Tuesday afternoon news briefs

Carrie's unique take: An ongoing series - a humorous look at the entire controversy courtesy of Goodasyou.org

The religious right seem to be determined to try and write some ridiculous story of innocent Carrie triumphing against the big bad gay folks. From the moment when I heard that Trump would give the final decision, I knew that he was going to let her keep the crown. And I'm glad he did. Maybe finally the religious right will stop whining about how there is some conspiracy to silence them.

Of course who am I kidding. The truth is the majority of the lgbt community did not care how this controversy ended one way or the other. There was no organized attempt to make Prejean lose her title. Hell there wasn't even an unorganized attempt.

If anything, we found the entire thing comical. Comical as to how some folks were trying to make Perez Hilton the voice of the lgbt community. Comical as to how the religious right put Prejean on a pedestal and then stooped to logical gymnastics to explain away her moral shortcomings. Comical as to how NOM made a huge media gaffe again. Comical as to how Prejean worked the media and then pleaded ennui when she found herself a target because of too much exposure.

I don't know about the rest of you but I had a fun time with this story. If only all anti-gay controversies were this fun. But next time, can the controversy involve a cute guy? I've never been so tired of seeing one woman's breasts in my entire life.

Right Wing Follows Deceptive Script On Supreme Court - Take note. THIS is what secret plotting looks like.

Janet Porter Plays the Victim, Literally - Janet Porter claims to be the victim of a hate crime. I didn't know hate crimes legislation covered the socially ill.

Will Maryland Follow DC in Recognizing Same-Sex Marriages in Other States? - Meanwhile in the real world . . .

Carrie Prejean story- the winners and losers

Miss California will keep title, Trump decides

Miss California Carrie Prejean, whose comments about gay marriage set off a firestorm, will keep her crown, Donald Trump announced today.

The controversy began nearly a month ago, when Prejean was asked about her views on same-sex marriage during the nationally televised Miss USA pageant. Although she said she believed people were entitled to do as they liked, she said marriage should only be recognized as an institution between a man and a woman.

Trump said he had no problem with Prejean's comments. "She gave a very honest answer when asked a tough question," he said at a New York press conference with Prejean sitting next to him. "It was the same answer the president of the United States gave... She has to be commended."

It's just as I figured and this is NOT something to freak out about.

I personally couldn't care less on whether or not she lost the crown but in assessing the situation, let's look at the winners and losers:

The Winners

Winner: Carrie Prejean - Sometimes any press can be considered as good press. Her controversy has overshadowed the winner of the pageant. She has become a cause celebre of the religious right.

Winner: Donald Trump - You just know that Donald Trump enjoyed the role of the "decider."

Winner : The Miss USA Pageant - Controversy creates attention and cash.

The Losers

Loser: Miss North Carolina - she is being overshadowed by the first runner up, big time.

Loser : Carrie Prejean - While she has garnered a lot of attention for her stance, she is not an untarnished figure. The semi-nude pictures and the breast implants came back to haunt her and will continue to do so. So while she travels the country talking about her "values" and how "Satan was trying to tempt her with the question," people are no doubt thinking, "didn't Satan already tempt you with those breast implants and semi-nude photos?" In the Scarlet Letter, character Hester Prynne had to wear a red "A" for adulteress. For a long time in some people's minds, Prejean will be wearing a red "H" for hypocrite.

BIG LOSER: Maggie Gallagher and the National Organization for Marriage - The "Gathering Storm" debacle made them laughing stocks. This situation makes them look downright sleazy. The organization did make Prejean their spokesperson and then backtracked when the nude photo controversy began to come out. Add to that the tongue lashing Gallagher received from pageant official Shanna Moakler on Larry King Live and the revelation yesterday that she benefits greatly on a monetary basis from NOM.

Loser: Anti-gay marriage movement - A while back, it had James Dobson leading it. Look who is in charge now. If folks like Gallagher and NOM continue to make big mistakes like "Gathering Storm" and this situation with Prejean, it won't be long before I will be able to register my gifts at Bloomingdales.

Okay folks, the circus is over for now. Might I suggest we get to more pertinent issues.

Religious right distortion techniques - a reposting

In the ongoing battle over hate crimes legislation, religious right organizations and their allies claimed that pedophiles are protected under the legislation. They continued to claim this irregardless of the fact that the assertion had been refuted.

This repetition of an inaccurate talking point is one of six distortion techniques that religious right groups use to stigmatize the lgbt community.

As the battle over lgbt rights get more intense, I thought it would be appropriate to repost all of the six distortion techniques that I outlined in my book Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters.

See how many of them you recognize from recent battles:

1. Using nonrepresentative or out-of-date studies to make generalizations, or distorting legitimate studies to give misleading conclusions

Example 1 - Anti-gay industry talking point - Same sex marriage and gay adoption are bad ideas because research shows that the best places to raise children are in homes with a mother and a father.

The truth - The research only looked at heterosexual two-parent households as opposed to single parent heterosexual households. Same-sex households were never included.

Point of fact - The following researchers, physicians, and Ph.D.s have complained about how the anti-gay industry has misused their work - A. Nicholas Groth, the six researchers of a Canadian study (Robert S. Hogg, Stefan A. Strathdee, Kevin J.P. Craib, Michael V. Shaughnessy, Julio Montaner, and Martin T. Schehter), Dr. Robert Garofalo, Lisa Waldner, Patrick Letellier, Dr. Kyle Pruett, Dr. Joanne Hall, Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, Carol Gilligan, Dr. Robert Spitzer, Dr. Francis Collins, Gary Remafedi, Professor Michael King, and Professor Lisa Diamond.

2. Repetition - Despite the fact that several physicians and researchers complain about the distortion of their work by the anti-gay industry, corrections are usually not made.

3. Conspiracy Theory - Claiming that gays and lesbians are consistently plotting to "erode traditional values"

Example - “The agenda of homosexual activists is basically to change America from what they perceive as looking down on homosexual behavior, to the affirmation of and societal acceptance of homosexual behavior. It is an agenda that they basically set in the late 1980s, in a book called After the Ball, where they laid out a six-point plan for how they could transform the beliefs of ordinary Americans with regard to homosexual behavior—in a decade-long time frame." - Craig Osten, Q&A: The Homosexual Agenda, Focus on the Family, July 25, 2003

4. Dire Consequences - Claiming that a pro-gay law or ordinance will lead to negative consequences without proof that the consequences will take place:

Example 1 - “Imagine, if you will, a 280 lb linebacker who likes to wear a dress and high heels and lipstick, you know comes to church wanting a job at the front desk as a receptionist and they turn him away because they don’t feel that that represents their values or the image that they’re trying to hold at that church, under ENDA they could be held accountable for
discrimination against that individual.” - Matt Barber, Concerned Women for America, 2007

Example 2 - “H.R. 254 elevates one group of Americans above others, creating a special class of victims. All things being equal, it means that if a 5-foot-2-inch grandmother is violently attacked on the street, she is less worthy of justice than the 6-foot-4-inch homosexual man who is attacked by the same assailant.” - Matt Barber, Concerned Women for America, 2007

5. Phony Experts - Creating their own "experts" on the gay and lesbian community.

6. Dehumanizing Semantics - Consistently using language (i.e. demonstrative verbs and adjectives) in their talking points, sound bites, and press releases to make gays and lesbians seem like impersonal, threatening outsiders

Example 1 - “But unfortunately, the evangelist observes, many Christians have been bullied into submission on the aggressive homosexual agenda in public schools.”—Evangelist Proposes to Combat Homosexual Agenda in Public Education, Agape Press, May 11, 2005

Example 2 - “Elsewhere in the battle against the homosexual agenda, the Broward County School Board in Florida has voted to allow a pro- homosexual group to indoctrinate its teachers on tolerance.”— Children Adopted by Homosexuals Suffer, Family Advocate Says, Agape Press, April 25, 2002

Example 3 - “The ACLU continues to use a law license to bully school districts and harass parents in order to brainwash their kids abut the ‘normalcy’ of homosexuality.”—Jan LaRue, ACLU Seeks Mandatory Homosexual Sensitivity Training, Concerned Women for America press release, July 14, 2005

It's all up to the Donald

Well today's press conference will lead to tomorrow's press conference:

Officials of the Miss California USA pageant strongly criticized some of the actions of titleholder Carrie Prejean on Monday but said it's not their decision whether she should be stripped of her crown.

Co-executive directors Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler told a press conference that only Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump can make that decision. He plans to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday in New York City.

The officials said Prejean has been "unavailable" and so in the meantime they have appointed the state pageant's runner-up, Tami Farrell, as a "Beauty of California Ambassador" to fulfill any duties the winner normally would handle.

Lewis said that if Trump allows Prejean to retain her crown, state pageant officials would welcome her back and encourage her to take part in her normal duties.

"We're still going to be able to fulfill our duties no matter if Mr. Trump offers a second chance or utters his famous line from `The Apprentice,'" Lewis said (meaning, of course, "You're fired").

Prejean, 21, of San Diego, created controversy during the Miss USA pageant when she answered a judge's question by saying she believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

The state pageant has been investigating whether she violated her contract by making public appearances with groups opposed to same-sex marriage. Prejean also failed to reveal that she posed in her underwear as a teenager.

Personally I think that Donald will be a nice guy and allow Prejean to keep her crown. And I hope he does, with a strong admoninition that the crusade against same-sex marriage is not a part of her duties as Miss California. If she refuses, then get rid of her. Many may want Prejean to lose her title but for her to lose it now takes attention off of the fact that it was her actions, not words, that forced the situation to this point. By giving her a chance to conduct herself in a better fashion, Trump would help to remove the "she is being persecuted because of her beliefs" factoid.

For now, that factoid is being milked to its fullest extent by religious right groups.

And why not? It generates a lot of controversy and no doubt it's a good fundraising tool for the religious right. Who cares if she has broken her contract and have been derelict in her duties as Ms. California? Why let a good angle be spoiled by truth.

But something bothers me

I keep hearing that "the left" is trying to destroy Prejean. Just who are these people on "the left" who are trying to allegedly destroy Prejean?

Of course the lgbt community is angry at Prejean's comments but it's too much of a generalization to call all lgbts members of the left.

Perez Hilton? Come on now. The man draws doodles on pictures of celebrities.

TMZ? Please. It's a celebrity sheet and Prejean is a celebrity. The only plan TMZ has is to make money.

Prejean's situation illustrates the laziness of American culture. My journalism professors always told me to look deeper when looking at issues. But it seems that many in the media haven't gotten the same instructions. It's easier and sexier to talk about how "the left" or "the right" is after someone; to make false generalizations instead of exposing complex truths. It's easier to hire a pundit to tell people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.

Basically it all comes down to cotton candy journalism - it's sweet and tasty but melts before you know it. Then all you are left with is hard gummy junk that you can't get rid of.

And speaking of religious right groups - Miss California Director Indicts Maggie Gallagher

Monday midday news briefs

Man, this is a slow news day. I guess everyone is resting before THE PRESS CONFERENCE

Harry Jackson: Carpetbagger? - You mean Harry Jackson is being deceptive about his place of residency when he attacks same sex partnership in DC? I'm shocked.

Boycotted hotel gives gays gigs - Trying to get back in lgbts' good graces.

New ads from Cali. rights group - In anticipation for the possible Proposition 8 challenge loss, send that sucker back to the voters!

Maine Bishop Richard Malone: "Same Sex Marriage is Dangerous" - No Catholic priests jokes!

Wanda and Carrie makes the beginnings of a wild week

Today I am at home because of a bizarre agreement in the SC Legislature. In order to pass a holiday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr., legislators also agreed to pass a holiday commemorating the Confederacy.

This is that day - Confederate Memorial Day. While I'm not necessarily cottoning a holiday honoring the Confederacy, the pragmatist in me says "shut up and enjoy a day off from work."

So the pragmatist wins.

Anyway, Wanda Sykes, who has still yet to make the cover of the Advocate magazine, killed this weekend at the White House Correspodents Dinner. While some may not have liked what she said about Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity, I say deal with it. It was funny.

And yes I am saying that partly because I am biased. It was a great moment in gay and black history because Sykes was the first openly gay person to be the featured entertainer at this dinner.

Now in the territory of "God won't this thing just end," Miss California Carrie Prejean will probably lose her crown today:

Miss California USA co-directors Shannon Moakler and Keith Lewis are to hold a news conference in Beverly Hills today, presumably to discuss the controversy surrounding Prejean. While Prejean is not on the list of expected attendees, Tami Farrell, the first runner up to Miss California USA 2009, is.

. . . Prejean came under further scrutiny last week after semi-nude photos of her purportedly taken when she was a teenager emerged. Her contract contains a clause that asks participants whether they have conducted themselves "in accordance with the highest ethical and moral standards." For example, it asks if they have ever been photographed nude or partially nude.

. . . The beauty queen may also have violated her contract by working for a group that opposes gay marriage and making publicly speaking out against it. Last week, pageant officials said they were looking into whether Prejean violated the 12-page contract all contestants are required to sign before the November state contest.

The document prohibits whoever holds the title of Miss California from making personal appearances, granting interviews or making commercials without permission from pageant officials and gives the pageant's directors the right to revoke her crown for breaching any of the document's provisions.

If pageant officials decide to strip Prejean of her crown, they had better make damnmed sure that they have their reasons out there and clearly articulated.

Maggie Gallagher and NOM are just chomping at the bit right now. I bet they have already created the new commercial featuring Prejean as the new St. Catherine on the wheel.

The Jeffersons and the transgender community

The first time I ever saw anything about the transgender community was this episode of The Jeffersons.

The main character, George Jefferson, is going to meet his old navy buddy. Little does he know that his friend has had a sex change operation. George acts predictably uncomfortable but finds that he must rely on his friend because Louise, George's wife, believes that he is having an affair.

I personally thought that this episode was well ahead of its time on so many regards. A transgendered woman did not play George's friend but I still loved her performance. While she was definitely wanting to keep George's friendship, she did not take any disrespect.

If there is anything that can be seen as offensive in this episode, it would have to be the sequence where George tries to pass off a male employee as his friend. However, I don't think the sequence was making fun of the transgender community, but people's ignorance of them.

Anyway, I loved the episode, especially the ending. There was one thing I noticed about the character of Louise Jefferson that I particularly liked. See if you can guess what it is.

Funny or offensive? Part 2

As many of you can tell, I seem to be on a tangent today. It could be because it's Friday and all of the other interesting lgbt news have been covered by better blogs such as Pam's House Blend and Good As You.

Or it could that I'm pissed because of an incident last night. I was channel surfing and ran across a movie on Black Entertainment Network called 3 Strikes.

The plot was stupid but a scene really caught my eye and made me wish that I was a member of the NRA.

One of the characters in the movie had been shot in his rear by the police, so he was in a hospital suspended over his bed while wearing a bloody diaper. For some reason, whoever wrote 3 Strikes thought that it would be funny to show a gay black hospital worker lusting after the character (yes even after seeing the bloody diaper) and subsequently attacking him.

This was shown on Black Entertainment Network, a place that is supposed to uplift the race.

Which bring me to the clip above. It is a scene from Soul Plane, a black oriented movie so bad that it set African-American films back to the era before Birth of a Nation.

In the movie is a stewardess called Flame - a chubby oversexed black gay man wearing purple with matching lip gloss. Every time we see him, he is talking about sex (which is funny because he ends up being turned down hard by a blind guy at the end of the movie).

The very "interesting" part of this clip begins at 7:40.

BET continues to show this movie at least twice a month (I am not exaggerating).

Isn't it "nice" to be an lgbt of color and see such "fun" images on a network that is supposed to lift up your self esteem. And isn't it "nice" to be a member of a community who will not even acknowledge your existence.

The black community NEEDS a Mike Rogers desperately.

Friday midday news briefs

Gaywatch - Marion Barry - Go get him, John Stewart!!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Gaywatch - Marion Barry
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

TVC pedo-ing even more offense - You know the whole point of telling a lie is ruined when everyone knows it's a lie.

McDonald's settles gay discrimination case - Get up off the money, Ronald McDonald.

Dan Choi on The Rachel Maddow Show - and the Freepi eruption - I'm quickly changing my opinion on how President Obama should address Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We can't lose good people over a bad policy.

Outrage reviews hit big city papers: New York Times names closeted pols - L.A. Times, too! - God help me for feeling this way but I wish someone would do the same thing to the black gospel community.

Obama urged to appoint first 'gay' to Supreme Court - Via One News Now, those heads are spinning about now ;p.

Obama Mustard Attack Becomes Full-Blown Right-Wing Talking Point - Not an lgbt situation per se but I just had to include it. Every now and then, you get a sign that the lunatics are running the asylum. This is several of those signs.

Funny or offensive?

This clip from an episode of Martin underlines the negative images that seem to be numerous in black entertainment regarding lgbts of color. The "fun" begins at 40 seconds.



You tell me - is it funny or offensive.

How the religious right exploits the black community

In 1991, writer-director John Singleton came out with the landmark motion picture Boyz N The Hood which analyzed the plight of inner city African-Americans, particularly young black males.

I remember the scene in which one of the characters asked about why there were so many gun shops and drugs in the black community when African-Americans didn't own these gun shops or the poppy fields that produced the drugs.

His implication was that outside forces were exploiting poverty in the black community for profit while not caring about the effects of their exploitation.

It was a good point and I think it can be made when one assesses how the religious right exploits the black community's inability to have a decent conversation about homosexuality.

I know I am not saying anything unfamiliar when I say that the black community avoids conversations about this subject as if even mentioning the word "gay" would conjure up the devil in a puff of sulphur.

Those of us in the black community know that lgbts of color exist and their needs aren't being met because of the wall of invisibility created by this fear.

The religious right also knows this. In fact, they count on it. That's why it's so easy for conservative talking heads such as Mike Huckabee, Maggie Gallagher, Matt Barber, and Harry Jackson to take an aura of phony concern when they accuse the lgbt community at large for supposedly piggybacking on the African-American civil rights movement.

They can play gays against blacks in a "divide and conquer" strategy because the black community is afraid to admit that it and the lgbt community are more alike than they are different, especially with the existence of lgbts of color.

But I want to ask a question similar to the one asked by the Boyz N The Hood character.

How much ownership and access does the black community have with religious right groups? Where are these pro-family groups and their state affiliates when it comes to actually tackling the issues of the inner city? What is their stance on racial inequality in education or employment?

Or how about the sadly high rate of HIV/AIDS in the black community?

That is my point exactly. These phony pro-family groups, these supposed defenders of the black community are nowhere to be seen.

And why should they? They've gotten what they wanted.

Why should the owner of the gun shops mentioned in Boyz N The Hood care that his wares are leading to death and destruction? He has made his money.

Why should the owner of the poppy fields care that the drugs produced from these fields will put more addicts on the streets looking to steal, sell their bodies, or do anything else for their next fix? After all, he has made his money also.

By that same token, why should the religious right care if the rhetoric in their game of "divide and conquer" leads to more lgbt of color invisibility or black gay men being susceptible to fears of coming out, low self esteem, or worse - bad behaviors which lead to diseases such as HIV/AIDS. They've gotten what they wanted - more influence, more power, more credibility and the black and gay communities at each other's throats.

Thursday mid day news briefs

Greg, no on 'hates' you. We detest anti-scientific anti-truths! - This piece underlines why many lgbts including myself have a serious problem with the ex-gay movement. Folks like the person in this piece, Greg Quinlan, falsely claim that gays attack them because we have a problem with their ex-gay status.

No Greg, we have a problem with your duplicity. If you are ex-gay, then what are you doing at a PepsiCo shareholders meeting speaking against the company donating money to pro-gay causes such as PFLAG? If you are an ex-gay, why are you doing things to make it difficult for lgbts to attain the same type of peace that you claim you have? You can't speak against us and then claim that we won't leave you alone. Being tolerant and being a doormat are two different things.

WTF: DC TV newscaster tells Mike Rogers he wants to take him outside and punch him over 'Outrage' - Mike Rogers works to denounce the hypocrisies of closeted gay politicians who will then work against their own brothers and sisters. Some may think it's wrong, but I approve of what he does.

CNN poll: Generations disagree on same-sex marriage - works for me as long as we have the younger generation on our side.

Effort To Repeal Washington DP May Lack Support - All together now - AAWWWWWWWWW!

Sessions open minded on gay justice - This probably won't happen (it nearly did in the case of President Clinton and Barbara Jordan) but just the idea of it would be fun if only to see how fast the religious right's head would spin.

Family Research Council send me a big ole lie

I got this via email from the Family Research Council. They are wanting me and others to sign a petition to keep the U.S. Senate from passing the sexual orientation inclusive hate crimes legislation:

The enactment of so-called "hate crimes" legislation is a long-stated objective of the homosexual agenda. It is one step closer to being law.

The House of Representatives passed the Hate Crimes Bill 249-175. When the Republicans tried to stop protections from possibly going to pedophiles and other suspect categories the supporters of the bill voted to protect those perversions. When Representatives tried to insert protections for religion, protecting the Bible from being described as hate speech, the Democrats voted those protections down!

The "hate crimes legislation protects pedophiles" meme is one folks on the right have been trying to push. James Dobson went on video pushing this lie and even Fox News got into the act.

The factoid is more than a lie; it's a huge distortion. Accordng to mediamatters.org:

Discussing the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which defines as a crime acts of violence or attempted violence "motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim," Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Bill Hemmer, and The Fox Nation, have all recently advanced the false claim that House Democrats voted to "protect" or "defend" pedophiles by voting against an amendment to the bill by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) stating that "the term 'sexual orientation' shall not include pedophilia."

In fact, as Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) noted during an April 23 House Judiciary Committee hearing, the term "sexual orientation" is already defined by federal statute as applying only to "consensual homosexuality or heterosexuality," thereby excluding pedophiles, who engage in nonconsensual sexual relationships with children. In providing her reasons for opposing King's amendment, Baldwin said that it "is unnecessary and, I would add, inflammatory in terms of insinuations."

So pedophiles are already excluded from being covered under hate crimes legislation. Also if the hate crimes bill is against acts of violence, then adding an addendum keeping the Bible from being called "hate speech" is also unnecessary.

FRC loves to trumpet the idea that homosexuality is a sin but apparently has no problem with another sin (i.e. bearing false witness) in pursuit of its goals.

Did Liberty University Remove Official Video of Miss California?

Yeah I know this issue is getting on your nerves but this is an interesting development.

Apparently Liberty University has allegedly removed the official video of Carrie Prejean's chapel appearance from Youtube.

The news comes from this religious site which tears Prejean and the religious right to shreds. You can't blame gays for this one:

It is a tragedy for Carrie. If she truly knows Christ, she is poorly taught and in real need of discipleship and mentoring by older Christian women in the faith. Instead, she was given the spotlight and a role she was not ready for. Also, just as fast as she was embraced and used by many of these groups, she risks now being dropped due to the appearance of these shameful photos, both those from the past and those she defends in her “Christian” modeling. Welcome to the evangelical celebrity circuit where souls and hearts don’t matter as much as an effective PR blitz for the “cause.” People are expendable.

Friends, as believers, our cause is the honor and glory of our Savior, King Jesus. The haste with which the present Religious Right leadership jumped on the bandwagon is resulting in unnecessary additional ridicule and mockery of Christianity. We didn’t need this. The cause of Jesus Christ did not need this.

Ouch!

Wednesday afternoon news briefs

Ugh is all I can say about today.

Those who keep up with this blog know that it is a part time gig which I do not get paid for. I post three times a day - when I get up in the morning, on my lunch break, and when I get home.

So imagine my surprise when I discovered that the library, the place where I do my noon postings, was closed.

Subsequently, my search for another library downtime led me to go on one of those legendary mythical journeys that's doomed for failure from the start (i.e. Orpheus and Gilgamesh).

But whereas Orpheus and Gilgamesh went to the underworld, I had to slog through the hot downtown area and lawns of dog crap (people really need to clean up after their pets) where my journey had an unsurprising unsuccessful end.

So here I am a post behind and I just know something good would happen today that I probably missed out on (like pictures of Peter LaBarbera in drag).

But bear with me while I try to catch up and thank you for your support thus far. Please continue to support this blog ;p.

Maine governor signs bill allowing same-sex 'marriage' - We get marriage in Maine and the One News Now commentators are pissed. Suddenly this day is looking up.

House passes same-sex marriage, 178-167; bill now moves to governor's desk - Hot damn! We almost get marriage in New Hampshire too. The governor needs to sign this bill.

If It Smells Like Coffee & Tea Here, It's Time To Cool Baser Instincts & Practice Counting To Ten - A good conversation on Pam's House Blend regarding us as community. When we attack others and ourselves with nasty language, we become exactly what the religious right says we are.

M*A*S*H star comes out - Welcome to the family, David Ogden Stiers. However that gay ray I hit you with was set for Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

James Dobson's Hate Crimes Freak-Out - What's the deal with James Dobson? It's one thing to lie but it's another thing entirely to lie even when folks know you are lying.

Homosexual demon my foot!!

In the video clip below, this so-called reverend, overseer, prophetess (I don't know which name the silly woman prefers) is taking it upon herself to "exorcise" an alleged "demon of homosexuality." (Editor's note - The video has been removed but I posted another video that tells of the account).



Scenes like this that make me sad. On one hand, it's funny the depths of ignorance that some so-called Christians are stooping to.

And on the other hand, it's a reason why it's so hard for lgbts of color to be accepted for who we are in the black community.

All I can say is that if someone tries to play that "cast out" game with me, that someone is getting cut.

One more thing - feel free to share this hot mess of nonsense with others.

Monday afternoon news briefs

Today has been wild with so much stuff going on. So I am going to make a special new briefs edition of events happening today:

BREAKING: Confirmed, Mormon Web site shows Obama's mother as baptized after death - The controversy I linked to today regarding the Mormon Church and President Obama's mother has been confirmed. Batten down the hatches!

Photos Taken of Me as a Teenager - So was Carrie underaged when she took the pictures or not? I also hear that she may be in trouble for contract violation. Oh well, she can always blame THE GAYS.

Gov. Lynch at center of gay marriage debate in NH - Look at this! The New Hampshire House Committee just endorsed the marriage equality bill. Will the Governor sign it?

Washington, D.C., Council Approves Recognition of Out-of-State Gay Marriage - And the vote wasn't even close.

Same-Sex Marriage Advances in Maine - One more step to go! All we need is the Governor's signature.

The Irish Association of Social Workers Reject ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy - There is NO such thing as too much good news.

Tuesday midday news briefs

Will Maine house accommodate its gay residents? - Keep your fingers crossed.

Uganda Gays Arrested, Blackmail Attempts Reported - Things are getting worse in Uganda.

Did the Mormons baptize Obama's mother, after her death, without his knowledge or consent? - This ain't good.

'You spin it right wing Maggie, right wing (like a record, Maggie) right wing, right wing' - Oh look! Maggie Gallagher tries to sidestep Carrie Prejean's newest controversy.

Petition filing in new fight for rights - And the fight against our rights never stop.

Larry Stickney's Referendum off to a Bumbling Start - But apparently the effort isn't going so well for those who are against us.

NC congresswoman claims Shepard murder 'not a hate crime' - One News Now's take on the Virginia Foxx controversy. One guess what position the article takes. Here is a hint - Peter LaBarbera is the only person interviewed. The article has a comments section so feel free to comment away. But be nice.

Sorry Carrie Prejean but you brought this on yourself

Unless you have been in a cave on Mars with your fingers in your ears (sorry Simpsons), you have no doubt heard about the newest controversy involving Miss California and National Organization for Marriage "spokesperson" Carrie Prejean.

The web is abuzz over a series of racy photos that she took, including the one featured here.

Now before anyone thinks that this photo is fake, please be aware that Prejean sent out a statement acknowledging the fact that it is her in the picture. And it's not the only thing she said:

I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be. But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive. While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others’ opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks.

Save it, Carrie. No one forced you to take those pictures and I sincerely doubt that this entire thing is a plot to destroy you because of your Christian beliefs. What probably happened is that someone is cashing in on your notoriety. No one is out to get you, because you are too profitable.

This is known as "game," Carrie. And you should know it well. You have been playing the "game" ever since this entire thing began.

When this controversy started, I was in your corner. I never did like Perez Hilton and I felt that his comments were uncalled for. And after all, you were merely stating your opinion.

But now you have been shown to be a hypocrite and though there will be some who will engage in all sorts of logical gymnastics and finger pointing to push blame off of you, the fact remains that this embarrassment is your fault.

Not for stating your opinion but for the position you took afterwards. You allowed yourself to be manipulated by Maggie Gallagher and the National Organization for Marriage into being their spokesperson.

You soaked in all of the adulation and praise from your church, various religious right groups while fully aware that you may not have been worthy of such canonization.

Remember how they called you brave for supposedly standing up for Christ and traditional values. Remember how they called you a "modern day Queen Esther?"

Remember all of those friendly interviews you conducted with Fox News, the Today Show and other various news sources in which you channeled Joan of Arc seconds before she was burned at the stake?

You allowed yourself to become a symbol, a paragon for virtue. You allowed yourself to be placed on the pedestal that you may not have deserved.

That's why I don't feel sorry for what's happening to you now.

You are now what folks call a cash cow. I suggest you learn how to moo.

I also suggest that you buck up and stop portraying Fay Wray on King Kong. The damsel in distress routine is so old.

And it's no longer working.

Two anti-gay nuts for Monday afternoon

1. What's the deal with Joe The Plumber?

Joe The Plumber: I Would Never Let "Queers" Near My Children

Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel Wurzelbacher, sat down for an lengthy interview with Christianity Today to discuss his views on the future of the Republican party. Wurzelbacher took the opportunity to speak out against gay marriage, which he says is wrong. The unlikely conservative spokesman went so far as to say he doesn't allow openly gay people "anywhere near" his children.

The word "queer," Wurzelbacher noted, "means strange and unusual."

Christianity Today: In the last month, same-sex marriage has become legal in Iowa and Vermont. What do you think about same-sex marriage at a state level?

Wurzelbacher: At a state level, it's up to them. I don't want it to be a federal thing. I personally still think it's wrong. People don't understand the dictionary--it's called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It's not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we're supposed to do--what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we're supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I've had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn't have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they're people, and they're going to do their thing.

No he didn't! If I wasn't so mature, I would be going for my razor right now.

THIS is what the Republican Party is reduced to? Sad.

I'm going to put it more succinctly. I refuse to believe that Wurlzebacher has any gay friends. That's right - I think he is lying and channeling the standard I'm not really prejudice because I am friends with THOSE people line that I've heard on occasion when some whites talk about African-Americans.

But just in case he is telling the truth, someone needs to give those "gay friends" a talking to about self respect.

2. Hey Stephen Baldwin! THIS is what persecution looks like

Last weekend, former actor, born-again Christian, and dismal talking head Stephen Baldwin claimed on Larry King Live that folks like him and Carrie Prejean who are against gay marriage are being "persecuted." However, when pressed about said persecution, Baldwin couldn't give any details.

Persecution, you dipstick, looks a little like this:

‘THEY KILL PEOPLE LIKE US,’ SAYS GAY IRAQI

Widespread violence is down across Baghdad, but not for one minority group.

Iraq’s gay population is being targeted by militia groups in a wave of killings that has claimed the lives of up to 25 young men and boys in the past month.

"They know I am gay. I don’t know if I am going to be killed, this is up to God," said Moyad, a 38-year-old Baghdad resident who would not give his last name out of fear for his safety. Visibly frightened, he said that he has many friends who have been sadistically tortured, some even murdered. "They are sticking glue up their anuses; some hospitals refuse to treat them. Is it a war waged against homosexuals?" he asked.

International outrage Most of the attacks have happened in Baghdad’s Shia neighborhoods, and many believe that religious leaders have used Friday sermons in Sadr City as a platform to incite hatred and violence toward homosexuals. The bodies of three gay men were reported to have been found in Sadr City in April with pieces of paper bearing the word for "pervert" attached to them.

Posters and leaflets have been distributed in the Baghdad neighborhoods of al-Shola, al-Hurya and Sadr City with orders to, "Cleanse Iraq from the crime of homosexuality."

Baghdad police didn’t respond to inquiries from NBC News about the attacks, but the surge in violence has gained attention by the international media. In a letter to Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki in April, Amnesty International called for "urgent and concerted action" to stop the killings of men because of their sexual orientation.

More here.

Maybe it's just me but being booed at a pageant doesn' t exactly rank up there with what's happening to gays in Iraq.