right but also the ways to counter the skillful way they argue.
Can we devote as much attention to that as we do to "trying to get attention."
It's like what one of my favorite book, The Art of War, says:
It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.
News briefs
Gay Man to Be Tapped As Deputy Director of Obama's Public Liaison Office - It's not a cabinet position but I'm partly satisfied . . . for now
Lesbian couple invited on Inaugural Whistle Stop Tour - Girlfriends, when you get a chance, pull Obama aside and give him a nice earful.
Rick Warren sidekick demanded that all gays be arrested, published names of gays in Uganda - Perhaps when no one should be near Warren when he says the inaugural prayer. Lightning has a way of hitting more than one thing when it strikes.
Milwaukee OKs 'gay'-affirming school - In the spirit of researching the enemy, read this article. Feel free to comment on it - BUT BE NICE AND ACCURATE!!
I am currently reading an excellent book, Perfect Enemies: the religious right, the gay movement and the politics of the 1990s.
Perfect Enemies breaks down the culture war between the lgbt community and the religious right by zeroing in on key battles such as the argument about gays in the military that nearly screwed up Clinton's presidency and statewide anti-gay initiatives that took place in Oregon, Colorado, and Maine.
The authors, Chris Bell and John Gallagher, are very thorough and make several points that I agree with. Probably my favorite is:
At heart of the gay movement's lack of success in American politics is its failure to understand its opposition. By the start of the 1996 presidential campaign, the gay groups still lacked a research arm that would allow them to monitor the religious right's anti-gay activities.
To this day, I still don't see that comprehensive research arm. Certainly there are efforts in pockets (i.e. Truth Wins Out, Box Turtle Bulletin, myself , and probably a few others) but there doesn't seem to be a concerted effort by the lgbt community at large to educate themselves about the religious right.
Some of us instead paint people of faith with a broad intolerant brush and that's not only incorrect but it is damaging to our spirits. When we do this, we forget that lgbts are also people of faith.
We also forget that people of faith are not the enemies of lgbts. Our enemies are the spokespeople and organizations who exploit the beliefs, egos, and anxieties of some people of faith.
It's been my experience that there is some resistance to the idea that maybe lgbts should learn the language and methods of the religious right. Some view it as beneath the community and others view the idea as wasting time with compiling "gotcha" moments.
Seems to me that planning and anticipation would do us a lot more than waiting until the inevitable happens and then making speeches about protesting in the streets.
Everybody seems to want to be the firebrand or the fiery activist.
I say what is wrong with being the pragmatic manipulator whose quiet studies allow him or her to not only anticipate the actions of the religious right but also the ways to counter the skillful way they argue.
Can we devote as much attention to that as we do to "trying to get attention."
It's like what one of my favorite book, The Art of War, says:
It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.
News briefs
Gay Man to Be Tapped As Deputy Director of Obama's Public Liaison Office - It's not a cabinet position but I'm partly satisfied . . . for now
Lesbian couple invited on Inaugural Whistle Stop Tour - Girlfriends, when you get a chance, pull Obama aside and give him a nice earful.
Rick Warren sidekick demanded that all gays be arrested, published names of gays in Uganda - Perhaps when no one should be near Warren when he says the inaugural prayer. Lightning has a way of hitting more than one thing when it strikes.
Milwaukee OKs 'gay'-affirming school - In the spirit of researching the enemy, read this article. Feel free to comment on it - BUT BE NICE AND ACCURATE!!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Another professor cries foul over religious right misrepresentation of research
In what seems to be becoming a habit, another professor has cried foul over what he calls the distortion of his work by the religious right.
Theo Sandfort, Associate Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences (HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies - New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University) said his work is being incorrectly cited.
Recently, Regina Griggs of PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays) voiced her displeasure with a recent study conducted in California that said young gays and lesbians were more likely to suffer depression or commit suicide if their parents or guardians reacted negatively to their sexual orientation:
"So what we're doing is we're telling young people and we're telling their parents, 'You must accept those feelings. Who cares where they come from? It's a gay lifestyle -- endorse it!' ....and [then] they threaten parents and frighten them by saying, 'If you don't, then your child may commit suicide.'"
Griggs also added:
Studies in the Netherlands -- where there is an "extremely open society," notes Griggs -- found that although the homosexual lifestyle is affirmed through the culture, the suicide rates have remained steady or increased.
The "studies" Griggs alluded to is actually one study and it has been cited by the religious right numerous times to claim that homophobia has very little to do with the depression and suicide rate of lgbts
The study, Same-Sex Sexual Behavior and Psychiatric Disorders, appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry in 2001 and it looked at psychiatric disorders in gay adults from the Netherlands.
The part Griggs alluded to said:
It is unclear to what extent findings from this Dutch study can be generalized to other cultures or nations. Compared with other Western countries, the Dutch social climate toward homosexuality has long been and remains considerably more tolerant. To the extent that the level of social acceptance of homosexuality induces differences in mental health status in relation to homosexuality, the observed differences might be greater in other Western countries than in the Netherlands.
Griggs incorrectly cites this study because it had absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand (i.e. negative behaviors in lgbt youth in the United States).
Also, while she has no problem citing the line about Dutch/Netherlands social climate being more "tolerant," she omits the more important line that comes before it - It is unclear to what extent findings from this Dutch study can be generalized to other cultures or nations.
Via email, Professor Sandfort said:
There is a difference between the U.S. and the Netherlands in terms of acceptance of homosexuality. That does not mean that there is no homophobia (and homophobic damage) in the Netherlands. It is not clear how difference in climate affects the prevalence of mental disorders. We don't know the final answers, but in the U.S. as well as the Netherlands, homophobia is related to mental health problems.
He also said that Griggs and others who use the study to claim that homophobia does not have an effect on negative lgbt behavior are clearly distorting his work:
"They use data to promote their moral convictions without truly understanding what the issues are. They are not interested in understanding how people's lives are affected by their social environment."
Sandfort's complaint is not the first time a professor has cried foul about how PFOX distorts his work.
Last year, Gary Remafedi, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, complained that PFOX distorted his work on suicide attempts in gay youth.
News briefs and other issues
It seems that when I'm busy at work, all sorts of interesting things happens.
A blogmate of mine had some problems with hackers:
SoapBlox, host of Pam Spaulding's group blog Pam's House Blend, was subject to a hack on Tuesday that took several blogs offline.
. . . A group called Astalavista has been linked to the hijacking of the affected server, now taken offline by the ISP, and using it to perform attacks on other websites, according to a notation on SoapBlox's front page.
It is not known what can be salvaged. Other sites affected include RadicalRuss.net, BlueJersey, American Liberalism and BeThink.org.
"I wish I could see a bright side to this," Spaulding told PageOneQ. "It's incredible that years of hard work can be destroyed in a flash, but we're in the digital age and there are people motivated to silence voices through malicious acts. I'm hopeful that data will be recovered, but Paul Preston of Soapblox has said he will not restore any sites. That means Pam's House Blend will need to find a new hosting platform and a redesign. That will take a good amount of time."
Pam is back online for now but I just wanted to give her a shout out of support. I have never met her personally but have had the pleasure of posting few diaries on the House Blend.
I hope things work out because the House Blend is a very vital source for this community.
Hang in there, girlfriend!!!
And in other news . . .
ACLU Asks Judge To Suspend Adoption, Foster Law - History will view that ballot measure as huge mistake. The courts need to strike it down quickly.
Soldiers say they'd leave military if 'gay' ban lifted - The only place where Elaine Donnelly has any credibility is on One News Now and the commentators there are giving her grief. Sometimes the world is a good place.
11 gay bars get letters threatening ricin attacks - According to the Mike Huckabee rules of life, this doesn't qualify as a hate crime because no lgbts had their heads cracked open. Okay that was Ann Coulterish of me, but what the hell.
And speaking of girlfriend, let me leave you all with something to ponder. The following link is a glimpse of what I think is the "real" Ann Coulter.
No it does not insult her body, but it is something to think about.
Watch the entire thing!!
In what seems to be becoming a habit, another professor has cried foul over what he calls the distortion of his work by the religious right.
Theo Sandfort, Associate Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences (HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies - New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University) said his work is being incorrectly cited.
Recently, Regina Griggs of PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays) voiced her displeasure with a recent study conducted in California that said young gays and lesbians were more likely to suffer depression or commit suicide if their parents or guardians reacted negatively to their sexual orientation:
"So what we're doing is we're telling young people and we're telling their parents, 'You must accept those feelings. Who cares where they come from? It's a gay lifestyle -- endorse it!' ....and [then] they threaten parents and frighten them by saying, 'If you don't, then your child may commit suicide.'"
Griggs also added:
Studies in the Netherlands -- where there is an "extremely open society," notes Griggs -- found that although the homosexual lifestyle is affirmed through the culture, the suicide rates have remained steady or increased.
The "studies" Griggs alluded to is actually one study and it has been cited by the religious right numerous times to claim that homophobia has very little to do with the depression and suicide rate of lgbts
The study, Same-Sex Sexual Behavior and Psychiatric Disorders, appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry in 2001 and it looked at psychiatric disorders in gay adults from the Netherlands.
The part Griggs alluded to said:
It is unclear to what extent findings from this Dutch study can be generalized to other cultures or nations. Compared with other Western countries, the Dutch social climate toward homosexuality has long been and remains considerably more tolerant. To the extent that the level of social acceptance of homosexuality induces differences in mental health status in relation to homosexuality, the observed differences might be greater in other Western countries than in the Netherlands.
Griggs incorrectly cites this study because it had absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand (i.e. negative behaviors in lgbt youth in the United States).
Also, while she has no problem citing the line about Dutch/Netherlands social climate being more "tolerant," she omits the more important line that comes before it - It is unclear to what extent findings from this Dutch study can be generalized to other cultures or nations.
Via email, Professor Sandfort said:
There is a difference between the U.S. and the Netherlands in terms of acceptance of homosexuality. That does not mean that there is no homophobia (and homophobic damage) in the Netherlands. It is not clear how difference in climate affects the prevalence of mental disorders. We don't know the final answers, but in the U.S. as well as the Netherlands, homophobia is related to mental health problems.
He also said that Griggs and others who use the study to claim that homophobia does not have an effect on negative lgbt behavior are clearly distorting his work:
"They use data to promote their moral convictions without truly understanding what the issues are. They are not interested in understanding how people's lives are affected by their social environment."
Sandfort's complaint is not the first time a professor has cried foul about how PFOX distorts his work.
Last year, Gary Remafedi, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, complained that PFOX distorted his work on suicide attempts in gay youth.
News briefs and other issues
It seems that when I'm busy at work, all sorts of interesting things happens.
A blogmate of mine had some problems with hackers:
SoapBlox, host of Pam Spaulding's group blog Pam's House Blend, was subject to a hack on Tuesday that took several blogs offline.
. . . A group called Astalavista has been linked to the hijacking of the affected server, now taken offline by the ISP, and using it to perform attacks on other websites, according to a notation on SoapBlox's front page.
It is not known what can be salvaged. Other sites affected include RadicalRuss.net, BlueJersey, American Liberalism and BeThink.org.
"I wish I could see a bright side to this," Spaulding told PageOneQ. "It's incredible that years of hard work can be destroyed in a flash, but we're in the digital age and there are people motivated to silence voices through malicious acts. I'm hopeful that data will be recovered, but Paul Preston of Soapblox has said he will not restore any sites. That means Pam's House Blend will need to find a new hosting platform and a redesign. That will take a good amount of time."
Pam is back online for now but I just wanted to give her a shout out of support. I have never met her personally but have had the pleasure of posting few diaries on the House Blend.
I hope things work out because the House Blend is a very vital source for this community.
Hang in there, girlfriend!!!
And in other news . . .
ACLU Asks Judge To Suspend Adoption, Foster Law - History will view that ballot measure as huge mistake. The courts need to strike it down quickly.
Soldiers say they'd leave military if 'gay' ban lifted - The only place where Elaine Donnelly has any credibility is on One News Now and the commentators there are giving her grief. Sometimes the world is a good place.
11 gay bars get letters threatening ricin attacks - According to the Mike Huckabee rules of life, this doesn't qualify as a hate crime because no lgbts had their heads cracked open. Okay that was Ann Coulterish of me, but what the hell.
And speaking of girlfriend, let me leave you all with something to ponder. The following link is a glimpse of what I think is the "real" Ann Coulter.
No it does not insult her body, but it is something to think about.
Watch the entire thing!!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Killer of gay man may get undeserved early parole
Sean Kennedy's killer may go free earlier than expected.
For those who are not aware, the following are the facts:
Sean William Kennedy, 20, was attacked in the early morning of May 17, 2007 outside the former Brew's Bar in Greenville, South Carolina. His assailant, Stephen Andrew Moller, pulled up in a car, threw one punch after reportedly yelling anti-gay slurs, and fled. Kennedy died about 17 hours later from the brain injury he sustained, and friends and family believe he was targeted at least in part due to his sexual orientation.
Since South Carolina has no hate crime statute, no enhancement was available for Moller's June 2008 sentence of five years in prison on a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter. The judge reduced the sentence to three years with credit for seven months' time served and ordered Moller to seek help to manage anger and substance abuse.
There is a now a strong possibility that Moller could get out on parole as early as next month.
Moller should have gotten more time for this senseless crime but as it was, he received a lucky break.
He does not deserve another one. As someone who has lost a loved one due to senseless violence (my father), I know what it's like to have that constant spot of emptiness in your heart when pondering the unfairness of a life snatched away through the selfish acts of another.
It's not vengeance but justice for Moller to serve his full time.
Since Sean's death, his mother Elke has been a huge advocate for the lgbt community as well as an outspoken proponent for hate crime laws. She is the founder of Sean's Last Wish, a group devoted to stopping the violence against lgbt youth.
She is urging that people write the parole board asking that they not give Moller an early release:
Letters can be sent to:
Department of Probation Pardon and Parole Services
2221 Devine Street, Suite 600
PO Box 50666
Columbia SC 29250
Sean Kennedy's killer may go free earlier than expected.
For those who are not aware, the following are the facts:
Sean William Kennedy, 20, was attacked in the early morning of May 17, 2007 outside the former Brew's Bar in Greenville, South Carolina. His assailant, Stephen Andrew Moller, pulled up in a car, threw one punch after reportedly yelling anti-gay slurs, and fled. Kennedy died about 17 hours later from the brain injury he sustained, and friends and family believe he was targeted at least in part due to his sexual orientation.
Since South Carolina has no hate crime statute, no enhancement was available for Moller's June 2008 sentence of five years in prison on a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter. The judge reduced the sentence to three years with credit for seven months' time served and ordered Moller to seek help to manage anger and substance abuse.
There is a now a strong possibility that Moller could get out on parole as early as next month.
Moller should have gotten more time for this senseless crime but as it was, he received a lucky break.
He does not deserve another one. As someone who has lost a loved one due to senseless violence (my father), I know what it's like to have that constant spot of emptiness in your heart when pondering the unfairness of a life snatched away through the selfish acts of another.
It's not vengeance but justice for Moller to serve his full time.
Since Sean's death, his mother Elke has been a huge advocate for the lgbt community as well as an outspoken proponent for hate crime laws. She is the founder of Sean's Last Wish, a group devoted to stopping the violence against lgbt youth.
She is urging that people write the parole board asking that they not give Moller an early release:
Letters can be sent to:
Department of Probation Pardon and Parole Services
2221 Devine Street, Suite 600
PO Box 50666
Columbia SC 29250
Monday, January 05, 2009
Just who is bashing who, Christian Anti-Defamation Commission?
From the Christian Newswire comes a press release from the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission on what they think are the top instances of "Christian Bashing" in 2008.
My first thought is it's amazing how religious right groups come up with some new organization with an official sounding name.
My second, after reading the list, is they have got to be kidding. Their definition of bashing has less to do with discrimination and more to do with people questioning their definition of Christianity:
INSTANCE #6: Religulous the Movie
Bill Maher released a very shallow, pseudo-intellectual documentary entitled Religulous. The movie did not cover any new intellectual ground. It simply raised the old attacks on the faith. Maher studiously avoided being fair and did not allow for legitimate Christian answers from any leading Christian intellectuals.
or some sports anchor letting loose with a stream of profanities (the example they list here is vulgar but could someone explain to me how this is "bashing"):
INSTANCE #8: ESPN Anchor Dana Jacobson's "F--- Jesus" Remark
Speaking at an ESPN corporate event in Atlantic City, N.J., to honor ESPN Radio personalities Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, Dana Jacobson let go with a steam of vulgar remarks; "F--- Notre Dame," "F--- Touchdown Jesus" and finally "F--- Jesus." Jacobson was suspended for a few days for the incident.
or someone daring to tell them that in an pluralistic society, they have to respect the fact that the Christian faith does not take always precedent:
INSTANCE #5: Chaplains Fired for Praying in Jesus' Name
Chaplains for the State of Virginia are being denied their right to pray in Jesus' name. Six chaplains were fired for continuing to pray in Jesus' name. Earlier this year in Virginia, Rev. Hashmel Turner, a city councilman in Fredericksburg, was told by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that his prayers during city council meetings that ended in Jesus' name will continue to be banned.
or lies:
INSTANCE #4: Colorado Law Criminalizes the Bible
SB200, a Colorado state bill recently signed into law, criminalizes the Bible. Section 8 of the bill entitled "Publishing of discriminative matter forbidden" makes publishing the Bible illegal because it contains anti-homosexual passages. This is part of a larger effort to criminalize the expression of certain opinions and beliefs.
The law mentioned here has nothing to do with the Bible except in the mind of someone with a wild imagination who likes to play games with hypothetics.
INSTANCE #2: Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin Is Attacked
Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, came under sharp attack by some in the mainstream media because she self-identifies as a Christian.
Palin was not attacked for being a Christian. Her lack of readiness for the vice-presidential position was her downfall, pure and simple. Also her eagerness to use inaccuracies to attack Obama - "palling around with terrorists" and how it led her to being such a polarizing figure had a lot to do with her lack of a positive image.
And this next one is a doozy:
INSTANCE #3: Barack Obama Defames Christianity
According to research into President Elect Obama's own statements about faith, and an examination of Obama's position on moral issues, CADC has determined that by any biblical and historic Christian standard, Barack Obama is not a Christian, although he claims he is a "devout Christian."
So this organization is "bashing" a Christian while complaining about "Christian bashing."
My head is spinning.
It is apparent that the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission is a phony organization not designed to protect the rights of Christians but created to be another cog in the religious right machine of entitlements.
From the Christian Newswire comes a press release from the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission on what they think are the top instances of "Christian Bashing" in 2008.
My first thought is it's amazing how religious right groups come up with some new organization with an official sounding name.
My second, after reading the list, is they have got to be kidding. Their definition of bashing has less to do with discrimination and more to do with people questioning their definition of Christianity:
INSTANCE #6: Religulous the Movie
Bill Maher released a very shallow, pseudo-intellectual documentary entitled Religulous. The movie did not cover any new intellectual ground. It simply raised the old attacks on the faith. Maher studiously avoided being fair and did not allow for legitimate Christian answers from any leading Christian intellectuals.
or some sports anchor letting loose with a stream of profanities (the example they list here is vulgar but could someone explain to me how this is "bashing"):
INSTANCE #8: ESPN Anchor Dana Jacobson's "F--- Jesus" Remark
Speaking at an ESPN corporate event in Atlantic City, N.J., to honor ESPN Radio personalities Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, Dana Jacobson let go with a steam of vulgar remarks; "F--- Notre Dame," "F--- Touchdown Jesus" and finally "F--- Jesus." Jacobson was suspended for a few days for the incident.
or someone daring to tell them that in an pluralistic society, they have to respect the fact that the Christian faith does not take always precedent:
INSTANCE #5: Chaplains Fired for Praying in Jesus' Name
Chaplains for the State of Virginia are being denied their right to pray in Jesus' name. Six chaplains were fired for continuing to pray in Jesus' name. Earlier this year in Virginia, Rev. Hashmel Turner, a city councilman in Fredericksburg, was told by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that his prayers during city council meetings that ended in Jesus' name will continue to be banned.
or lies:
INSTANCE #4: Colorado Law Criminalizes the Bible
SB200, a Colorado state bill recently signed into law, criminalizes the Bible. Section 8 of the bill entitled "Publishing of discriminative matter forbidden" makes publishing the Bible illegal because it contains anti-homosexual passages. This is part of a larger effort to criminalize the expression of certain opinions and beliefs.
The law mentioned here has nothing to do with the Bible except in the mind of someone with a wild imagination who likes to play games with hypothetics.
INSTANCE #2: Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin Is Attacked
Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, came under sharp attack by some in the mainstream media because she self-identifies as a Christian.
Palin was not attacked for being a Christian. Her lack of readiness for the vice-presidential position was her downfall, pure and simple. Also her eagerness to use inaccuracies to attack Obama - "palling around with terrorists" and how it led her to being such a polarizing figure had a lot to do with her lack of a positive image.
And this next one is a doozy:
INSTANCE #3: Barack Obama Defames Christianity
According to research into President Elect Obama's own statements about faith, and an examination of Obama's position on moral issues, CADC has determined that by any biblical and historic Christian standard, Barack Obama is not a Christian, although he claims he is a "devout Christian."
So this organization is "bashing" a Christian while complaining about "Christian bashing."
My head is spinning.
It is apparent that the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission is a phony organization not designed to protect the rights of Christians but created to be another cog in the religious right machine of entitlements.
Short post seeking your help - no I am not asking for money
Hey guys,
As you know, my other blog - Anti-Gay Lies and Liars, goes into more detail about the religious right by talking about their tactics and showing a time line of their distortions against the lgbt community.
I am in the process of redoing that site so I need feedback.
What do you think of it? Are there things that should be added or eliminated?
Are there controversies that I omitted from the time line? Are there future controversies that should be added for 2009?
Please send any and all comments via Charlekenghis@aol.com
Hey guys,
As you know, my other blog - Anti-Gay Lies and Liars, goes into more detail about the religious right by talking about their tactics and showing a time line of their distortions against the lgbt community.
I am in the process of redoing that site so I need feedback.
What do you think of it? Are there things that should be added or eliminated?
Are there controversies that I omitted from the time line? Are there future controversies that should be added for 2009?
Please send any and all comments via Charlekenghis@aol.com
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