Gay marriage, no longer just about a P and a V.

Conservatives Warn Quick Sex Change Only Barrier Between Gays, Marriage

Sen. Sam Brownback (R Kansas), ponders the criminalization of same-sex attraction.

The Rachel Maddow Show, Re Uganda, December 14th, 2009

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Transcript:

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think it‘s appropriate to criminalize homosexual conduct anymore?

BROWNBACK: I can‘t - I don‘t know the specifics of the bill. I‘ve learned you need to know what‘s actually -

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, just in general terms?

BROWNBACK: Well, I‘m not going to comment on something.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Well, thanks, senator.

"Do you think it‘s appropriate to criminalize homosexual conduct anymore?"

Brownback took it in his mind to respond to "the specifics of the Bill" in lieu of addressing the most pertinent part of the issue---the criminalization of homosexuality.
---
Reconstructionism/Dominionism:

The use of the death penalty would be greatly expanded, when the Hebrew Scriptures' laws are reapplied. People will be executed for adultery, blasphemy, heresy, homosexual behavior, idolatry, prostitution, evil sorcery (some translations say Witchcraft), etc. The Bible requires those found guilty of these "crimes" to be either stoned to death or burned alive. Reconstructionists are divided on the execution method to be used.

Bishop Harry Jackson loves like a rusty gate.

Re; DC votes to legalize gay marriage. Tip from Right Wing Watch.

RWW links to an article that addresses the DC's City Counsel's vote to legalize gay marriage.

From that article:

Opponents, however, said the issue is far from settled. Members of a group called Stand4Marriage, led by local pastor Bishop Harry Jackson, have met with members of Congress to urge them to oppose the bill...

..."If it gets to the vote, we win," he said, referencing the other states where residents overturned same-sex marriage laws.

One of the Biblical passages [1 Corinthians 13:1] Stand4Marriage quotes is thus:

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

Stand4marriage then goes on to state the rest of the verse that explains the 'true' meaning of love, (essentially, that it's unconditional).

This coming from a man who asserts in his book---The Truth in Black & white---that homosexuality is a choice [p147].

This chosen belief about LGBT persons is a common excuse to justify the non-passage of pro-equality laws.

I vote that his love is of the "rusty gate" kind.
---
Much more on Jackson here.

Conservatives have no voice in the media.

Keith Olbermann: There is no liberal media. The media, which is, after all, owned by corporations, naturally leans to the right. Corporations, by definition, lean to the right, towards the status quo.

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Transcript update:

And to paraphrase something from the web from several years ago, written by a fellow identifying himself as Bart-cop, if Mr. Beck disagrees or Mr. Goldberg disagrees or Mr. O‘Reilly disagrees or Mr. Breitbart disagrees, and they think they‘re being crushed under the weight of this vast left-wing media conspiracy, they can go on the Orly Tate‘s Limbaugh show, where Orly will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on the Sean Hannity show, where Sean will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on Cluster Fox and Friends, where Brian Kilmeade will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on Mike Huckabee‘s show, where Mike will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on G. Gordon Liddy‘s radio show, where G. will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on Michael Medved‘s show, where Michael will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on Mark Levin‘s high pitched radio show, where Mark will insist conservatives have no high pitched voice in the media.

Or go on the Neil Boortz show, where Neil will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on the Lou Dobbs radio show, where Lou will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on the Laura Ingraham radio show, where Laura will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on the Neil Cavuto show, where Neil will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or go on the John Stossel show, where John will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get David Horowitz to write a column in which David will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Bill Kristol to write a column in which Bill will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Coulter-geist to write a column in which Coulter-geist will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Peggy Noonan to write a column in which Peggy will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Jonah Goldberg to write a column in which Jonah will insist his mom told him conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get John Fund to write a column in which John will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Brent Bozell to write a column in which Brent will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Cal Thomas to write a column in which Cal will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Charles Krauthammer to write a column in which Charles will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get George Will to write a column in which George will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Sarah Palin to post something somebody wrote for her on Facebook in which Sarah‘s ghost writer insists conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or get Matt Drudge to steal somebody else‘s column in which somebody else will insist conservatives have no voice in the media.

Or pay Armstrong Williams cash to write a column in which Armstrong will insist conservatives have no voice in the media, and then he‘ll expense it.

Because, to conclude where we started, with Dick Wolf and “Law & Order,” “in the right wing dominated media system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the right-wing media who instigate crime, and the right-wing media who prosecute the imaginary liberal media.”

Absence makes some hearts grow colder.

TRMS, December 14th, 2009

Katy Parker, legal director of the ACLU of North Carolina, explains how there could be any legal basis for removing an atheist from public office for not believing in God.

Rachel Maddow: Article six of the north carolina state constitution, includes a list of things that disqualify a person from public office in the state. Things like…

…Sec. 8 Disqualifications for office first, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.

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Make sure not to let Him out of the box though, He's been known to blow a mind or two.

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow addresses situation in Uganda, and she’s naming names.

Maddow's coverage on Ugandagate (to my recollection) began this Monday 11-30, and has been ongoing since. I have included the video clips of these segments as well as their corresponding transcripts for the sake of full coverage and ease of quotation.

I wish to emphasize the point that we often feel that we are “preaching to the choir” in regard to pro-gay watchdog sites.

What we may not remember is that the “choir” still needs to be preached to. Too many in the LGBT community are CLUELESS as to the threats we face in the political arena.

I was talking with a friend of mine (gay) from high school awhile back, about the threats we face from mostly, the religious right, in regard to marriage equality. He replied, paraphrased: “I think all they really want is to keep the name ‘marriage’.” A ridiculous assertion to those of us who are actively engaged in the current culture war.

I also attended the recent Anti-Heterosexism Conference in West Palm Beach and spoke with several activists who organized the nearby NARTH conference protest and this past march on Washington, and they told me stories of how difficult it was to get support and involvement with not only LGBT persons, but also with pro-LGBT groups. So this kind of apathy seems to be epidemic.

My point being, in regard to this post, is that the importance of in depth MSM coverage like this should not be underestimated. The Rachel Maddow show, I suspect, has an almost exclusively liberal/progressive audience, and so it’s expose´s like this that may help to waken some of those in our community, and allies, who continue to slumber.

A point of note, you can now edit the portions of the Rachel Maddow clips you wish to embed. I don’t know if that extends to all MSNBC shows, but it was a welcome discovery in putting this post together.

And with that...

Rachel Maddow clip from Monday November 30th, 2009

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Transcript:

MADDOW: The government of Uganda is considering passing a law to execute gay people. Execute as in by hanging a, quote, “serial offender” or an HIV-positive person who commits same sex act. If enacted, this law would also impose a three-year prison sentence on anyone who knows of a gay person in the country but doesn‘t report that gay person to the government within 24 hours.

Who is supporting and promoting this legislation? Well, one of the proponents is a minister named Pastor Martin Ssempa. He was a familiar face to American conservative Evangelicals, because Mr. Ssempa has been a frequent guest of Pastor Rick Warren at One Saddleback Church in California.

Do you remember Rick Warren? Him being selected to deliver the invocation at Barack Obama‘s inauguration was the little black cloud that crawled inside the silver lining that day for a lot of Americans who support gay rights.

Given with Rick Warren‘s deep involvement with Pastor Ssempa on matters including gay rights and AIDS issues in Uganda, “Newsweek” magazine asked Pastor Rick Warren his opinion of this proposed “kill the gays” law in Uganda.

Mr. Warren responded by distancing himself from Martin Ssempa, but also by refusing to condemn the proposal saying, quote, “It is not my personal calling as a pastor in America to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations.”

In a moment, we‘ll speak with Jeff Sharlet who has written extensively about the secret of Evangelical religious organization called The Family. We first started discussing The Family on this show when it emerged as a player in, not two, but three Republican sex scandals - those of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, Nevada Senator John Ensign and the alleged sex scandal involving former Mississippi Congressman Chip Pickering.

The Family, among other things, provides well-below market rent housing for a select group of members of Congress at its, until recently, nearly tax-exempt church on Capitol Hill - a house called C Street.

Jeff Sharlet is now reporting that there aren‘t just ties between American Evangelical Rick Warren and the “kill the gays” bill in Uganda. He reports that, in fact, the president of Uganda and the legislator who introduced the “kill the gays” bill are more than just supported by American Evangelicals. They are both members of The Family.

Joining us now is Jeff Sharlet, author of “The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power.” He is also a contributing editor to “Harper‘s” magazine. Jeff, it‘s nice to see you again. Thanks for joining us.

JEFF SHARLET, AUTHOR, “THE FAMILY”: Good to be back, Rachel. Thanks.

MADDOW: So who introduced the “kill the gays” bill and what‘s his connection to The Family?

SHARLET: It‘s a member of parliament named David Bahati who has been very involved with a sort of conservative Evangelical revival in Uganda, very involved with a lot of American Evangelical groups and has also taken a leadership role in The Family‘s Uganda operation through something called the African Student Leadership Program at the Uganda‘s National Prayer Breakfast, which is an offshoot of the prayer breakfast The Family hosts every year here in the United States.

So he‘s got this leadership role that puts him not just at the sort of the margin of things, but functioning as one of their key men on the ground in Uganda.

MADDOW: In the big picture, why is The Family interested in Uganda? Why are they interested in operating there? And what are their goals there?

SHARLET: Well, The Family has always viewed its religious outreach, its worldwide spiritual offensive, as they describe it, in very clear geopolitical terms. Uganda, right now, is an incredibly important country for world politics. It‘s functioning in many ways as a U.S. proxy with Sudan, with Congo, with Rwanda.

There‘s oil in that general region and The Family needs to have a presence out there. They‘ve had that presence in Uganda since 1986 when they sent over a man to recruit Museveni who was then the new leader. Didn‘t look like a bright Democratic spot in African leadership. And they recruited him to be one of their main brothers, as they put it, for the whole continent.

MADDOW: So President Museveni in Uganda - he‘s not explicitly backing this horrendous bill. But it is thought that he tacitly supports it, at least as far as I can tell, and that the ethics and integrity minister in his government is vocally in favor of this thing. You‘re saying he has Family connections that go back decades.

SHARLET: Yes, to 1986. And it‘s hard to call it passive support when he‘s coming out there and saying that homosexuality is a plot that‘s sort of being imposed on Africa by Europe and that this is a time for Africans to rally together against sort of the foreign influence of homosexuality.

Now, Museveni is - the thought in Ugandan politics is that he‘s sort of letting other guys take the lead on this. But through his ethics minister, who is the main organizer of the National Prayer Breakfast in Uganda and it‘s his right-hand man - he‘s got a direct involvement.

And just last week, in fact, Museveni responded to questions from Uganda‘s main newspaper, is he a part of The Family. And his press secretary said, “Well, I can‘t answer that.” But it certainly sounds like an organization the president would like to be a part of but only if they really, really hate homosexuals.

MADDOW: Wow. That bastardization of that Groucho Marx quote is running through my head right now. Back in July, Jeff, you uncovered a video and we played it on the show, of Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, a Republican senator in the United States. He‘s got admitted association with C Street and The Family.

We played video that you found of him talking about his trips taken to Africa on the urging of leaders of The Family. I just want a real quick clip to remind folks here.

SEN. JIM INHOFE(R-OK): If you‘re a member of the United States Senate, in Africa, they think you are important, so you can always go to see the kings.

MADDOW: You always get in to see the kings. Is Sen. Inhofe or any other American politician powerful enough among Ugandan politicians that they could derail this legislation if they wanted to?

SHARLET: Well, working with colleagues, I‘ve reached out to Inhofe‘s office and he refuses to say a word about it despite the fact that he likes to boast of his incredibly close relationship with Ugandan politics. He‘s attended the Uganda National Prayer Breakfast. He says, in fact, he has adopted the nation and he regularly travels over there in behalf of The Family. Yet, he‘s refused to condemn it. Does he have the influence? We don‘t know because he‘s not exerting it. It‘s just like Rick Warren. Could Rick Warren, who has designated Uganda a purpose-driven nation, make a difference?

We don‘t know because they‘re not trying. And I think that‘s the kind of the bottom line with the American involvement. There‘s been a lot of American support for the guys who are promoting this bill and no pushback against this incredibly hateful piece of violence put in the legislation.

MADDOW: Jeff Sharlet is author of “The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power.” Thanks, as always, for joining us, Jeff. I really appreciate it.

SHARLET: Thanks, Rachel.
--
Onto the clip from December 1st, 2009:

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Transcript:

Rachel Maddow: [T]oday is world AIDS Day. And for that occasion, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced a ground-breaking Obama administration policy which, awkwardly enough, reverses a policy implemented during the Reagan administration that was codified into law during the Clinton administration. It‘s a law that banned HIV positive people from traveling to the United States. The Obama administration has finally dropped that inexplicable ban and one immediate consequence of that is that the world‘s largest AIDS conference can once again be held in the United States. For the first time since 1990, when you might recall Paula Abdul‘s “Opposites Attract” was the No. 1 hit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: Today, I‘m pleased to announce that with the repeal of the ban, the International AIDS Society will hold the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADDOW: Secretary Clinton also using World AIDS Day to make a legacy-defining statement that the United States would not tolerate homophobia on the international stage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: We have to stand against any efforts to marginalize and criminalize and penalize members of the LGBT community, worldwide. It is an unacceptable step backwards on behalf of human rights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADDOW: And if that sounded to you like an oblique reference to the Kill the Gay‘s bill in Uganda which we covered last night on this show, yes, it sounded like that to me, too.

We are learning more today about anti-gay extremism in Uganda and its connections to American extremists. Last night, investigative journalist, Jeff Charlotte, laid out for us the web connecting the author of the bill, calling for the death penalty for so-called “aggravated homosexuality” in Uganda. The connections between him and Pastor Rick Warren. And to our favorite denizens of “C” Street, the family.

But three other Americans are also closely linked to the proposed Kill the Gay‘s law. They are members of the so-called, “Ex-gay Movement,” who back, in March, spoke at a conference in Uganda, and riling up anti-gay fervor in that country.

The direct result of that conference, according to in-depth coverage in London‘s “Guardian” newspaper, was this bill that‘s now before the Ugandan parliament. So, who were the Americans who went to Uganda to stir up anti-gay fervor? And why are at least two of them now distancing themselves from the harsh consequences of their rhetoric? We‘ll have much more about them on tomorrow night‘s show, you may want to clear your schedule.
--
And finally, the most recent clip from December 2nd, 2009:

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Transcript mine:

Rachel Maddow: Bill number 18, The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009, section 2, subsection 2: A person who commits the offense of homosexuality shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.

Section 3, subsection 2: A person who commit’s the offense of aggravated homosexuality shall be liable on conviction to suffer death.

Section 4, subsection 1: A person who attempts to commit the offense of homosexuality commits a felony, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 7 years.

If you attempt to commit aggravated homosexuality, that’s life imprisonment.

Then there’s Section 13, subsection 1B: A person who funds or sponsors homosexuality is liable on conviction to a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 7 years imprisonment.

Then there’s Section 14: Where if you know if someone who’s gay, you can get 3 years for not reporting that person to the authorities.

Then there’s section 16, where they will extradite their citizens from anywhere in the world, back to this country for prosecution if that citizen commits any of these crimes of homosexuality, somewhere else on God’s green Earth.

This is Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 [PDF, courtesy Warren Throckmorton, via the Rachel Maddow show]. It was introduced this fall after 3 American evangelical activists, who proclaim that homosexuality can be cured, traveled to Uganda this spring to lead an anti-homosexuality inspirational seminar. The more we investigate, the more Americans we’ve turned up with links to this, so I will warn you that you can expect some continuing coverage from us on this issue.

But tonight, we’ve obtained some reactions from the three anti-gay American activists who’s travel to Uganda is credited with inspiring the kill-the-gays legislation.

They are Don Schmierer of the group Exodus International, a group that claims that Christianity can cure you of being gay. Also, Caleb Lee Brundidge of the group The International Healing Foundation, which also says that it tries to change gay people into straight people. And there’s Scott Lively, president of a group called Defend the Family, and author a book call The Pink Swastika.

These are the three American anti-gay gay-people-can-be-cured speakers who traveled to Uganda earlier this year, and who are credited with having inspired the kill-the-gays bill that is being considered in that country now.

Mr. Schmierer has said the he is opposed to the kill-the-gays legislation, and he says that he’s signed onto a letter to Uganda’s president, against it.

The group with which Mr. Brundidge is associated, first, denied knowing anything about the bill’s existence, and asked us for a copy of it. After we emailed them the legislation, they issued a statement that quote “We condemn any harsh and extreme punishment of persons who identify as homosexual or engage in homosexual behavior. Instead, we advocate education and counseling for those who experience unwanted Same-Sex Attraction.”

Education and counseling to cure you of ’the gay.’

Then there’s the last one, Mr. Scott Lively, the Pink Swastika guy. He told Lifesite news.com that the law is too harsh, but quoting “Dr. Lively explained that the impetus for the bill was "a lot of external interference from European and American gay activists attempting to do in Uganda what they've done around the world - homosexualize that society." One of their main concerns, explained Mr. Lively, "are the many male homosexuals coming in to the country and abusing boys who are on the streets."

So I mean, can you really blame them? I mean, of course Uganda wants to execute people for being gay. May be a little harsh, but it’s a normal reaction to all this pressure they’ve been getting. Can you blame them?

We thank Mr. Lively, Mr. Schmierer, and Mr. Brundidge, for giving us their reactions to the bill they reportedly inspired, to the extent that they responded to our calls for comment.

If American anti-gay activists inspired this bill, are there other Americans who have the clout to stop it from passing? You bet there are, and it turns out that a lot of them are household names. And so far, as far as we can tell, they have done nothing. We continue to investigate this, our next segment on the kill-the-gays bill tomorrow will familiarize you with some of the Americans who probably could stop this, who apparently don’t want to. That’s tomorrow.
-----------------
So stay tuned. Literally, The Rachel Maddow show airs on MSNBC @ 9E 8C

When Goodness is a Sin

Citizenlink 11-30-09: Humanist Group Wages War on Christmas

The American Humanist Association has launched a nationwide promotion to undermine Christmas. The "National Godless Holiday" campaign includes a series of bus and rail ads that take a swipe at the Christmas celebration, exhorting people to "Be Good for Goodness' Sake."

Oh the humanity. What a bad thing it is to "Be Good for Goodness' Sake." Unlike those who need to be told by the Bible to be good. How ever will supremacist Christians regain their monopoly on goodness?

According the The American Humanist Association, they are "driven by a desire to meet the needs of people in the here and now, and "The positions we hold and the actions we take are not simply for our own benefit, but for the betterment of all of society."

Pretty ominous, eh?

Back to the Citizenlink article:

Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law, said the ads are insensitive and mean.

"It is wrong to belittle Jews for celebrating Hanukkah during the holiday season, and it is wrong to offend all religions during Christmas."

Of course, Jews and the members of all other religions are going to burn in a lake of fire for all eternity---by a loving god no less. But that doesn't discourage Staver and Focus on the Family from exploiting them--No doubt for goodness' sake.

And as far as “insensitive and mean” goes, that’s quite rich coming from Matt Staver. This is a man who argued in front of the California Supreme Court to deny marriage equality.

One of his arguments was thus:

Same sex relations will not accidentally, unintentionally, in an unplanned fashion, produce children.

This is also a man who penned a book called “Same-Sex Marriage: Putting Every Household at Risk." A book that contains some of the most hateful and vile rhetoric and slander that I have ever read in an anti-gay book.

In Chapter 3: Our Children At Risk, he had this to say on p46:

Another study found a significant increase in the risk of incest among children raised by homosexual parents. “A disproportionate percentage---29 percent of the adult children of homosexual parents had been specifically subjected to sexual molestation by that homosexual parent, compared to only 0.6 percent of the adult children of heterosexual parents having reported sexual relations with their parent…Having a homosexual parent(s) appears to increase the risk of incest with a parent by a factor about 50.” (92)

And what does footnote 92 list as its source, you ask. *drum roll please*…The long-time discredited lord of virulently anti-gay fake studies, Paul Cameron.
--
Psychopath: A person with an antisocial personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Sarah-pocalypse Now

All the Youtube and other clips of this have been sucked up, presumably due to copyright infringement.

Perhaps I didn’t look hard enough, but I couldn’t even find this clip on the Saturday Night Live website. (Sure, if you want to go wading through the entire episode, but what if you have ADD like me?).

Countdown’s Keith Olbermann seems to have the only remaining clip.

The Nation’s coverage of the Countdown clip includes this quote which sums up SNL’s excoriating Palin/2012 montage.

Saturday Night Live recently produced a fake film trailer of a movie called Palin 2012, an obvious parody of the doomsday film 2012. SNL's version captures what the world will be like if Sarah Palin is elected President (with Glenn Beck as her VP). On Countdown, Keith Olbermann sounds off on her apocalyptic political career, and what we can really expect in the future.

--Alana Levinson

Also, from the Countdown transcript:

OLBERMANN: The man who was effectively John McCain's campaign manager served it up like the proverbial softball. Steve Schmidt said months ago, if she were the Republican nominee, 2012 would be a, quote, "catastrophic election." Our number one story, Sister Sarah is denied permission to make a speech on a US Army base, but does manage to solicit political contributions while signing books there. "Saturday Night Live" decided to illustrate the motion picture possibilities of Mr. Schmidt's remark: Sarah-pocalypse now.

The "Going Rogue" tour bus rolling into Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Army regulations banning any politician from using politicians for political platforms. But a Fort Bragg spokesman says Palin falls into a gray area because she's, quote, not a political figure per se.

So instead the military offered her a compromise, no speeches, no posing for pictures, no personalized messages in books. But as the Associated Press reports, that did not stop the Palin camp from encouraging donations to her political action committee. Allowing Palin's father, Chuck Heath (ph), to call President Obama's handling of the military, quote, "scary. People used to be afraid of us and respect us. They're not afraid of us and don't respect us anymore."

I guess he's in touch with Kim Jong-il. The scary extending beyond the fort Bragg stop to the Mayan calendar's warning of Armageddon and the Hollywood CGI spectacle chronicling of civilization end. "SNL" pitched perfect.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#34118721

Maine guidance counselor defends right to abuse GLBT students.

Citizenlink 11-24-09 Maine Counselor Called Out for Marriage Support

Don Mendell, a guidance counselor at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine, is getting flack for appearing in an ad supporting repeal of the state's same-sex marriage law.

The ad:



I have to admit, there must be nothing quite like seeing your High School guidance counselor appear on TV, to express to the world, what a piece of shit you are if you are GLB or T---AND THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING SO!

Just catching up on my politics...

MSNBC's Countdown puts together uproarious montage of late night Palin jokes:

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The Rachel Maddow show puts together a video montage (below) of Media Matters’ documentation and use of the word "rape" to describe the evil liberal agenda--equal opportunity for all:

Media Matters: Conservative commentators such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Michael Savage frequently employ rape metaphors when discussing progressives or progressive policies. For example, Beck said that New Yorkers are "being raped by [their] government," while Limbaugh, during a discussion of health care, told his listeners: "Get ready to get gang-raped again.

And now for Maddow's (and panel) take:

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Troglodytes disprove evolution

CitizenLink 11-20-09
Friday Five: Dr. Stephen Meyer, Discovery Institute
by Kim Trobee, editor

With the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species fast approaching, Dr. Meyer explains the holes in the theory of evolution and the magnificent ode to intelligent design.

Dr. Stephen Meyer is director and senior fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute.

Gosh golly gee, Ms. Trobee, what is this Discovery Institute that you speak of?

Wikipedia:

The Discovery Institute is ... best known for its advocacy of intelligent design.

Its Teach the Controversy campaign aims to teach creationist anti-evolution beliefs in United States public high school science courses.

The Institute has manufactured the controversy they want to teach by promoting a false perception that evolution is "a theory in crisis", through incorrectly claiming that it is the subject of wide controversy and debate within the scientific community.

In 2005, a federal court ruled that the Discovery Institute pursues "demonstrably religious, cultural, and legal missions", and the institute's manifesto, the Wedge strategy, describes a religious goal: to "reverse the stifling dominance of the materialist worldview, and to replace it with a science consonant with Christian and theistic convictions".

"What will it take for the scientific community to open up to the possibility of intelligent design?"

Dearest, the burden of proof is on you to prove that Intelligent Design is something that can be proven scientifically.

Intelligent Design is a religion. Defining religion as science is a lie.

And for those of you who are interested in fully appreciating the richness of the deceit and dishonesty of the Intelligent Design movement, watch PBS’s Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial. They have plenty of resources, including a transcript of the show.


Oh, and by the way, since when is “materialistic” science required to prove the already-known "fact" of Adam and Eve?

Lily Allen - ♪ Fuck You ♪

Rick Scarborough on hate-crime legislation: "I’m not here to hurt anyone"

Re; Right Wing Watch.

Anti-Hate Crimes Legislation Rally
Washington, D.C.
November 16, 2009

Compiled Footage of Religious Right 'Rally' on Hate Crimes (Edited)



They isolate gays as being unworthy of hate-crime protection, attempt to hide that fact by pretending that they are against ALL hate-crime legislation, and then claim it’s not about hate.

Rick Scarborough highlights these points, and then some:

Rick Scarborough: But I don’t believe hate-crimes legislation is about protecting homosexuals, I think it’s about silencing alternate speech.

For the first time in American Jurisprudence, we now have laws on the books, and this adds to those laws, where lady justice has to drop the blindfold, speak out, and see who it is that’s being protected, and then mitigate justice based upon one person as being superior to another person. One of our speakers hit that hard and very clear. That’s the problem I have with it.
---
I think it’s much superior to have a life in a world, I should say, or a country, where this group [pro-gay] can have their rallies, we can have our rallies--let the superior idea win.

I’m not here to hurt anyone, or to infringe on anyone’s rights, but I’m going to die protecting my own. And that is the American way.

"justice based upon one person as being superior to another person"

That’s a load of garbage, as he is equally protected under the same hate-crime legislation, as per religion and sexual orientation.

"I think it’s much superior to … let the superior idea win"

That “superior idea” being that GLBT Americans are inferior, a "right" he is willing to “die” for, and considers to be the “American way.”

More on that “superior idea”:

Rick Scarborough: So listen, homosexuality is a sinful lifestyle. Therefore homosexuals, and this is just going to burn people that disagree. But homosexuals by definition are immoral people. They’re breaking the moral codes and standards of God.

Now, if a man will commit the act of sodomy, you can pretty well decide he will do about anything, include lying.

Nope, not hateful or hurtful at all.

Hate houses Churches in Maine threatened by evil homosexual activists FOR NO REASON AT ALL!

11-12-09 by Nima Reza, reporter

Maine Churches Threatened Over Marriage Support

Opponents of Question 1 call on activists to turn churches in to the IRS in an attempt to revoke tax-exempt status.

Ken Graves, senior pastor at Calvary Chapel in Bangor, said..."We've directly consulted the ethics commission here in the state of Maine with regard to our political involvement."

Graves said they must stand up for biblical values.

First of all, notice that this Focus on the Family "reporter," spelled Bible---THE Bible---with a small b. Apparently, Focus on the Family's Nima Reza doesn't think God's Word is worth capitalizing.

As far as "Biblical values" go, we know that by sheer logic, Adam and Eve's children (and possibly them) "committed" incest in order to "be fruitful and multiply."

Also, polygamy is God approved:

2 Samuel 12:8: I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.

And, remarriage is defined as adultery by none other than Jesus Christ Himself:

Luke 16:18: Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

So much for "Biblical values," or should I say "biblical values"

Pastor Ken Graves states that they've reported their political involvement to the "ethics commission here in the state of Maine...". Implying, of course, that his motives were "ethical."

Here's what they had to work with, as per Stand for Marriage Maine dot com:

From the "Myths and Facts about the People’s Veto of homosexual marriage Legislation (LD 1020)" page:

does not discriminate against gays
restores the meaning of marriage
marriage is between a man and a woman.
marriage is between a man and a woman
does not take away any rights from gay and lesbian
Gays and lesbians…enjoy…the legal rights and benefits of marriage
same-sex marriage…redefines marriage for all of society.
Mainers will have to accept a radical new understanding of marriage
healthy marriages will be eliminated
instruct…kindergartners about marriage
teaching our kids that gay marriage is the equivalent of traditional marriage.
marriage is between a man and a woman
gay marriage advocates want to change the definition of marriage
gays living the lifestyle they choose
redefine marriage for the rest of society.
the legal meaning of marriage
definition of marriage
definition of marriage
marriage is only between a man and a woman.

According to that page, they needed to pass this pro-hatred legislation in order to protect their thoughts on the matter.

Meanwhile, over on the "Questions & Answers About Question 1" page, we find mountains more of that same insidious crap, and...

What does a Yes Vote Mean?

It maintains the rights and benefits of Maine same-sex couples who are covered by our domestic partners law. A YES vote does not take anything away from homosexual couples, but protects traditional marriage.

What does a NO Vote Mean?

Maine law will no longer promote monogamous marriages and the interests of children. Marriage’s powerful influence on the betterment of society will be lost.

No longer will the interests of children and families even be a consideration.

would destroy marriage as we know it and cause profound harm to society

Question 1 doesn’t take away any rights or benefits from gay or lesbian partners who are covered by Maine’s domestic partners law.

parents will lose control over what their kids learn in school about marriage and sexual orientation

parents who do not want their children exposed to this homosexual marriage instruction have been denied an opportunity to opt their children out.

As is usual for these morally bankrupt "family" groups, it's a literal feast of distortion, deception and lies.

From their "Fact Sheet" page:

Voting Yes on Question 1, A People’s Veto does three simple things.

•It restores the definition of marriage to what Maine law has always been and what human history has always understood marriage to be. [protect fragile thoughts about marriage]

•It strengthens democracy and places the power to alter or overturn laws where it always should be- with the people. [tyranny of the majority]

•It protects our children from being taught in public schools that “same-sex marriage” is the same as traditional marriage. [protects children from thinking that gays are equal to straights]

Fraud: deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.

Pastor Graves, where in the Bible does it say that God approves of fraud?

Focus on the Family smarter than the AMA

11-11-09

Once again, from Focus on the Family's Citizenlink magazine:

AMA Opposes 'Don't Ask Don't Tell,' Says Gay Marriage Bans are Unhealthy

The country's largest professional organization for doctors takes a position on homosexual issues.

Gary Rose, a consultant with the conservative Medical Institute for Sexual Health, said the AMA should stick to medicine.

The AMA “should stick to medicine” eh? Here’s a Citizenlink quote from last July:

A third major finding of the study is that there is significantly greater medical, psychological and relational pathology in the homosexual population than the general population.

So there you have it. FOTF’s anti-gay Citizenlink knows more about medicine than the American Medical Association.

And in regard to the “study” they speak of:

In short, the study design was so flawed that no mainstream, peer-reviewed, mental-health journal would publish it. And the study’s supposed success stories were gay celibate individuals who adopted false labels to direct attention away from frequently undiminished same-sex attraction.

No cigar, Dobson.

Congress considers sodomizing religious freedom

From Citizenlink: 11-6-09 "Lawmakers Consider Special Rights for Homosexuals"

"ENDA would enshrine special rights"

Indeed, it virtually rapes the "Christian" custom of arbitrary discrimination.

Craig Parshall was the only witness to speak against the bill...Parshall heard cries for fundamental fairness and rights.

"What about the civil rights, the civil opportunities and privileges of private enterprise," he said, "to conduct its business free of these exotic new value systems?"

Exotic: not native or usual; mysterious, alien, alluring, avant garde, bizarre, colorful, curious, different, enticing, external, extraneous, extraordinary, extrinsic, far out, fascinating, foreign, glamorous, imported, introduced, kinky*, outlandish, outside, peculiar, peregrine, romantic, strange, striking, unfamiliar, unusual, way out, weird

That leaves us with quite a range of "exotic value systems" to choose from.

Bill sponsors claim there is a religious exemption in the bill, but Parshall said it won't protect for-profit Christian organizations.

Should we also then assume that Craig Parshall is a “For profit Christian?”

"They will be required to hire… [those] …that violate Scripture's mandate."

And now to use the word mandate in sentence form:

--My mandate and I decided to take a cab instead of driving.

--Me and my mandate went for a walk last week.

--I said to my mandate, yes, and then let us sup and feast from a fancy restaurant...
---
So, at least three idioms here:

1) exotic new value systems
2) for-profit Christians
3) Scripture's mandate

And now back to anti-gay hell on Earth.

Love Won Out protest in Alabama

Ala black Christian news.com:

"They're telling you to hate your child unless he lives the way you tell him to live," said Johnathan Quinn, president of Central Alabama Pride, one of the protesting organizations. "Their literature tells the parents to abandon their children unless they go this route: forcing them to be straight."

[[Melissa] Fryrear, director of gender issues for Focus on the Family and one of the speakers.] Fryrear said Focus on the Family does not want parents to shun homosexual children.

"One of our messages is helping parents stay in a relationship with their gay-identified child," Fryrear said. "Moms and dads shouldn't have to relinquish their religious convictions."

As described above, she confuses the issue by describing same-sex attraction as both an uncontrollable condition, and one that is a chosen identification.

This is the kind of doublespeak that leads me to conclude that Focus on the Family is a corrupt organization.

As I mocked on my facebook page; "Yay! I want parents who love their “religious convictions” more than they love me!"

I JUST WANNA [FUCKING] DANCE: Alison Jiear

Via Anthony Venn-Brown:

DC councilman takes Maryland's Dr. Ruth Jacobs to task on marriage equality

Please feel free to use the transcript of the video below, in full or in part. No credit requested.
--
Re Metro Weekly, Washington DC’s GLBT Newsmagazine:

Public hearing on the “Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009”

Dr. Ruth Jacobs of Rockville, MD, against Gay Marriage Bill, Public Witness at Washington, DC Hearing. DC Council, Monday, November 2, 2009:

Synopsis: Conservative activist Dr. Ruth Jacobs presenting ridiculous testimony as a public witness during the DC City Council's hearing about a pending same-sex marriage equality bill. It's not clear why Jacobs was there since she appears to have traveled down from Rockville, MD, and that she knew nothing about existing District law. In 2007, Jacobs led an effort against a transgender equality bill in Montgomery County claiming that men would expose their genitalia to women and girls, and testifying that the bill would discriminate against ''ex-transgenders.'' During a questioning period, she admitted to Council chair Phil Mendelson that she had no evidence of her claims of a connection between same-sex marriage and HIV infection. Councilman David Catania asked her what gay male sex had to do with lesbians and marriage, especially since lesbians have the lowest rate of HIV infection. Jacobs became flustered and said she wasn't there to talk about that fact. (City Council via Office of Cable Television)



Full transcript. Note, I’ve skipped the first 41 seconds provided in the Metro Weekly article (all of which is reiterated below). Again, please feel free to use this transcript, in full or in part. No credit requested.

Beginning @ 41 seconds:

Council chair Phil Mendelson: Dr. Jacobs…

Dr. Ruth Jacobs: My name is Dr. Jacobs. I’m an infectious disease specialist, and I have seen the pain and hurt of the AIDS epidemic. This has been identified as one of the most sever health problems facing the District. It’s a generalized and severe epidemic, affecting the good citizens of D.C. A shockingly high number of 6% of heterosexual black men, 3% of black women, and Hispanic men in the District are HIV positive. But this number pales when compared to 46% of black and 20% of men who have sex with men who are HIV positive. The immediate action of passing the same-sex marriage bill 18 40 82, is to normalize, predominantly, homosexual activity, such as anal sex, and require the promotion in school as a legal normal activity, and part of the sex education.

We have a man who lost his daughter in Massachusetts for simply expressing disagreement with same-sex marriage. Brookstone’s termination letter to Peter states that “In the state of Massachusetts, same-sex marriage is legal.”

The Centers for Disease Control, Federal [drug?] Administration, and Nation Institutes of Health tell us that while new HIV infections have decreased among both heterosexuals and injection drug users, the annual number of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men, has been steadily increasing since the 90’s. The Surgeon General has stated “condoms provide some protection, but anal intercourse is simply too dangerous to practice,” and this is on an updated FDA website. Anal sex has higher HIV transmission than vaginal sex. Estimates are as high as 1 life altering HIV deadly conversion for every 20 anal sex acts. The people of the District who are already suffering more than anyone who should suffer from HIV / AIDS, should be able to vote on bill 18 40 82. Who will speak truthfully about the risks of same-sexual activity in the Districts after 18 40 82 is passed, who will protect the children? There are more new HIV infections among young black men who have sex with men, age 13-29, than among any other age group, and racial group of men who have sex with men.

In a Washington Post article, “AIDS Crisis: serious times calls for serious measures,” the author exhorts “down low brothers, to don’t go so low as to become a murder too.” The people of the District who are already suffering more than anyone should suffer from HIV / AIDS, should be able to be informed about the risks, and vote on this issue, which is of life and death importance to themselves, their families and their children. Let the people vote.

Council chair Phil Mendelson: Thank you Dr. Jacobs and Reverend…

Dr Jacobs: The anus was designed for exit, not entrance.

Council chair Phil Mendelson: Dr. Jacobs, I had one question for you. Did you attach to your testimony, or do you have any research that’s been done with regard to the effect on HIV / AIDS, which is the essence of your testimony, in the 6 states that have legalized same-sex marriage?

Dr. Jacobs: I don’t have those statistics, but I know that there has been people from Massachusetts that have been saying that they feel that there are increased funds being spent. But, I think the immediate effect of any law---all of these are all 1 or 2 years---is the longer term and right now, for example, in Montgomery County, there are various classes of people may or may not accept. Once this becomes law, it is part of the health education. If you want to avoid your child being taught that anal sex is just as safe as vaginal sex, you can opt yourself out. Once this [is] law, you will not be able to opt yourself out.

Council chair Phil Mendelson: Thank you. Mr. Cantania, do you have any questions?

Councilman David Cantania: I do Mr. Chairman, I just have to respond. Miss Jacobs, are you a District resident?

Dr. Jacobs: No, I am an infectious disease in Rockville Maryland, but I do have patients that come from the District, and I have become involved in the schools because of concerns about that.

Councilman David Cantania: You’re not a District resident?

Dr. Jacobs: I am a physician who cares for people who come from the D.C.

Councilman David Cantania: Now are you aware that homosexuality has been taught as pursuant to regulation since 1979 in D.C. public schools, but marriage is not now, nor has it ever been part of the curriculum, and nothing in this legislation would require it to be part of the curriculum?

Dr. Jacobs: In terms of, once it is the law---in Massachusetts, when it became the law---anal sex became taught as part of the curriculum as normal and healthy.

Councilman David Cantania: Dr. Jacobs, we’re talking about the District of Columbia, which is about 1000 miles south. Nothing in our law that we are passing today would require anything about marriage to be taught. And isn’t it also true that in the District, pursuant to our regulations and long standing law, that all sex education materials are to be shared with parents? Parents have the authority to object and to take their children out of sex-education in the District. Which is different than in Massachusetts. Are you aware of that, Dr. Jacobs?

Dr. Jacobs: I am aware that students are terrified to be taken out of sex-ed. They get on the knees and beg to their parents to be included. Because to be outside, is to be labeled as the conservative. To go to the library, while everybody else is in class, having sex-ed, means you are then, you then become--when you refuse to go to sex-ed, you then become the group that is discriminated against.

Councilman David Cantania: Dr. Jacobs, our law is very clear, parents are given the authority to pre-approve and to withhold that certain instructions from their children, it’s been a long standing part of our municipal regulations. I somehow thing that that is, it’s a nice compromise that respects the importance and the prerogative of the parent, while also allows us to have a curriculum that is consistent with the law of the city.

I’m a little perplexed, to be honest, by your legislation. You seem to be implying that because there’s a high rate of HIV among gay men, white or black, that that in and of itself should disqualify the population from the rights and responsibilities of marriage. Is that your testimony?

Dr. Jacobs: My testimony is that there is a significant risk to anal sex. The anus was designed for exit, not entrance. And when you normalize marriage, I’m telling you…

Councilman David Cantania: Dr. Jacobs, we’re on limited rounds. I know you’re new to the District, but the way it works here is, we ask questions of the witnesses. And so, if your testimony is that you’re only eligible to marry if your population has a low HIV rate, then the first in line, because the lowest HIV incidents in the city, according to our 2008 epidemiology, are lesbians. So based on your testimony, then we should only marry lesbians.

Dr. Jacobs: This is not my argument. I am putting… You haven’t allowed me to speak, Mr. Catania.

Councilman David Cantania: Ok, well then please, enlighten me.

Dr. Jacobs: You asked me if this--what I gave is a specific piece of information---as an infectious disease specialist---which raises concerns for me. And I think that the people of the city should be allowed to be aware of this information, and to vote. They may choose to say something, such as marriage and the vagina and the penis are designed to go together, and the penis and anus is not.

Councilman David Cantania: Dr. Jacobs, thank you very much, I think the people of this city are entitled to decide whether or not they marry someone of the same sex or the opposite sex, and that’s what this is about.

Dr. Jacobs: Yes, I hope they will get to vote.

Councilman David Cantania: I wish we would have had same-sex marriage 30 years ago, to be perfectly honest. Because I think there would be thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of gay men who would be married and alive today if this society would have afforded them the same equality, and the same normalcy, and the same dignity, as is afforded opposite-sex couples. I believe, had in 1977, when the first marriage equality bill was introduced in this council, had it passed, had we exposed gay and lesbians to an appropriate dignified avenue to channel their love and affection, we would have far fewer people dead today. Than you Mr. Chairman.

Dr. Jacobs: May I respond?

Council chair Phil Mendelson: No, there’s not a question.
---
PS, on an inspirational note:

Joe Lieberman Says He'll Block Reid's Health Care Bill

October 27, 2009 2:39 PM:

"Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Tuesday that he would support a Republican filibuster of a health care bill that includes a public option."






This is from some time ago, but note the last square/rectangle (click on cartoon to see the louder image):



Brought to you by this link.

For more of Tom Tomorrow's satirical cartoonage...
http://thismodernworld.com/newest-comic/

GLSEN’s “Ally Week” makes lobbyists of gay allies

Via Citizenlink:

10-20-09
'Ally Week' Pushes Gay Agenda

GLSEN's week long effort uses the anti-bullying message as a springboard to indoctrinate students with the homosexual agenda.
--
Cushman said events like Ally Week play directly into the activist's plans.

"GLSEN is using this so-called anti-bullying event to transform students into lobbyists for its adult agenda," she said, "for things like pro-gay legislation currently proposed in the U.S. House."

Is everyone terrified yet?

Here’s how GLSEN’s “Ally week” bills itself:

I believe all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression,deserve to feel safe and supported. That means I pledge to:

-Not use anti-LGBT language and slurs;
-Intervene, if I safely can, in situations where other students are being harassed;
-Support efforts to end bullying and harassment.

The nerve of those insidious gays and their agenda “to transform students into lobbyists” for the protection of their fellow students!
---
The news here is that they’re not promoting Exodus International’s “Allies Too” week:

Wait a minute, aren't you the ones who hate gays?

If that's what you think, it's about time you stop believing the lie that people with different beliefs about sexuality hate those who embrace homosexuality.

In other words, “We don't hate gay liars.”

I especially enjoy #4 and #6 from their “Core Principles” page:

4. We believe that a homosexual, bisexual or transgender identity and/or behavior are outside of the intentional design of human relationships and sexuality, and therefore aren’t what’s best for us, regardless of whether we are drawn to them.

6. We reject the notion that these beliefs somehow amount to hatred, bigotry, or a “phobia.”

You are free to “reject.” You are also free to be labeled hateful, bigoted, and homophobic.

[Candi] Cushman said events like Ally Week play directly into the activist's plans.

Again, Candi, why not counter these "gay activist" indoctrination techniques with Exodus International’s already tried and true “Allies, Too” week?
---
P.S. Focus on the Family also reminds us to hate Kevin Jennings.

Daily Show: October 12, 2009: CNN Leaves It There

FOTF, miniscule cost of DP benefits evil. GW's $4 trillion debt AOK.

Via Citizenlink:

Senate Hearing Focuses on Domestic-Partner Benefits

Lawmakers discuss expanding benefits for federal workers, but largely ignore the cost to taxpayers.
--
The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (S. 1102) includes health and disability insurance, an expansion of family-leave programs, life and long-term care insurance and other compensation.
--
The Congressional Budget Office has calculated the cost of implementing the bill at more than $1 billion over 10 years. Democrat committee members are expected to largely ignore the price tag.

Via CBS news:

Bush Administration Adds $4 Trillion To National Debt

On the day President Bush took office, the national debt stood at $5.727 trillion. The latest number from the Treasury Department shows the national debt now stands at more than $9.849 trillion. That’s a 71.9 percent increase on Mr. Bush’s watch.

Each time you go up a notch, eg; thousand, million, billion, trillion, it is 1,000 times the previous number.

1000 thousand = 1 million
1000 million = 1 billion
1000 billion = 1 trillion
1000 trillion = 1 quadrillion

IOW, 1 billion = 1 thousanth of a trillion.

Focus on the Family, and their conservative ego-addicted cohorts (my parents included), are worried about 1 four thousanth of the debt left behind by their hero, George W. Bush.

4 trillion debt, AOK
1 four thousanth of that (over 10 years) for domestic partnerships, evil.
--
Two failed “wars,” tax cuts for the richest of the rich, billions funded in non-competition Iraq contracts, waste fraud and abuse in EVERY direction imaginable, and they claim that it’s the cost to taxpayers that they’re concerned with.

Clearly, Focus on the Family approves of this message:

Matthew Shepard: December 1, 1976 -- October 12, 1998

Buffy from “The Gaytheist Agenda” reminds us that today is the 11th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death:

In Memorariam: Matthew Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998)

Linked to is an AP article on the event, and this YouTube video below:



The poster of that video, Michelle5451, writes:

This is for all you hate filled people who feel the need to spew your venom at people who live their lives different than your own. There is no bigger indication of self-hatred and deeply rooted fear than when a person throws hate and anger upon the world.

As if the story of Matthew Shepard isn't terrible enough - picture this, sit with it for awhile and bring it to mind the next time you want to attack a "fag," "dyke" or "homo" - when Matt was found 18 hours after his beating, his head and face were caked with dried blood, and in the blood on his face was a trail leading down his cheeks from his eyes. This tells us Matt had been awake at some point after his beating and before he fell into a coma, he knew what had been done to him, he was in pain, he was scared and perhaps, he knew he was going to die - and so, he cried. Tied to a fence, unable to move, brain damaged and dying - this man cried. Does that break your heart? It should...if you have one. If the story of Matt Shepard doesn't shock and disgust you far greater than the idea of two people of the same gender loving each other, you're the one not right with God.

Song written and performed by Melissa Etheridge. She wrote the song in memory of Matt Shepard.

And who can forget congresswoman, Virginia Foxx's, unconscionably callous remarks (note, Judy Shepard was on the House floor at the time):



Here’s what Exodus International has to say on the matter of hate crimes:

Thought Crimes Laws*

Exodus International believes that every human being is of equal value and worthy of the same treatment under the law. While Exodus International strongly opposes violent crimes and acts of aggression against any individual or group of individuals, thought crimes laws offer more legal protection to certain citizens based on their sexual preference alone. In addition, these laws pave the way to prosecute biblical beliefs about homosexuality, instead of prosecuting illegal actions that harm others.

* often called "hate crimes" laws by proponents

They want their religious hatred---and the consequences of it---protected at the expense of the safety of their LGBT brothers and sisters.

Excuse me while I vomit.

For more information see The Matthew Shepard Foundation.