Next step on the 'nefarious gay agenda' - we take over bowling on ESPN

Forgive the ridiculously hysterical headline. It's my way of pointing out something awesome which took place last weekend on ESPN:

ESPN set a new precedent over the weekend by airing what may be the first professionally-shot footage of an openly gay athlete kissing his husband after a victory
.
As Outsports is reporting, professional bowler Scott Norton smooched his husband Craig Woodward after winning the 2012 PBA Chameleon Championship in Las Vegas.

Though the event was held in November, ESPN did not air the footage until Dec. 30. During the telecast, ESPN’s announcers referred to Woodward as Norton’s husband or spouse, Outsports also pointed out.

Norton tied the knot with Woodward, a United Healthcare executive, in October 2011.
The 30-year-old bowler came out to friends and family as a teenager, though he didn't address his sexuality publicly until last year, the Windy City Times reports.

The kiss of victory comes at the end of the following clip at 2:09:

As you can see, it is a special moment. Don't get too hackneyed by it, brothers and sisters. Otherwise, I will be forced to share that Billy Dee Williams line from the Diana Ross movie "Mahogany:"

"Success means nothing unless you have someone to share it with."

'James Dobson's comments about Sandy Hook tragedy, marriage equality takes its toll' and other Wednesday news briefs

For those who can't get enough of seeing gay couples tying the knot for the first time (I know I can't), here is a video from one of the Maryland weddings: 



In other news briefs:  

Ryan Dobson Defends his Father's Comments About Sandy Hook, Calling Him 'a Man who is Making a Stand for Righteousness' - While I understand anyone's desire to defend his/her father, I am so offended by any notion that Dobson is a victim here. Innocents were murdered, Dobson said something stupid, and he deserves all of the negative blow back he gets.  

Kansas sues lesbian couple’s sperm donor for child support - Leave it to Kansas and Governor Brownback to try and screw us over. You just KNOW someone thought this mess up with mischief in mind.

 Chicago Cardinal Condemns Illinois Lawmakers For Considering Marriage Equality This Week - Sorry Cardinal, but no one is forcing you to marry gay couples, so butt out!

 Uganda LGBT Advocate Arrested for “Recruiting Into Homosexuality” - Remember that the struggle for lgbt equality is not solely American based. It is a worldwide fight for dignity and respect, NOT TOLERANCE! 

 Metropolitan Community Churches: Do Gays Need A Church Of Their Own Anymore? - I'm not crazy about the headline but the article is really good.

Matt Barber, the transgender community, gays rights, and children

Matt Barber

If one want to check out just how low some folks sink to attack the gay community, look no further than the Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber:

Through the secular-”progressive” looking-glass, the term “sexual orientation” has, in a few short years, evolved to accommodate an ever-expanding fruit basket of carnal appetites.

Mr. Francis enjoys macramé, long walks on the beach, wearing lady’s knickers and showering fully nude with 6-year-old girls. Because it’s illegal to “discriminate based on the basis of gender identity,” and since it’s the only “tolerant” thing to do, this brave bellwether of the persecuted LGBT victim-class has secured the “civil right” for him and other men to fully expose themselves to your daughter in the locker room at Olympia, Washington’s Evergreen State College. But slow down, Dad.

According to the law, if you have a problem with Mr. Francis baring all to your baby girl, then you’re the problem. You’re a “transphobe” (“homophobia’s” evil twin sister, er, brother … whatever). Deck this sicko for terrifying your first-grader and you’re off to jail while “Colleen” is off to the “Human Rights Campaign” for a commendation as the latest victim of an “anti-LGBT hate crime.”

Rosa Parks in drag, I guess.

Only Matt Barber can be ridiculously offensive, downright crude, and just so wrong all at the same time.

A little tip - I would advise anyone set to whine about  the so-called bad name that Christianity receives do one thing first. Hog tie Barber and lock him in a closet somewhere.

Even a sneeze from that guy destroys your argument.

Congratulations to all of the Maryland couples who got married! You earned this!

NOM's Top Ten Failures of 2012

After reading this list, I bet Brian Brown of NOM really cried!

Happy New Year! Now wake your drunk behinds up!

Seriously, let's start 2013 on a positive note thanks to Carlos Maza of Equality Matters. He has counted down the National Organization for Marriage's Top Ten Failures of 2012. I am especially proud of Failure Number Two, seeing that I played a role in publicizing it:

10. New Hampshire Repeal Effort

9. Another Failed Thanksgiving Video

8. Shrinking Donors

7. Gallagher Gets Called Out On MSNBC

6. New York Elections

5. The Failed Starbucks/General Mills Boycott

4. The Brian Brown/Dan Savage Debate

3. Undercover At NOM's Student Conference

2. Race-Baiting Memos

1. November 6

'Baseball player bothered by idea of gay teammate' and other Monday midday news briefs

Torii Hunter, Detroit Tigers Right Fielder, Says Gay Teammate Would Make Him 'Uncomfortable' - And the reason why he would feel uncomfortable is a real hoot. I respect his religion but the last time I checked, a baseball team is not a church. You are paid to win championships and if a gay teammate helps you win, then shut up and be thankful for him.  

A Warning From A Former DL Foster Disciple: “The Perfect Storm The ‘Ex-Gay’ Movement, Religious Based Homophobia and the Black Church Pt. 2″ - Part two of an excellent series from a good friend of mine.  

There's No Such Thing As A Gay Marriage Because It Cannot Be Consummated - So we are being attacked by the leadership of the Catholic church AGAIN. And boy is this really stupid.

 60 Powerful Steps Forward For Equality - Say goodbye to a very gay 2012. Hopefully it was be even more awesome in 2013.

Dan Savage vs. 'Porno Pete' LaBarbera - it wasn't even close

In a video - which I am totally angry that I am only finding out about now, seeing that was made in November - Dan Savage calls out anti-gay bigot Peter LaBarbera and proceeds to pimp-slap him all over youtube.

And the most significant thing to me about this video? Savage didn't wait until LaBarbera attacked the gay community on a specific issue. With a little old fashioned truth telling, Savage called out LaBarbera and knocked down his lies without even waiting. He took the initiative to call out LaBarbera.

That's something we need to do.

The gay community shouldn't wait until LaBarbera (or the Family Research Council or Linda Harvey or Matt Barber or the National Organization for Marriage) pollute the airwaves with their latest attack on the gay community. That these folks are going to attack us is a given.

Just like Savage did, we shouldn't wait for the mainstream media to get the message right that these so-called Christian groups spread lies about us.  And most of all, we should stop complaining that they don't.

Rather, why don't we take it upon ourselves to do what Savage did - call them out with clarity, making sure to spotlight and highlight their hypocritical cries of "morality" by exposing their tactics, nasty semantics, and especially the way they rely on junk science and discredited studies to smear us.

Editor's note - Just in case you are wondering, that last part was a plug for my upcoming booklet How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America which will be available for free download on this blog on January 8.