Kelvin Cochran and the homophobia hiding behind 'religious liberty'

Cochran

The fire chief of Atlanta, GA, Kelvin Cochran, was just dismissed because of a self-published book he wrote which was viewed as homophobic. According to Think Progress:

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (D) announced Tuesday that he has fired Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, who had previously been suspended for publishing and distributing a book condemning homosexuality..

  . . . Since Cochran’s suspension last month, he has become a bit of a martyr for conservatives, who believe he has been persecuted for his religious beliefs. J. Edgar White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, suggested that Cochran was among those “who are punished or marginalized for their faith” and called on Christians to purchase his book and support him.

Reed was adamant during Tuesday’s press conference that Cochran’s religious beliefs were not the reason he was fired. His book, Who Told You That You Were Naked?, was published in violation of Atlanta’s Standards of Conduct, which requires approval from the Ethics Officer and the Board of Ethics. According to Reed, Cochran’s “actions and decision-making undermine his ability to manage our fire department” because employees need to feel that they are “a valued member of the team and that fairness and respect guide employment.

That's the story before conservatives and the religious right will attempt to make Cochran the newest martyr of the concept of  'religious liberty.'   'Religious liberty' is a phrase these individuals have coined to claim that those who practice their version Christian faith in America are supposedly being persecuted because of their objections to homosexuality and marriage equality. To them, "persecution" is a wide and loaded term which includes being forced to serve gay customers or, as we see with the above situation with Cochran, not being allowed to "voice objections" to homosexuality in places where such objections aren't exactly conducive or appropriate to the environment.

It is a concept which is gaining speed now that marriage equality is becoming more accepted and swiftly the law throughout the country.  'Religious liberty' has gained support from the "fire and brimstone" sect, who see persecution behind every bush, to the concern trolls who clamor that since gays are gaining the right to marry, we should "be nice and respectful" to those who oppose our general equality.

In other words, "religious liberty" is a load of nonsense.  It's equivalent to a good paint job a bad car salesman puts on an busted up clunker in a sad attempt to cover that it's stinker.

First of all gays were not given the right to marry. It was a right which should have been ours from the start and one which we earned by slowly slogging through the trenches and terrain of this ridiculous so-called culture war.

'Religious right, conservatives FURIOUS at Newsweek article' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

How Dare Anyone Criticize Fox News' Christian Viewers! - A Newsweek article has earned the anger of conservatives and the religious right because it dared to push the theory that the Bible is misunderstood and that many so-called Christians, evangelicals, and fundamentalists are exploiting it to bash lgbts and force their worldview on American society. I think the author, Kurt Eichenwald, should win some type of award on that score alone. LOVE this opening: 

They wave their Bibles at passersby, screaming their condemnations of homosexuals. They fall on their knees, worshipping at the base of granite monuments to the Ten Commandments while demanding prayer in school. They appeal to God to save America from their political opponents, mostly Democrats. They gather in football stadiums by the thousands to pray for the country’s salvation. They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch. They are joined by religious rationalizers—fundamentalists who, unable to find Scripture supporting their biases and beliefs, twist phrases and modify translations to prove they are honoring the Bible’s words. 

Todd Starnes: 'Repugnant' Newsweek 'Blasted The Bible' By Disagreeing With Conservatives - As a matter of fact, Fox News personality Todd Starnes is pitching a hissy fit over the entire situation. 

Atlanta fire chief back on job, is new face of Georgia ‘religious freedom’ fight - And while we are on the subject of exploiting the Bible to bash lgbts . . .  

Transgender Teen Shares Coming Out Story With Inspiring Birthday Photos - This is sooooo cute! 

Here's What Same-Sex Marriage In Florida Looks Like - Pictures of the weddings taking place in Florida! What a great day!

 Conservatives Admit The Truth On Indiana ‘Religious Liberty’ Bill - And that truth they don't want lgbts to even have cheese on our whopper burgers.

'Sounds of Sodomy' flyer backfires on anti-gay group

An anti-gay group from Ireland thought they had an original argument against marriage equality. As it turns out, not only was the argument unoriginal and repulsive to boot, but it made the group a laughing stock:

A friend handed this to me today. This anti #marriagequality leaflet was being handed out yesterday - no words. pic.twitter.com/Jnk5A6m7Eb
— Steve Conlon (@stevenconlon) January 5, 2015

Despite the fact that straight parents have sex too, and straight people sometimes unwittingly allow their children to hear it, a yet to be identified lobby group purportedly produced a large number of these leaflets and handed them out in County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland.

Urging Christian voters to oppose equal marriage rights for homosexuals, the flyer says it hopes to put an end to this "beastly obsession with unholy acts."

'Some gay marriages in Florida happening NOW' & other Monday midday news briefs

Ruling by Miami-Dade judge allows same-sex marriages to begin in Florida - Boom! 

3 things to know about same-sex marriage in Florida today - While gays can marry, some clerks and counties continue to act stupid.  

To Avoid Marrying Same-Sex Couples, 14 Florida Counties Stop All Courthouse Weddings - I reiterate - Total and completely stupid. 

 LGBT-owned firms get diversity boost - This is sweet!  

Michael Sam sells more NFL jerseys than top draft pick Jadeveon Clowney - Oh come on, guys. Hurry up and draft this guy!  

Porno Pete Ends 2014 Bemoaning Anti-Gay Losses, Writing Poetry - Some folks will ask why am I paying this nut any attention. It's simple. Anyone who has the temerity to rhyme "gayness" with "anus" deserves some sort of prize, even if it is the booby prize.

'Gay agenda' - fact vs. fiction

I read the following amusing "news article" courtesy of the American Family Association's One News Now:

The Human Rights Campaign has launched an $8.5 million campaign targeting three states in the South with the homosexual agenda. Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) says the strategy is obvious.

"The Human Rights Campaign, the world's largest homosexual lobby group, knows that the Bible Belt is the last bastion of people who are really solid on the homosexual issue," he explains. "And so they're naturally going after Mississippi, Alabama, [and] Arkansas; they're going after those states that still believe strongly in the Word of God."

Tim Cooke, the CEO of Apple and a native of Alabama, has come out as a homosexual and has made a substantial donation to the campaign targeting the three states. So LaBarbera urges pastors to realize that the movement, which sees homosexuality as a "gift" from God, is a battering ram to attack the Christian faith.

"They have to do things like change the definition of marriage. It's all a part of a desperate quest for affirmation -- anything it takes to take this thing which is a sin and turn it into something good or a civil right," the AFTAH president submits.

He concludes that people of faith, especially pastors, "have to be the ones who point this out to the rest of the culture."

It is an ignorant one-sided piece of propaganda which only serves to as a pitiful attempt to keep LaBabera in the public eye. It also underlines why those who share LaBarbera's point of view are losing ground everyday.

They continue to speak of the lgbt community as outsiders, as mysterious invaders looking to bogart ourselves into American culture and cause all sorts of mayhem.

They can't seem to understand that they are clinging to old images and old fears.  Meanwhile, the following video represents what we really are. And it also represents the simple fact that America has passed LaBarbera and company by.And the almost sad thing is that LaBarbera and company fails to realize this fact:

'Marriage equality set to begin in Florida' & other Friday midday news briefs

Federal Judge Allows Gay Marriages To Begin Across Florida - We won this a long time ago but SOME FOLKS were and still are determined to drag this out . . . 

Despite Federal Ruling, Florida AG Refuses To Direct Court Clerks To Issue Marriage Licenses - . . . for as long as they can.  

New And Disturbing Details Emerge About Leelah Alcorn's Life From Posts She Made To Reddit - The death of transgender Leelah Alcorn is still reverberating through our community as an example of how ignorance and transphobia can take the life of a child. I pray for all involved, including the parents, who are the cause of so much anger. Some folks may get angry at me for this but I stand by it. It has been my experience that a lot of times as they get older, some homophobic and transphobic parents who disown their children tend to come around. Probably because the parents realize how their stringency has caused them to hurt their children and how much needless time is wasted over their own lack of trust in their children. In spite of their misgivings and reluctance, they have the conversation with their child they should have a long time ago and come to an understanding and a degree of acceptance. Leelah Alcorn's parents will never have that luxury. Some folks may not believe this but the time will come when they regret their role in their child's death. God help them because I don't want to be there when they do and when they realize nothing they do or say will bring their child back. It will be punishment enough for them.

Leelah Alcorn And The Quiet Genocide Of Transgender People - More on this awful situation.  

Catholic Organization Cancels Agreement For Same-Sex Wedding Reception; Changes Mind After Uproar - You accepted the reservation in September and NOW you want to change your mind? 'Religious liberty' my tuckus!  
 
Are Gay Rights Advocates Facing An Uphill Battle For Rights Beyond Same-Sex Marriage? - Uphill, downhill, level field. It don't matter. I'm ready to fight. We will get what belongs to us.

Anti-gay hate group planning something big and especially homophobic for 2015

Tim Wildmon of AFA

"Early next year, AFA will launch a new project unlike any other in the pro-family movement. It’s been almost a year in the making and we’re just about ready to release it.

Because atheists and homosexual activists will go all out to attack AFA and this revolutionary new tool for Christians and their families, I can’t go into much detail right now. But…I can tell you that we have put an enormous amount of work and financial resources behind it."

I got an email asking for money from the anti-gay American Family Association and its president, Tim Wildmon, earlier this week. Included in the ask was the above statement. Apparently AFA has big plans for 2015 and those plans will involve attempting to make life for the lgbt community all sorts of hell.

No matter. I've a couple of plans myself.  And knowing the American Family Association and its reluctance to put a kibosh on the mouth of its most visible member, Bryan Fischer, I'm willing to wager that my plans will succeed and theirs will fail.

Editor's note - part of MY plan includes getting a copy of this free online booklet to as many folks as possible:

How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America

Download your copy now. It's completely free and safe.

'End of 2014 - life, death, & resolve' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Gay Black Men, It's Time to Do Away With 'Trade' and Down-Low Brothers in 2015 - Triple AMEN to this post. 

Trans teen: ‘My death needs to mean something’ - no one should have to die to make a difference in the world, especially a child. We have LOTS more work to do in the coming year. 

 Gay-hating Duggars have a lesbian in their family — and she thinks they’re crazy - I got news for girlfriend. We ALL think they are nuts. 

 Peter LaBarbera’s Terrible, Horrible Anti-LGBT Year - Any time THAT turkey has a bad year is always a reason to celebrate.  

The Top Sports Moments of 2014 That Scored Major LGBT Points - Cause I love me some sports. Playing football is the only time I ever got cheered for chasing, tackling, and wrestling down a man to the ground.

Defense Secretary Hagel's holiday message includes gay military couple

The above holiday greeting from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and his wife, Lillibet, includes nice addition - an image of MM2 2nd Class Jerrel Revels' proposal to his boyfriend Dylan Kirchner.

According to the Huffington Post:

This viral gay marriage proposal happened in 2013, just two short years after the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A gay military couple has reportedly never before been included in the Defense Secretary's holiday message for the troops.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

'Top 14 anti-lgbt villains of 2014' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Parents who spoke out for their LGBT children in 2014 - THESE folks should be commended for being true loving parents. 

14 Of The Worst Anti-LGBT Villains Of 2014 - Meanwhile, THIS usual cast of nauseating characters need a swift kick in the tuckus (figuratively, of course).  
  
ADF Lawyer: Gay Rights Opponents May Soon Be 'Put In Jail For Standing For Marriage' - Oh please. I'm still waiting for us to "arrest pastors for preaching that homosexuality is a sin" due to lgbt-inclusive hate crime laws.   
Rhode Island Supreme Court Shoots Down Firefighters' Religious Liberty Lawsuit - That ends that (hopefully).  

The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality - With marriage equality becoming a reality, there will be many books like this one. I'm still waiting on someone to write how lgbt bloggers contributed and rocked the fight for marriage equality. Come on, my mystery writer. I don't want to end up like Little Richard going "I'll tell the real story . . ."

Anti-gay spokesman: you are all going to hell

Barber

Anti-gay spokesman and editor of the prickly online publication BarbWire has a message for you all:

You are all going to hell.

Barber makes his case in a piece which is so rambling, so bizarrely written but so full of religious fanaticism and venom that Tomas de Torquemada (who oversaw the Spanish Inquisition) would loudly say "who is this weirdo?"


The title, We Are Not 'All God's Children' should give you some clue as to how low Barber sinks here. If it doesn't then the illustration  of hell which accompanies it should:

Naturally,  I will spare you details as to Barber's exact words, but feel free to click on the link to read it. However, after seeing the above picture, would you want to?

The only thing I can say is that someone as viciously homophobic to that point that he bears false witness (such as tweeting an ugly picture of a gay Scout leader propositioning a child) without so much as a guilty conscience should worry less about someone else's eternal home and more about his own.

Steve Scalise and racist groups, Tony Perkins and racist groups - it's all relative

Rep. Scalise

Washington is all abuzz about a huge scandal regarding Rep Steve Scalise, soon to be House Majority Whip, and a 2002 speech he made to a meeting of a white supremacist group founded by known racist David Duke:

Twelve years before he was elected by his colleagues as House Majority Whip, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) spoke at a conference hosted by white supremacist group European-American Unity and Rights Organization.

Louisiana political blogger Lamar White Jr. dug up a number of posts on Stormfront, one of the original white supremacist websites, that place Scalise at the 2002 gathering. According to one user who attended the conference, Scalise -- then a state representative -- spoke to the organization at a workshop "to teach the most effective and up-to-date methods of civil rights and heritage related activism."

According to another Stormfront post, the National/International EURO Workshop on Civil Rights was held from May 17 to 18, 2002, at the Landmark/Best Western Hotel in Metairie, Louisiana. The conference was also listed on an Anti-Defamation League list of extremist events for that year.

Scalise has admitted to making the speech, but claimed that he was unaware of the group's racist nature.

Of course to the media, that's like dipping a bloody toe in shark-infested waters with them being the sharks.  Several members have asked how could Scalise have not known what the group was all about, with others implying that his speech was covertly racist.

Will Scalise be forced to resign? Who knows. It's too early to tell. But to me, there are two interesting things about this controversy. For one, there is my snarky observation involving the Republican party. It is usually when they have power in Congress that a member or two will make a supreme mind-blowing screw up.

The second is even a bit more to the purpose of this blog.  If one asks will Scalise survive, one needs to look to Family Research Council president Tony Perkins.  While Perkins is now looked upon in Washington as a "voice of morality" by some, he has a history with racist groups probably more checkered than Scalise (at least for now.)

'Top anti-lgbt stories of the year' & other Monday midday news briefs

The Year In Homophobia: Ten Of The Worst Anti-LGBT Stories Of 2014 - What are the top 10 anti-lgbt stories of the year? I will give you a hint about one of them. Apparently comparing lgbts to Nazis was the "in" thing to do for the religious right. 

College professor and anti-gay activist Robert Oscar Lopez yet again lies about me—in a legal document - Here is something interesting which should answer the annoyingly perennial question of why folks like me shine a bright light on the anti-gay industry. Not only is Lopez lying about Jeremy Hooper but he has also locked down his own website and has been scrubbing the internet of his ugliest comments. As if that could hide what he has been saying about lgbts. This is what happens when you expose the rhetoric of homophobes. In common language, it's known as "plucking the turkey."  

Sam: Coming Out Was Right Thing To Do - Yes it was, Michael Sam.  

How Florida Officials Plan To Undermine A Federal Marriage Equality Order - For Pete's sake, y'all. Give it up already. You lost. 

 Heroine of gay marriage movement feels pride in progress - Last, but not least, an awesome interview with Edie Windsor, heroine of the marriage equality movement.

Is the anti-transgender 'bathroom bill' lie losing its sting?

 . . . given the public’s general lack of familiarity with transgender people and their experiences, it hasn’t been hard to get voters more concerned with the prospect of wig-donning criminals sneaking into public bathrooms.

The myth has been used to attack all kinds of pro-LGBT protections -- city non-discrimination ordinances, federal employment law, and school diversity policies. It’s not unusual for anti-LGBT conservatives to simply rebrand broad non-discrimination laws as “bathroom bills” – phrasing that was unfortunately often adopted by news outlets.

That trend was strong in 2014, with conservative media outlets like Fox News regularly peddling “bathroom bill” talking points to attack non-discrimination laws like the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.

But the “bathroom bill” horror story appears to have lost some of the weight it once carried. Houston, San Antonio, Miami-Dade County, Plano, Springfield, Missouri, and other cities all enacted non-discrimination laws protecting transgender people from discrimination in public accommodations. The Cleveland City Council is currently considering an ordinance that would explicitly repeal the bathroom exemption of its non-discrimination law -- a proposition that would have been dead in the water just a few years ago. Schools across the country have adopted policies allowing transgender students to use the locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity, and the Department of Education’s official recommendation for public schools is now in line with that position.

According to Carlos Maza of Equality Matters, the "bathroom bill" fear tactic is losing its sting because of two factors - transgender folks are receiving visibility and the horror stories of predators invading women's restrooms are turning out to be more blather than truth.  While this homophobic lie does retain some power, it's nice to know that yet another religious right tactic geared to denying lgbt equality is slowly but surely going the way of  the dinosaur.

'How the Knights of Columbus bankrolls anti-gay, conservative movement' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

How One Religious Organization Bankrolls America’s Social Conservative Movement - And the Knights of Columbus do it via charitable donations. It's an ugly thing because it almost makes one not want to donate to charity. 

 Anti-gay activists Peter LaBarbera, Bill Whatcott found not guilty of mischief - Oh come, y'all. I'm not so nauseating as to wish a jail sentence for LaBarbera at Christmas time no matter how obnoxiously homophobic he has been over the years. Look at it this way - he can no longer exploit his "Canadian odyssey." Then again, scratch that. LaBarbera would exploit the relationship between Peppermint Patti and Marcie of 'Peanuts' if he could get away with it. 

Supreme Court To Consider On Jan 9. Whether To Hear Challenges To Same-Sex Marriage Bans - Get your rest, brothers and sisters because we get to begin it again in January.  

USA, Pennsylvania: Marriage Equality Support Jumps, New Poll Says - Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! 

Camenker: Gay Student Clubs Love To Recruit 'Kids From Christian Backgrounds' - An interesting spin on the "gays want to recruit" children" talking point. The irony is that there is a small kernel of truth in this ugly claim and this kernel merely underlines the fact that younger Christians aren't as opposed to the lgbt community and lgbt equality as the anti-gay right would like. Ah yes. The future. It scares anti-gay activists and groups so much.  

How Michael Sam Knew He Made The Right Choice In Coming Out - I won't give it away but he is so right.

NOM's warped version of The Nativity Story leaves out 'peace on Earth' & 'good will towards men'

And now here is the Nativity story according to Brian Brown of NOM:

Brian Brown of NOM

Recently, reflecting on the story of the birth of Christ, I realized something... When Jesus came into the world, it was with nothing. No money. They had to move to a new city. His father, Joseph, had to start a new business. They didn't even have a home to stay in as he came into our world. But the one thing God did give him — seemingly the one thing God thought His only begotten Son could NOT do without — was a loving mother and father to care for and protect Him. It underscores the foundational importance of the mission that NOM has undertaken – to defend marriage and work to ensure that every child in our society, as much as it is possible, enjoys the love of his mother and father. We are winding down our year-end, $200,000 matching gift campaign. To date we have raised almost $60,000 toward our goal. If you haven't yet made a gift that will be matched dollar-for-dollar, please prayerfully consider making a generous contribution of $35, $50, $100, $500, or even a major gift of $1,000 or more to help NOM close the year on firm financial footing so we can provide marriage with the best defense possible in this pivotal coming year. We tend to think of Christ magically moving from an infant to an adult, with only scant glimpses of him as a teen. But the reality is that in assuming the human form, Jesus experienced the unique contributions of a father and a mother in his life. For years, Jesus learned how to live, act, feel, work, care and love by absorbing the unique gifts of his father and his mother, who represent the two halves of humanity. The Holy Family is the perfect example for the human family — a man and a woman coming together in love for each other, and to provide the ideal environment for any children born of their union. That is what marriage is, and the story of Christmas perfectly models it for us. 

Brown's rendition of the Christmas story would almost make sense except for the fact that women who had children without a husband were mostly shunned back then.  And  according to the Bible, Mary was a virgin and not pregnant with Jesus via any type of intercourse with Joseph but through the Holy Spirit.

So technically, Jesus had two fathers.

But who cares about all of that. Whatever happened to the "peace on Earth and good will towards men" part?

'Gay rights will cause Jesus to return?' & other Monday midday news briefs

Five Moments From 2014 That Definitely Were A Sign Of The End Times - I'm angry. We should be at the top of the list. Why are we only number three?

 Major Cleveland Outlet Is Dead Wrong About The City's Transgender Non-Discrimination Law - Looks like a Cleveland newspaper outfit is deliberately pushing a war of misinformation against the transgender community. 

Judge asked to rule against florist who refused services for gay couple’s wedding - Sorry it has to go down like this but if discrimination on the basis of "religious freedom" is allowed here, where does said discrimination stop? 

 Ben Carson stands by claim that gay marriage leads to pedophilia and bestiality - Lord, give me strength . . . patience . . . alcohol . . . acid . . . anything! Why are black conservatives so damn crazy?

Ugandans Won’t Be Getting A New Anti-LGBT Law For Christmas - I vote for the lump of coal in their stockings.

Marriage equality coming to Florida!!!

By now, I am sure everyone has heard the wonderful news of marriage equality coming to Florida early next month. But watch this short video of a newscast announcing the fact. The family interviewed underscores what this fight has all been about.

'Michigan's so-called 'religious freedom' bill dies in Senate' & other Friday midday news briefs

Good news from Michigan:

Michigan House and Senate adjourned without final passage of license to discriminate bills! #MiLeg #MiStareDown pic.twitter.com/uLjb1345rc
— Equality Michigan (@Equality_MI) December 19, 2014

 
Transgender Student Files Federal Complaint Against School District For Banning Him From The Boys Restroom - If anything, this case points out the hysterical lunacy our transgender brothers and sisters face everyday. There wasn't a problem with him using the boys restroom until anti-gay groups got parents spooked.

Bigotry doesn’t pay: North Carolina anti-gay group $15,000 in debt - Oh the poor babies (extreme sarcasm alert).

 Anti-gay orgs continue to offend children of single parents, gay parents, more - Children DESERVE a family who will give them love and support and that does not come solely from the one man/one woman dynamic.

Richmond's Gay Community Strikes Back With 'We Are All Born To Love' Billboard - Now that the 'ex-gay' billboard has backfired spectacularly, let's throw some real love in the situation.

Good news for transgender community has anti-gay group spinning fear about children and churches

Excellent news for the transgender community. According to the Huffington Post:

The Justice Department will now interpret the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as protecting transgender government employees from discrimination, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday.

In a memo, Holder wrote that the "best reading of Title VII's prohibition of sex discrimination is that it encompasses discrimination based on gender identity, including transgender status." Holder said that while Congress "may not have had such claims in mind when it enacted Title VII, the Supreme Court has made clear that Title VII must be interpreted according to its plain text."

In a statement, Holder called the move an “important shift" that "will ensure that the protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are extended to those who suffer discrimination based on gender identity, including transgender status."

And leave it to the Family Research Council to distort Holder's statement and spin a little fear into the situation:

FRC Senior Fellow for Policy Studies Peter Sprigg released the following statement:
"Parents are deeply concerned that giving a special status to transgender persons will lead to troubling situations for their children, and religious leaders are left unsure how this arbitrary new rule will affect hiring within their ministries.  This is another example of the Obama administration circumventing the role of Congress in imposing its own radical re-interpretation of the law.  It seems safe to assert that not a single member of Congress in 1964 would have believed that they were granting special rights to people who want to reject or change their biological sex.

In other words:

Granted, the graphic above is by the Traditional Values Coalition but FRC is saying pretty much the same thing, albeit in muted terms.

It's still a vicious lie and an ugly stereotype.