Tammy Baldwin sworn in as first openly gay United States Senator

Today, Tammy Baldwin was sworn in officially, becoming the first openly gay United States Senator. Enjoy this bit of history and those who can remember as far back as I can - and even farther - we have certainly come a long way, haven't we? Simply another reminder of how far the lgbt community can go when we don't let ignorant people hold us back.

'Obama, Nazis, the Anti-Christ, and gays! Oh my!' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Audio: Scott Lively equates gays & Obama with Nazis & the antiChrist; says rainbow flag is sign of EndTimes - Oh boy! Leave it to Scott Lively to connect Obama with gays and Nazis and the anti-Christ. And what you see about his claim regarding the rainbow flag isn't a joke. Time to pull out my copies of the Omen and Damien Omen II.  

California Gov. Jerry Brown Appeals Injunction Against Ex-Gay Therapy Ban - Go get 'em, Jerry!

 Leading Conservative Religious Organization Warns That Christians Will Soon Be Treated Like Blacks In Jim Crow Era - Apparently when you become a leader in the religious right, you gain the power to talk out of your tuckus.  

The Right’s loss of the culture war is in extreme slow motion; will it toss its extremists out? Doubt it. - I hope they don't just yet. Then, who will I have to play with?  

Keeping the faith: 2012 in gay rights victories - A reiteration of how we ruled last year.

Anti-gay group wants to produce Christian-oriented rap video

When I first saw the above video, I thought "ugh."

Don't get me wrong. On it's face, I see nothing wrong with this per se.

But the devil is always in the details, or in this case, the devil seems to be the one behind this mess.

In other words, I have a serious problem with the organization behind this idea of a pro-Christian rap video - the Liberty Counsel.

The Liberty Counsel is a venomous anti-gay organization which hides its bigotry behind a Christian cloak, vocally standing even against the simplest of pro-gay endeavors including gays serving openly in the military as well as anti-discrimination laws.

But the thing which worries me the most is that the the Liberty Counsel employs Matt Barber. Barber makes no secret how negatively he feels toward the gay community. However  his past comments regarding our gay youth is a serious problem as far as I'm concerned.

Such as what he said about gay men and pedophilia:



 Or what he said about gay teens who commit suicide:



 Or how he defended ex-gay therapy for our youth:



One wonders if the rapper in the above video knows what he is getting himself into by joining such an organization which employs a man like Barber

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.

Goalposts of marriage equality will not be moved because of 'religious liberty' con

Watch the video then read my recap of the entire situation:




The semantics of the entire thing bothers the heck out of me. For the longest time, Brian Brown, Maggie Gallagher, and the rest of that bunch at the National Organization for Marriage constantly sounded the clarion call of  "Let the people vote!"

So the people of Maryland did vote on election day in November. And they voted for allowing gay couples to marry.

That should be the end of it. But folks like Brown, Gallagher, and the rest of the folks of NOM don't want it to be. Apparently in response to the fact that their clarion call backfired in this case, they create new controversies and attempt to move the goalposts farther away from gay couples.

People have to make choices every day when it comes to what's best for them, be it their business or peace of mind. And the trolley owner decided to get out of the marriage business because marriage equality was against his personal religious beliefs. That was his right, but it is his only right. And even that right goes just so far because I have always felt that the "religious liberty" argument is a dangerous way to cloak discrimination with an aura of respectability.  Just how far will this argument be taken? Today it's gay couples and trollies. How do we know that tomorrow it won't be gay couples and apartment rentals? Or African-Americans and apartment rentals? Or Jewish people and apartment rentals?

Just how many acts of possible discrimination will be allowed because of the "religious liberty" argument?

I'm sure we are going to hear more about this as NOM and its folks plot new strategies of making gay couples seem like the oppressors when all they want is the simple right to marry.

And to do so is not fair and it's not right.

Gay couples worked hard to earn the right the marry in the correct fashion, i.e. through the ballot box. These rights were won fair and square. And no portion of these rights, nor the dignity of marriage equality, should be sacrificed via sneaky semantics or weaving the thread between the lines

Gay couples in Maine make it legal - you gotta love it!

And now, same-sex couples are getting married in Maine. You really didn't think I would miss the chance to post about it, did you?

The first gay couple married in Maine. Congratulations Steven Bridges and Michael Snell:

For more pictures of the happy couple, go here.

Congratulations to the rest of Maine's now legally married gay couples. You deserve all of the happiness which comes from marriage. The following are just a few pictures - courtesy of Buzzfeed - of the first night of marriage equality in Maine:

Know Your LGBT History - Roseanne

Before Ellen DeGeneres came out, before Will and Grace, there was the comedy series Roseanne. Roseanne was a successful comedy series featuring the trials and tribulations of an ordinary housewife (Roseanne) and her family

Roseanne caught a lot of flack because of a 1994 episode (Don't Ask, Don't Tell) in which lead character Roseanne kisses actress Mariel Hemingway in a lesbian bar:



That one scene caused a huge amount of controversy.

The irony about the controversial scene is that a year later, the show featured a hilarious episode (December Bride) in which a gay couple (Martin Mull and Fred Willard) got married. Other than moving the episode from to 9:30 p.m. there was no controversy. Regarding the move, ABC network claimed that it wasn't the wedding but rather the adult humor of the episode which prompted the  move:

 

Past Know Your LGBT History posts:

'See the weddings that bigotry couldn't stop!' and other Friday midday news briefs

Some of the most beautiful weddings of 2012 : - these pictures are to remind you that sooner or later right wins and equality conquers inequality. 

Maine Marriages Start Tomorrow - With more on the way!

S.C. gay advocates to marry in Md. on Jan. 1 - Meanwhile, two friends of mine will be tying the knot on Jan. 1. 

Hey NOM: We want marriage. Always. Every time. In every state. We're not hiding that fact. - So apparently NOM is really scared that the same beautiful scenes will repeat themselves in Illinois and Minnesota. Oh the poor babies.

  Gay Republicans Doubt Hagel's "Sincerity" - The Log Cabin Republicans run a full-page ad attacking Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, claiming that they are wary of where he stands on lgbt equality. Isn't the Log Cabin Republicans the SAME group which supported Romney in the last election?

LGBT year in review

As this short video shows, from Frank Ocean to Honey Boo Boo (yeah I said it), the lgbt community had a very good 2012:

Marriage Equality in 2012 - It was a very good year!

From the American Foundation for Equal Rights, a video which proves that the fight for marriage equality had an excellent year in 2012:

'Maryland business stops wedding services because of marriage equality' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Discover Annapolis Tours No Longer Offering Wedding Services Because Owner Opposes Gay Marriage - Oh well. It's his choice. No one is forcing him to stop.  His rights are NOT being violated and he is NOT a victim.

  LZ Granderson: The myth of the gay agenda - You mean the "gay agenda" is a myth? Well heck no wonder I never got any memos. And here I thought it was a "racial" thing ;p. Of course I don't know what I am going to do with all of those "Killer Queen" outfits I bought.

  'New York Times' quotes one of IL's most overheated; fails to tell readers who she is - A post which underscores how it is important for US to provide context when it comes to anti-gay groups. The mainstream media rarely does. 

 A Father’s Journey - A heartbreaking at times but ultimate triumphant story of a gay man and his father.

Another Republican Backs Repeal Of Federal Anti-Gay Marriage Law - Sweet!

A video so homophobic that it would make a bigot swoon?

Welcome back to the game, so to speak. I hope your Christmas holiday for restful.

For my return, I thought I would post this old video which I gleaned from Youtube. It gets so many things wrong, it's like a homophobic bigot's wet dream:



One can envision Linda Harvey reacting to this video like the bobbysoxers reacted when they first heard Frank Sinatra sing.

Editor's note - January 8th and the unveiling of the How They See Us booklet is right around the corner. If you want to join the Facebook event group announcing the unveiling, click here.

Marriage equality will destroy America (because hate crimes legislation and the DADT repeal didn't)

Happy holidays, folks. I am going on a semi-hiatus until the Christmas season is over. I say sem-hiatus because I count on NOM or the Family Research Council or Tony Perkins, or Matt Barber to say or do something which yet again affords me the pleasure of demonstrating what lying hypocrites they are.

But until then, allow me to leave you with this. It's the Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver talking about the "evil consequences" of marriage equality. It's the usual banter about the "dreaded consequences" which will allegedly happen if gays and lesbians are allowed to marry.

However, other than the fact that it's totally untrue, there is something else which stands out in my mind.

Didn't Staver and company say the same things would happen if Congress passed lgbt-inclusive hate crimes legislation, or if gays and lesbians were allowed to serve openly in the military, or if the gay community were allowed to adopt children, etc.,etc.

I think you get the picture here:



Until then, like I said - Happy Holidays. And, if you have been reading my blog, you know what's going to happen on January 8th.

 It's gonna be BIG!

'Ex-gay movement trying to infiltrate the Black community' and other Friday midday news briefs

DL Foster Has a Secret: “The Perfect Storm The ‘Ex-Gay’ Movement, Religious Based Homophobia and the Black Church Pt. 1″ - Rev. Gerald Palmer is the newest writer for Truth Wins Out and mark my words when I say he will bring a much needed aspect to the fight against the fraudulent ex-gay movement. In his first piece, he details the insidious infiltration that the ex-gay fraud is attempting to make in the Black community.  

Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver: Marriage equality will cause new civil war - I really wish that these bozos would make up their minds. Either marriage equality will destroy America, the world, or will cause new civil war. Why not blame marriage equality for resistant tartar on teeth?  

Pope Benedict Uses Christmas Speech To Call Same-Sex Marriage A ‘Manipulation Of Nature’ - If this guy keeps attacking gays, he is almost going to make me miss Alexander Borgia (look it up!)

Sandy Rios Exposes the Left's Plot to use Christmas to Distract Conservatives - Oh good grief! I repeat how can we carry on insidious plots against "American values" if we got people who are telling our plans. Just tell me - does she know about the plan to make Judy Garland's birthday a national holiday or the Joan Crawford parental at?