Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Friday, March 05, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Midnight Cowboy

With Oscars coming up Sunday, you all probably think that I'm going to mention Brokeback Mountain.

Guess again.

I want to talk about a legendary award-winning movie strictly because it contained one of the most repulsive anti-gay scenes in the history of cinema.

Midnight Cowboy (1969) tells the story of two oddballs in the city of New York; one played by Jon Voight thinks that he has what it takes to be a gigolo. The other, played by Dustin Hoffman, is an asthmatic loser who acts as his pimp.

For some reason, this movie was a monster critical hit, winning several Oscars including Best Picture.

I found the movie to be scuzzy and squalor and one scene stands out in a horrid way.

Voight's character needs money for a bus trip to take Hoffman to a warmer climate before the New York weather kills him.

To do so, he allows himself to be picked up by a self-hating gay man played by Barnard Hughes.

The following scene, starting at 5:55 just turns my stomach.

I know many gay men and in that number there are a few which I despise. But I hope that NONE of them ever end up like Hughes's character:

Catholic sex scandal, more attacks on Kevin Jennings, and Victoria Jackson has lost her %$!@ mind

Vatican Hit By Gay Sex Scandal - And us gays and lesbians trying to live our lives in peace are the bad guys to the Catholic Church. Talk about a topsy-turvy world.

'Defamation-spouting, fallacy-supporting' - When all of their attempts to defame Kevin Jennings have failed, this is what the Family Research Council is reduced to.

SNL alumni Victoria Jackson needs prayer - the next time one of those teabaggers or annoying anti-Obamites claim that their criticism of the president has been misconstrued, show them the following video. It is NOT a parody:

And no, President Obama is NOT a communist. I sincerely doubt that Jackson even knows what that word means. But here is are words she should know the meaning of - mental patient.

Gay KKK - Funny or offensive?

This is a short clip but I want your opinion on it. Is it funny or offensive?(I'm embarrassed to say that I laughed my head off).

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Jon Stewart says what the media is too chicken@#$! to say about Fox News

I've come to the conclusion that I shouldn't worry about Fox News. Everyone knows the network is biased and is trying to undermine President Obama but I guess desensitization has set in.

More than anything, Fox News being able to get away with it's nonsense simply emphasizes how corrupt the Washington media is. There are too many former campaign workers, trust fund babies and thinktank bloodsuckers masquerading as journalists.

To wit, Fox News will continue to get away with what it does until the network causes some serious damage. Then watch how these same lazy newspeople wring their hands in mock sadness as they proclaim they "never figured that Fox News's bullshit would culminate into something tragic."

But what do you think would be the end result of comparing the President to Hitler, claiming that he is make America less safe, is buying votes for health care, etc. etc.?

In the meantime, thank goodness for people like Jon Stewart who does the job that the news media is supposed to do:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

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www.thedailyshow.com

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Health Care Reform

Who is holding up Chai Feldblum's nomination? and other Thursday midday news briefs

Which Senator Has a Secret 'Hold' on Gay Nominee Chai Feldblum? - And the coward won't reveal him/herself. Why am I not surprised?

Peter LaBarbera Running For GOP Seat - Scary, isn't it?

Democrats vow quick end to 'don't ask, don't tell' as Senate bill is introduced - We will see what happens.

Our Nation's Policies Will Now Be Determined Solely By The FDA - This just in - Matt Barber is nuts.

Donohue: When It Comes to Gays, the GOP Gets All Jittery and Inarticulate -Oh if only that were true.

Attacks on gay students no big deal to the religious right

The American Family Association's One News Now seems to be up in arms about the bill from Congressman Jared Polis which is aimed at stopping the bullying of gay students in America's schools:

Concern is rising over a bill in Congress that would provide special protections for students who claim they are discriminated against because of their "perceived sexual orientation."

Earlier this year, Colorado representative Jared Polis introduced a bill known as The Student Non-Discrimination Act, or H.R. 4530. The Democrat claimed the legislation would put homosexual students on "equal footing" with their peers, much as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act did for minorities and Title IX did for women.

Neal McCluskey (Cato Institute)But Neal McCluskey, associate director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute, believes the government is using this bill to try and give people protective status based on their class.

"When government starts to say, 'No, because you belong to this group you get extra protection,' that's very disturbing," he comments. "We want equal protection under the law."

McCluskey adds that this legislation holds a more specific problem.

"It's such a broad definition that any student who might say anything remotely critical about homosexual lifestyles, any opinion they might have, could be punished under this law," he explains. "And if they're not punished for expressing what's a totally valid opinion, then the school could be punished, and that simply isn't acceptable in a free society because it curbs people's free speech rights."

The article is standard example of how not to write a news story on so many levels. First of all, "concern is rising" from whom? I'd venture to say no one but those guillible to take in this article as truth.

Secondly, the article does not say just what "special" or "extra" protection gay students would receive."Special protection" is another way of saying "special rights," which is an old religious right talking point about gays and lesbians

Lastly, McCluskey's statement can be seen differently if one would add just a few changes:

McCluskey adds that this legislation holds a more specific problem.

"It's such a broad definition that any student who might say anything remotely critical about homosexual lifestyles (like calling a gay student a "faggot,") any opinion they might have, could be punished under this law," he explains. "And if they're not punished for expressing what's a totally valid opinion (like threatening the gay student with violence), then the school could be punished (for not protecting the gay student), and that simply isn't acceptable in a free society because it curbs people's free speech rights. (because students should be free to call gay students derogatory names or threaten their lives)."

Okay, maybe I took too many liberties with McCluskey's words but I did so to make a point about him and One News Now.

The bullying of gay students is a huge problem in our nation's schools. There are too many stories of children getting beat up or committing suicide because of homophobia.

And those are the stories we know about. Let us not forget the children who are forced to drop out of school because of the attacks against them - students who are robbed of an education and the ability of achieving their full potential simply because of the ignorance of other students and the inability of schools to address the problem.

It is an issue that needs to be tackled with intensity instead of being minimized by a pseudo Christian publication and a thinktank syncophant.

Related article:

'Smear the Queer': Gay Students Tell Their Stories

H.R. 4530 – The “Student Non-Discrimination Act” (SNDA)

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Congratulations D.C.!

Stuff like this always gives me hope for the future. We are going to win this fight:

GOP attacking DADT study BEFORE it even comes out and other Wednesday midday news briefs

GOP: military's study of DADT will be biased - This is what's called "gaming the referee." The GOP is obviously running scared.

NOM's grassroots are showing - National Organization for Marriage's true colors are showing.

Reuters: Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill Hinders Investments - And they deserve it.

American Political Science Association Moves Conference From Uganda - More backlash against Uganda is a good thing.

Free Republic - The only people who take Paul Cameron's DADT ramblings seriously

This is hilarious and yes I am posting it for a laugh.

As we all know, discredited researcher Paul Cameron has been sticking his nasty tentacles in the argument over the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and claiming that if the law is repealed, gays will be encouraged to rape their fellow service members.

Now he has come out with a new piece entitled Gays in Military = Sex in the Barracks and if you have an question just what this piece is about, his opening paragraph removes all doubt:

If homosexuals are allowed to serve in the military, they will be recruiting in the showers, having sex in the barracks, and straights will undergo sensitivity training. Before long, the U.S. may be defended by the sex-obsessed and those who can tolerate kowtowing to them.

These are the truths that no one will speak.

Forget about ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ (DADT). The issue is NOT about whether those engaging in homosexual sex are, or are not, asked about their ‘sexual preferences.’ The real issue is whether the federal law against sodomy in the armed forces will be abolished either by statute or practice. If the law is abolished, not only will there be open homosexual sex in the barracks, but regulations against hostility to it will be enforced with vigor.

Of course, almost no one else is saying these things. So how can FRI be sure they are true?

It is the ‘nature’ of most homosexuals to ‘do their thing’ — and the more public the better. This characteristic has been noted throughout history. Sex, to the homosexually addicted, is close to the be-all and end-all of life. Why else have 300,000 male homosexuals died of AIDS, even though the mechanism — penile-anal sex — has been known since 1983? Why else do so many homosexuals engage in public sex? Why are there ‘gay pride’ parades?

How else to explain Adam Lambert? Instead of becoming just another rich ‘star,’ on November 22, he performed at the American Music Awards, broadcast on ABC. During his number, he proceeded to grind one of his dancer’s faces into his pelvis, grab the crotch of another, and passionately kiss his male keyboardist1. That “performance is something I’m extremely proud of and I wouldn’t change a thing. I am glad it facilitated a conversation about what kind of double standards there are out there.”

Only in the screwed up mind of Paul Cameron can there be a connection between the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and American Idol's Adam Lambert.

But that's not the funny part of this piece by a longshot. The apex of hilarity is that the folks at Free Republic actually take this junk as fact. In between demanding President Obama's birth certificate and thinking that Sarah Palin is the second coming of Joan of Arc, the Freepers are actually anointing Cameron as the bastion of sense against Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

I guess there is accounting for taste . . . or lack thereof:

Check out some of the comments:

If you are a heterosexual, you are in danger.

If a homo lays hands on a hetero, under the new proposed rules, the homo will have the upper hand. I predict murders over this. All of it is unnecessary. Just another way for Obama to humiliate and create dissent in the military.

It will change because then they will demand that the military march in gay pride parades and recruit at gay pride events. It is already happening. Also it will lead to people who dare express any affront to homosexual bad behavior being placed at risk. Say you are in the barracks and sexually harassing language or touching occurs that is considered “all in fun to homosexuals” those that dare report it would find themselves to the disadvantage. People say nothing would change. It already is and for the worse.

This is precisely what I've been saying for months. Homosexuals somehow seem to find each other, and they cluster around each other. I'm sure, as time goes on, there will be command areas that become more gay friendly than others. In these areas, it will be like a gay bath house, a virtual Sodom & Gomorrah.

““When I joined the military it was illegal to be homosexual, then it became optional. I’m getting out before it becomes mandatory!””

When I was in the military, some guys decided to get out, claiming to be homo’s.

While their paperwork was being processed they moved to series of special barracks. We had various names for those but that isn’t the point.

The worst scutt duty was be put on night watch for those barracks to keep an orgy from breaking out.

There would also be affirmative action in promotions for homos.
“We need a gay squad leader in that platoon, Captain. See to it.”
“Yes, sir Colonel”.

Actually the promoters of the homo-nazi agenda want the military weakened, it’s a two-fer for them. Promoting homosexuality, *and* weaken the military. I do not see this as inevitable. I foresee turmoil that will cause a shift in the direction we (as a country) are on.

The “gay lifestyle” is about sex - as much as possible, on demand, and usually anonymous. It is NOT about acheiving equality, marriage, or anything else. That is the fake vaneer that is put on it.

You all will forgive me for not posting the pictures included with some of these comments. But even I have to draw the line.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

You lose, Harry Jackson! Now go away! Gay marriage will happen in D.C.!

Excellent news from the Supreme Court today regarding gay marriage in Washington, D.C.:

The Supreme Court has refused to stop the District of Columbia's gay marriage law.

The court on Tuesday turned down requests from gay marriage opponents to stop the law, which will take effect on Wednesday.

Opponents of the law had argued to Chief Justice John Roberts that D.C. voters should have been allowed to vote on the issue. Local courts have rejected the opponents' arguments. Local courts have rejected the opponents' arguments.

The city has said Wednesday probably will be the first day same-sex couples can apply for marriage licenses. Couples still will have to wait three full business days for their licenses before exchanging vows.

The Supreme Court was a last ditch effort of opponents for D.C. marriage such as Pastor Harry Jackson:

Bishop Harry Jackson, along with others opposed to marriage equality coming to Washington, filed a last-minute request at the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, March 1, seeking to stop the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 from becoming law on March 3 so that he can proceed with his referendum effort.

Aided by lawyers from the national organization Alliance Defense Fund, Jackson filed a request for an immediate stay of the law with Chief Justice John Roberts, who is responsible for hearing appeals coming from the District. Roberts has the ability either to make the decision himself or to turn the matter over to the full court for a decision.

Now that he has lost, maybe Jackson will stop trying to exploit the lgbt community in pursuit of the limelight.

Of course, who am I kidding with that wish?

Ugandan anti-gay bill is worse than you think and other Tuesday midday news briefs

My online buddy Rob Tish of the blog Waking Up Now has created a video which breaks down the Ugandan anti-gay bill and introduces some new facts which you may not be aware of it. The bill is more lethal than what we have been led to believe.

460,000 Ugandans sign petition opposing the gay genocide bill - Deal with THAT, Martin Ssempa!

'Stop stealing our act,' says unbiased science's biggest sidestepper - NARTH (the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality) is attacking the APA. Good luck with that, boys and girls!(heavy, heavy, HEAVY sarcasm alert)

HRC's Solmonese Signals Softening Of Gay Rights Support - Naturally I'm not happy about this.

Porter's May Day Rally Designed to Break the Curse of President Obama - Someone needs to pray, I mean really pray for Janet Porter. She is so far off the deep end I think she has gills to breath underwater.

Martin Ssempa claims to be misunderstood

Martin Ssempa, the proponent of the Ugandan "kill the gays" bill wrote Pam's House Blend claiming that he has been misunderstood:

Dear Maura and Pams House friends,

I thank you for discussing my blog and the news that I am available online. It turns out we have just got connected to fiberoptic internet..for the first time in History ..and the good news is that we can now talk. I regret that I have been misrepresented but I do hope we can learn more from each other.

First Maura I did respond to your posting on my blog. I hope you got it..The negative birth rates in Western nations shoud concern all of us. For us in Africa, dying without giving birth to a child when it was in your power to produce is a curse. It is a betrayal of the ancestors because we the living are the link to the descendants. That in a sense why homosexuality is deemed as a curse and an abomination. Even before Christianity, our culture abhors anything that does not produce life.

Secondly, the anti homosexuality bill is a Ugandan effort, by Ugandans for Ugandans. A lot has been spoken about the death penalty creating hysteria among some of you that we propose to run around and round up anyone who practices sodomy. No such thing..The death penalty is specifically proposed in cases of aggravated defilement which is the equivalent of statutory rape of minor or a handicapped person against their wish. I do not support or will not support any bill which seeks the death penalty for homosexuals. On the other hand we will not be deterred from making the bill which is intended to protect our children from recruitment and propaganda. Hey now with internet we can talk more on this.

Finally kindly tell your fellow blogger to mind their manners when they are discussing. Continue to challenge their racial bigotry which makes it look like an African cant have a PhD or be able to blog! Some of these comments are vulgar, obscene and totally lacking objectivity with which constructive debate can be engaged in.

Hope you don't mind me joining this great debate.

Martin Ssempa PhD

What Ssempa does here is the equivalent of offering a plate of cow manure covered with icing and trying to pass it off as cake.

Here is what he omits about the bill. It would:

* Expand the definitions for homosexual acts, making conviction easier. Current law requires evidence of penetration. The new law would expand the definition of homosexual activity to”touch(ing) another person with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality.” Touching itself is defined as “touching—(a) with any part of the body; (b) with anything else; (c) through anything; and in particular includes touching amounting to penetration of any sexual organ. anus or mouth.”

* Affirm Uganda’s lifetime imprisonment for those convicted of homosexuality.

* Define a new crime of “aggravated homosexuality” for those who engage in sex with someone under the age of 18, who are HIV-positive, who is a “repeat offender” (so broadly defined as to include anyone who has had a relationship with more than one person, or who had sex with the same person more than once), or who had sex with a disabled person (consensual or not). The penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” is death by hanging.

* Require anyone arrested on suspicion of homosexuality to undergo HIV testing to determine the individual’s qualification for prosecution of “aggravated homosexuality.”

* Criminalize “attempted homosexuality” with imprisonment for seven years.

* Criminalize “promoting” homosexuality with fines and imprisonment for between five and seven years. This overly-broad provision would criminalize all speech and peaceful assembly for those who advocate on behalf of LGBT citizens in Uganda . It would also criminalize any attempt to repeal or modify the law in the future, as those moves could also be seen as “promoting” homosexuality.

* Criminalize “aiding and abetting homosexuality” with seven years imprisonment. This provision could be used against anyone extending counseling, medical care, or otherwise providing aide gay people.

* Criminalize the act of obtaining a same-sex marriage abroad with lifetime imprisonment.

* Add a clause which forces friends or family members to report LGBT persons to police within 24-hours of learning about that individual’s homosexuality or face fines or imprisonment for up to three years.

* Penalize people who run “brothels” with five to seven years imprisonment for renting to LGBT people. However, it defines a brothel as “a house, room, set of rooms or place of any kind for the purposes of homosexuality” instead of the more normal definition of a place where commercial sex work takes place. Anyone’s bedroom would be a “brothel” under this definition, placing landlords and hotel owners in jeopardy for renting to LGBT people.

* Add an extra-territorial and extradition provisions, allowing Uganda to prosecute LGBT Ugandans living abroad. (Editor's note - this means a Ugandan gay or lesbian living in America can be "called back" to Uganda for prosecution.)

* Void all international treaties, agreements and human rights obligations which conflict with this bill.

Oh yeah - that claim about gays recruiting children? It's not true. I also noticed that Ssempa didn't comment about his penchant for showing pornography in church as a way of stigmatizing the gay community.

But he does take care to "explain" the death penalty. However, his explanation contradicts what is actually said. Plus, it gives me pause and it's something that's been on my mind for a while.

Taking into account Uganda's already oppressive environment towards the gay community, just what would prevent the Ugandan government (if this bill passes) from rounding up a group of gays and lesbians and executing them on the pretense of "aggravated homosexuality?"

Things like this have happened before. History unfortunately is filled with stories of genocide committed on the pretenses of "best intentions" and I'm afraid Uganda will be yet another march in this direction, with Ssempa leading the way.

Ssempa should be aware of the old proverb "it's better to be thought of as a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

But in this case, the word "fool" should be replaced with "genocidal maniac."

Monday, March 01, 2010

Judge Mathis supports coming out

I'm posting this because it's rare that leaders in the black community talk about gay issues.

I hope Towleroad forgives me for stealing this clip. According to the blog, this is what happened:

Judge Mathis handled a case recently between two men that dealt with one of them possibly being in the closet.

Said Mathis: "If you are [gay] I think you should be up front about it. So many young men and women try to stay in the closet because their family and friends might be biased, or what have you. Forget about them. Be who you are."

Added Mathis later: "Certainly I believe that most sexual orientations come biologically and not by choice."

If only more black leaders were as vocally supportive of the lgbt community.

D.C. to hold largest gay wedding in history and other Monday midday news briefs

Largest gay wedding in history set for Washington DC - I want to go!!!!

'Love' generated for your citizen journalist -- and choosing a path for discourse - Ugly comments were made about Pam Spaulding, a good friend of mine, and I'm still bothered by it. How can the lgbt community progress if we tear each other apart like this?

Exodus’ Day of ‘Truth’ Celebrates School Ignorance, Prejudice - Batten down the hatches!

Quick Fact: Perkins advances myth that DADT repeal could hurt morale, unit cohesion, readiness - Tony Perkins of FRC deceiving folks about DADT repeal again!

Martin Ssempa celebrates his homophobia via a blog

I have trepidations with posting this mostly because I fear how some of us would behave. But it's a item which needs to be made public.

From Truth Wins Out comes the news that Martin Ssempa is blogging.

For those unfamiliar with that name, Ssempa is one of the main supporters of that awful "kill the gays" bill in Uganda.

Recently, Ssempa has been trying to drum up support for the bill in the face of international condemnation. He has even been reduced to showing porn in churches:

A pastor seeking to bolster Uganda's anti-gay laws which already make homosexuality punishable by life imprisonment screened gay porn in a Kampala church Wednesday in a bid to drum up support.

The screening was attended by around 300 supporters crammed into an evangelical church in the Ugandan capital after plans for a "million-man march" were thwarted by police.

"We had planned to have a million-man and -woman march in Kampala but unfortunately we were told that we could not march because of security concerns," Martin Ssempa told the crowd.

"The major argument homosexuals have is that what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms is nobody's business but do you know what they do in their bedrooms?," the pastor asked.

Ssempa then displayed a slide show of gay pornographic pictures.

"This one is eating another man's anus (eds: correct)," the pastor said, before going into graphic scatological descriptions.

Via his new blog, Ssempa not only continues his ramblings but also celebrates his ignorance:

Ha ha ha..the homos are scared to death that we have hard evidence of WHAT they do. They are mortally ashamed of the public knowing the totally deviant sexual activities which include the most unnatural, unhealthy and disease prone sexual activities..fisting, anal licking, scat (fecal) games, brown and yellow showers, etc all these are the acts they want to keep secrets. See fisting (R)and the complete deviants dictionary (R) of WHAT they really do. So they now plant stories to bemoan that I am showing "gay porn" to "little children". That now my members in church are wanting to try out being homos! ha ha ha..

As I said before, Ssempa has reached the plateau where people are wondering is he fighting against gays or maybe some hidden urges in himself.

But to compound his nastiness, Ssempa wrote Truth Wins Out this note:

Thank you for your kindness in advertising my blog. But why are you indulging into racism by reading me as the Ugandan Rick Warren? Why is it every time a black man does something good..like a blog, or the anti homosexuality bill, you want to credit a white man ie Rick Warren or some White Americans who visited Uganda? Please go ahead and read my blog as I read yours..and have the kindness to leave a polite comment. Check out the new video of the demo…and the statement on the expose on what homosexuals really do…Thanks and let the truth win out.

So again with trepidation, I publicize the fact that Ssempa has a blog. But as he said, the truth needs to be known . . . about just how ugly and evil his type of homophobia is.

If you go on his blog and leave a comment, PLEASE be polite.

Related posts:

'Kill the gays' bill supporter reduced to showing gay porn in church

Martin Ssempa talks about 'poop' to demonize lgbts

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Tea Party activist conjures up 'gay bowel syndrome'

Recently, I posted two interviews with discredited researcher Paul Cameron conducted by Midweek Politics Radio.

The response to these posts have been, in my view, successful. Many people who weren't aware of Paul Cameron became educated on his lies about the gay community.

But then there was a segment who asked why was I giving Cameron attention. They claimed that any focus on Cameron validated him. They were under the impression that if Cameron was ignored, he would go away.

Unfortunately, this mindset also includes other lies told about the gay community by religious right groups.

But what some in our community fail to understand is that these lies aren't going away and ignoring them won't make them disappear. They will continue to be repeated and will continue to have the power to hurt the gay community. A perfect example is a recent incident during a Minnesota legislative hearing on marriage equality:

Barb Davis White, a Tea Party activist and Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, prompted shocked gasps from the packed hearing room when she said, “Rosa Parks did not move to the front of the bus to support sodomy.” Her testimony involved accusations that the movement for marriage equality is hijacking the civil rights movement.

“There is no difference between a black person and a white person other than their skin color when there’s a tremendous difference between a man and a woman,” said White, who was the GOP’s endorsed candidate against Rep. Keith Ellison in 2008. “Allowing a black woman and a white man to marry does not change the definition of marriage. However, allowing two men or two women to marry would fundamentally change that definition.”

White also garnered some laughs from the audience when she said, “Studies also show that the average homosexual has hundreds of sexual partners in his lifetime… and I repeat hundreds.”
“I’m here today to tell you that homosexuality and lesbian behavior is unhealthy,” claiming that gays and lesbians have higher rates of STDs than anyone else in the world, including “gay bowel disease,” an ailment that does not exist and is often used by religious right figures to paint gay men as diseased.

We as a community cannot cast aside the lies told about us anymore than we should ignore those who speak them. There are some things you can't sweep under the rug. They always have a way of coming back against you.

I think it's time we trot these lies out in the public as examples of how deceptive religious right groups are. A lie is made powerless not by ignoring it but showering it with the truth.

Whether we realize it or not, all of the phony scare stories, the reliance on junk science, the truncating of public controversies can serve to backfire on religious right groups if we used them to pose the following question: If these groups are moral and Christian, then why do they feel the need to lie on the gay community?

Friday, February 26, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Dracula's Daughter

Dracula's Daughter (1936) is one of my favorite movies for so many reasons, including the fact that it was the first vampire movie to incorporate lesbian attraction.

The movie is a sequel to Bela Lugosi's Dracula and tells how his daughter, Marya Zaleska (Gloria Holden) tries to free herself from the curse of vampirism.

According to wikipedia:

The lesbian implications of Dracula's Daughter were obvious from the start and were of great concern to the Production Code Administration. PCA head Breen took special notice of the scene between the Countess and her model, Lili, writing, "This will need very careful handling to avoid any questionable flavor." The day before the scene was to be shot, Universal's Harry Zehner asked Breen to read a draft of the scene. In response, Breen wrote:

"The present suggestion that...Lili poses in the nude will be changed. She will be posing her neck and shoulders, and there will be no suggestion that she undresses, and there will be no exposure of her person. It was also stated that the present incomplete sequence will be followed by a scene in which Lili is taken to a hospital and there it will be definitely established that she has been attacked by a vampire. The whole sequence will be treated in such a way as to avoid any suggestion of perverse sexual desire on the part of Marya or of an attempted sexual attack by her upon Lili."

Gay film historian Vito Russo noted in his book The Celluloid Closet that Universal highlighted Countess Zaleska's attraction to women in some of its original advertising for the film, using the tag line "Save the women of London from Dracula's Daughter!" He further cited Countess Zaleska as an example of the presentation of the "essence of homosexuality as a predatory weakness".[35] Some reviewers of the day picked up on and condemned the lesbian content, including the New York World-Telegram which noted the Countess's tendency to wander around "giving the eye to sweet young girls".

The infamous scene between Zaleska and Lili is seen below in the preview:

Religious right talking point about gay lifespan refuted and other Friday midday news briefs

Many patients diagnosed with HIV today will have normal life expectancies, European studies find - Religious right talking point destroyed!

Tony Perkins dished it, doesn't want to take it - Awwww! Tony Perkins' mouth got him in trouble.

According to Bryan Fischer, Christian Oppression Is Just Like Dred Scott & McCarthyism - The man needs professional help.

Dec. 8 vote to readopt Lesson 9 at elementary level violated Brown Act, plaintiffs argue - Oh good grief!

ATTACK OF THE GAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Propaganda is defined by a specific type of message presentation, aimed at serving an agenda. Even if the message conveys true information, it may be partisan and fail to paint a complete picture.

Two years ago, the American Family Association released a video, "They're Coming To Your Town," which supposedly showed how gays supposedly took over the "Christian community" of Eureka Springs and turned it into a "nesting place for homosexuals."

Okay maybe my language is too intense but you simply have to see this video, which by the way is, of course, one-sided, has no basis in facts, and was either laughed at or ignored.

But the video does make a point. Forget that "we love them but we hate what they do" jazz. This pseudo Invasion of The Body Snatchers mess is how the religious right really sees us:

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Why won't One News Now tell us what 'Miss Beverly Hills' said about gays?

The American Family Association owned news service, One News Now, is now weighing in on the "Miss Beverly Hills" controversy.

Lauren Ashley an upcoming contestant in the Miss California beauty pageant who was supposed to represent Beverly Hills recently came under fire for comments she made about gay marriage and gays in general:

"The Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman. In Leviticus it says, 'If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them.' The Bible is pretty black and white . . . "

"I feel like God himself created mankind and he loves everyone, and he has the best for everyone. If he says that having sex with someone of your same gender is going to bring death upon you, that's a pretty stern warning, and he knows more than we do about life."

Pretty stern stuff, even for One News Now because the "news service" doesn't tell exactly what Ashley said. But the article makes sure to take note of the backlash against Ashley, no doubt attempting to make her seem like an innocent Christian attacked by the so-called radical gay agenda:

Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Krasne said Wednesday she is outraged over a Miss California USA contestant who is claiming to represent the city in the upcoming pageant and who spoke out against same-sex marriage in recent media interviews. Krasne said in a statement that 23-year-old Lauren Ashley does not live in Beverly Hills or represent the city in any capacity. Krasne said she was shocked to see statements made by a beauty pageant contestant under the name of Beverly Hills, "which has a long history of tolerance and respect."

Ashley recently told Fox News and other media outlets that same-sex marriage goes against God and the Bible.

Ashley's comments weren't that simple. She brought up images of death and "God's wrath" against the gay community. The question is why wasn't One News Now forthcoming about her words?

(Editor's note - It has been brought to my attention that One News Now merely repeated the Associated Press article which also did not go into detail as to Ashley's comments. I think that both publications erred in omitting these crucial details.)

Why did Senator Scott Brown consort with a known anti-gay hate group? and other Thursday midday news briefs

It's a slow news day due to the healthcare summit. For those wanting a blow-by-blow account, you can go here at the Huffington Post.

Maryland to recognize gay marriages from other places - Excellent news from Maryland.

Scott Brown schmoozed tea baggers and MassResistance before voting with Harry Reid - What the hell is Senator Scott Brown doing consorting with a known anti-gay hate group?

Pa. court rethinks view on gays in custody cases - Another victory for us.

Media Matters releases THE definitive debunking of DADT distortions

Media Matters recently released an excellent report debunking the myths and falsehoods spread about Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

I am publishing part of the report which features the distortions. Click on each distortion to see read the truth behind the lie:

MYTH: Don't Ask, Don't Tell is working

MYTH: Repeal would undermine morale and unit cohesion

MYTH: Military experts oppose the repeal of DADT

MYTH: The public does not support repeal of DADT

MYTH: Right-wing attacks on DADT repeal are not anti-gay

MYTH: DADT repeal would adversely affect retention

MYTH: Experience of other nations aren't relevant because "nobody counts on" their armies

MYTH: Only progressives support the repeal of DADT

MYTH: DADT repeal would expose servicemembers to greater HIV risk

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

South Carolina dating bill excluding gays sent back to subcommittee

Gays and lesbians and their allies in South Carolina won something of a victory today against a bill which excluded them:

South Carolina lawmakers put on hold Wednesday a youth dating violence that would exclude gay youths, but vowed to continue working on the measure in subcommittee.

The Senate Education Committee voted Wednesday morning to send the bill back to subcommittee, following a second failed attempt by Sen. Phil Leventis to delete the passage concerning sexual orientation.

The bill, introduced in the House last year by Rep. Joan Brady, would require the state Department of Education to develop a dating violence policy recognizing threats, physical or emotional abuse, or stalking occurring on school property, and referring the students to counseling.

. . . House Rep. Greg Delleney amended the bill in 2009 to define "dating partners" to apply only to heterosexual couples. The exclusion of same-sex relationships has drawn much criticism, with gay rights advocates saying the measure further discriminates against students who are already vulnerable to bullying, depression and self-doubt.

Rep. Delleney said he fears including gay teens in the bill's protection would lead to teaching in middle and high schools about same-sex relationships.

"The problem is, the language lessens one group of people over another, and that's wrong," Sen. Joel Lourie said on Wednesday

Although details are sketchy right now, from what I understand members of the SC Pride Movement, SC Equality, and Palmetto AIDS Life Support came out in full force at the meeting.

What happens next is anyone's guess, but for those keeping score, that's two victories for South Carolina's gay community against this exclusionary bill.

Last year when the bill was introduced, the community raised enough fuss to get it tabled.

Related post:

Will the South Carolina Legislature abandon gay teens?

Liberty Counsel finally speaks on Lisa Miller case and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Don't Lie, Don't Misinform - Media Matters joins effort to demand the truth be told about Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Myths and falsehoods on Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Speaking of which, Media Matters also turned out this excellent report on the falsehoods regarding Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Liberty Counsel Finally Breaks Its Silence On Lisa Miller, Loses Similar Fight In California - It's a miracle. Now put Mat Staver on a lie detector.

NARTH misuses suicide statistics to undermine "partnership privileges" for gay men - And should we be surprised?

Not another homophobic beauty queen!

As Carrie Prejean fades from the public view, the gay community has to deal with yet another loudmouth beauty queen from California.

And if you ask me, she makes Prejean look like Mother Teresa:

Carrie Prejean isn't the only beauty queen open to expressing her objection to same-sex marriage.

Miss Beverly Hills 2010 Lauren Ashley is also speaking out in support of traditional nuptials.

"The Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman. In Leviticus it says, 'If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them.' The Bible is pretty black and white . . . "

"I feel like God himself created mankind and he loves everyone, and he has the best for everyone. If he says that having sex with someone of your same gender is going to bring death upon you, that's a pretty stern warning, and he knows more than we do about life."

It's interesting how the Fox News article tries to sugarcoat Ashley's comments and underplay that part about Leviticus. Although the irony is that if she truly followed Leviticus, she wouldn' be half bare assed on a stage seeking a beauty crown.

The article goes on to say that she is echoing the comments which got Prejean in trouble and this is no true. God forbid that I look like I'm defending Prejean, but she never said a word about gays and death.

Of course there is an upside to this. Having learned their lesson with the Prejean affair, I don't think anyone is going to be anointing Ashley as the newest victim of political correctness. Although from reading the article, Ashley comes across as someone who wouldn't even say the word "doodie" for fear that it's profanity. She is a perfect religious right spokesperson.

But let's be real. Her comments are so damn mean. I'm almost want to see the religious right try to defend her nonsense.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Arrest ordered for Lisa Miller - it's about time

From Virginia AP News:

A Vermont judge has ordered the arrest of a woman who has refused to turn over her 7-year-old daughter to her former lesbian partner.

Family Court Judge William Cohen found Lisa Miller of Forest, Va., in contempt of court during a hearing Tuesday and issued the arrest warrant.

Miller was ordered to surrender custody of her daughter on Jan. 1 but failed to do so and has since disappeared. Their daughter is now considered a missing person.

I'm not featuring this post as a celebration but a prayer that this situation reaches a resolution.

Right is right and wrong is wrong and I'm sorry for those who do not share this opinion, but Miller has been wrong from the get-go. She agreed to raise little Isabella with Jenkins and then continued to play games in order to shirk the agreement. She continued to be in contempt of court orders and it is her fault she lost custody of little Isabella.

And now she is reduced to kidnapping. She needs to own up to her responsibilities like a real woman should.

What type of example is she setting for little Isabella?

Related posts:

Isn't it a shame when the kidnappers of children get no respect?

Janet Jenkins/Lisa Miller case gets Nightline treatment

FRC's Peter Sprigg voices support for kidnapping of child in custody case

Liberty Counsel attacking lgbt parenting again but won't comment on Jenkins/Miller case

Washington Post columnist: Lisa Miller needs to come out of hiding and face her chaos

Janet Jenkins pleads for help in finding her daughter

Janet Jenkins/Lisa Miller custody case still not resolved despite judge's orders

Jenkins gets full custody

Lesbian mother wins custody case against 'ex-gay' former partner

Stop misrepresenting the Lisa Miller/Janet Jenkins custody case

Liberty Counsel uses bad logic to deny lesbian the right to see her child

Mrs. Kramer Vs. Mrs. Kramer

Cliff Kincaid losing his mind and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Cliff Kincaid of Accuracy in Media is Absolutely LOSING IT Over GOProud’s Presence at CPAC, Claims Gays are “Infiltrating” Conservatism - This GOProud controversy does have some benefits.

WV Couple Denied Apartment - Which is why we need ENDA.

Minnesota Lawmakers Debate Gay Marriage - And they are pro-gay bills!

Missouri university board member resigns after gay slur - Awww poor baby!

Army Leaders Oppose Moratorium on Gay Military Discharges - Uh Oh.

Free Republic freak out over Sorba-GOProud feud

I went on the right-wing Free Republic site to get opinions on Sen. Lieberman's decision to introduce a bill repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Believe it or not, there was only one article with very few comments about Lieberman. The bulk of articles (14 at last count) centered on the recent controversy regarding Ryan Sorba of California Young Americans for Freedom condemning CPAC for allowing gay Republican group GOProud to attend and how he got booed from the stage:

Some comments from the wolves include:

I knew this was going to be bad news when the homosexual group GOProud started crowing about their mission to normalize the gay lifestyle. They have been quite open about wanting to introduce homosexuality into the armed forces and legitimize male/male 'marriages'. Only a few years ago, this would have been considered insanity. But we have become so desensitized to PC bs that now we are supposed to embrace it. God help our country if this is where the culture is headed.

I’ve notices on uptick of pro-gay “conservatives” in the last few days. It seems they want to infiltrate everything and destroy it. What’s worse is that as soon as they feel somewhat comfortable, this scum start making fun of social conservatives.

Ever notice how homosexuals usurp beautiful things from life and apply them as euphemisms for deviant behavior? The Rainbow, a symbol of God’s promise to Noah.
The word “gay”. Now “fudge”? Unacceptable. I love fudge and it is time we have draw the line. The F in FPAC more appropriately stands for “Fecal” . I’m sorry for being so crass but enough is enough.

Like all cases of homosexuals and pedophile rapists, you know that enforcing PC and killing the rape victim is a synonymous behavior.

That’s it. CPAC is now under control of leftard bloggers. Right after they let in GOProud, it was game over.

I am sure that the audience was salted with sodomites and their friends. Unfortunately, the sodomite lifestyle is full of pathologies, including their sex practices,drug and alcohol abuse, tendencies toward violence, grotesque promiscuity, lifestyle induced epidemic levels of STDs, obsession with having sex in public restrooms, public parks, and highway rest stops, and their sexual interest in children and adolescents. Media, sodomite advocacy groups, government agencies, and academia are trying to suppress or falsify information about these things, but you would have expected something better from CPAC than to treat the sodomites as if they are just another special interesat group in their hypothetical “Big Conservative Tent”.

The butt-poker who wrote the blog very liberally, pun intented, uses stock liberal words and phrases to confront Mr. Sorba. When the butt-pokers stop trying to set up their cruising farm-team by trying to sexualize 5 year-olds in our schools, I might cut them some slack.

Kick the fags out. They have a party - the other one.

No matter how bad I feel, I can always count on the folks at Free Republic to make me feel morally superior.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Will the South Carolina Legislature abandon gay teens?

As you all know, there has been a small brouhaha in my state of South Carolina regarding a teen dating violence bill.

In May of last year, a bill was introduced in the SC Legislature that that required schools to create teen dating violence prevention policies. Rep. Joan Brady sponsored the bill. Another rep, Greg Delleney created an amendment requiring the bill to pertain to only heterosexual relationships.

Delleney said that he was afraid that the bill without the amendment would "force" schools to teach about same-sex relationships.

Because of this ridiculous amendment, a large group of gay and lesbian South Carolinians and their allies raised hell and held a press conference at the State House, leading to the bill being tabled.
However, the bill is not only back but recently came up for in discussion in the Senate Education Committee last week. The education sub-committee voted 3-2 to keep the discriminatory anti-gay language in the bill.

This coming Wednesday, the Teen Dating Violence Bill is one of six bills which will be discussed by the full committee (17 senators total).

And the situation gets more interesting, so to speak.

According to SC Pride Movement President Tamera Tedder, a representative of the SC Pride Movement spoke with Sally Coffin in regards to this meeting. Coffin handles K-12 legislation for Senator John Courson, who is the Chair of the Senate Education Committee. The representative learned from Coffin that comments from the public will NOT be heard at this meeting. Comments are only taken when the sub-committee meets, which occurred last week.

In other words, no one will be allowed to voice their opinion about the bill.

However, according to Tedder:

"While we cannot speak at the meeting, we can still show our disapproval by showing up at the hearing. We would like to have as many people as possible there to oppose the discriminatory language that is being used in this bill. The hearing will take place at 10:00 am in room 105 of the Gressette Building on the capitol grounds. There are 90 seats in the hearing room. Standing is not allowed and seats will go quickly."

Wednesday is going to be an interesting day at the State Legislature. And though I am not going to be able to make it, I will keep you posted on what happens.

Related post:
Press conference justifies my faith in South Carolina

DADT repeal moves forward? and other Monday midday news briefs

Lieberman to Introduce DADT Repeal Bill - How's this for a positive kick in the teeth?

General Petraeus: “I’ve Served With Individuals Who Were Gay And Lesbian” - That should piss off the right.

Stopping Gay Marriage Lowest Priority For CPAC Conservatives - A bit of sanity from the zanies.

Santorum Suggest Military Was 'Indoctrinated' Into Supporting DADT Repeal - And now a little santorum from Rick Santorum.

Family Research Council echoes Paul Cameron on DADT

No matter how they try to disassociate themselves from him, no matter how they try to pretend that he has no influence on their claims about the gay community, some religious right groups seem to find it difficult to completely "quit" discredited researcher Paul Cameron.

Over a week ago, Cameron was interviewed on Midweek Politics Radio regarding a "new study" which he claimed proves that allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a bad idea.

According to Cameron, gays are four to seven more times likely to rape their fellow servicemen. He even says that some perpetrators of heterosexual sex assaults can be termed as gay because apparently some gay men "like women too."

Now due to Cameron's dubious history of bad studies, no one has paid attention to his "new study" and it hasn't been cited, at least not by name.

Has it been surreptitiously referred to by the Family Research Council?

This came from a recent fundraising email by FRC head Tony Perkins:

As a veteran of the Marine Corps, I believe the President's timing on this issue shows he is willing to jeopardize our nation's security to advance the agenda of the radical homosexual lobby. We can't let that happen.

Our military exists to fight and win wars, not engage in radical social engineering. Forcing soldiers to cohabit with people who view them as sexual objects would inevitably lead to increased sexual tension, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault.

And just so you know, it was FRC who made put that second paragraph in bold letters. So now the organization is outwardly saying that allowing gays to serve openly in the military will lead to sexual assault over a week after Cameron claimed that he has a study proving this.

Coincidence? Maybe.

But knowing FRC's past history of citing Cameron's discredited work or bad theories, maybe not.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Black History Month LGBTs of color - James Baldwin

I confess that I have been a little lax on this series. I blame it on the religious right. But anyway, let's talk about one of my special heroes:

James Baldwin

When James Baldwin was an infant, his mother, Emma Berdis Joynes, moved to Harlem, New York, where she married a preacher, David Baldwin, who adopted James. The family was poor; and James and his adoptive father had a tumultuous relationship. James Baldwin attended the prestigious DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, where he worked on the school magazine together with Richard Avedon.[2] At the age of 14, he joined the Pentecostal Church and became a Pentecostal preacher.

When he was 17 years old, Baldwin turned away from his religion and moved to Greenwich Village, a New York City neighborhood, famous for its artists and writers. Here, he studied at The New School, finding an intellectual community within the university. Supporting himself with odd jobs, he began to write short stories, essays, and book reviews, many of which were later collected in the volume Notes of a Native Son (1955).

During this time Baldwin began to recognize his own homosexuality. In 1948, disillusioned by American prejudice against blacks and homosexuals, Baldwin left the United States and departed to Paris, France.

In Paris, Baldwin was soon involved in the cultural radicalism of the Left Bank. His work started to be published in literary anthologies, notably Zero, which was edited by his friend Themistocles Hoetis and which had already published essays by Richard Wright. He would live as an expatriate in France for most of his later life.

On November 30, 1987 Baldwin died from stomach cancer in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. He was buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, near New York City.

James Baldwin's candor about being gay is why I admire him the most. The following is a small clip about his life:

Past Black History Month lgbts of color posts:

Nell Carter

Sylvester

Paul Winfield

Barbara Jordan