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.

Monday midday news briefs

Oh, the shameless irony - This is a huge lie. Marriage equality advocates do not want to silence those who are against it. Hell, if NOM shut up, who could I laugh at?

Is Cantor suggesting that the GOP will go pro-gay and pro-choice? - All together now - HAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Pro-LGBT clergy to hold press conference to support hate crimes legislation and ENDA - Now THIS is how it should be done.

Bill would extend medical leave law to LGBT families -Support this bill!

One News Now tries to make Prejean a hate crimes martyr

Still smarting over the U.S. House of Representatives passing lgbt inclusive hate crimes legislation, the phony news site One News Now have decided to use the quickly passing Carrie Prejean/Perez Hilton controversy to make an illogical point:

A Virginia congressman says the anti-Christian hatred and bigotry of homosexual blogger Perez Hilton and his supporters underscores one of the fallacies undergirding federal "hate crimes" legislation.

. . . Congressman Randy Forbes (R-Virginia) is a former ranking member of the Judiciary Crime Subcommittee, and founder of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. He recently took to the House floor and provided a powerful example of how the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" does not ensure equality under the law.

Congressman Forbes compared the protection Miss California Carrie Prejean would receive under the bill to the special protection homosexual blogger and Miss USA judge Perez Hilton would have been afforded.

"Had [Hilton] done what he said he would do and stormed that stage and pulled that tiara off [Prejean's] head and [inflicted] bodily harm when he did it, there would not have been one ounce of protection under this piece of legislation for that young girl," Forbes stated.

First of all, the article is solely about Hilton. Whoever his "supporters" are, there is no further mention of them.

Secondly, I never believed Hilton when he made that statement. It's very easy to talk about what you would have done after the fact. But had Prejean won, Hilton would have kept his seat with his mouth open, no doubt thinking of nastier invectives to make against Prejean on youtube.

The Congressman really reaches for straws when he says this:

. . . if she had in response made a statement back about the very sexual orientation that had led him to his hatred and dislike for her, and if she had responded by slapping him or any physical injury, she would have had the potential of a ten-year federal piece of legislation coming against her."

The Virginia Republican also argued that if beauty contestant's father had rushed onto the stage at the Miss USA pageant and responded to Hilton's hatred in a physical way, he would have been open to prosecution under the hate crimes bill as well.

I take it that the Congressman is saying that if Prejean has made an anti-gay slur while slapping Hilton, she would be in trouble. I don't think so.

As much as it would have been fun to see Prejean snatch off her earrings and heels and get "ghetto" on Hilton, I seriously doubt she would be arrested on hate crimes violations no matter what she said while doing it. Hilton's actions would have clearly been assault and Prejean would merely be defending herself.

Also, as much as I hate to admit, she would have a few gays in her corner for taking care of business against someone who would dare try to "snatch her crown."

As for her father, hate crimes legislation probably wouldn't apply either.

You gotta admit though, it would be a very interesting clip on youtube.

However in all honesty, this controversy is petering out. One News Now and those on the right would do themselves a huge favor by letting it die a silent death.

Maggie Gallagher, NOM get destroyed on Larry King Live

This is just pitiful. A few thoughts:

1. Where is Carrie Prejean? Apparently her moment in the spotlight is over.

2. Maggie Gallagher got wrecked twice. First was a full speed dressing down by former Miss USA Shanna Moakler. Moakler takes Gallagher to task for exploiting Prejean. I found myself saying "get it girlfriend!" while snapping my fingers in a "Z formation."

The second wrecking was a bit more subtle by substitute host Joy Behar. Behar asked her a simple question about why focusing on gays wanting to get married rather than divorce. Gallagher hems and haws big time. Of course she pushes her tried and true diversionary argument of "they think we are bigots for defending traditional marriage."

3. Stephen Baldwin was much more useful when he was freely showing his buttcheeks in movies. "God wrote the Bible?" Come on now. And then he talks about being persecuted. Pullleaze!

4. Former Miss California, the Rev. Nicole Lamarche, defends marriage equality with intelligence, poise, and the utmost grace. Awesome lady!

But the main thing I took out of the segment is this - NOM is swiftly leaving Heaven's Gate territory and careening towards Plan 9 From Outer Space land.

Transcript added via the efforts of Pam Spaulding:

The transcript:

BEHAR: The gay marriage debate has been front and center this week.

Joining us for a debate of our own are Shanna Moakler, director of Miss California USA. She's a former Miss USA who's in a new ad slamming Proposition 8. It bans gay marriage in California.

Reverend Nicole la March. Nicole was Miss California in 2003. She supports gay marriage.

In Los Angeles, actor Stephen Baldwin, starring in "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here," joins us. He is opposed to gay marriage.

And Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, is here.

A new anti-gay marriage ad featuring Miss California, Carrie Prejean, I believe is the way you say it, was launched this week.

Listen to Carrie's remarks that reignited the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY NBC)

PEREZ HILTON: Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Do you think every state should follow suit?

Why or why not?

CARRIE PREJEAN: Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country and in -- in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman -- no offense to anybody out there.

CARRIE PREJEAN, MISS CALIFORNIA: Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And, you know what, in my country, and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised, and that's how I think that it should be, between a man and a woman. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BEHAR: Shanna, what's your reaction to Carrie Prejean. How do you say her name?

MOAKLER: Carrie Prejean. Prejean, Prejean. I say Prejean.

BEHAR: What's your reaction to those remarks?

MOAKLER: I'm very proud of Carrie that she stood up for what she believes in and she followed her heart. And I told her that that night. I'm not going to lie and say that it hurt my feelings a little bit. Everyone is right. Everyone has the freedom to their speech, the freedom of speech. I applaud her for that.

BEHAR: Right, OK. Maggie, you had a press conference for the National Organization of Marriage, where you released that new ad called "No Offense With Carrie Prejean." Let's take a look at that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's asked her opinion about marriage.

PREJEAN: I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to anybody out there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then is attacked.

PEREZ HILTON, CELEBRITY GOSSIP: She's a dumb (EXPLETIVE DELETED), OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A pro-marriage group talks about how gay marriage will impact religious groups.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's no longer palatable in this country or OK to be an outright bigot. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They attack if you oppose gay marriage because they don't want to debate the consequences.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BEHAR: OK. That was -- that's a harsh ad.

GALLAGHER: Is it a harsh ad? I think it's an honest ad. I think the reason Carrie's story is resonating with so many people, besides how young and nice that she is and beautiful, is that a lot of Americans who think marriage means a man and a woman are feeling like it doesn't matter how nicely you say it, how civilly you say it, you get slammed. You get treated as if you are -- you get name-called. After Prop 8, people's names were put up on the Internet, and we had people saying, go after these people.

We had a waitress who gave 100 dollars to support marriage and people were calling for her job. They wanted her to lose her job, because she supported marriage as a man and a woman. So the reality is I don't blame gay people for this. I know many gay people. No way this is the way they want this movement to be acting.

But we do have a gay marriage movement right now that if you disagree with them, they tend to treat you like you were the Ku Klux Klan or something. And that's what happened to Carrie. I think most of us think that's wrong.

BEHAR: Nicole, you've been in Carrie's position. You were a beautiful Miss California.

LAMARCHE: Thank you, thank you.

BEHAR: Then you became a reverend. I'm fascinated by that. Was she correct to speak her mind like that, do you think?

LAMARCHE: Oh, absolutely.

BEHAR: Free speech?

LAMARCHE: Absolutely. I think the place where I enter the conversation is when she went on "The Today Show" and then said that the Bible condones what she said. And that's a little tricky. The Bible -- any reading of the Bible is a selective reading. And so I always want to make sure to offer an alternative position, which is that god is the god of love, and that marriage should be something that's available for each and every loving adult committed couple.

BEHAR: Do you agree with that, Steven?

BALDWIN: Absolutely not. The Bible clearly indicates that when two of the same sex lie down together, that is sin. Now, God wrote the Bible. So, therefore, that is what God has to say and God is the judge.

The thing that's very interesting to me, Joy, is just because I believe in the Bible means that I'm now being persecuted if I believe in traditional marriage. So I'm here to --

BEHAR: How are you being persecuted?

BALDWIN: Joy, let me finish. I'm here to represent all of those people who are being persecuted for believing in traditional marriage.

BEHAR: Tell me how you're being persecuted exactly, Stephen. What's happening to you?

BALDWIN: Exactly like Miss California. Just simply because who she is and what she believes is that traditional marriage is what is right, according to who she is and what she believes. Look what's happening. She's being persecuted.

MOAKLER: I need to interject in here.

BALDWIN: She's being persecuted.

BEHAR: Go ahead, Shanna.

MOAKLER: First and foremost, Carrie didn't lose the pageant because her answer. She was behind in numbers, behind in scores. Carrie is being persecuted because she has a title, and that title is Miss California USA. She has responsibilities as Miss California USA that she has now basically kind of forgone, and has aligned herself with an organization that has -- it's already a heated and polarizing issue. So to align yourself with this right after all the heat, you can't complain of getting all this heat and then go do something so drastic.

BEHAR: OK, Maggie.

GALLAGHER: It's not drastic to say marriage means a man and a woman, nor to stand with other people who are doing that. I was going to compliment you, Shanna, on the change in your tone in respecting Carrie's rights here. But I have to say you're now sounding exactly like you did when she appeared on "The Today Show," accusing her of pursuing an opportunistic agenda. Then you released private medical information about her to the press to try to smear her.

MOAKLER: I think you're pursuing an opportunist agenda when you hire a 21-year-old that has --

(CROSS TALK)

MOAKLER: -- who has never even had a long-term relationship, and you put her in a press junket that she's unprepared for. You were not only damaging her. This is a bright, young, talented young woman that has -- is going to be left with a legacy of being an Anita Bryant. She should be back home in California, and she should be doing her responsibilities.

BEHAR: I'm going to let you talk as soon as we come back, OK?

What do you think of gay marriage. That's tonight's quick vote question. Go to CNN.com/LarryKing and tell us what you think. We'll be back after this with more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BEHAR: OK. We're back. Maggie, what did you want to say to Shanna?

GALLAGHER: I wanted to say, first of all, that Carrie does not work for the National Organization for Marriage. She's a spokesman for her own views, as anyone watching her is perfectly clear. It's the Miss USA California officials who, instead of backing her up and dealing with this judge, who went on the Internet and videotaped himself cursing her out, saying he wanted to rip the tiara off -- for you to go around Shanna and say that her legacy is divisive and polarizing, you will not meet a better human being than Carrie.

I'm honored that she chose to stand with us at the National Organization for Marriage, as we released this ad calling for people to account.

BEHAR: I want to ask you about the National Organization for Marriage. It's set up to protect marriage, right?

GALLAGHER: Our mission is protecting marriage and the faith communities that sustain it.

BEHAR: Then why don't you focus on Mel Gibson's divorce, Bristol Palin's single parenthood, and she should be married -- maybe she should be getting married? Why are you focusing on gay marriage?

GALLAGHER: I spent 20 years on the problem of family fragmentation, divorce and married child -- there really isn't anyone who has gone around the country more.

(CROSS TALK)

GALLAGHER: The reason I cared about that is I used to go around the country and say marriage really matters because children need a mom and dad. After after Massachusetts, I think I'm not going to be able to say that anymore. The law -- you change the definition of marriage, you change it for everyone. And this ancient and honorable idea, marriage is about bringing together the two halves of humanity, male and female, so that children have a mother and father. That's going to be treated as bigotry.

MOAKLER: What's wrong with a mother and a mother and what is wrong with a father and a father? I don't think anyone can define marriage, except two people who are in a union together who love each other. -- as an organization that can do that.

BEHAR: Nicole, get in here.

LAMARCHE: Those of us who are celebrating marriage equality believe in marriage. I mean, marriage is an institution that creates healthy children, healthy families, which is why I would say that it should be an option for any adult, loving, committed couple. And it is because we're all -- we're all celebrating marriage and we believe it is so important that it should be an option for each and every couple.

(CROSS TALK)

BEHAR: I understand that, but you're sort of saying the words mother and father as a nouns. It's also a verb, to mother, to father, so you could have two women mothering a child or fathering a child. It's a role really.

GALLAGHER: No, I don't think so. I think that, in fact, there's something special about unions of husbands and wives. There's a reason marriage has been this way. Not only our own, but in almost every known human society. And that this vision of marriage -- it's your point. It's a fine point.

Famous LGBT African-Americans

With so many attempts out there to divide the lgbt and African-American communities, videos like these are very important - especially to the young lgbts of color.

It's too late to backtrack now, NOM. Enjoy your wormwood

April 21, 2009:

I would like to nominate Miss California as the new face of the marriage movement. Much better than mine! "Truth and love will prevail over lies and hate." - NOM head Maggie Gallagher

May 1, 2009:

Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) released this statement today clarifying the role of Carrie Prejean at a press conference held Thursday in Washington, DC:

“A number of media sources have described Carrie Prejean as a spokesperson for the National Organization for Marriage.

As we made clear at our press conference yesterday: Carrie appeared with NOM as a private citizen; she does not work for the National Organization for Marriage. She is a spokesperson for her own views, as anyone watching her can tell.

We are grateful to Carrie Prejean for her willingness to stand up for marriage. We would love to work with Carrie in the future if she chooses, and we wish her well in all her future endeavors whatever she chooses. We're proud of her. Americans are proud of her. She is a remarkable young woman.

No matter how they try to sugarcoat the situation, it sounds like NOM is backtracking big time. Well to call it backtracking is too light.

NOM is moonwalking with the efficiency of Michael Jackson before he got "strange."

Just what could have made NOM suddenly make an about face after days of allowing the media to portray Prejean as the so-called new face of the marriage movement?

Could it have been the breast enhancement surgery controversy?

Maybe.

Could it be the fact that despite the controversy, no one was really going to take Prejean seriously because of the unfair stigma of beauty queens being shallow and airheaded?

That could be it also.

Or could it be that when all is said and done, Prejean was in fact a blond version of Sarah Palin - a person taking advantage of an incredible hype that wears down when one gets to know her; a walking, breathing one-hit wonder.

Now I may have something there. As seen via the transcript of a recent interview on Fox's On the Record with Greta, Prejean didn't exactly come across as a suitable talking head:

VAN SUSTEREN: What is your thought on civil unions?

PREJEAN: My thought on civil unions? You know what, Greta? I don't have the answers to everything. I'm not running for political office. I don't have the answers to everything, you know, in the world out there.

But I think that there should be rights for people, you know, especially in California. I think that people that are homosexual should have some rights, you know, hospital rights, and things like that.

But I would like to be more educated on that, so when I do have a better answer for you, I will get back to you on that one.

But so far I just support traditional marriage, and that's my main focus.

VAN SUSTEREN: What about adoption?

PREJEAN: Greta, I am focusing on marriage right now, not adoption, not civil unions, just traditional marriage, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to promote that.

VAN SUSTEREN: I understand, and I understand your position on traditional marriage. I'm just sort of trying to figure out where you draw the line in terms of what kind of rights that you think that a man and woman should have that maybe two men, two women, shouldn't have.

And that's why I was asking the question on civil unions and adoptions. I was just trying to sort it out for myself what you think.

PREJEAN: Well, I'm not a politician, so I can't give you an answer to that.

Geez, at least Palin had notes.

In the long run, I don't care why NOM backtracked. And you don't either.

Admit it - you all enjoyed this as much as I did. After the huge calamity of the "Gathering Storm" ad, NOM was grasping for any type of credibility. The group thought it could get that credibility with Prejean.

They were wrong.

I don't know what I enjoyed more - watching this entire thing blow up in NOM's face or taking in how the religious right was calling Prejean a modern day "Queen Esther." They beat this issue into the ground before it even had a chance to grow.

While it's true that I got my shots in talking about how her church cites Paul Cameronesque studies on lgbts, the award for the failure of this particular campaign belongs solely to NOM and other members of the religious right.

But it's starting to make me feel guilty.

Is it a sin to enjoy viewing a train wreck this bad?

Friday midday news briefs

Judy Shepard Responds To "Hoax" Comments - It speaks for itself.

Maggie Gallagher, NOM, Institute for Marriage (how to get wealthy in the hate-gay-for-pay industry) - I'm in the wrong business. I need to get paid!

Focus on the startling willingness to lie about sexual orientation - And in the end, it always comes back to comparing lgbts to pedophiles.

White House Changes LGBT Civil Rights Commitments On Web Site - There needs to be some explaining done here. Regardless though, it's our job to make sure our changes happen. Don't expect anyone to hold our hand or take our side without some prodding on our part.

Olbermann, Musto, Boob Job - Oh please. Don't even act like I wasn't going to mention this little tidbit about Carrie Prejean and her "equipment."

Fessing Up: Promiscuity & Unsafe Sex - Matt Comer, the young man in the picture with me, is writing a much needed series of articles on the problems of the lgbt community. Sometimes when we are attacked, it makes us less likely to talk about issues that plague us. That's a problem with every marginalized group. But discussions on the problems Comer mentions is vital for our survival.

Q Poll: US supports most gay rights - I love this poll!

Sin ushered in diseases like swine flu - One News Now seems to know where this swine flu came from. The article makes no sense, but then again neither does One News Now.

African-American lesbians tie the knot in Iowa

Something Harry Jackson needs to be informed about

Kentaindra Scarver and Veronica Spann moved their family here from Englewood last October in hopes of finding a safer place to raise their children, not with any expectation of greater acceptance for their lesbian lifestyle.

It was the same for their good friends Rosalyn Henry and Laketta Davenport, who made the move from Chicago to this old Mississippi River town a few years earlier.

On Monday, though, the four women were among the first couples to take advantage of the opportunity to legally marry in Iowa, taking their vows to be "spouse for life" in front of Dubuque County Magistrate John Nemmers.

More here.

This is definitely something to remember the next time folks like Harry Jackson play the lgbt and African-American communities against one another.

The verdict is in - NOM lays another egg

The National Organization for Marriage's campaign against same sex marriage is shaping up as the Heaven's Gate of all anti-gay campaigns.

First was the awful "Gathering Storm" ad which made the organization a laughing stock. Now comes the "No Offense" ad.

Through this ad, NOM was obviously hoping to take advantage of the Miss California Carrie Prejean/Perez Hilton same sex marriage question at the Miss America Pageant feud.

For the record, the ad is another flop for NOM.

It has received only one and a half stars on youtube and has been criticized for taking quotes out of context.

Box Turtle Bulletin said the ad had many problems, including:

1. It relies on old and trivial news. By now everyone has seen the little tiff between Carrie Prejean and Perez Hilton. And while some may sympathize with Carrie, it’s hardly the sort of incident upon which to base a significant political position.

2. It gives voice to NOM’s opposition. When your dear friend indignantly says, “she called me FAT!!”, it may not be admirable but the very first thing you automatically do is look to her waist to see if it’s true. So it isn’t wise to remind viewers that some consider NOM to be bigoted and untruthful; it places the association in their minds.

3. It has no point. The theme is “gay marriage supporters are bad because they called me names." And seeking to demonize your opponent may not be the wisest choice when you’ve just reminded your viewer that you are being called a bigot.

This controversy is petering out and save for scrappings between Prejean and Miss California pageant officials, no one is really giving a damn about it.

And apparently the NOM press conference stunk also. According to Rebecca Armendariz of The Washington Blade:

Just got back from the NOM press conference. Maggie Gallagher and Miss California Carrie Prejean were there, and there was even a reporter from "Inside Edition" to ask Prejean about her breast implants!

Gallagher introduced Carrie and was very careful in choosing her words. She said that she understands that the "attacks" on Miss Cali don't reflect the views of most gay people, and remained civil, and a little emotional, about the need to preserve traditional marriage. I'm sure she's also really proud of the soundbite she brought out for the occasion - that Carrie "chose the truth over the tiara."

Carrie seems to think that her views represent the "majority of people in my nation." I didn't get called on, so I couldn't bring this to her attention, but that majority is dwindling. A CBS poll from earlier in the week says 42 percent of the country supports same-sex marriage, and an ABC poll from today boasts a big 49 percent.

If we don't preserve "traditional" marriage, Carrie says, children will not have mothers and fathers. Because, you know, that's the norm. Miss Prejean really needs to take a look at Dan Savage's powerful "Every child deserves a mother and a father" series on Slog.

I'm in agreement with my fellow bloggers when they say "bring on the parodies!"

But I have one question. The dollar amount of $1.5 million has been thrown around when talking about the cost of this ad as well as the "Gathering Storm" ad.

Who in the hell is trying to get a tax write off?

UPDATE - It looks like Hilton had the ad removed from Youtube citing copyright issues. Well to hell with it all. I say let's make next year's Wrestlemania match against him and Prejean.

But in all honesty, NOM can't complain about this because the group has done the same thing regarding the now infamous "Gathering Storm" audition tapes.

Debate the points of Hilton's actions amongst yourselves. Personally I'm a bit conflicted.

And in other news:

Maine Senate Backs Same-Sex Marriage - Happy, happy! Joy, joy!

McGillis Confirms Lesbian Rumors - Welcome to the conspiracy Kelly McGillis (cue thunder and evil laugh)

Religious right now trying to punish pro-gay speech - First Tinky-Winky, now Miley Cyrus. How dare she say that God loves everyone!

Thursday midday news briefs

Video: Know Offense, NOM - NOM likes to claim that we won't discuss the issue of marriage equality. Per usual for them, that's a lie.

Nice Try, NOM -And from People for the American Way comes the news that NOM was taking quotes out of context in the new ad. Well I am shocked!!

Maine’s Governor Reportedly Backs Same-Sex Marriage - Meanwhile, in the real world that NOM does not seem to inhabit . . .

Transwoman wins half-million in lawsuit - My new best friend

SF police crackdown on Dore fair sex - I have to agree with the police on this one.

Paterson: Gay Marriage Opponents Suffer From 'Guilt' - Handle your business Governor Paterson!

And finally . . .

Joe Solmonese responds to NOM's new commercial - "The only terrible consequence of marriage equality they’ve demonstrated so far is a gay blogger disagreeing with a beauty queen. As far as my cameo, I appreciate them emphasizing my point that when debating the merits of this issue they only have lies on which to rely. While we believe in honoring all relationships, their relationship with the truth could use some help."

Can you say "BUUUUUURRNNNNN!"

One more thing about it. What's with comparing Carrie Prejean to Queen Esther from the Bible? Esther stopped the wholesale genocide of Jewish people. All Prejean did was answer a question, get a gay gossip columnist angry, and is now reaping the p.r. benefits of the entire thing.

I fail to see the comparison.

Carrie Prejean is not going away - but it's good for us

Well this is interesting - Carrie Prejean is not going away. But I don't think it's going to be a bad thing for us.

I just saw her on the Today show in an exclusive interview where she talked about her teaming with the National Organization for Marriage in a new ad campaign.

And I have two thoughts.

The first one - Ms. Prejean said she has not received any threats because of her stance - so I dare Maggie Gallagher and company to try and spin the physical threat claim.

The second thought - Oh My God, you have to be kidding me! Her answers to Matt Lauer's questions were short, inarticulate and very, very vauge. She came across as obviously coached.

Her constant talking point - she is just trying "to protect marriage." And she is willing to do what it takes to "protect marriage."

That's it. And I won't even get to her answer to the question comparing her to Sarah Palin.

My opinion is that she lucked into a situation (thanks again Perez) and the religious right is trying to take advantage of it. The National Organization for Marriage in particular after that awful "Gathering Storm" ad campaign is trying to rebound by using her.

So basically while I respect her opinion, it's safe to say that her 15 minutes are not just almost up, they are careening to a close with the speed of a runaway freight train.

If Prejean is what NOM considers a rebound then the organization should just call the game.

UPDATE - The ad is up. And while it is interesting how it compares Perez Hilton with HRC head Joe Solmonese, it also makes a huge error in referring to the "Gathering Storm" ad. The point of this ad should have been making people forget how bad the first one was. And it also makes more vague and easily refuted charges.

Hate crimes legislation passes!!!

And a Republican puts her foot in her mouth - talk about two for two

I know you all have heard by now:

HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION PASSED THE HOUSE!!!:

The House this afternoon passed an expanded hate crimes bill that would protect gay victims, and its chief sponsor in the Senate called for prompt final action.

The measure passed 249-175 over the objections of conservatives, the Associated Press reports.

The bill -- named for Matthew Shepard, the gay college student who was beaten to death in Wyoming in 1998 -- is a stronger version of a bill that died two years ago under a veto threat from President Bush.

And this story gets more interesting. In an attempt to speak against the bill, several Republicans made asses of themselves, The big booby prize goes to North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx:

If you didn't vote for this bill -- against this bill and against this rule for anything else, you could vote against it because we are spending additional money. i also would like to point out that there was a bill -- the hate crimes bill that's called the matthew sheppard bill is named afte a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. it wasn't because he was gay. this -- the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.

The idea that Matthew Shepard's murder was not an anti-gay crime but a robbery gone wrong is not an old one. The religious right have been batting that lie around ever since ABC's 20/20 featured a report on Shepard's murder a few years ago. For the record, the report only hinted at this idea of the robbery motive, offered no proof, and was highly criticized.

But the most important thing was that it didn't change anything. When ABC's Primetime news program investigated the murder of Medgar Evers, it led to a new trial and the conviction of his murdered, Byron de la Beckwith.

The 20/20 program on Shepard's murder accomplished nothing but bad contributing to factoids by the religious right.

By the way, go here for the truth behind Shepard's murder and yes, he was killed because of his sexual orientation.

Someone should tell Foxx that there is a difference between telling a lie to excite your base and trotting that lie out in the public eye. In the latter case, you usually have to provide proof.

And in other news:

We won't be getting hearing the last from Miss California for a while - It was bound to happen. She will be helping NOM in their anti-gay marriage campaign. Tomorrow, they will unveil a new ad featuring her. Oh boy! Someone please ask her about her junk science citing church.

And I mentioning this last because I want to end this entry with good news:

The state Senate voted Wednesday to move New Hampshire a step closer to becoming the fifth state to allow gay marriage, but made a distinction between religious and civil ceremonies, bringing back an idea the House rejected in March.

The bill, which passed the Senate 13-11, goes to the House, which can agree with the Senate, kill the bill or ask to negotiate something different.

Gov. John Lynch would only see a bill if both chambers agree. Lynch has said marriage is a word that should be reserved for the union of a man and a woman, but he has not specifically said he would veto a gay marriage bill.

Wednesday midday newsbriefs

Updates on hate crimes legislation vote courtesy of Twitter - Bear with me because I'm not sure how this Twitter thing works.

Obama pushes for hate crimes legislation - Amen!

Reading, writing, and requesting notification when a teacher so much as mispronounces Uruguay - Sorry but learning about lgbt families is not the same as sex education and therefore requires no parent notification, no matter what the religious right says.

Rev. Irene Monroe: When queer communities of color are not needed to win marriage rights - Rev. Irene Monroe lays it down again and generates much needed discussion in our community.

Gays have right to attend high school proms - With the dates of our choice - you have better believe it!

Hate Crimes Legislation Vote Today - keep your fingers crossed

Congress will be voting on hate crimes legislation today and hopefully it will pass.

Our friends at the phony news site, One News Now, is already conceding this point.

If it does pass (and hopefully it will), some of the credit has to go to the religious right. Organizations such as the Traditional Values Coalition and the Liberty Counsel are encouraging their supporters to inudate Congress with emails and phone calls speaking against hate crimes legislation.

But their information is not only wrong but alarmingly wrong:

Hate Crimes Bill Protects Cross-Dressers and Pedophiles but Not Veterans or Grandmas

Contact: Liberty Counsel Public Relations Department, 800-671-1776

WASHINGTON, April 28 /Standard Newswire/ -- On Wednesday, April 29, the U.S. House is scheduled to vote on so-called "hate crimes" legislation, which would give "actual or perceived" "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" the same federal protection as race. Last week the House Judiciary Committee refused to exclude pedophiles from the bill's protection. The Committee also refused to include veterans. Moreover, the bill does not include the elderly. H.R. 1913 (Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009) is not about stopping crime but is designed to give "actual or perceived" sexual preference or "gender identity" (which is still classified as a mental disorder) the same legal status as race. The DSM IVR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual used by psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose mental disorders) lists more than 30 "sexual orientations" and "Gender Identity Disorders," including pedophilia. The hate crimes bill does not limit "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" and, thus, includes all these disorders and fetishes. The use of "actual or perceived" includes those with disorders or deviant sexual preferences and those who do not have such disorders or fetishes, so long as it is alleged that the person charged allegedly "thought" the other person had such disorder or fetish.

It's one thing to inudate your representative with emails and phone calls, but it's quite another to do such using bad information. Elected officials are not stupid and just how many of them will be swayed by information that they know to be inaccurate?

I have a feeling that the information put out by the religious right may have the opposite effect, i.e. alienating members of Congress and demonstrating the need for lgbt inclusive hate crimes legislation.

At least I sincerely hope so.

Tuesday afternoon news briefs

This is going to be a wild week!

NOM's and Harry Jackson's Stand4Marriage Rally flops; Marion Barry joins the anti-gays - Definition of irony defined by the above picture - "Christians" teaming up with a crack smoker to defeat gay marriage. You see this is what I'm talking about when it comes to what lgbts of color have to deal with. In the black community, you can be a thief, murderer, or drug addict. Just as long as you aren't gay or lesbian.

Franks and Gohmert Team Up With the Religious Right - A perfect example of what I've been talking about regarding Miss California. Why would Congressmen team up with hate groups? And just in time for tomorrow's vote on hate crimes legislation. Call your Congressman - I've already called mine.

Resisting fellows who get in bed with fellows makes strange, hate-certified bedfellows - Another view of the press conference courtesy of Jeremy from Goodasyou.org

Social Security Administration to Provide Benefits in Lambda Legal Case Representing Gay Father’s Children - Step by step, our families are winning this fight.

Arlen Specter--Republican Shrinkage Continues - The story that everyone is talking about so I figure what the heck.

One more thing - according to Goodasyou.org, Carrie Prejean will be appearing on a radio show with our favorite anti-gay spokespeople Matt Barber and Matt Staver. I guess we can expect to hear more self-righteous rhetoric. I bet they won't ask about her church's beliefs regarding pedophilia and homosexuality.

Why the Miss California/Rock Church story is important

With my post about Miss California's church now exploding on the blogs, I really would like to clarify what this issue is about.

It's not about faith or the supression of faith. And to a degree, it's not even about Perez Hilton and Carrie Prejean.

It's about lies and ugly tactics being enhanced by egos and Biblical verses.

It's about people who are so blinded by what they think is God's view of homosexuality that they are willing to break his other commandments to further this view - particularly the one about bearing false witness.

Google the name "Paul Cameron" and count how many supposed "pro-family" and "traditional values" organizations use his research even after its been continuously discredited.

Better yet, get on the Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, or the Traditional Values Coalition webpages and read how they lie about hate crimes legislation. Read their lies about how the law will lead to pastors being jailed for speaking against homosexuality in the pulpit. They know that this is not true.

Watch religious right spokespeople get on talk shows and bring up anecdotal incidents about Christians supposedly being discriminated against because of the alleged "gay agenda." Then research said incident and discover that these spokespeople weren't exactly honest and left out many details that presents a totally different view of the incident.

The fact of the matter is that there continues to be a plethora of bad information put out about the lgbt community and the propagators of this bad information are by those who claim to be Christians.

Paul Cameron's bad studies only scratches the surface.

Just how many folks like Prejean have been taken in by this stuff and convinced that their lgbt neighbors are not deserving of basic rights under the law?

That's the real story here.

And lastly, would someone answer a question for me?

I hear so many of my heterosexual African-American brothers and sisters claim that this isn't an issue of civil rights. I would like to know if some of these folks can tell me just what is the difference between what is being done to the lgbt community by the propagators of these inaccurate fear tactics and the lies that stigmatizes black men as overly criminal and black women as sluts?

When you can answer that question, I will be in your corner.

But it's not going to happen because I know you can't.

Why does Miss California’s church believe that homosexuality and pedophilia are linked?

Church cites discredited Paul Cameron data

When the Miss America controversy started, I defended Carrie Prejean, Miss California, for her answer to Perez Hilton’s question regarding same-sex marriage. I felt that it was her right to answer the question as she felt.

But now we are in totally different territory.

Someone has alerted me to the fact that her church, The Rock Church of San Diego, uses junk science in order to villify the lgbt community.

I looked at the church’s webpage and found there to be a lot of inaccurate information, particularly regarding gays and HIV:

male homosexuals are 430 times more likely to contract HIV than a heterosexual, while heterosexuals have a 1-in-750,000 chance of contracting the virus responsible for HIV, a male homosexual has a 1-in-165 chance of getting HIV. A 20 year old gay male has a 30% chance of either dying or contracting AIDS before the age of 30. They are also 23 times more likely to get other sexually transmitted diseases than a heterosexual.

But it’s the next section that caught my eye like a blinking light:

There are also moral repercussions stemming from homosexual behavior as evidenced by the fact that one third of all sexual crimes against children are committed by homosexuals even though they are representative of only one percent of the population. Pedophilia has even been called central to the gay lifestyle. The agenda of the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) is to lower the age of consent so that sex with children will be legal.

The idea that homosexuality and pedophilia are linked is a lie that has been refuted continuously. The American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Academy of Child Psychiatrists and the Child Welfare League of America all say that the homosexuality and pedophilia are not linked.

So where did that notion come from? The discredited researcher Paul Cameron:

In a 1985 article published in Psychological Reports, Cameron purported to review published data to answer the question, "Do those who commit homosexual acts disproportionately incorporate children into their sexual practices?" (p. 1227). He concluded that "at least one-third of the sexual attacks upon youth are homosexual" (p. 1228) and that "those who are bi- to homosexual are proportionately much more apt to molest youth" than are heterosexuals (p. 1231).

By the way, Cameron got into trouble with the Nebraska Psychological Association for that particular study regarding homosexuality and pedophilia. He distorted the work of one A. Nicholas Groth to make his claims. Groth complained, saying the following:

“(Cameron) misrepresents my findings and distorts them to advance his homophobic views. I make a very clear distinction in my writing between pedophilia and homosexuality, noting that adult males who sexually victimize young boys are either pedophilic or heterosexual, and that in my research I have not found homosexual men turning away from adult partners to children . . . I consider this totally unprofessional behavior on the part of Dr. Cameron and I want to bring this to your attention. He disgraces his profession.”

So apparently this Christian church has no problem with using data by a discredited researcher who has been kicked out of the American Psychological Association as well as rebuked and censured by organizations such as the American Sociological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association due to his tendency to distort credible research in order to stigmatize the lgbt community.

Cameron's organization, the Family Research Institute, is listed as an official hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, by the way.

As I said before, I respect Ms.Prejean’s religious beliefs. And I have rolled my eyes and turned the channel every time I heard about the controversy with a prayer on my lips that it would soon leave the news cycle.

But here is the thing that bothers me - if a racist were to use FBI crime statistics to infer inaccuracies about the African-American community, he would have no credibility.

How is it that a church can say some of the ugliest things about the gay community and use bad science to back it up without fear of reprisal?

You see this is the issue that doesn’t get talked about much.

There is a plethora of bad information out there which stigmatizes the lgbt community as disease ridden sexual deviants.

And the people who are pushing this bad information aren’t wearing hoods and sheets. They don’t burn crosses or use secret handshakes.

They are the people in America’s churches; in the pews and in the pulpits.

They are also the spokespeople of these so-called traditional values groups who get on television and take self-righteous stances knowing fully well that they are engaging in lies.

And why do they get away with it? Because no one seems to have caught on to their game.

When Tony Perkins, Matt Barber, Peter LaBarbera, Maggie Gallagher, and the rest go into their routine, we know they are lying. We know that behind their words are inaccuracies that would be called out for the bigoted lies they are if they were about groups other than the lgbt community.

The sad thing is that there are so many people like Prejean who don’t know; who fall for it with unsurprising ease.

Prejean is not the one who we should be fighting. She never was.

She is merely a symptom of the bigger problem.

The wolves at Free Republic don't like Iowa right now

You know it's a slow news day when we aren't the lead story at One News Now. The Freepers still "love" us though. Apart from spinning the Miss California situation on its head repeatedly, they also had very interesting comments regarding same sex marriage being available in Iowa:

The more the left, and the rest of this country, coddles to homosexuality the more deaths of homosexuals will occur from there own chosen lust. Homosexuality is a deathstyle not a lifestyle.

"Watch your cornhole, bud"

Iowa? I knew hayseed rednecks married 1st cousins but didn’t know they could be the same sex.

I live in Texas, will be happy to provide name and address. As for them showing up on my lawn; well we have laws in Texas and if we feel our health or property are in danger we have the right to use any means deemed necessary to protect.

Meanwhile,we STILL haven’t seen Obama’s birth certificate....

This nation is ripe for judgment and it is coming.

The Freepers are so reliable.

Monday midday news briefs

Facebook organizing FAIL - National Organization for Marriage's new failure. I had to get my shots in also.

Iowa same-sex marriages begin; dozens apply for licenses - I do love progress.

Maggie Gallagher's Letter to the NY Times - New game - every time Maggie Gallagher uses the word "bigot" in her talking points, take a drink.

House Oks adding sexual orientation to hate crimes law, which now goes to Senate - In Alabama? I'm as shocked as you.

Homosexual adoption sports new name in Michigan - Brought to you by One News Now and religious right spokesperson Gary Glenn. Glenn runs the gambit of lies, including citing the distortion of the 1997 Canadian study as well as pro-gay studies he takes out of context. The big question is who are you going to believe - a man who has a bias against the gay community or organizations with more credibility when it comes to research in same sex households?

It's a good question - Why the f*&! do some people have children?

To hear the religious right (especially the groupies at NOM) tell it, allowing lgbts to marry or adopt would "doom" children to bad homes "by design."

They should take a look at the pictures from the webpage Why the F-- Do You Have Children. Granted the webpage is meant to be satirical but it does pose a good question about the role of marriage and children in society. Are gays and lesbians really the problem?:

President Obama picks African-American lesbian mother for key Labor position

From Americablog:

A great pick for the Labor Department today -- a very strong advocate working men and women:

Labor unions scored a victory today when the President Barack Obama named a top labor advocate to serve in a key position in the Labor Department.

Mary Beth Maxwell will join the administration as senior adviser after serving for years as the executive director of the labor coalition American Rights at Work. In the administration, Maxwell will work with the White House Task Force on Middle Class and Working Families, a group that is working to improve the lives and jobs of workers.

Mary Beth Maxwell is also openly gay. She was under consideration for Secretary of Labor earlier this year as we reported in December. Here's a profile from the WSJ:

For the rainbow cabinet of the nation’s first African American president, Mary Beth Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you’ve probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son. And this founding executive director of American Rights at Work is about to get the full-court press.
She's the perfect adviser to the labor secretary now, too.

Now some folks probably feel that I shouldn't make a big deal about Maxwell in this manner (i.e. focusing on the her sexual orientation), but I don't care for two reasons:

1. Lgbts of color have very very few public role models to look up to.

2. BET has shown the anti-gay movie Soul Plane continuously over the past year and being that I haven't cut anyone because of it, I'm entitled to some joy.

So. . . .

Eat that, Hary Jackson, Ken Hutcherson, Peter LaBarbera and the rest (you know you are) who exploit the fear between the black and gay communities!!!!

Friday midday news briefs

Gay student dismissed from Cornell Christian group - We are in the right here despite how the religious right may spin the situation.

Right Sounds False Alarm On Hate Crimes Legislation - People for the American Way breaks it down.

Faked Evidence of ‘Gay Conversion’? - More fakery courtesy of the ex-gay movement? I'm shocked!

'Gay' activists show true colors following Miss USA pageant - One News Now gives a misleading headline and many of the commentators calls the phony news service on it

What's wrong with my beautiful black people, Lord?

A friend of mine emailed me a link that he said drove him out of his mind. In reading the link, I don't blame him for wanting to cut someone.

The link is a webpage for a new book, Crooks and Homos in the Pulpit (not that's not a typo). The preview of the book says the following:

Do church leaders such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Bishop Eddie Long, Dr. Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen, or reported homosexual Pastor Ted Haggard truly understand God's Word? If so, why have they become corporate CEO's, allowing money, greed, and materialism to take over their souls? These leaders are whoring God's people from the pulpit, while teaching legions of pimps, crooks, liars, and homosexuals, who pose as pastors, to follow in their footsteps.

In Crooks and Homos in the Pulpit, author Reuben Armstrong exposes the false doctrine of prosperity and "feel good" message that Jakes, Long, Dollar, Osteen, and Haggard proclaim. You will discover what the Bible says about false leaders such as these men and the judgment they face.

Armstrong points out that too many churches have become corporate meet and meat markets. Through extensive research, he outlines what really goes on inside the "house of worship." He exposes the shocking lifestyles of prosperity preachers, the sexual favors given in pastoral studies and Sunday School rooms, and the church hoochie mommas and puff daddies these people attract as their groupies.

Armstrong's book is a wake up call to the Body of Christ. He points to the crooks, liars, thieves, and homosexuals who are flaunting their sickening lifestyles in front of God's people, while taking the last dollar that church folk have. Christians can no longer allow the likes of Jakes, Long, Osteen, Dollar and Haggard in their pulpits. It's time for God's church to rise up against all false teachers and say, "Enough is enough! Take your false doctrines with you straight to the pits of hell!"

Just another piece of trash masquerading as an expose. No doubt it's going to be a big seller in the black community.

This book reminds me of that ridiculous mess by J.L. King a while back which help to fuel the so-called "down low" phenomena.

Very few individuals know just how stupid this "spotting down low men" mania got. A wannabe writer by the name of Sharahzad Ali wrote a book which featured "signs" for women to recognize if their mate was secretly gay:

1) Men are very territorial, if another man enters their space or violates their square, he'll move away or take a step back, if he doesn't move this might be a sign that he's open for getting closer. Notice if they brush shoulders or lean over across each other touching ever so slightly – like lovers do.

2) Is he effeminate? Some men slowly move into a more feminine stand, or pose. They might start wearing their belts tighter to show their shape, or it might just be the flinging up of a finger or how they place their feet when standing. Or they may start wearing footies around the house and walking on their toes. It's doubtful they'll slip and do any of this.

3) If he holds eye contact too long with a man, or if he holds on to his hand after shaking it, or if he prolongs hugging a man past the greeting stage.

4) If you notice him watching other men just a little bit too much, or if he raises his voice a bit too loud when he's with you and other men are present to get their attention. Does he seem to follow a man to the restroom at a restaurant or club?

5) Check out his friends, how do they act with each other, are they masculine or working hard to appear so, do they talk on the phone a bit too much for two adult men?

6) How does he sleep at night, what position does he sleep in? Does he sleep like a woman, or like a man? What does he talk about in his sleep?

7) Has he been single just a bit too long? What is his history with women? Why did they break up, Does he go on long drives alone? Is he cruising?

8) Discuss homosexuality with him, see how he reacts. If he reacts too strongly on the negative or too violently – perhaps he's protesting so strongly to throw you off track so he isn't suspect himself.

9) Discuss child molestation with him and see how he feels about it, ask him was he ever molested, does he know any men who were, and how does he think it affects a man's sexuality.

10) You can touch his rectum to see if he has those tell-tale humps on his anus from having it stretched open with a penis. Then later on ask him if he's ever had hemorrhoids really bad.

11) Check his underwear for tiny streaks of bloodstains, or clear stains which may be semen. There may not be any because men on the DL are usually `Tops' so they can justify themselves as not being Gay.

12) Chart your sex life. Note how often you and he are intimate and if you're always the one who has to start the process rolling. Is he in a hurry? Is it a problem for him getting an maintaining an erection, when it never used to be that difficult?

13) If he has a lot of unexcused absences, and if he's out later than he usually is a couple of times a week. He might be cruising or stopping by a Gay after-hour joint after his regular activities.

14) If he likes anal stimulation, or likes to have his prostrate massaged – and asks/begs for it.

15) If he wants to have anal sex more than vaginal sex, or skips your vagina altogether.

16) If he asks you to "toss his salad" and you agree, and his legs go up too quickly, he's probably used to doing it.

17) Some women get their Gay friend to "hit" on their man to see if he goes for it (Not good).

18) If he asks you to strap on a dildo and do him in the rear this may be a hint of what he's used to.

I don't know what's funnier - the signs or the fact that someone took this mess seriously.

This new book about "crooks and homos in the pulpit" is like Ali's book - a symptom of ignorance in the black community.

That's the problem with not discussing vital issues - there tends to be a lot of fear, bad information, and an unnecessary salacious quality added.

If there were real discussions in the black community about lgbts of color, it would go a long way to dispelling so many inaccuracies.

Until we start having these real discussions, expect see more exploitation by phonies masquerading as concerned professionals.

Hell, I may just write my own book.

Hate crimes legislation passes Judicial Committee - now the real fun begins

By a vote of 15-12, hate crimes legislation passes the House Judiciary Committee. It could go up for a vote by the full House as early as next week.

And the religious right are just itching for a way to defeat it.

Just in case the lie about pastors going to jail isn't enough the derail the bill, the religious right are now inaccurately claiming that the bill is not clear on what exactly is a sexual orientation.

Aiding and abetting this nonsense is Republican Congressman Steve King:

Steve King (R-Iowa) told Democratic members that "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" are vague terms that need to be specifically defined since courts will be analyzing those terms.

"This panel -- this Judiciary Committee, including the authors of this bill -- either don't know or won't say what the definitions are, for example, [of] gender identity [or] sexual orientation," King stated. "Does sexual orientation...include transvestism? Does it include transgendered? Are those two that are also part of sexual orientation?" he asked. "And if so, if that's two of 30 [orientations], what are the other 28 that are part of sexual orientation?"

This is nonsense. It's a lie perpetrated by the Traditional Values Coalition. What King was referring to are paraphalias, which are described as:

. . . fantasies, behaviors, or sexual urges focusing on unusual objects, activities, or situations . .

Paraphilias have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

King also inaccurately linked the transgendered community with paraphalias.

As this legislation moves to a vote, expect to see the religious right pull out all of the stops. According to People for the American Way, they already have.

Link here to read a listing of religious right lies and generally inaccurate statements about hate crimes legislation including:

Focus on the Family - Under "hate-crimes" laws like H.R. 1913, pastors could be prosecuted for preaching the biblical view of homosexuality. Similar laws have been used to prosecute religious speech in the U.S. at the state level and abroad.

"The homosexual activists' mantra is no longer tolerance — it's embrace and promote," said Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst at Focus on the Family Action. "Anything less will be silenced. Christians must speak up."

Family Research Council - The act would establish a new FEDERAL offense for so-called "hate crimes" and add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as protected classes. It will mandate a separate federal criminal prosecution for state offenses.

Adding "sexual orientation" to thought crimes legislation gives one set of crime victims a higher level of protection than it gives to people like you and me.

And of course the Traditional Values Coalition - The main purpose of this “hate crime” legislation is to add the categories of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” “either actual or perceived,” as new classes of individuals receiving special protection by federal law. Sexual orientation includes heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality on an ever-expanding continuum. Will Congress also protect these sexual orientations-zoophiles, pedophiles or polygamists?

Gender identity includes such gender confused behaviors as cross-dressing, she-male, drag queen, transvestite, transsexual or transgender. Under the Act, neither “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” are really defined. How can a law be enforced if the new classes receiving special protection remain undefined?

It's going to be very interesting to see what happens. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that the bill passes the other hurdles.

Thursday midday news briefs

Gay-themed library celebrates opening in Fort Lauderdale - An excellent idea that should be spread across the nation.

Vote caps decade-long Conn. gay marriage fight - More good news from Connecticut!

WA passes trans hate crimes bill - Nothing wrong with more good news.

The Zapata murder trial coverage - and the missed opportunity of the LGB media and blogosphere - In the midst of all of the good news, let's not forget we still have work to do.

For first time since early 2004, more Americans think nation is heading in the right direction than not - While not necessarly an lgbt issue per se, it's still nice to take note of this in light of last week's teabag parties.

The reason why Black Prides must exist

Forgive me for doing a little advertising this morning

Last night, I got angry with an episode of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.

One of the child characters, Malik, found himself in the middle of the dilemma because one of his friends was HIV positive. The child was ostracisized and Malik had to defend him from the other children.

This the second time House of Payne focused on the issue of HIV and AIDS in the black community. The other time, another one of the leading characters was dating an HIV positive woman.

But at neither time did this show even talk about black gay men who are one of main groups affected in startling large numbers by HIV and AIDS.

It's almost as if the show was saying that HIV and AIDS is a problem only when it affects the "normal folks" in the black community.

But it’s par for the course with this show. House of Payne is one of the most popular shows in the black community and it has yet to have even a guest character who is lgbt. But it doesn’t seem to have a problem with making jokes about someone being gay or being on the “down low.”

And its indicative of the black community. No one in the black community seems to care about lgbts of color - our issues, or our lives in general.

Instead we are supposed to be placated by ridiculous assurances that "no one has a problem with our 'lifestyle' as long as we aren't in anyone's faces about it."

Meanwhile, we are pushed in a psychological closet and muzzled like dogs.

When our leaders talk about the problems of the black community, we know they won't include us.

When well meaning activists focus on the "State of Black America," we are absent.

When magazines like Ebony write articles comparing "black civil rights" and "gay civil rights," they conveniently can't find lgbts of color to comment.

Well that's nonsense and I'm tired of it. I'm gay, I'm an African-American and I am proud of both of my identities.

I don't feel as if I have to choose between the two. That's why I have been busy helping to coordinate Black Prides in South Carolina. This year will our the fourth one.

Black prides must continue to exist so that we can remind people that lgbts of color exist. Whether the rest of the black community approves of us or not is irrelevant. We deserve acknowledgement and respect.

It's as simple as that:

South Carolina to be United 4 Change:
Black, Bold & Proud in June

The African-American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of South Carolina and its allies will be out and proud June 18-21 as the state holds its Fourth Annual SC Black Pride in the state’s capital, Columbia.

The theme, United 4 Change: Black, Bold & Proud, promises many surprises that will celebrate the richness of South Carolina’s same gender loving community of color as well as the diversity of the LGBT community at large.

“Our purpose is to celebrate the often subjugated creativity, beauty, dignity, and brilliance of South Carolina’s Black LGBT community,” says Dr. Todd Shaw, Chair, of the SC Black Pride Committee. “Racism and homophobia attack same-gender loving [African-American] sisters and brothers [conjointly]. Now’s the time for the Black community to understand how much we contribute to the larger freedom struggle and for society to understand how much we contribute as loving mothers, fathers, teachers, preachers and young leaders.”

Organizers anticipate a record 4,000 South Carolinians and out-of-town guests will participate in the scheduled events, official parties and community expo.

All are welcome to attend! To learn more about this Pride’s many empowering events (including becoming a vendor and advertising in the Pride Guide), refer to:

South Carolina Black Pride
P.O. Box 8191
Columbia, SC 29202
www.southcarolinablackpride.com
info@southcarolinablackpride.com

2009 SC Black Pride Events
(All events are in Columbia, South Carolina)

*** Pre-Pride Events ***

Friday, May 29th
Sexxy Redd Party, $10 Admission
PT’s Cabaret, 1101 Harden St., 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Friday, June 12th
Mr. & Ms. SC Black Pride Pageant, $10 General Admission
PT’s Cabaret, 1101 Harden St., 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Sunday, June 15th
Volunteering Training & Appreciation Dinner, Free Admission
Harriet Hancock Center, 1108 Woodrow St., 6:30 – 8 p.m.

*** Pride Week ***

Thursday, June 18th
Welcome Reception, Free Admission – Cash bar
HUSH Restaurant & Tappas Bar, 1004 Gervais St., 7 – 9 p.m.

Friday, June 19th
MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) HIV Prevention Institute
"Evidence That Demands Action", 5605 Bush River Rd., 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 pm
$20-25 registration
Sponsored by AID Upstate, Greenville, SC with support from the AAMSM Workgroup

Juneteenth Black LGBT Film Fest & Talk Back, Free Admission
USC Law School Auditorium, 701 Main St., 7 – 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 20th
Community Expo! Free Admission
Vendors, Entertainment, Door Prizes
Courtyard by Marriott, 630 Assembly St.
Presidential Ballroom, 12 noon – 6 p.m.

Women’s Party!
Sponsored by SC Black Pride, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., TBA

SCBP Ball Hosted by Econ Blahnik
“Operation Enduring Freedom,"
$30 Admission
Courtyard by Marriott, 630 Assembly St.
Presidential Ballroom, 12 midnight – 5 a.m.

Sunday, June 21st
Community Worship Service, Free Admission
Courtyard by Marriott, 630 Assembly St.
Co-Presided by
Pastor Rashawn Flournoy, Freedom Worship Church, Greenville, SC and
Bishop Tonyia Rawls and Rev. Marage Romeo of Unity Fellowship Church, Charlotte, NC