Religious right portrays Jason Collins as threatening black man who has 'butt sex'

Apparently the religious right are upset to the point of insane distraction by the fact that NBA player Jason Collins came out of the closet. While the lgbt community, while still celebrating Collins' decision to be open about his life, have pretty much moved to other matters, the religious right continue to castigate Collins. The following are just a few examples:

There is this graphic which portrays Collins as a threatening black man:

Then there are several comments via several religious right figures:

Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel:

But, lest you worry about Jason Collins’ incredible act of courage going otherwise unlauded by this president and his mainstream media, I shall hasten to comfort you. For Mr. Obama also heaped spoonfuls of sparkly-sweet sugar upon Jason’s hate-tattered brow at a frenzied news conference. CBS News describes it thusly: “President Obama told reporters he ‘couldn’t be prouder’ of NBA player Jason Collins, who one day earlier announced he was gay. Mr. Obama said Collins is ‘a role model’ to be able to say, ‘I’m still 7-foot-tall and can bang with Shaq, and deliver a hard foul.’” Um, right, exactly. If we can’t be proud of sodomy, what can we be proud of?

Linda Harvey of Mission America:

As it turns out, [Jason] Collins is actually an ex-heterosexual. Since he had a relationship with a woman, his ex-fiancée, who told reporters she had no idea about this other side of him. Some might say that this is bisexuality but it really reveals an anything-goes sexual behavior that once again is an evidence of choice, not something inborn. Many in our politically correct media will of course refuse to see this and connect the dots. Let me refer to a couple of Christian commentators who had insights on the Jason Collins situation. Steve Nobel of Called2Action Ministries sent out an e-newsletter with his headline, “Why is this news and why did the President of the United States call him?” Noble went on to say, “I’m so tired of ‘gay this’ and ‘gay that,’ aren’t you?” Yes Steve, you’re not alone in thinking we’ve heard enough deceit about a sinful, high-risk behavior. It’s not like race, no one is born this way, and Jason Collins should feel shame and a desire to change, not pride.

But the blue ribbon has to go to anti-gay activist Dave Daubenmire who freaks out over President Obama calling a man who supposedly participates in "butt sex:"



So while America celebrates the fact that pro-athlete had the courage to come out of the closet thus be a role model to the millions of adults and children who are struggling to be able to accept their God-given sexual orientation, the religious right simply sees a threatening black man who has "butt sex."

Hat tip to Right Wing Watch.

NOM had better recognize that its supporters are going too far

The following comment was left on a recent post of the National Organization for Marriage's blog by a longtime NOM blog commentator and supporter Barb Chamberlan (comment 10):

It's always fascinating to Google the names of children in the grips of same-sex couples. You'll be surprised at how much information there is about them, despite their guardians' attempts to keep it a secret. You might even find the names of their real parents. Try it sometime. Of course, the opposition is too afraid to do so. 

I don't know what Chamberlan's reasoning for posting that mess but I would say that NOM had better get a hold of its supporters. 

Let's not even imply in the least that "seeking information" on children in same-sex households for whatever purpose is a decent or good thing. It's always fun to point out whenever NOM's phony mask of respectability slips off, but what Chamberlan seems to be implying here is downright spooky.

Hat tip to my Facebook friend Dale Spivey.

Marriage equality will come to Delaware!

Beating back what I can only describe as a "wall of crazy," marriage equality supporters in Delaware succeeded in making that state the 11th to legalize gay marriage:

The Delaware Senate passed a marriage equality bill Tuesday on a 12-9 vote, following the House's passage of the bill in late April.

Speaking in favor of the bill before the vote, Sen. Bryan Townsend said, "I hope we begin to treat as equals all those who wish to announce their love and commitment to the world."

Gov. Jack Markell will sign the bill, making Delaware the 11th state to recognize same-sex couples' marriage rights. The bill will go into effect on July 1, and all civil unions not converted to marriages or dissolved by July 1, 2014, will be automatically converted into marriages.

During the course of the afternoon, Sen. Karen Peterson came out publicly to her colleagues as a lesbian, discussing what the bill would do for her and her longtime partner.

Senator David P. Sokola, the bill's lead sponsor in the Senate, led debate for the supporters, including calling on Equality Delaware's leader, Mark Purpura. Purpura went through the bill, section by section, to explain its purposes.

From what I read on twitter, opponents of marriage equality seemed to employ a strategy of throwing mud on the wall and going with what stuck. At times,  their testimony seemed like a bad sketch from Monty Python as priests, pastors, religious right spokespeople, and legislators invoked portents of doom, spun inaccurate tales of anti-Christian discrimination, and even took to reading facebook comments.

But for the life of me, I don't know where Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor fit in it all because they even called her name.

It doesn't matter because the bill has passed and will most likely be signed today.

'South Carolina LGBT organizations to celebrate 'Give Out Day'' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

 Editor's note - The following press release is a simple reminder that while lgbt organizations in South Carolina get little notice in the national lgbt press, they are going above and beyond the call of duty for the cause of equality:

Did you know? Only 5% of LGBT people give to LGBT Causes!

On May 9th, 2013, we invite you to be part of history and participate in the 1st national Give OUT Day for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender  Queer community.

Give OUT Day is a new national initiative that aims to mobilize thousands of individual donors on a single day across the country to give in support of the LGBTQ nonprofit community. 406 organizations have joined together to celebrate Give Out Day. It will cover all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico.You can make history by joining the first ever LGBTQ national day of giving by directly supporting services and programs here in South Carolina through these participating organizations:

Harriet Hancock LGBT Center: http://tiny.cc/GIVE_HHC

SC Equality: http://tiny.cc/GIVE_SCE

We Are Family: http://tiny.cc/GIVE_WAF

Sean’s Last Wish: http://tiny.cc/GIVE_SLW

On Thursday, May 9th, your help and support will expand our outreach & services to those who are most vulnerable, while giving us the opportunity to win more funding through this nationwide event.

Please also join us at our live benefit events on May 9th at the Social Bar (918 Gervais Street) from 6-10pm, or at the Capital Club (1002 Gervais Street) -- both in Columbia, SC.  More info at Give Out Day page on FB.
 
100% of donations collected will directly support our vital programs at the Harriet Hancock Center:

Youth Outloud program for 15-20 year old LGBT or questioning youth

YEAH! Youth Empowered Against HIV program

Interpersonal Violence Task Force

The Transgender Group

Publication of an LGBT specific Resource Guide to provide to counselors and schools

http://giveout.razoo.com | http://lgbtcentersc.org/

For more information, contact: Lester Franzen
The Harriet Hancock Center Foundation, President SC Give OUT Day,

(803) 394-2333 | President@LGBTCenterSC.org

In other news:

 Rob Portman: ENDA Might Not Protect Anti-LGBT Religious Entities - And here I thought ENDA was supposed to protect the LGBT community. My mistake!

Delaware Gay Marriage Vote Coming, Would Make It 11th State To Allow Same-Sex Couples To Marry - Come on Delaware! I got my fingers crossed.

Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady resigns - Over the fact that he supported marriage equality. This is a hot shame!

Five Quick Facts You Should Know About Anne Paulk - Since John Paulk has renounced his 'ex-gay' mess, his former 'partner-in-crime' has been doubling down on the ugliness.


 

Anti-marriage equality forces in France stoops to racist images

This poster, announcing the latest anti-marriage equality march in France, is now the subject of a HUGE racial controversy.  According to Euronews:

The poster, designed by an anti-same sex marriage activist, depicts France’s Minister of Justice Christiane Taubira, who is black, as a raging gorilla/King Kong, overwhelmed by a flow of demonstrators from the “Manif Pour Tous,” the main anti-same sex organization. The slogan is a play on words: “manif monstre” can mean ‘giant demo.’

The picture, posted on Monday night, was retweeted and commented massively by anti-gay rights activists and by both outraged anti- and pro-same sex marriage activists.

 . . .  On Tuesday morning, the owner of the Twitter account where the picture was initially posted deleted it, before explaining: “I confirm that I acted on my own, without racist intention. Sorry if it has hurt. I withdraw the picture but it is a misunderstanding. I used an already existing monster picture.” To make further amends, he then retweeted a message from an official anti-same-sex marriage organisation stating “The only poster for the May 26 demo is this one.”

 . . .  French Guiana-born Christiane Taubira is, as François Hollande’s Minister of Justice, the main proponent of the bill legalising same-sex marriage. She has been the target of a large majority of the slogans and banners from anti-same sex marriage demonstrators.

I wonder will NOM comment on this latest development.

NOM stoops to nasty twitter attack on same-sex families, marriage equality

How low can the National Organization for Marriage go in attacking marriage equality and same-sex families? Apparently this low via Thomas Peters, its communications director.

Marriage equality does not deprive children of anything. Also, same-sex families give children a home with love. Peters' question is a straw man argument based upon the fallacy that the only family unit which matters or exists is the mother/father dynamic.

It's a nasty question which implies that gays are harming children. However, a benefit is that yet again the mask of respectability which NOM tries to front is slipping off.

Jeremy Hooper has already given an excellent answer to this ridiculous question. However, if you feel so inclined, by all means use the hashtag and give your own answer. Remember though that any nasty or profanity-laced answer will be used by NOM against us.

'Four mistakes Christians (and so many others) make in debating gay equality' and other Monday midday news briefs

4 Ways Christians Are Getting the Gay Debate Wrong - Excellent post which should have more attention. And I would venture to say that a lot more people besides Christians make these mistakes. 

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Anti-Gay Catholic Leader, Decries Rhode Island's Marriage Equality As 'Injustice' - Injustice my foot. It doesn't even affect him or folks who believe as he does except telling them that they don't get to mandate the law.  

Boy Scouts to vacate Center City Philadelphia headquarters - Sorry but you lost that one fair and square.

 Video: Illinois GOP Rep. pledges support for equality; anti-equality crowd boos him off stage - And who should be surprised at this?

NOM’s Attack On Iowa Supreme Court Hasn’t Thwarted Justice - Boom!

Rick Perry Urges Boy Scouts to Oppose Gay 'Pop Culture' Like Sam Houston Resisted Slavery - This just in - Ricky Perry is a joke.