Equality California is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender-rights advocacy organization in California. In the past decade, EQCA has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil-rights protections in the nation. EQCA has passed over 60 pieces of legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, public education and community involvement.

Each year EQCA honors the inspirational leaders and outstanding allied organizations whose selfless work helps create a better world for all people. The Equality Awards recognize the achievements of the organization, its sponsors, members, staff and volunteers, as well as the LGBT community.

This year EQCA  awards could not be more appropriate given the state of marriage equality in California.  California Supreme Court Justice Carlos R. Moreno, the court’s sole dissenting voice against last year’s Proposition 8 Campaign, will be honored with the prestigious EQUALITY & JUSTICE AWARD.  I am sure that hearing this most esteemed jurist is a treat one ought not miss.

When he was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California in 2001, Justice Carlos Moreno chose to relinquish his lifetime seat on the U.S. District Court where he had presided over a broad range of complex civil and criminal matters since his appointment in 1998 by President Bill Clinton. On the state’s highest court, he has the opportunity to “really address critical cutting-edge issues involving social policy,” and his service allows him to contribute to “decisions about what direction the law is going to take.”  Proposition 8 proves the point.  

In his dissent, Justice Moreno referred to California’s equal protection clause, which protects fundamental rights of minorities from the will of the majority, as the main principle of the constitution. “Proposition 8’s withdrawal of any of those rights from gays and lesbians cannot be accomplished through constitutional amendment,” he wrote.

Proposition 8, he argued, demonstrated an “unprecedented instance of a majority of voters altering the meaning of the equal protection cause.” Moreno also cited the Iowa Supreme Court’s April argument for allowing same-sex marriage and said today’s majority ruling “weakens the status of our state constitution.”

Sam & Julia Thoron will be honored with the PHYLLIS LYON & DEL MARTIN MARRIAGE EQUALITY AWARD, recognizing their  tremendous contributions to the fight for marriage equality and especially the battle to defeat Proposition 8.  “For those who have not had the chance to meet the Thorons in person, “says PFLAG Executive Director Jody M. Huckaby, “  and experience the passion that they have for securing the right to marry for everyone need not look much further “ as the awards will provide this special opportunity.  Together, they have provided years of leadership to PFLAG, with Sam a Past board president,  on both a local and national level, and it is rare to meet a PFLAG’er who has come in contact with them who cannot speak of how the Thorons touched their lives.

 If you are in the San Francisco area, you can still get tickets to the EQCA event to hear from the Thorons themselves, so check out EQCA website today.  

San Francisco  CITY HALL  1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco. Attire is formal and age minimum is 21 years.  Saturday Feb 13, 2010, 6.00 PM.   Tickets are still available. 
EQCA – Contact information
2370 Market St. 2nd Floor,  San Francisco, CA 94114 -
ph: 415.581.0005 

Melanie Nathan

Melanie Nathan,  nathan@privatecourts.com
who has provided testimony at the invitation of
EQCA for a CA State Resolution
in support of UAFA, will be covering the event for
Lezgetreal  and will provide a detailed report.

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02/01/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
On 2 February, the first hearings regarding Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell are to begin. At these hearings, the Pentagon is rumored to announce that they will appoint two advisers to help create a path towards implementation of the repeal. The advisers, one military and one civilian, would recommend the steps that the military needs in order comply with the repeal. Who these advisers are or would be still remains to be seen. Of course, the Pentagon could just look to the blogosphere in order to get some ideas.

The Pentagon will have to look at a few issues such as bereavement, survivor and marriage benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian soldiers. Of course, this would be a moot point if the Defense of Marriage Act was not in place, and may become a moot point in the near future. Of course, for some members of the military, the possibility of getting married in places such as Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire and Connecticut already exists. The easiest solution for this particular one is to grant benefits based upon current laws regarding marriage and bereavement benefits within the military. If a couple does get married in one of the states that grant those rights now, the simplest thing would be to recognize that license and grant them all the rights of married couple. Beyond that, grant them the same rights as any non-married but cohabiting couple within the military.

Some within the upper echelons of the military as well as some politicians are opposed to repealing DADT until after all troops withdraw from Iraq. This is suppose to be because of the strain that the military is under. Many of the lower ranked soldiers support repealing DADT as a strong and quick way to ease the burden created by a lack of troops.

The Pentagon has refused to comment upon this possibility and it was made by an anonymous source to Reuters.

The National Review Online ran with an article blasting the push to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and noted this erroneously “Contrary to the president’s statement, there is no national desire to “finally” repeal the 1993 law (Section 654, Title 10). The statute, which is always mislabeled ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ states that homosexuals are not eligible to serve in the military. Only the well-funded LGBT Left is pushing this issue, and they expect a political payoff regardless of the consequences.” This is, of course, patently wrong. Since 2005, the polling has shown that the vast majority of Americans are for repealing DADT. The numbers since then have ranged from 75 to 80% of the country is in favor of scrapping DADT entirely. Two thirds of Conservatives are ready to scrap DADT according to the latest poll done for the Washington Post-ABC News.

1/29/10-by Paula Brooks
Harold Ford Jr. may or may not be running for the Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand, but he certainly seems to be more than willing to sound like it.

Of late he has been telling the LGBT community what a great pal he is to us… and is of course an avid and lifetime supporter of both gay marriage AND civil unions, whatever that means… But… When the rubber hit the road… Harold Ford voted for a constitutional ban on marriage equality while representing Tennessee in the House and that says volumes on his true stand on LGBT rights.

In addition to maybe running for the Senate, Ford is a vice chairman with the Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a job he has held since February 2007.

This week Bank of America Merrill Lynch, along with the Royal Bank of Scotland helped to set up the shares for the initial public offering acquisition of Ugandan oil interests by Irish oil company, Tullow Oil that will infuse 1.35 billion USD into the Ugandan economy. Tullow, along with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and RBS are set to reap huge sums at in this investment – as much as a 35% return on their capital investment. That’s three times what’s internationally recognized as a fair profit. Unfortunately,coupled with this great investment news from Bank of America Merrill Lynch comes the story of the Ugandan military running villagers out of the oil regions and reports have nearly 30,000 people being displaced from their homes by this project so far and that number would be on top of an already existing 1.4 million internally displaced Ugandans.

One can only assume that that with this many angry displaced people it was becoming very clear to the Ugandan Government that they may have a lot of angry citizens on their hands how just might have something of a bone to pick with at Government. Then add in attacks on political freedom in the country that included the arrest and beating of opposition Members of Parliament, the jailing of Ugandan President Museveni’s main political opponent and that in 2006 he was accused of rigging elections in his favor…well, you probably know the rest of the story…

Culturally and traditionally in Uganda, we gays have never been a very poplar minority. Ugandans also have no real love for the “White Colonial Devils” either.

So after a well funded junket led by evangelist Scott Lively that held packed seminars, and told churches and rallies, that Ugandan homosexuals had lots of money, and backing from America and Europe and were a danger to the nations youth, on October 13, 2009, The government of Uganda proposed an Anti-Homosexuality Bill that would, if enacted, broaden the criminalization of homosexuality by introducing the death penalty for people who have previous convictions, are HIV-positive, or engage in same sex acts with people under 18 years of age. The bill also includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex sexual relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organizations, or non-governmental organizations that support LGBT rights.

Uganda ranks 9th in world AIDS deaths so the “Kill the Gays Bill” has been a fairly easy sell in Uganda and has done wonders to direct internal attention to away any possible wrong doings by the government in Kampala and on to that country’s gay population. However, learning lessons from the Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Dafur and so many other human rights disasters, many religious and world leaders have made it pretty clear that if this bill should become law, that they will hold Uganda and it leaders responsible for the resulting human rights violations.

Three openly gay members of the U.S. House of Representatives, along with 91 of their colleagues, have sent a letter to President Obama urging him to do everything he can to stop the bill and to hold the government of Uganda accountable for the resulting human rights abuses should it be instituted. Additionally, 12 US Senators- including Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y), sent a letter to President Musseveni, saying, “by creating harsh penalties for homosexuality, this bill not only codifies prejudice, but could also foster an increase in violence towards people simply based on sexual orientation and they urged that he block enactment of the “anti-homosexual” bill pending in the Ugandan Parliament.

Last month U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also denounced the Ugandan legislation during an appearance at Georgetown University, as did the UN’s top human rights official.

Several Nation’s have also told Uganda’s government and politician that they with be held responsible for any human rights abuses resulting from “the kill the gays bill” and that they could face sanctions if they continue down this path.

But companies, like nations and individuals, should also be held accountable for their decisions. However, to date, Mr. Ford has not publicly expressed any concern over this investment by Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Ugandan Oil… or called for Uganda to roll back it’s “Kill the Gays Bill.”

It’s disappointing that any business would choose to put so much money into a country that has such disregard for basic human rights and dignity simply because it helps the bottom line of that company.
It is even more disappointing that Mr. Ford, who is now claiming to be the friend of the LGBT community, would have not been aware of this bill before his company, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, entered into this agreement with Tullow, and financed yet one more human rights abuser solely for the sake of profit.

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Melanie Nathan, Lt. Dan Choi Shirley Tan

Dear Melanie –

I have a message for President Obama: Don’t wait, don’t delay.

Last night, the President repeated his campaign commitment to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as part of his State of the Union address. While the President promised that DADT would come to an end “this year,” he did not provide specifics — and the White House still has not released a plan to kill it. That’s unacceptable.

I served in the Army for a decade under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” — an immoral policy that forces American soldiers to lie about their sexual orientation. Worse, it forces others to tolerate deception. As I learned at West Point, deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force.

That’s why I feel strongly that America can’t afford to allow this policy to continue one day longer.

The time for talk is over. The time for action is now. If you agree, please join the Courage Campaign and sign my message to President Obama. Tell him “Don’t wait. Don’t delay. End DADT now!” DEADLINE: MONDAY.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontDelay

Last March, I went on Rachel Maddow’s show and spoke three truthful words: “I am gay.” For that, instead of being able to do my duty keeping America safe, I face discharge from the Army for who I love. I face being fired from my job, not for what I do, but for who I am.

As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates.

Last year, 424,343 letters were sent by Courage Campaign community members supporting my fight to stay in the military. We’ve moved the president but now we need to finish the job.

That’s why I’m asking for your help again to end DADT so other soldiers who want to serve their country don’t face the same fate. Please sign my message to President Obama. Tell him “Don’t wait. Don’t delay. End DADT now!” DEADLINE: MONDAY.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontDelay

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. National security means many things, but the thing that makes us secure in our nation and homes is love. As I was reminded again when I attended the historic Prop 8 trial, what makes me a better soldier, leader, Christian and human being is love.

And I’m not going to hide my love. Love is worth it.

Thank you for your support.

Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard
Posted by Melanie Nathan, nathan@privatecourts.com

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1/25/10- by Mary Ingalls
Sean Sullivan, who testified at the council meeting and started a Facebook page The Paramount-No Place for Homophobia stated that “Hoopes actions did not reflect the values of the community.” He asked the council not reappoint him.

The Hoopes case has been quite the cause celebre in right wing circles with their cries of “perscution!! and “discrimination for standing up for his/our beliefs!” When asked about this Sean Sullivan replied “When it comes to retribution for beliefs, they started it, before the election No on 8 donors received letters from Yes on 8 directors demanding equal payment. We (grassroots community activists) used the same databank that they did, and they were the first ones that exploited it.”

Of late the Prop H8ers have wimped out and went running to supreme court to hide underneath their conservative robes because they are “in fear of their safety.” Isn’t it always the case? Bullies and cowards are the biggest scaredy cats?

“I will feel vindicated when Hoopes is gone and completely vindicated when a member of the board reaches out to the LGBT community. says Sullivan. To those involved or looking to be involved in grassroots justice he offered this; “People should should look for opportunities to help their communities. We have the responsibility. Facebook and other social media helps tools to make that happen”

“There are milestones in the defeat of bigotry against any particular group. One of these milestones is when we create an environment where members of mainstream society are afraid to admit outright bias against that group. Many American ethnic and racial minority groups have managed to achieve this milestone in the national culture. ” Max Allstadt, posted on The Paramount – No Place for Homophobia site.

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1/24/10-by Paula Brooks
Despite crushing defeats of LGBT legislation in last years Utah legislative session, yesterday, during a rally attended by more than 200 at Utah’s State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black called on members of the gay and lesbian community in Utah to be peaceful but persistent in their fight, to share their stories and to reach out to others.

“If people don’t know who they’re voting against … they don’t so much mind taking away our rights,” said Black, who last year won an Academy Award for his screenplay for “Milk.” “I did not come to Salt Lake City to protest. I came here to introduce myself and to share a message of love and respect.”… (via Deseret News)

However Equality Utah Director Brandie Balken, the state’s largest gay and lesbian advocacy group, Equality Utah, told the group that efforts to influence state-wide LGBT legislation would be “scaled back” after a massive push by that group failed to even get a bill out of legislative committee and would now instead focus on the local level.

Last February, the Utah legislature killed the last of the bills proposed as part of Equality Utah’s Common Ground Initiative, which sought to extend civil rights to same-sex couples, and would have granted same-sex couples state-wide, inheritance rights, the power to make medical decisions for one another, expanded health care coverage, offered employment safeguards, and amended a resolution banning gay marriage to allow civil unions.

Balken however, cited the successful passage of Salt Lake City’s nondiscrimination ordinances in November, which outlawed discrimination (except by religious organizations) in employment and housing based on sexual orientation or gender identity and which received the public support of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a model for advancing gay rights at the local levels.

“They brought stakeholders to the table, and we want other municipalities to have a chance to do the same thing,” Balken said.

Salt Lake City Councilman Luke Garrott also called the Salt Lake City ordinances’ unanimous passage an important milestone for the city and its residents.

“They are about protection from fear,” he said. “But they’re also about recognition, and recognition is part of dignity.”

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1/15/10-by Paula Brooks
A District of Columbia Superior Court Judge has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at putting marriage equality in the District of Columbia to a vote.

In September, a group led by an Anti- Gay Maryland preacher, Bishop Harry Jackson, had asked the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics to approve a ballot measure establishing that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the District of Columbia.” However, finding that that such a referendum would violate the D.C. Human Rights Act by discriminating against gays and lesbians, the board decided to deny that request and Jackson sued, arguing that the Human Rights Act could not be used to stop citizens from putting ballot initiatives to a vote. Earlier this month Yesterday Thirty-nine Republican legislators, including 37 members of the House and two senators, also filed an amicus brief to Jackson’s lawsuit and were supporting a public vote on the issue.

Yesterday, Judge Judith N. Macaluso ruled in favor of a District motion asking the suit be dropped and agreed with Board of Elections and Ethics decision, saying the board’s action were justified because the initiative would in effect authorize and “ostracize a disfavored minority in violation of District of Columbia law.”

In her 23 page ruling Macaluso wrote, “If enacted, the initiative would deprive only same-sex individuals of the legal status, rights, and privileges they enjoy as married persons,” wrote the judge. “Such an initiative patently ‘authorizes or would have the effect of authorizing discrimination based upon . . . actual or perceived . . . sexual orientation [or] gender identity.”

Last month the District of Columbia moved one step closer to making our Nations Capital the sixth jurisdiction in the United States to permit same-sex unions after the DC’ council voted to legalize same-sex marriages in the District and DC Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the measure into law, sending it to the US House of Representatives for a mandatory 30 day review. Barring any action in the US Congress to derail the law, DC marriage equality will become effective in March.

The National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage, said in a statement last month…“the fight is not over… Politicians on the city council are acting as if they have the right through legislation to deprive citizens of D.C. of their core civil right to vote, but we will not let them get away with it,” said Brian Brown, the organization’s executive director. “We will go to Congress, we will go to the courts, we will fight for the people’s right to vote,” Brown added.

While an appeal by forces opposed to marriage equality in the District of Columbia of Judge Macaluso ruling is likely and second attempt to get the issue on the ballot is currently underway … Most Capitol Hill insiders say it is highly un-likely that those looking to oppose the bill in Congress, will even be able to get a hearing on the matter in the Democratically controlled House.

Full Ruling by Judge Judith N. Macaluso Text

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01/07/09- by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
There has been a great deal of upset among many in the LGBT Community over the recent short joke in David Letterman’s monologue about Amanda Simpson, the recent Obama Administration appointee to the Commerce Department. In the clip, Letterman makes it clear that Simpson is a transwoman, and it is shortly followed by a guy freaking out over the idea. While it may seem rather tasteless, one of the problems in determining humor is always which side the joke is suppose to fall. Is the idea of a person freaking out over a transwoman funny or offensive? The likely reaction among even many transpeople is not necessarily going to be uniform. There are many transpeople who, for instance, are offended by The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and there are plenty of others who love the movie.

It is certainly possible that Letterman was trying, unsuccessfully, to make fun of the Religious Right’s reaction to Ms Simpson. Letterman certainly makes it clear throughout the clip that Simpson is a woman.

The Religious Right made their vitriol apparent shortly after Simpson was appointed to Commerce. “Is there going to be a transgender quota now in the Obama administration? How far does this politics of gay and transgender activism go? Clearly this is an administration that is pandering to the gay lobby.”" was the comment out of Peter LaBarbara of the anti-LGBT group Americans For Truth. Focus on the Family had this to say “Simpson’s nomination was forwarded through to President Obama by a gay activist group, making it appear that this appointment of a male-to-female ‘transgender’ activist to a high level Commerce Department position to be payback to his far-left base for their political support.” Matt Barber, who is affiliated with Liberty University, had this to say “This isn’t like appointing an African-American in order to try to provide diversity and right some kind of discriminatory wrong. This is about political correctness.” David Brody of Christian Broadcasting Network offered this analysis, “The transgender thing doesn’t play well with millions of conservative Evangelicals. … I understand President Obama won’t be after die hard conservative Evangelicals in 2012 but let’s remember that moves like this don’t play well with the million of conservative Independent voters and Catholics who will be up for grabs again in 2012 as well.” Of course, most of those people were ones that did not vote for him anyway.

Simpson took those comments in stride. “[There will be] questions like: Is this a token? Are you here to do a job or just to fill a quota or appease other people? In that regard it makes it a bit more difficult. I’m sure I will have to do and intend to do a far superior job than any other person. But I’m sure I will always be second-guessed.”

There has been no official reaction from Ms Simpson since Letterman’s skit last night.

Religious Right Goes Nuts Over Transgender Appointee Amanda Simpson

Letterman’s Transgender Joke: Did Dave’s Jab At Amanda Simpson Go Too Far? (VIDEO)

01/05/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Since Friday, a number of news outlets have noticed an increase in a particular type of comment directed at derailing the debate over the Miller/Jenkins custody case. Many of these comments come from the same group of people, and at least one news organization in Virginia has outed some of these posters for posting repeatedly the same distorted information on different names in order to make it seem as if Lisa Miller has greater support than she does. This effort appears to be coming from people following  instructions on Lisa Millers Face Book Page directing that  Millers distorted talking points on this case are put on any news  site covering this story.

The set up at LezGetReal is not conducive to that kind of manipulation; however, a group of roughly three to four individuals have tried to “flood” the comment pages of this newsblog with comments supporting Lisa Miller and spreading allegations which have been proven false by the courts already.

“The flood of protests “by this handful of people often rely upon an interview given by Lisa Miller to the fundamentalist blog Life Site. Unfortunately, Life Site is very unreliable when it comes to the information that it posts as being accurate. A recent case of a woman threatening to kill a anti-abortion rights activist was distorted by Life Site in order to make it seem as if the woman who threatened to kill this young lady was going in for an abortion when it was never proven to be the case.

The allegations leveled by Lisa Miller were, indeed, investigated by the courts, and proven to be a baseless attempt to slander Janet Jenkins and garner sympathy with those helping to prevent Isabella from seeing her mother. By not following the orders of Judge William Cohen, Lisa Miller has lost custody of Isabella, and now faces a very real possibility of jail time. A wide variety of parents’ rights groups have come out in support of Judge Cohen’s orders, and the feeling among many women even in Virginia is that Lisa Miller should hand over custody of Isabella at this point since she has refused to follow the court’s orders.

Support for Jenkins comes from the fact that the law is very much on her side, something that the courts in Virginia and Vermont have stated, and the Federal Courts. Even the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear this case based upon federal law governing custody battles. There exists a very real probability that, should this case continue back to the Federal level, that it will pit the laws governing child custody and custodial abduction against the Defense of Marriage Act. It is likely that, given the importance of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction And Enforcement Act, backed up by the Constitution, that the Supreme Court would end up striking down the Defense of Marriage act before undermining parental rights and the authority of every judge and court in the country.

“The flood of comments” have had little effect in the debate largely because the news organizations reporting upon this case are reporting on the facts and not the allegations. Those using the comments are trying to bypass the journalistic integrity of the news organizations by posting these unproven and unfounded allegations by Miller in the comments pages. Often times, far more people have come forward to counter the points attempted to be made by those trying to flood the system. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to spot that those flooding the forums of those stories reporting on this custody battle are a small hand full of people who are posting.

Many Fundamentalist sites which have, in the past, supported Lisa Miller have started pulling back on their support because there is now the very real risk that they could be seen as supporting a fugitive, and that supporting Miller could end up undermining their own political and social platforms. In the end, the support of Lisa Miller has, despite a belief that it would hurt the LGBT Community, has undermined many of the Fundamentalist groups which have most vocally supported her.

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The tactics being employed are not dissimilar to those used by the Teabag Protesters during the August health care reform debate.

01/02/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Is 126 foot Mormon Church too tall? That is the question being asked by the citizens of one Phoenix neighborhood, and they have signatures to force this into a vote. The city ordinances of Phoenix state that a building cannot be more than 30 feet tall, but this church would be well beyond that. According to city officials, the volunteers need 9,800 valid signatures from registered voters. According to Phoenix’s planning director, Debra Stark, the Federal Religious Freedom Act allows churches to build anywhere irregardless of city zoning laws. Unfortunately, that law does not seem to exist.

Citizens of this north Phoenix neighborhood jumped into action upon hearing of the decision by the Phoenix city council to grant the church a zoning exemption and began gathering signatures to force the council to either rethink their decision, or failing that, force this into a popular vote which the Mormon church would likely lose. The 400 volunteer strong Phoenix Property Rights Coalition sprung into action getting signatures from citizens and explaining what was at stake. The Phoenix Temple would be built on a vacant lot next to the current church which houses the Mormon congregation in that neighborhood.

There are a variety of reasons people are upset with the idea behind the Temple going up. Height is the primary one, but people are also opposed to this due to the traffic it will likely bring in. Several hikers talked to by volunteer Aaron Gibbs stated “there were a few vociferous people who are for the temple and told us we’re not going to go to heaven because we are doing this.” However, many of those who were asked signed the petition, and Gibbs believed he was collecting around 200 signatures per day.

The Temple, which is set to go up at 5104 W. Pinnacle Street, has been the center of controversy for some time. According to the Mormon Church’s zoning lawyer, they are considering changing the design to drop it down below the thirty foot limit, but coalition chairman Scott Anderson has stated that they have heard this several times before. “It’s nothing new. It’s a statement that they keep repeating.”

Starting on January 1st, 2010, it will be illegal to offend religious folks in Ireland.

From blasphemy.ie

From [...] 1 January 2010, the new Irish blasphemy law becomes operational, and we begin our campaign to have it repealed. Blasphemy is now a crime punishable by a €25,000 fine. The new law defines blasphemy as publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted.

To make their point, the good people at Atheist Ireland have published 25 blasphemous quotes that could be punishable under this new law. The blasphemers quoted include Frank Zappa, Dermot Ahern, Bjork, Salman Rushdie, Ian Paisley, Mohammed and Jesus Christ.

While our ostensibly secular Republic of Ireland has been inundated with clerical sex abuse scandals, our government recenctly saw fit to introduce a law making it illegal to offend the church and its defenders.

“Home Rule is Rome Rule,” indeed.

12/31/09-by Paula Brooks
While New York State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. of the Bronx, is not exactly the darling of LGBT’s after his vitriolic opposition to Marriage Equality in New York… or with the state domestic violence advocates, for his defense of fellow Senator Hiram Monserrate after his conviction for slashing and beating his live in girl friend by saying Senator Monserrate was found guilty only because he “was trying to do good by forcing his girlfriend to go to the hospital for treatment,” or for that matter by most of his fellow New York Senate Dems for regularly threatening to support a Republican take over of the Senate and Republican Candidates in next year elections ….

Diaz does seem to be the new golden boy for New York State Catholic Conference…. and the conference’s executive director, Richard Barnes has sent him a thank you letter for his “courageous” support of bigotry…

“On behalf of the Bishops of New York State and millions of other New Yorkers, please know that we are proud of you for taking this stand,” Barnes wrote.

..Please know that Catholic New Yorkers across the state are deeply appreciative of you for this vote of conscience. May God’s blessings be bestowed upon you and your family in abundance this holiday season.”… via NY Daily News.

Photo originally uploaded by dnblog1

And of course the letter was cc’ed to the Catholic Churches chief child abuse spin doctor in America… New Yorks Archbishop, “His Excellency the Most Rev. Timothy Dolan” .

It is good to see Diaz has a few friends anyway….

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• Poll: 47% Of New Yorkers “Disappointed” That Marriage Equality Failed (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• Upstate NY Senator Wants To Split State (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• The Pride Agenda On Hope For 2010 (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• The Top Five Straight Allies in Congress for 2009 (queersunited.blogspot.com)

The Irish Evanglical Alliance released a statement earlier this month giving broad support the new Civil Partnership Bill 2009.

Other evangelical Christian groups in Ireland and the UK have been shocked by the statement. Lifesitenews.com quotes the Honorary Secretary of Aontas (formerly the Association of Irish Evangelical Churches), Rev. Paudge Mulvihill as saying the other group’s stand has caused him “profound sadness”.

Meanwhile, Irish LGBT groups are split between support for the bill that would grant legal status to gay couples for the first time in the history of the state and protesting that the bill does not go far enough, and worse, enshrines second class status for gay and lesbian couples in law.

The Irish Evangelical Alliance’s position paper makes it very clear that they see the legislation as not affecting marriage.

Most notably, however, the document states, “Evangelical Christians have no automatic right to have their views prefered to those of others. Nor do we have a duty to try and impose Biblical morality on public life by force of law.”

12/30/09-by Paula Brooks

JP Morgan Chase Board OF Directors

Last year many Americans were not very happy when they found out that JP Morgan Chase got $25 billion in tax dollars under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and then after it got it, preceded use their newfound monetary strength to acquire new businesses, all the while JP Morgan Chase continued to foreclose on residential mortgages, jacked up credit card rates and squeezed every penny they could out of hard pressed consumers.

It also made many taxpayers REALLY none too unhappy when they found out that JP Morgan Chase were also going to be paying out hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses with tax dollars to the boneheads that cause all of this country’s financial woes in the first place….

But while JP Morgan Chase could be considered the biggest bunch of pirates to  come on the American scene since Captain Jack Sparrow and company sailed the Caribbean…. it does appear to be kind of gay friendly…

The Matthew Shepard Foundation announced Monday that it will receive a $25,000 grant from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation thanks to votes cast by Facebook users in the bank’s Chase Community Giving program. Also receiving the grants are the Trevor Project and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

The Shepard Foundation, Trevor Project, and GLSEN were among 100 charities receiving the highest number of votes during first-round balloting earlier this month. A second round of voting starts January 15. The top vote getter will be given a $1 million grant. Five runners-up will receive $100,000.

“The overwhelming show of support for the Matthew Shepard Foundation is deeply gratifying and will provide us a huge boost as we seek to double our outreach to schools and community groups in 2010,” said MSF executive director Jason Marsden. The grant will also help with the expansion of the foundation’s youth-oriented website, MatthewsPlace.com, Marsden said….. (via Advocate.com)

The Matthew Shepard Foundation and the others are  very good causes, and  don’t get us wrong here… but with friends like JP Morgan Chase on our side…  well?

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12/29/09-by Paula Brooks

Photo by Rose Blakley

On Sunday, taking inspiration from American Astroturfed teabag rallies, thousands of Catholics stalwarts from across Europe and members of the Spain’s conservative rightwing opposition Partido Popular were bussed in to Madrid’s Plaza de Lima for what was originally billed as a Eucharist Mass to mark the Feast of the Holy Family…. that soon turned “spontaneously” into a rally against the Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero progressive policies on abortion, gay civil marriages and divorce financed largely by the Vatican.

The Catholic Church and the Government have been closely linked in Spain for centuries, but in modern times under Spain’s Fascist Dictator Francisco Franco, a symbiotic relationship developed in which the support for Franco by the Roman Catholic Church in Spain lent legitimacy to the dictatorship, which in turn restored and enhanced the church’s traditional privileges in that country. Under Franco, Catholicism in its most conservative variant was made official religion of the Spanish State. The Spanish Public Education was essentially handed over to the Church, Civil servants had to be Catholic, and some official jobs even required a “good behavior” statement by a priest. Divorce and homosexuality were also forbidden, as were artificial contraception and abortion.

However that relationship was broken after Franco’s death and Spain adopted a new constitution guaranteeing the separation of Church and State. Now the Socialist Government of Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero are increasing at odds with the Roman Catholic Church over such issues as gay rights and the liberalization of that country’s abortion laws, after it introduced fast-track divorce laws and same-sex civil partnerships soon after taking power in 2005.

That government is now pushing through a controversial abortion law that will allow abortion in Spain until the 14th week of pregnancy and, in cases of extreme fetal deformity, at any time in the pregnancy, and that has further widened the rift between the Spanish Government and the Catholic Church

Even thought a survey on religion in Spain, published just before Christmas by Spain’s Público newspaper, showed there has been a steady decline in those who describe themselves as Catholics in Spain – down almost four per cent to 26.2 percent and an increase in atheism, last month, the Catholic Church announced it would excommunicate any members of the Spanish parliament who vote in favor of the bill. In response several Spanish Socialist politicians and political commentators have already pushed back and are calling for an end of the Churches Tax Exempt status in Spain.

During Sundays rally, Pope Benedict criticized the abortion bill and same-sex marriages on a live video connection from Rome, beamed to a large screen Pope-a tron set up in the plaza, saying that one of the greatest services Christians could perform was to raise a “family based on marriage between a man and a woman… because it is of paramount importance for the present and the future of humanity.”

The leader of Spain’s Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Antonio Rouco, echoed the pope’s homo bashing as he told really goers, the traditional family is under threat by the acceptance of “different models of families.” Warned Rouco “Europe will be practically without children.” The conservative Archbishop of Madrid also slammed the proposed abortion law saying, “Who denies to defend a human being so innocent and weak, already conceived but not born, commits a grave violation of moral order.”

Spanish officials estimate that nearly 8,000 people attended the Mass/rally, with most coming from outside of Spain. Cardinals and Bishops from France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Austria and Portugal were also present at the event.

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12/27/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Ex-gay therapy has been, largely, discredited by scientific inquiry. Of course, those conclusions are often rejected by people who are committed to their religious beliefs that homosexuality is wrong. The Michigan Department of Corrections is looking into severing ties with one of these ex-gay ministries over their practices and beliefs. The department has a strict policy against derogatory and defamatory language and actions regarding LGBT Americans. Department spokesperson John Cordell stated “The department’s position is that when you are ministering to a group or even an individual that the content of that not be defamatory or derogatory. We have shut down ministries in the past for doing just that.” Nation of Islam and a variety of white supremacist groups have been banned from ministering to prisoners.

Lansing based Corduroy Stone is an ex-gay ministry which has come under a great deal of fire over their practices and “treatments”. Currently, the Michigan Department of Corrections is determining whether or not to allow the ministry to continue to speak to prisoners. Currently, the group is allowed to visit prisoners without the prisoner loosing their visitor privileges; however, Cordell feels that they fall under the anti-discrimination rules. Information regarding the group has been sent to Mike Martin, the prison system’s director of special activities.

Corduroy Stone has been under national scrutiny since Lansing resident Patrick McAlvey told Truth Wins Out about the practices at the ex-gay ministry. These included “cuddle therapy”, where the patient is forced to cuddle with someone, usually their councilor, and demeaning inspections of McAlvey’s body. McAlvey was also asked, usually by Corduroy Stone founder Mike Jones, about his penis size and personal grooming habits as well.

Truth Wins Out executive director Wayne Bessen said “I think it’s terrific they are looking further into this mess. Corduroy Stone doesn’t have the credibility to continue and is a threat to public health if allowed to continue.” He applauded the decision by the MDOC to review its connection with Corduroy Stone.

The bulk of the scientific research into homosexuality shows that it is genetic rather than behavioral. Ex-gay ministries are almost always rooted in the religious convictions of those who believe that homosexuality is a sin, and they often are unable to back up their beliefs with hard data. Typically, follow up regarding “ex-gay conversions” are rare, and many people who have undergone treatment have come out to say that it does not work.

Mich. Dept. of Corrections ‘looking’ into ex-gay ministry affiliation with prisons

12/25/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
FOX stations across the part of the country which is serviced by Time Warner Cable could go dark shortly as negotiations between News Corp and Time Warner drag towards the end of the year in an increasingly acrimonious manner. The negotiations center on what fees the FOX affiliates get for rebroadcasting on cable networks. According to most sources, New Corp wants one dollar per subscriber. Most networks get either twenty-five or fifty cents per subscriber. It should not come as a surprise as News Corp has been suffering major losses as newspapers across the country bleed readership. Networks are also having major problems as viewers turn to the internet in order to find their favorite programs and DVR becomes more common. Advertising revenue is becoming less and less, and reality TV shows are showing signs of having run their course.

As the negotiations hurtle towards the 31 December mark, the dispute could end up testing just how important the internet has become with regards to networks.

Negotiations could end up effecting Fuel, Speed TV, FOX Reality, Fox Soccer, FOX Sports World Espanol and Sports South, but it is unclear if it will effect FOX News and FOX Financial. While negotiations are not suppose to effect them at all, the acrimonious nature of the negotiations could result in FOX News being removed from the air throughout much of the South and anywhere else that FOX stations are aired. Indeed, sources are saying that Time Warner is ready to pull all News Corp stations except the local affiliate if negotiations fail.

Time Warner has been airing ads in a PR campaign designed to woo its subscribers to its point of view without having ever mentioned News Corp itself. News Corp finally outed itself as being in negotiations with Time Warner over fees.

Rupert Murdoch, head of News Corp, has been in the news lately over his attempts to put an end to Google’s redistribution of news stories and discussing putting together fees for online readership. It has been a real sticking point for a lot of people with Murdoch believing that he would be blazing a trail that others would follow. Currently, the majority of News Corp revenue is coming from the entertainment division- 20th Century Fox- and FOX News Corp.

Time Warner Cable was spun off of Time Warner Corporation earlier this year and is the largest cable provider in the nation.

12/22/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Bishop James Moriarty has stepped down from his post over the bishopric of Kildare. He is the second to resign over the Murphy Report which detailed the sexual molestation of children by priests over the last thirty years. Bishop Moriarty came under pressure from his own flock who stated that they would keep their children from anything officiated by Bishop Moriarty. Typically, the Bishop of a local area officiates at First Communion. In so doing, they would deprive Bishop Moriarty of many of his duties and threaten his position as Bishop.

Bishop Moriarty is among five who have been singled out for either resignation or removal over this scandal as they are seen as having done little to nothing to prevent it. In a statement published by the BBC, Bishop Moriarty stated “I feel it is important to state that I fully accept the overall conclusion of the Commission – that the attempts by Church authorities to ‘protect the Church’ and to ‘avoid scandal’ had the most dreadful consequences for children and were deeply wrong.”

“I know that any action now on my part does not take away the suffering that people have endured. I again apologise to all the survivors and their families. I have today offered my resignation as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin to the Holy Father. I hope it honours the truth that the survivors have so bravely uncovered and opens the way to a better future for all concerned,” he went on to say further on in his statement.

In 1993, Bishop Moriarty was contacted over the suspicious behavior of Father Edmondus around children. He passed this information on to the archbishop at the time, and the matter ended there. Bishop Moriarty did not pursue the matter, nor did he follow up on it. While he did not have access to Father Edmondus’ records, Bishop Moriarty did little more than warn Father Emondus about his behavior.

Maeve Lewis, the director of victim services at One in Four, welcomed the resignation. She pointed out that it was immensely painful and insulting for victims of child molesting priests to have to listen to one Church official after another try to justify why they should remain in power when they did nothing to really help those who were the most vulnerable.

The child molestation scandal has spanned two Popes, and uncovered hundreds of victims. Many have sought compensation for the acts that were perpetrated upon them. The bulk of the victims, so far, have been male; however, it should be noted that this does not equate with the priests being homosexuals. Until fairly recently, priests had far less access to girls than they did boys.

Bishop Moriarty’s departure leaves three named within the Murphy Report who have not resigned. The Archbishop of Dublin has already stated his intentions to remove them if they do not quit voluntarily. Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick resigned previously.

Second Irish bishop resigning over abuse scandal report
Bishop James Moriarty statement in full

12/23/09-by Paula Brooks
The medical and scientific consensus in the United States is that ex-gay conversion therapy is likely harmful and should be avoided because it may exploit guilt and anxiety, thereby damaging self-esteem and leading to depression and even suicide. However, the discredited idea that one can change from gay-to-straight, if they just try hard enough has been taken to a new level in Australia….

The Advocate is reporting today that an Australian father has been accused of forcing his teenage son to have sex with a prostitute — out of fear that he was gay and now may face rape charges.

According to The Morning Bulletin, a newspaper in Rockhampton, as the rest of the family celebrated Christmas 2007, Dear Old Dad allegedly took his son to a motel in North Rockhampton, Australia where he paid a prostitute to have sex with his son. He then left the room, but waited waited on a balcony till the deed was done and then demanded that the boy show him a used condom as proof he did the deed.

Detective Sergeant Christine Knapp said police first became aware of the situation when the father tried to report his son to authorities six months later, in May 2008, saying the boy was abusing his younger brother, after the  father called police and said he “tried to sort it out himself by taking his son to a prostitute” to no avail.

A Rockhampton magistrate decided yesterday that there was enough evidence to charge the father with rape.

“First [he] didn’t want to say anything to me,” the boy’s mother testified. “Then he told me his father took him to a motel room and there was a prostitute there. He wouldn’t talk, he just started crying.”

Exodus International argues that conversion therapy, specifically reparative therapy, may be a useful tool for decreasing same-sex desires and you can be sure the official “ex-gay” therapy groups will deny any connection with this incident – and technically that might be correct…. But I am sure dad got the basic idea from them….

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12/20/09-by Paula Brooks
Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo, the commander of US Forces in northern Iraq, has released a new policy for his troops… it says if you get pregnant while in his command… you may also get a court martial to go along with that new little bundle of joy…

Military officials say the order was issued because Army policy requires a pregnant soldier to be removed from the war zone in Iraq within 14 days of learning they are pregnant … and that removing the pregnant soldier leaves a hole in the unit that makes it more difficult to complete the mission.

The rule governs all those serving under Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo III, who commands Multi-National Division-North, including Balad, Kirkuk, Tikrit, Mosul and Samarra. According to the order, it is “applicable to all United States military personnel, and to all civilians, serving with, employed by, or accompanying” the military in northern Iraq, with few exceptions…. (via Stars and Stripes)

The new policy, outlined last month by Cucolo and released Friday by the Army, would apply to both female soldiers who become pregnant on the battlefield and the male soldiers who happen to impregnate them, even if married, with the general saying married soldiers in combat zones should either put their love lives on hold – or take precautions.

Married servicemembers are allowed to room together in Iraq.

“I’ve got a mission to do, I’m given a finite number of soldiers with which to do it and I need every one of them, ” said the general, “So I’m going to take every measure I can to keep them all strong, fit and with me for the twelve months we are in the combat zone.”

A well place Pentagon source told LGR yesterday, that for Cucolo it is a pretty “black and white” issue… but added the Pentagon is also “watching this one pretty carefully,” since this prohibition is “mine field” of legal, ethical and policy issues….

” Personally… Even though the JAG people have said this is legal… I think this one is probably going to come back to bite us in the ass at some point, if not legally, then in the form of some really terrible PR, ” said our source.

“Here you really have issues that go to the core of personal integrity: reproductive rights,” said Eugene Fidell, a professor of military law at Yale Law School in a Star and Stripes Article.

There are also issues of enforcement, Fidell said. The woman is immediately suspect once the pregnancy comes to light, but unless she identifies her partner, the male could go unpunished despite bearing the same culpability under the order.

It is the first time the US Army has made pregnancy a punishable offense and so far there are no reported cases where a pregnant woman or a baby’s father has been disciplined for disobeying the order that went into effect Nov. 4, 2009.

Now just saying here…. On a little note as to how this story just might have some relevance to the Military’s Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell policy… you could be pretty sure unintended pregnancies would not be a problem for openly serving gay and lesbian troops … That is if Gen. Cucolo had any under his command anyway …

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12/13/09-by Paula Brooks
Kalamazoo’s Arcus Foundation has awarded the Grand Rapids faith-based group, Gays In Faith Together (GIFT), a $55,000 grant to promote inclusion of LGBT’ people of faith in churches.

With the Arcus Foundation grant the group is now be preparing to launch their 2012 “Gay Christian? Yes!” campaign in Western Michigan.

GIFT, founded in August 2001, provides pastoral care, support groups for gay and lesbian youth and their families, and educational seminars, including a workshop for gay couples on building healthy relationships and programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) people who are just beginning to “come out.”

According to the website Mlive.com, Cara Oosterhouse, president of GIFT’s board, said the new campaign is geared toward helping local churches learn how they can be more inclusive of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, their family and friends.

“We needed to shift our focus a little, but we still wanted to be there — providing the one-on-one type programs where people can feel safe and explore (the idea) of being Christian and gay, and what that meant for their lives… There’s already a large amount of support, so we can be able to successfully not just speak from GIFT but also within churches,” Oosterhouse said.

Oosterhouse also said her group will use the grant to hire Theresa McClellan as a part-time coordinator to lead the campaign.

McClellan has said she would focus on increasing awareness of the group’s programs and making them more accessible to churches.

“The idea of being gay and Christian is foreign to many people — that’s not my reality,” said McClellan, who announced she was gay years ago, “it’s important to be able to say, ‘Yes, I’m gay and I’m a Christian. God said ‘yes’ to all of me.”

12/12/09- by Paula Brooks
Anglicans the from the world over are calling on the Archbishop of Canterbury “to repent” following his response to the election of a lesbian bishop in the US and his “failing to exercise moral leadership to protect gays and lesbians in Uganda.”

Six years ago a schism developed in the US Anglican Church, which led to dozens of conservative parishes and four dioceses voting to leave the 2.1-million member denomination, after openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson was chosen in New Hampshire.

This led Anglican Church leaders to implement a de facto ban on electing any more gay bishops and they had asked the US Church to observe that moratorium. However, in July, Bishops of the US Episcopal Church voted to overturn the ban.

Last week, fearing that the election of a second openly gay bishop would lead to a breakaway of conservative Anglican in the US and Britain, The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, expressed concern over the election of openly lesbian Reverend Mary Glasspool, to be an auxiliary bishop in the in the diocese of Los Angeles.

“The process of selection however is only part complete… The election has to be confirmed, or could be rejected, by diocesan bishops and diocesan standing committees. That decision will have very important implications,” said Williams in a statement on his website. “The bishops of the Communion have collectively acknowledged that a period of gracious restraint in respect of actions which are contrary to the mind of the Communion is necessary if our bonds of mutual affection are to hold,” he added.

Yet so far Williams has only said he was in “private” talks with the Uganda’s Anglican Church leaders over that country’s proposed “Kill the Gays” bill. The bill, which is currently being debated by a Uganda’s parliament, has drawn global attention from gay rights advocates and the media.

Historically the worldwide network of Anglican churches owes allegiance The Archbishop of Canterbury.

This past Wednesday, a Facebook group was set up by Susan Russell, former president of Anglican gay group Integrity, which called Williams to task about his statement on Glasspool and the fact he has been slow to condemn the proposed anti-gay legislation in Uganda. That Face Book group currently has nearly 4,000 members.

A statement on the Facebook group says, “The Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to exercise moral leadership to protect gays and lesbians in Uganda and has instead exercised political pressure to attack a bishop-elect in Los Angeles because she is a lesbian.

“As Anglicans who treasure their Communion and expect more from their Archbishop, in the Advent spirit of John the Baptist’s cry to the religious leaders of his time, we call on Rowan Williams to repent of his earlier statement.”

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=193885897219&ref=search&sid=1362636480.2479170820..1&v=info

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12/09/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The decision of Larry Grard to attack the Human Rights Campaign for their statement which they released after the defeat in Maine would not have been a problem had it not been that Grard is a reporter. Despite using his personal account, Grard, emailed the HRC media contacts directly stating “who are the hateful, venom-spewing ones? Hint: Not the yes on 1 crowd. You hateful people have been spreading nothing but vitriol since this campaign began. Good riddance!” He did this in response to the statement by the HRC that the loss in Maine was largely due to the hateful advertisement that came from the Christian groups. Grard’s view of the matter, of course, is colored by his own Christian beliefs as the Yes on 1 Campaign often used borderline hate speech and heavy distortions to attack the LGBT Community during the campaign.

Larry Grard was fired after the HRC contacted the Morning Sentinel. At no time did Trevor Thomas, Deputy Director of Communications at the HRC, ask for Grard to be fired, and there does not appear to have been any pressure for him to be fired. In all likelihood, the decision by the HRC to bring this to Morning Sentinel editor Bill Thompson was likely intended to bring about pressure not to do so again. Thomas sent Thompson the following “I received the below email this morning after our national media release was sent to your team. … It’s frankly, just not acceptable coming from a news organization the morning after our defeat.”

According to Grard “They said the Yes-on-1 people were haters. I’m a Christian. I take offense at that. I e-mailed them back and said basically, ‘We’re not the ones doing the hating. You’re the ones doing the hating.’ I sent the same message in his face he sent in mine.”

According to Grard, Thomas demanded that he be fired, though Thomas denies that. The management team at the Morning Sentinel, however, did tell Thomas that they had policies in place with regards to these issues and that they would inquire into it. According to Thomas, he did not know that Grard had been fired until he was asked for a comment upon it.

Grard is busy blaming his dismissal upon his religion rather than upon the merits or the fact that he was using personal email while on the job, something he states is common for journalists.

To be blunt, the probability is that he was dismissed for unprofessional behavior.

Maine Reporter: I Was Fired Over Anti-Same-Sex Marriage E-mail
Maine Reporter Fired For Personal Email Against Marriage Equality

12/09/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The Vatican Bank is more than likely facing investigation into whether or not it was involved in laundering up to 180,000,000 Euros, or around $300 mil. According to the report first mentioned on the TV show Panorama, The Vatican Bank, once known as the Institute for Religious Works (IOR), allegedly broke a number of anti-money laundering laws with regards to their interactions with UniCredit, a large Italian based European bank, and that further transactions with other banks may be opened up in the near future. The investigation is directed at a specific branch of UniCredit which is just off of St. Peter’s Basilica, and covers transactions made between 2006 and 2008, but that may, of course, be opened up as well as evidence allows.

The Vatican Bank is not a stranger to financial controversy. In 1982, the then IOR was held partially responsible for the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano. At the time, the Vatican Bank was a major shareholder and the Vatican itself was held partially responsible for the $1.3 million in bad debts held by the collapsed bank.

In September, Vatican Bank director Angelo Caloia resigned and the board of superintendents was rather hastily replaced. Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, the new president of the Vatican Bank, and the new board of superintendents reportedly discussed the investigation when they held their first meeting in October.

Right now, the Vatican’s lawyers are debating whether or not to argue that the Vatican Bank is outside Italian legal jurisdiction. This is an argument that the Vatican is starting to make with regards to numerous legal matters including the sexual molestation, physical abuse, and even deaths of people at their various churches and asylums in Ireland over the last 150 years. It has made suing the Vatican directly and the various diocese specifically incredibly difficult. The attempt to declare the Vatican immune due to its separate status could result in, should Silvio Berlusconi be ousted soon, the revocation of the treaty signed by Benito Mussolini which granted the Vatican autonomy. Currently, there is a move within Italy to do that in order to bring the Vatican to order for many of the abuses that they have been party to over the decades.

Vatican Bank reported to be facing money-laundering investigation

12/9/09-by Paula Brooks
The former editor of the now-defunct gay and lesbian newspaper Southern Voice has announced she will be launching a new publication early next year called Georgia Voice.

Last month, Window Media, which owned the Southern Voice, the Washington Blade and other publications, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, silencing some of the strongest of the voices for the LGBT movement and leaving about a dozen former Southern Voice staffers without paychecks.

Not to be defeated however, Chris Cash, the former owner of the Southern Voice, and Laura Douglas-Brown, the former editor, began a drive to save the publication soon after the Southern Voice was shut down permanently by it creditors and obtained a $12,000 matching grant from the Lloyd E. Grant Foundation of Atlanta.

“It became so clear in such a short period of time how much this publication was needed,” Douglas-Brown told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, last month.

Douglas-Brown has her work cut out for her, and is now busy contacting potential staffers and advertisers.

Douglas-Brown and Cash are also reaching out to the Atlanta LGBT community to help raise more seed money for the new venture at www.savesovo.com and are looking for donations from SoVo supporters to help get their project off the ground.

In an interview yesterday with Atlanta Public Radio station WABE Douglas-Brown said her top priority is making the new publication financially sustainable…

“That will mean certainly a smaller staff than Southern Voice and David magazine shared. It will mean using more freelancers, and it might even mean using volunteers. There are certainly people who have volunteered to help us on a pro-bono basis as we get started.”

Douglas-Brown also said in the interview, while some publications have become Web-only, she really wants to get out a traditional a print version of the publication.

“You want to be first and fast on the Web and sometimes that doesn’t leave as much time to look at the big picture of a story, really get analysis and feedback, and thats what we see doing in the print publication.”

via WABE: New gay publication planned for Atlanta 2009-12-08.

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12/08/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Perhaps it is the course of the future that the Anglican Church and the Catholic Church will find themselves once again becoming the opposite ends of the spectrum on social issues with the Anglicans attracting many dissatisfied socially liberal Catholics while the Catholic Church slowly bleeds off the socially conservative Anglicans. Certainly the schisms that threaten to cleave both faiths in half are along those lines, and that may end up being part of how this plays out.

Certainly, the LGBT Community is not use to people coming to our aid in the name of Christ. Normally, those who do come to the LGBT Community in the name of Christ do so in order to “cure” us of our “affliction; however, that was not what happened in New York when the The Episcopal Community Services of Long Island and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. Instead, the Episcopal Church, a branch of Anglicanism, came forward to provide some $200,000 to create a sixteen bed shelter for troubled LGBT youths, and to house that shelter in their Church of St. Andrews in Astoria, Queens. For Carl Siciliano, founder of the Ali Forney Center, the donation was a blessing which came on top of $300,000 left to the foundation by actress Bea Arthur upon her passing.

Like many of us in the LGBT Community, Siciliano is well aware of the often negative impact upon the Community as a whole, and upon youth in particular, when it comes to religion. Many religions denigrate and attack gays, lesbians and transpeople, and roughly one quarter of all LGBT youths end up on the streets. The Ali Forney Center is dedicated to providing housing to those homeless LGBT youths. According to their website “The Ali Forney Center (AFC) was started in June of 2002 in response to the lack of safe shelter for LGBT youth in New York City. We are committed to providing these young people with safe, dignified, nurturing environments where their needs can be met, and where they can begin to put their lives back together.”

“For a lot of us, when we hear about Christianity, our stomachs kind of churn. Another part of me is very grateful the church is making this kind of gesture,” Mr. Siciliano told the New York Times.

The move comes at a time of increased tension between the LGBT Community as a whole and most religious denominations. Recently, the Catholic Church threatened to pull all charitable services out of Washington, DC should marriage equality pass in the nation’s capital. The Catholic and Mormon Churches have been instrumental in overturning marriage rights in both California and Maine, and some have alleged- though not proven- fraud in both elections.

But, to Bishop Lawrence C. Provenzano this is not about building bridges or mending fences. According to a statement given to the New York Times, “I think it’s an obligation to care for God’s people. This is basic nuts-and-bolts Christianity.”

For many gays, lesbians and transpeople on the streets, life is miserable and often full of pain. Many Christian run shelters are not much better than the streets for the LGBT American who is without a home. Many Christian charities insist upon sermonizing before meals, and are often very disapproving of any gay or lesbian going into their shelter. For transpeople, the shelters offer a nightmare scenario due to the fact that most shelters refuse to let transwomen and transmen into gender appropriate housing.

The Episcopal Church currently has two openly homosexual and partnered bishops. While this is threatening to tear the Anglican Church apart, it is also causing many dissatisfied with the harsh nature of the Catholic Church to join the Anglicans.

Pictured is the Cross of St. Andrew, most often associated with Scotland.

12/8/09-by Paula Brooks
A Kapo was a prisoner who worked inside Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust in some lower administrative position, generally performing duties like herding fellow prisoners off the the gas chambers, then stuffing their dead bodies into the crematorium ovens.

Kapos received more privileges than normal prisoners, towards whom they were often brutal, but in exchange the Kapo got to live just a bit longer then their victims. Nonetheless, they were usually murdered and replaced with a new batch of prisoners at regular intervals.

DC Agenda is reporting the gay conservative group GOProud will co-sponsor the prominent national conservative convention, CPAC, next year….

Jimmy LaSalvia, executive director of GOProud, told DC Agenda on Tuesday that his group will be among those sponsoring the Conservative Political Action Conference, which is set to take place in D.C. in February.

“It’s the most important annual gathering of conservatives in the country,” he said. “And it’s important for gay people and gay conservatives to have a voice at that conference. And we’re glad to be there and to provide that representation.”

LaSalvia said his group contributed $4,000 — the minimum amount needed — to co-sponsor the conference. He said it’s unclear at this point whether GOProud’s sponsorship means one of its members will speak at the event, but noted that information should emerge in the coming weeks.

via Gay group to co-sponsor conservative convention | DC Agenda.

CPAC is an annual right-wingnut get together that  has never been known to be what you could call a very “gay friendly” event. During its 2007 event Ann Coulter called Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards a “faggot,” and last year one speaker said that marriage equality would create a generation of violent criminals.

However, this is not the first time a gay group has sponsored CPAC, the now almost defunct National Log Cabin Republicans was among the co-sponsors in 2005.

Posted by Melanie Nathan: What happens when society fails to take cognizance of the ultimate ramifications of inequality? What happens when individual communities ignore discrimination? What happens when people are denied basic civil rights? It cannot be good, because you know what happens – it inevitably leads to the next step – and then the next step and the next and then a final solution – ‘a license to Kill.’

Marginalized communities are easy targets for scape-goating, becoming targets for those who recriminate by virtue of this perceived license. So has the final solution begun and is the Uganda ground zero? If we remain silent we are participants. We have learnt that lesson. Learning a lesson, however, is not enough – especially when the license has been activated and society has crossed into a danger zone leading to the level-of-non-return.

Until the LGBTQ citizens of this Universe receive generic acceptance as civil and human rights entitled, this license remains an active permission slip to head further down the slippery slope of this dangerous disregard to the pit below.

So to prove the point, there is a group on Facebook offering free guns to those who join and want to exterminate gays. A counter group has emerged to take the exterminators down. Here is their post. I suggest joining to help remove the hate and harm – however once you have done so, please understand that is not enough – it is time to vote pro-equality and to urge your representatives to take leadership roles, to move equality legislation forward. How can we stand before the world and reprimand Uganda when we are all headed down the same slope.

Ban the “GAY EXTERMINATORS” from Facebook

Category:

Common Interest – Politics

Description:

On Saturday. Dec. 5, I was made aware of a group on Facebook called GAY EXTERMINATORS.

When I went to their page to check it out, I was incensed. I quote: “we are a newly formed group that is specialized to kill and torture gays… we save mankind by killing gays and erase them from existence.. join us and get a free gun to kill gays today!”

I was one of many who posted and cross-posted their link, asking all of my friends to become involved by going to their link and reporting them to Facebook.

Their page went far beyond the rhetoric of most of the anti-LGBT sites on the internet. The GAY EXTERMINATORS were operating on a level of hatred unparalleled this side of Uganda.

This direct call for the murder of gays was, in and of itself, a criminal act, and early Sunday morning we were successful in getting Facebook to take down their group page.

Unfortunately, their event page entitled GAY JUDGEMENT DAY, which featured a cartoon of a man mutilating another man’s genitals with a chainsaw, was left up.

After numerous protests, Facebook removed the event page on Monday, Dec. 7.

While I appreciate Facebook’s rapid response to our protests, I do not feel that their response is adequate. The individual pages of the creator, the administrators and the officers of this group are still up and running. I am of the belief that they should be taken down as well.

I quote from Facebook’s own policy on groups operating on their site: “Groups that attack a specific person or group of people (e.g. racist, sexist, or other hate groups) will not be tolerated. Creating such a group will result in the immediate termination of your Facebook account.”

I read this to mean that not only will any group that operates in this manner have their page removed, but that any person who creates or operates such a group will have their Facebook account terminated.

Make no mistake about one thing: This group was NOT simply exercising free speech! By calling on their supporters to murder gays, they were using Facebook to commit a crime and, as such, exposed Facebook to legal liability. Facebook has an obligation, not only to us, its users, but to itself, to terminate the accounts of these individuals and to bar their IP addresses from ever using Facebook in this manner again.

If you agree with this position, please join this group, so that together we may prevent this sort of hate group from ever being created again. In a few weeks, hopefully we will have enough members to be able to convince Facebook to terminate the administrators’ accounts.(read more)

Blogged by Melanie Nathan. 12/08/2009
nathan@privatecourts.com

12/5/09-by Paula Brooks
Already at odds with the Roman Catholic Church over such issues as gay rights and the liberalization of that country’s abortion laws, this week, the Spanish Socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has taken the first step towards banning crucifixes in Spain’s Public schools.

This move comes in the wake of a ruling last month by the European Court of Human Rights judgment against Italy that said displaying the Christian symbol violates children’s right to freedom of religion.

Three years ago, an Italian mother, Soile Lautsi, took her cause to the European Court of Human Rights after failing to get crucifixes removed from the school at which her two children were being taught at a town in north-east Italy by Italy’s Constitutional Court.

Classroom crucifixes were made compulsory in that country by two laws put into place under Italy’s fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini that made Catholicism the official religion of Italy.

Similar laws were also put in place in Spain under Spain’s fascist Dictator Francisco Franco. Under Franco, Catholicism in its most conservative variant was made official religion of the Spanish State. The Spanish Public Education was essentially handed over to the Church, Civil servants had to be Catholic, and some official jobs even required a “good behavior” statement by a priest. Divorce and homosexuality were also forbidden, as were artificial contraception and abortion.

The verdict prompted anger in fiercely Catholic Italy, where an opinion poll showed 84 percent of the public was in favor of crucifixes in schools, and was condemned by the Vatican. The Italian government has also said it would seek to appeal the decision to the Strasbourg court’s 17-member Grand Chamber, however if that petition is rejected, or if an appeal is subsequently thrown out, then Italy would be obliged to comply with the courts order.

The European Court ruling prompted Spain’s ruling Socialists to take action  Wednesday and a Spanish parliamentary commission approved by 20 votes to 16 a motion calling on Madrid to implement November’s ruling by the Strasbourg court.

Some observers however are saying that the Spanish Government actions to remove the crucifixes are part of a larger conflict between Spain’s current government and the Roman Catholic Church.

Last month after the Spanish Parliament passed a bill that will allow abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy and, in cases of extreme fetal deformity, at any time during pregnancy, the Catholic Church announced it will excommunicate Spanish law makers who voted in favor of the bill.

That call prompted several Spanish Socialist politicians and political commentators to push back and call for an end of the Catholic Churches Tax Exempt status.

Many in Spain say the rapidity with which by the Spanish government acted on the issue and its willingness to implement the ECHR’s ruling even before the final outcome of the Italian appeal is known, is a not so subtle warning to the Vatican to stay out of Spanish politics.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Italy school crucifixes ‘barred’ (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Court: No Crucifixes in Italian Schools (online.wsj.com)
• European Court bans crucifixes in Italy’s classrooms (telegraph.co.uk)
• Italy debates symbol of history, justice: the crucifix (cnn.com)
• World Briefing | Europe: Court Rules Against Crucifixes in Italian Public Schools (nytimes.com)

  Blogged by Melanie Nathan.  The statement below my comment was released today by the undersigned LGBT organizations;   an expression of the frustration felt by the leadership on behalf of the organizations which they represent.   I agree with what they express but at the same time I would be remiss if I failed to communicate what I believe to be the true grass root question – perhaps somewhat rhetorical and then the sentiment: Why are you able to come together in this fashion when things do not happen and unable to do so to form a multi-organizational PINKPLAN to address our entire movement.  Why do we not all move toward a CIVIL RIGHT ACT AMENDMENT and from that everything would flow? 

My opinion is that these expressions of frustration are a result of a fractured leadership, where organizations struggle to survive through their specific micro-causes, at the inextricably detrimental shot in the toe to our movement as a whole.  The other part of the problem are the grassroots – who when asked to write letters to congress, tell their stories etc, fall so way low of what we could achieve.   It is time to wake up LGBT community we are being thrown to the wolves on every issue, by everyone- all we have is us and there are 2 ways to get this done-

1. Forget the fragnmented micro legislation as an emphasis for victory – DEMAND leadership conference and establish a PINKPLAN with the ultimate goal 1. Civil rights amendment and 2. Repeal of DOMA

2. Get out on the Streets and stand on corners

3. Boycott everything and everyone anti gay

4. That would include the US Government; “I refuse to pay tax from this moment on!”

5. Law firms come out to help us!

6. All Gay closeted folk – now is when you should show us who you are. You should come out in the name of equality

7. ALL members of the military COME OUT ON THE SAME DAY in defiance of DADT- how about TAX day? April 15^th – that will give you time to get your savings accounts in order

8. Call on our friends in Congress to take the helm and push for us: I specifically name:

Reps and Sens:  Kristin Gillibrand, Chuck Schumer,  Jerrold Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Lynn Woolsey. Jackie Speier, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Sestak (wants Specter’s Senate seat),  Patrick Leahy, Barbara Boxer (up fro reelection) and please feel free to add to the list.

9. Go to your corporate employers and ask them to take a stand

10. LGBT non profits – risk your status and stop paying payroll taxes for your employees. 

THIS IS THE STATEMENT THAT TRIGGERED MY COMMENTS:

In light of continuing delays in the House of Representatives, we must state clearly and unequivocally: Passing basic job protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people must happen now.

At a time when our government is deeply focused on the critical issue of employment, it is inexcusable to delay action on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Each and every job lost to prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity needlessly compounds the unemployment challenges facing our nation. We call on Congress for the immediate passage of ENDA.

For decades now, we have called upon Congress to pass legislation to address the basic right of LGBT people to work free from discrimination at our jobs, and now Congress tells us we must wait another year. In 29 states, it remains legal to fire people based on sexual orientation and in 38 states, discrimination based on gender identity remains legal. In failing to take swift action to pass ENDA, our government allows unfettered bigotry to go unchecked, leading to the loss of jobs, fear in the workplace, economic instability, and personal hardship, while allowing employers to lose competent experienced workers. ENDA is urgently needed by our communities.

The majority of Americans consistently state their support for employment protections and voters have affirmed similar state and local measures. There is absolutely no reason for Congress to continue to delay this non-controversial bill or drop LGBT issues to the bottom of their agenda. We will not be denied basic rights any longer. Nothing is more important than protecting people’s jobs, so ENDA must pass now. Further delays are absolutely unacceptable.

Those who signed the Statement:

Matthew Coles & James Esseks, Co-Directors, American Civil Liberties Union LGBT Project

Terry Stone, Executive Director, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers

Toni Broaddus, Executive Director, Equality Federation

Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director, Family Equality Council

Lee Swislow, Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders

Jarrett Tomás Barrios, President, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

Joe Solmonese, President, Human Rights Campaign

Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director, Immigration Equality

Earl Fowlkes, President/CEO, International Federation of Black Prides, Inc.

Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal

Christian Berle, Director of the Log Cabin Republicans National Office

Sharon J. Lettman, Executive Director/CEO, National Black Justice Coalition

Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights

Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality

Rebecca Fox, Executive Director, National Coalition for LGBT Health

Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

Michael Mitchell, Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats

Gregory Varnum, Executive Director, National Youth Advocacy Coalition

Selisse Berry, Founding Executive Director, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

Jody Huckaby, Executive Director, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National

Jo Kenny, Interim Director, Pride at Work AFL-CIO

Masen Davis, Executive Director, Transgender Law Center

 Blogged by Melanie Nathan

11/28/09-by Paula Brooks

New Jersey’s Catholic bishops are instructing priests to read or distribute a letter this weekend asking Catholics to pray that lawmakers in New Jersey not allow same-sex marriage in that state.

The bishops’ letter reiterates the Vatican’s position that marriage is only between a man and a woman and says, “Governments do not have the power to define marriage otherwise, because it is a permanent human institution that does not owe its existence to governments”…. However, the Bishops failed to mention when one could stop going to their local government courthouse to buy marriage licenses in that state of New Jersey or when those marriage licenses would be available at local Catholic parish offices.

The Bishops also noted that, “the crisis in family life that society faces today has deep roots in a broad cultural shift away from religion and social traditionalism and toward faith in personal independence and tolerance for diverse life styles.”

The Jersey Bishops however did not note that it has in itself contributed greatly to this shifting away by allowing the Roman Catholic Church to long become a haven for Child Sexual predators… a fact that the church hierarchy was generally aware, but instead chose to enabled these predators by not reporting them to government officials, moving them around after their crimes were discovered so they could continue to prey on more children, then coved up these crimes… primarily because that hierarchy did not want the Church to be sued or publicly embarrassed.

N.J.com notes that not all public religious voices in the state are aligned against same-sex marriage.

Last month, 18 clergy across the state, including Bishop Mark Beckwith of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, asked lawmakers to allow same-sex marriage, in a letter-writing campaign coordinated by Garden State Equality, the advocacy group that favors same-sex marriage.

via N.J. Catholic bishops instructing priests to read, distribute letter denouncing same-sex marriage | New Jersey Real-Time News – - NJ.com.

Current New Jersey Gov. John Corzine favors same-sex marriage and has promise to sign any same-sex marriage bill reaching his desk from Garden State legislators, but it remains unclear whether New Jersey lawmakers will even allow Marriage Equality a vote during the current lame-duck session. If that does not happen before Gov.-elect Chris Christie takes office, the prospects for Marriage Equality in the foreseeable future looks very bleak, since Christie opposes it.

Click Image for Full Text Of NJ Bishops Letter

11/27/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
In Duluth, young anti-abortion activist Leah Winandy had a knife put to her throat after she decided that it was more important to try and interfere with a woman walking into the Duluth Building for Women than to even notice or discover whether or not the woman was walking into the building to visit the Women’s Health Center, which does provide abortions. There are a total of nine tenants in the building, and most of them provide other services. Even the Women’s Health Center provides services such as cancer screenings and other health related services. Among the tenants of the building is a Lesbian Center called Aurora, and a sexual assault help center.

Leah Winandy and her mother Sarah Winandy were outside the building as normal harassing anyone who was going into the building. In this case, the woman that Leah Winandy chose to harass was Mechelle Tallulah Hall, who brandished a knife that she carried in her purse and informed Leah Winandy not to approach or speak to her. When Ms Hall was almost beyond earshot, Leah Winandy spoke out saying “Don’t do this! Fear God!” Upon hearing this, Ms Hall turned and walked back to Leah Winandy and held the knife to the younger Winandy’s throat. At this time, Ms Hall stated that she was mentally unstable. Leah Winandy was not harmed, but only frightened.

None of the reports on this incident mention that Ms Hall is or was pregnant, nor do they mention that she worked for any of the tenants. She may have been visiting the coffee house inside the building, or one of the other services. In the wake of the murder of George Tiller, it should not be surprising that many of those who have business inside a women’s health clinic, be it for an abortion or many of the other services, may feel threatened by the very presence of often overzealous pro-life activists outside the clinics. While Ms Hall did express regret for her actions while being arraigned, she felt threatened enough at the time to snap.

According to Sarah Winandy, she and her daughter go to the Building for Women every week because “God has called us to be there to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to bring glory and honor to Him…We are there because it is what God wants us to do. He has sent us there, He has made the way for us to be there.” These are, of course, the sentiments of Scott Roeder who shot and killed George Tiller in his own church. Rather than devoting time and money to helping the women who feel that they need to have an abortion care for others, the Winandys spend days outside the building harassing people in a climate that is getting more and more hostile towards them. Sarah Winandy on her blog states that there were fourteen women who went into the building to have an abortion, but that would be impossible to prove since the building’s facade indicates that the entrances to each different tenant is within the building and not accessible directly from outside.

It would certainly be easy for a woman who is visiting the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault to feel further victimized by the harassment from these two. Certainly someone who has been victimized in a sexual manner might lash out and hurt the new victimizer.

The “interview” with Leah Winandy mentioned at its beginning the murder of James Pouillon. The attempt to portray the murder of Pouillon as martyrdom has not been based on reality since Pouillon was known for being overly agressive and targeting teenage girls for his harangues. His eldest son, also named James, stated that Pouillon was part of the pro-life movement in order to harass and attack women, and that he did not actually care about abortion.

“He did this to stalk, harass, terrorize, scream at, threaten, frighten, and verbally abuse women. He had a pathologic hatred of women: his mom, my mom, everyone. After my mom finally left him and he lost his favorite punching bag the violence and abuse that was always contained within our 4 walls was unleased on the people of Owosso. My dad used the pro-life movement and 1st Amendments foundations to defend him, support him, and enable him. He fooled them all. He was at the high shool because my niece was there, and female family members were always his favorite targets. Again, my dad didn’t care about abortion. He wanted to hurt people, upset people.”

This, of course, shows the danger of the pro-life movement in that it does have a large number of people who do not seem to care for the well being of women in general, and may have major issues regarding women as a whole.

Interview with Young Pro-Life Counselor Threatened with Knife to Throat
Knifing suspect: What I did was wrong
Women’s Health Center & Building For Women Duluth MN. Extraordinarily Cruel To Unborn
James M. Pouillon criticizes father, slain pro-life activist James L. Pouillon, in online post
Welcome! The Duluth Building for Women is…..
Why Do We Go To The Building For Women In Duluth MN. Weekly?

11/24/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The symbol of Atlanta is a phoenix in honor of its resurrection after the Civil War from a train depot into a major city. The Southern Voice will also be rising from the ashes with the help of a $12,000 matching grant from the Lloyd E. Grant Foundation. The Foundation gives grants to various individuals for the promotion of LGBT issues and rights. According to their website, the Lloyd E. Grant Foundation “was established by Mr. Russell to promote unity, visibility and self esteem within the gay, bi, lesbian, transgendered, questioning (GBLTQ) and leather communities and to promote a positive image in the Atlanta area and throughout the Southeastern United States through community activities and services.”

Chris Cash, the former owner of the Southern Voice, and Laura Douglas-Brown, the former editor, began a movement to save the newspaper, even if it was under a new name. The two have been tirelessly working to get funds for the start up. “It became so clear in such a short period of time how much this publication was needed,” Douglas-Brown told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The initial funds will mostly be used to start up the new project including renting an office and the cost of printing and setting up. Certainly, SoVo will have a presence online as well as in print.

Cash is hoping to have enough money to keep the newspaper running for one year whether or not there is enough money from the sale of advertisement to run this new venture. To that end, Cash is hoping to incorporate and sell shares of the new newspaper as part of the start up.

The Southern Voice, along with the Washington Blade, was shut down when Window and Unite Media collapsed and went into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The papers shut down, and that left reporters and staff scrambling for jobs and outlets for their voice. The sudden closure of SoVo left a gaping hole in the fabric of Atlanta’s LGBT Community.

The staff of the Washington Blade have already come back online with the DC Agenda site. Please be sure to visit and bookmark them.

The Save SoVo site is also up and running. For those who wish to help, it is possible to donate start up funds via the Save SoVo site.

For information about the end of SoVo and Washington Blade, LGR’s article on that “Sadness As SoVo and The Blade Shut Down, Hope For Resurrection As New Papers” can be found here.

Southern Voice gets $12,000 matching grant for new gay publication from the AJC.

 By Melanie Nathan:  With the potential to give all Church’s a bad rap, a diverse group of Christian leaders joined together Nov. 20 to declare a commitment to defend the sanctity of human life, biblical marriage and religious liberty without compromise. One hundred and fifty evangelical, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox signers said they were coming together to “embrace our obligation” to speak and act in support of the dignity of all human beings, marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and the freedom to express religious convictions. It is imperative that Church leaders and those of faith who disagree with this, not remain silent, but provide the backlash such hate deserves.

The 4,700-word statement, yet another reproach for the LGBT communities, named the Manhattan Declaration,  asserted: “[W]e will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act,” the statement says, “nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.”

 ”If you look at the Manhattan Declaration, we are clear that we see a genuine increase in the threat, especially on the sanctity of life front,” said Robert George, a Roman Catholic and a professor at Princeton University. “That’s the result of the federal government having an administration that is deeply committed to legal abortion and [government funding] and a majority in both houses of Congress that share that commitment…. We could have said many of the things that we are saying today a year ago, but some of the things we are saying today have an urgency to them as a result of the [Obama administration].”

 This declaration was drafted in last summer and was worked upon for several months before it was declared on Friday by the leaders of Conservative Christian communities.

The Conservative Christian communities in this declaration are implored to disagree with all rules and regulations that   accept any ideals against Christian doctrines, marriages in same sex and abortion. The leaders of Christianity supporting the declaration stated, “They are motivated and come from the deepest resources of our faith.” They also added that they could have made the declaration earlier but they consider this declaration to be more relevant for the present and future. According to the advocates of this declaration, ‘historic understanding of marriage’, ‘religious liberty’ and ’sanctity of life’ are the major highlights of this declaration.    

Yet, in snide hypocrisy these so called Leaders of Catholic, Evangelical and Orthodox groups were present during the declaration and made it clear that the declaration does not have any political interest.

 So yes, those of a faith that declares its hate – you may – but do not take the majority of Americans for fools, for we believe that you are in truth endeavoring to impact politically. I trust that the majority of true Christians will declare opposition to this statement that purports to speak for all of faith- because it is simply not so for those who subscribe to G-d as a loving G-d.

 Let us not forget the way the various Churches and doctrines have been used to pronounce upon policy through the world over many an era; in modern times we can look to the abhorrent example of Apartheid.  Born from Calvinism in Europe and transported to South Africa via the arrival of Jan Van Riebeck in 1652 on the Shores of the Cape, developed a group who considered themselves a nation of people, the Afrikaner, a white minority in Southern Africa.  They used gunpowder and bible under the Dutch Reform Church’s teachings to ensure that black people were ruled undeserving of equality, that black Africans had an inferior place, one of servitude in a society of religious fervor. In 1949 Apartheid was born, a direct concomitant of these interpretations of the Bible and that birth was engendered in the form of LAW, yes legislation that declared racial prejudice legal, but also institutionalized the required compliance with its discriminatory codes.

 By: Melanie Nathan,
www.nathan@privatecourts.com 
www.visualcv.com/melnathan 
Note Photo: Consist of Archbishop Wuerl/

Updated – Donald William Wuerl (born November 12, 1940) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Archbishop of Washington, having previously served as Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006.  Evangelicals like Chuck Colson, Roman Catholics like Archbishop Donald Wuerl, and the other religious leaders who signed the “Manhattan Declaration” don’t seem to understand that justifying discrimination in the name of religious freedom is dangerous to society.

UPDATED: By now we have all heard about the Manhattan Declaration put out by various religious right figures and groups urging, among other things, non-cooperation with laws that in any way recognize same sex couples. It has been condemned in many circles and for good reason.  Wayne Besen of Truthwinsout.org said the following: “This is a disturbing call for anarchy from a group of radical clerics and activists who believe they don’t have play by the same rules as other taxpaying Americans.”  And according to the blog Instaputz, there is another reason to not only oppose this document but also raise the alarm about it.   Some of the names those signing the declaration aren’t a surprise. They are the usual folks who oppose lgbt equality – Tony Perkins, James Dobson, Maggie Gallagher, Gary Bauer, etc.

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• The Manhattan Declaration – Go Sign it! (liveactivecultures.net)

Yesterday the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a committee vote on the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO), legislation that would provide equal benefits to the domestic partners of federal employees. The committee passed DPBO at 23-12, an important step in securing federal protections for the LGBT community. Kate Kendall of NCLR commented in a mailing today, “We must secure this victory and work to pass other crucial pieces of legislation pending in Congress.”

DPBO moves to the House floor for consideration, and it’s up to us to make sure that it passes and protects the thousands of devoted, hard-working LGBT government employees.  Equal work demands equal compensation. We must speak up and remind Congress about this basic principle of fairness, to ensure that the domestic partners of government employees are able to receive their partners’ benefits, including health insurance and access to pensions.

President Obama is ready to sign DPBO into law but we need to make sure that it passes in Congress. Call your representative today and ask them to vote for equality and fairness. Ask them to pass the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act.

Please take a minute and call your representative at (202) 224-3121. We must make sure that a House vote on DPBO will happen soon and that our representatives support DPBO. We need to stand together as a community and urge our representatives to fight for the rights of the domestic partners of federal employees.”

Notes from Melanie: -Thank you NCLR for keeping us informed and active.  

It is time now for LGBT groups and organizations to get married….(imagine!)  To work on the BIG ONE – Repeal of DOMA – it will solve many problems.  DOMA is a gift – because now it provides the opportunity for overt recognition- through its repeal, that might not otherwise have been there.  The recognition of our relationships, the cornerstone of who we are, may never otherwise have had this opportunity.

I know easier said than done, but imagine if we can pool our brains and set aside mutual resources as we pursue a “PINK-PRINT” ( as in blue print…) A comprehensive plan- to unify our movement. This can happen with a BIG conference of leaders and  defined and shared purpose… Full equality  is our civil right goal and must happen more urgently than fragmented piecemeal legislation will allow. Congressman Nadler has provided the tool, now lets all work it.    

Melanie Nathan.
www.visualcv.com/melnathan  nathan@privatecourts.com   www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com   www.privatecurts.com

11/18/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
This past Monday, two of the most prominent LGBT newspapers folded in addition to numerous other smaller publications. The loss of the Southern Voice and the Washington Blade left a gaping wound in the official dissemination of information regarding LGBT related issues. While both papers are going to try to rise from the ashes, the damage, for the time being, has been done. Both papers have been among the strongest of the voices in the LGBT movement with the Blade going back forty years.

Steve Myers, publisher of the Southern Voice and David Atlanta had this to say upon the shutting down of the two publications in Atlanta:

“As far as the circumstances that have led to the operations of Window and Unite Media to being closed down, I can’t speak to that. Unfortunately, the closing of the company was a circumstance we could not control. We wish we could have been in each market to talk to the employees on Monday and not surprise them with the notice that was posted. However, as former officers and employees of the companies, our fiduciary duty required us to secure all assets. Unfortunately there were only two of us and three offices. We cannot answer any logistical questions at this time. We can only wish the best for every employee and for the community in general and hope that the voice that the community has relied on for so many years will not be quieted for very long.”

Window and Unite Media will be filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. This means that the businesses and all their subsidiaries will be shuttered. Avalon Equity Fund, the owners of Window and Unite, was seized by the Small Business Administration after they failed to continue to meet the terms of the $39 million loan that they received in 2000. They have been in receivership since 2008. According to the SBA, the decision to shutter the papers was entirely that of Window and Unite, but they have not produced the legal documentation that they had given that authority over to them. According to the court order, the SBA has the right to determine the fate of all publications.

Mike Kitchens (back to camera), Steve Myers

The decision to shutter both papers is baffling given that there were already people interested in buying both papers. Chris Cash, the former owner of SoVo, contacted the SBA about possibly buying back the paper that she had owned from 1988 to 1996. Ms Cash was, apparently, never given the opportunity to prove that she was a viable candidate to purchase back her old newspaper. Nicholas Benton, publisher of the Falls Church News-Press had been contacted by Window to let him know that he was the winning bidder for the Washington Blade. That was six weeks ago.

Chris Cash has already gotten in touch with Laura Douglas-Brown, the former editor of SoVo, in order to begin raising funds to bring the paper back. The editors and staff of the Blade are already doing the same as well. Neither paper can, in all honesty, be brought back to life as they were due to the financial problems that they face. Instead, new papers will have to be created. This may take some time.

Former Southern Voice staffer Dyana Bagby sent this to LGR’s staff:

About a dozen former Southern Voice and David Atlanta magazine staffers gathered at their office today to gather their belongings. While the mood was somber, there was some light-hearted laughter among co-workers as well. Matt Schafer, reporter at SoVo, had everyone sign his large rainbow flag. The former staff of the publications gathered at approximately 11 a.m. at the office on Zonolite Road. Yellow tape stuck to orange pylons had signs that stated “No Media.” At least one TV truck was there from a local station. Mike Kitchens and Steve Myers, co-presidents of Window Media, held a meeting with the former employees at about 12:30 for approximately a half-hour.

Everyone had until 2 p.m. to get belongings out.

Steve Myers said: “The reason we weren’t here Monday is we only have two officers three offices (Atlanta, DC and Fort Lauderdale) and we had to secure assets. We would have loved to been here and Ft Lauderdale and not wait until Wed. So I apologize for that.”

Unfortunately they will not be able to pay us for four weeks. Archives are going to be tried to be saved. Still considered lien holder asset. Will be asking to keep them. Editor Laura Douglas Brown said local archivists and libraries are interested in everything we have.

No one asked questions.

Mike Kitchens: “We (he and Myers) are no longer employees (of Window Media) but we are forced to be doing a lot of wrap up. Just from a personal note, this is painful and not intentional by any means. We did not know until Saturday Night this was course of action we would have to take. I just had to say that. … [W]e were trying to get to next point and sell and keep the mission going. For 90 percent of you, this is not just a job, but a mission. We Know through the bounced paychecks, the holding paychecks, it was hard. And when it fell apart in June and July when Unger left, we tried.”

Steve Myers: (Broke down in tears.)

“When I came back in may (after being out for several months due to cancer), I was so excited. Working with everyone was so wonderful. This is biggest let down for us.” He said it would have been easier if we all had come in yelling this morning and telling them how horrible they were. (Personal note: There was no anger. There was sadness, hugging with former employees, and even some laughter) You all have done everything. Anything I can do for anyone I will. I dreaded this morning. Again, I’m sorry.”

Myers also said: “The proudest I am is we had a wonderful Pride … I wish it could have continued.”

What happened:

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Laura Douglas-Brown Making Leaving An Archive Note

The business were up for sale. There were different liens against the assets leaving few options, Myers said.

Option No. 1 would have been foreclosure and that didn’t happen
Option No. 2. File for chapter 11, but that is a very costly endeavor and a cost the company was unable to bear
Option 3. File chapter 7 and close.
Option 4. Try to keep going, but there was not enough cash to pay employees or creditors or bills.
So only option was chapter 7.

As both papers shut down, the hope is that the archive of materials that they have collected over the years will be preserved.

The newspapers have been in a state of flux since David Unger, the owner of Avalon Equity left to pursue a career in the financial sector. In his wake, he left some of the strongest voices in the LGBT movement in tatters.

The resurrection of both papers depends on several factors, most notable of them is finances. The new papers may find it easier to compete, as well, in a new media world where the internet can be just as important as the print venue. While the papers have been silenced, it would be impossible to believe that the voices of those who have been such strong advocates and reporters of LGBT issues over the last several decades will remain silent.

Our thanks to Dyana Bagby who provided the pictures and information as well as the Atlanta Progressive News and Gay City News for additional background information.

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11/18/09-by Paula Brooks
A study commissioned by US Roman Catholic bishops on the roots of the clergy sex abuse scandal, has so far found no evidence that gay priests are more likely than heterosexual clergy to molest children.

The full report by researchers from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice won’t be completed until the end of next year, but initial finding are saying that evidence so far has found no data indicating that being gay was a predictor of abuse.

“What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse,” said Margaret Smith of John Jay College, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now.”

The question has been raised repeatedly within and outside the church because the overwhelming majority of known victims were boys. As part of the church’s response to the crisis, the Vatican ordered a review of all U.S. seminaries that, among other issues, looked for any “evidence of homosexuality”.

Many experts on sex offenders have in the past, rejected any link between sexual orientation and committing abuse. Karen Terry, a John Jay researcher, said it was important to distinguish between sexual identity and behavior, and to look at who the offender had access to when seeking victims.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned the $2 million study as part of extensive reforms they enacted at the height of the abuse crisis after the scandal rocked the church in 2002 with the cases predator priests in the Archdiocese of Boston, (John Geoghan, John Hanlon, Paul Shanley, Robert V. Gale and Jesuit priest James Talbot) which ultimately resulted in the conviction and sentencing of each to prison. The scandal then spread to nearly every diocese both in the United States and other countries after the church came under  fire for its role in covering up the crimes.

Nearly 14,000 molestation claims have been filed against Catholic clergy since 1950 and abuse-related costs paid out by the church have reached a minimum $2.3 billion in the same period. According to the John Jay report, one-third of the accusations were made in the years 2002-3. Another third of the allegations were reported between 1993 and 2001.

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11/17/09-by Paula Brooks
A New Hampshire radio station has terminated a talk show after its host called that state’s Democratic Party chairman a derogatory name.

Nassau Broadcasting, the owner of WEMJ 1490am in Laconia, says it terminated its contract with air conservative radio host Doug Lambert’s “Meet the New Press” show after Lambert called New Hampshire’s Democratic Party chairman Raymond Buckley, who is gay, “a faggot,” and further insulting him by mimicking the way gay men are purported to walk during a live web cam streaming to the Internet last weekend.

“Although the comments by Mr. Lambert were not aired on our station, we find the comments by him to be completely out of line and unacceptable, and we will not allow Mr. Lambert the opportunity to continue to air his show on our radio station,” said Rob Fulmer, regional manager for Nassau.

In addition, Ed Engler, the editor of the Laconia Daily Sun, announced his newspaper would no longer carry Lambert’s weekly column.

While Lambert apologized immediately after his comments, Lambert also found himself being forced to resign from his county co-chairman position on Republican congressional candidate Frank Guinta’s campaign as well, after local Republican leaders condemned Lambert’s comments.

Ryan Williams, a spokesman for the Granite States GOP said, “Mr. Lambert’s comments were completely inappropriate, offensive and hurtful” and they “having nothing to do with the party whatsoever.”

Mo Baxley, executive director of N.H. Freedom to Marry Coalition, also responded to Lambert’s comments at a press conference Monday in Concord and called on former governor and current N.H. Republican Party, John H. Sununu, to ” denounce his (Lambert’s) despicable comments.”

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091117/GJNEWS02/711179924/-1/CITNEWS

11/16/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Southern Voice and David Atlanta have both shut their doors as the downturn in the news media’s economy strikes the smaller, minority directed newspapers hardest. The Washington Blade’s site has slowed to a crawl as the financial issues of Unite Media and Window Media begin to affect the operations of the various newspapers and magazines. In July, David Unger, the head of Window Media stepped down for a job in the financial sector.

The parent company of Window Media, Avalon Equity Partners, is heavily in debt. They received some $35 million in loans from the Small Business Administration, but did not maintain to the required amount of outside capital flowing into their business for the loans to be considered valid. The business is in receivership with the SBA which has the right to sell off its assets in order to recoup the loans that were paid to Avalon Equity.

The Georgia Based free newspaper Creative Loafing is reporting that the doors at Southern Voice were locked and a message informing their employees to come back on Wednesday to get their personal belongings and their severance package would be discussed at that time. People logging into The Washington Blade, Southern Voice, David Atlanta and other Avalon Equity Partners publications today found it difficult with long load times. The sites themselves finally came back online.

Window Media owned some of the oldest and most professional LGBT newspapers in the United States. The Washington Blade has been in operation for thirty-five years and has been the newspaper of record for the Community for some time.

There is, as yet, no word on what the impact of the loss of SOVO will have on The Washington Blade, or what their twenty employees will do in the future. Many of them were part of the fight to get LGBT rights passed in this country. The closing of the newspaper is a blow to the Atlanta LGBT Community. Their reporters were often seen in the midst of several of Atlanta’s biggest news stories.

The news came as a shock to SOVO editor Laura Douglas-Brown, who recently was informed about the probable sale of the paper. “No one was in it just for the job. Everybody was in it for the cause too, in their own ways. People have put up with a lot difficulties over the past year, and have hung in there because they cared. It’s tragic and I’m desperately sorry it ended this way, especially for the people who’ve worked so hard. [The closure] didn’t happen because of a lack of need for our publications. It didn’t happen because of a lack of hard dedicated work by local staff. And that’s the shame of it…It’s a sad tale, how it all came crashing down,” she told Creative Loafing.

Statements confirming the closure were posted on SOVO’s Facebook page, but no similar comment was forthcoming on any of the other related newspapers.

As of 10:30 am, The Washington Blade has not been affected by the shutdown.

See also: Project Q Atlanta
SOVO Facebook Page

 Equality California is requesting that President Obama file a brief in the Federal Case against proposition 8.  I hope I can pursuade our valued readers to jump on this one.  One can go beyond the Petition and send the Whitehouse your own Stories. My child was personally impacted by Prop. 8 and I have vowed to keep republishing the story until such time as prop 8  is prop zero!  The story can be found on this site at: 
  ” HOW PROP 8 HURT MYCHILD”  -  

Exerpts  from the story: 

“Despite my promise to my daughter to keep hush, “I flew like a bat out of hell” to see the Principal, who, ironically an “out” lesbian, was not surprised to see me show up on the issue; she mentioned that I was the fourth parent to complain about this lack of discretion on the part of the teacher. I explained that my child was extremely conflicted in trying to reconcile her respect and admiration for her teacher with her love and pride for her family.” 

” The advertisement had clearly hurt my child; its viciousness was not something she had been subjected to before. What could be worse than adults lashing out like that at children? It was direct and personal and having heard it before, was not personally outraged as when I realized the irresponsibility and how damaging those lies were to my babies.”

“I have to show my child that our family is worth fighting for and that anything short of complete equality is simply not good enough.  I think this story illustrates the far reaching effects of de jure disqualification and the de facto reality of inequality. Whether we receive equal rights or not, nothing will derogate from the fact that we are here; us, our spouses and our kids and nothing can or will ever change that simple fact.”

Petition to President Obama:

The Obama administration was absent in yet another critical fight for the soul of our nation. His failure to speak out forcibly against Question 1 in Maine is unacceptable. Sign our petition. Then, ask everyone you know to do the same.

President Obama, I urge you to immediately file a brief in the federal court challenge to Prop 8 and ask the court to rule that it is unconstitutional to allow a majority to take away the rights of a minority.   www.eqca.org

 PLEASE HELP AND SIGN THE PETITION

Melanie Nathan: Considering Maine and Reflecting on California:

Does marriage equality and more specifically same-sex marriage hurt traditional marriage? This most confounding question has yet to be answered by anyone, especially those who expound the rhetoric while seeking to ban same-sex marriage.  The derogatory impact of same-sex marriage on straight marriage has yet to be quantified.  I wonder how one would be able to figure it out.

Could it be that for every 4 gay marriages one straight person will not marry his fiancé; could it be that for every 4 gay marriages one straight couple will divorce?  Could it mean that allowing gay marriages will result in less straight people marrying and thereby reduce the numbers of married people?  I am trying so hard to come up with a formula, can someone please help me?   

Proposition 8 succeeded in California, and effectively removed a fundamental constitutional right, as endorsed by the Courts by way of popular vote – the right for any couple in California to marry regardless of gender was stripped.  Prop 8 was initiated in direct response and its mantra was  to “protect the institution of marriage” by keeping lesbians and gays out.  

After the barrage of voracious advertisements led 51% of voting Californians to believe that gay marriage would by its mere legality threaten straight marriages. Churches poured their money into the advertising coffers, tacitly claiming the interests of their God.   Silly them there is a better way to save the institution of marriage and just think it can be done without stripping other Americans of their inherent rights, as well as the advantage of quantification.  The obvious, unambiguous and only one absolute vehicle to sustain the precept of marriage is clearly the “The outlawing of Divorce.”  We must bring a new proposition to the voters in this earnest quest and that would be  ahh maybe -Proposition 9 – “Repeal of the Legislative Right to Divorce Act.”

Notably, divorce, unlike same sex marriage, can be easily quantified.  I believe in California the divorce rate is approximately 1 in 3. There you go – for every 60,000 marriages ending in Divorce, we can save 60,000 saved – see how easy that was. Not like our difficulty when we attempted to quantify the impact of same-sex marriage on ‘ traditional marriage.’ – that means we would have 60,000 out of every 180,000 marriages saved… How powerful is that!

This is a call to all those who truly believe in the sanctity of marriage. Support the rescue of marriage by ending divorce for good. Here is a safer and better plan – how about making that retroactive.  Anyone who has been divorced consider your good-selves remarried.

Indeed the next obvious step is legislation that prohibits one’s right to divorce.  Divorce is not an inherent right; it is one that is granted by specific statute. For example in California there would be no divorce if the Family Law Code did not deal create it. It gets worse – Divorce involves one spouse suing the other for divorce.  In California the first paper served by a plaintiff spouse on a defendant spouse reads “SUMMONS- You Are Being Sued.”  How bizarre – to separate church and State in this fashion.  It is an abomination to the sacred right of marriage to think that after spouses have said “till death do us part” that one may sue the other for divorce and that our law allows that to happen.

If Maine supports the ban of same-sex marriage tonight, I profess this to be the nest obvious step there too. 

Is this ban on Divorce a joke?  Not according to a Sacramento man, John Marcotte who is collecting signatures to place a new piece of legislation on the 2010 ballot for the people of California to decide on. He wants to make it illegal to divorce in California. Read his petition here.

Why? He contends that this is a natural extension of what religious conservatives did when they voted “Yes” on a ballot measure to ban gay marriage so that they could “protect traditional marriage”.

From John Marcotte’s Rescue Marriage website, here’s the statement announcing the new ballot measure:

“I loved Proposition 8, but felt it did not go far enough. So fresh from the office of our legal counsel, I present the 2010 California Protection of Marriage Act.

No party to any marriage shall be restored to the state of an unmarried person during the lifetime of the other party unless the marriage is void or voidable, as set forth in Part 2 of Division 6 of the Family Code.”

Marcotte has just launched his first couple of PSAs on the 2010 California Marriage Protection Act. Here they are:

Few Choice Quotes From the PSAs:

“My kids are being taught in school that divorce is all right.”

“You said ‘Till death do us part’. You’re not dead yet.”

“Hell is eternal, just like your marriage is supposed to be.”

“If we allow anyone to get divorced, before you know it, people will be divorcing their dogs.”

Lock Step-lock-jaw-Republicans-and conservatives- and those on the right – do not fail – put your money where your mouth is and support the BAN on DIVORCE.

Blogged by MELANIE NATHAN, CEO of Private Courts, Inc. Consulting, mediation & private advocacy ; motivated by injustice, I blog about family law/mediation, politics, news andLGBT equality and anything that ‘tickles my fancy.’ Otherwise blogging as O-blog-dee-o-blog-da. Websites and blogs include: http://www.privatecourts.com; http://www.divorcemediators.us; www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com. nathan@privatecourts.com

11/01/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Marriages stemming from the time when California accepted and recognized same-sex marriages are not being recognized as being actual marriages according to a married gay couple in California.

The legal case against SkyWest over this issue and centers around a couple who are not being afforded the same benefits that heterosexual couples are afforded by the airline SkyWest.

Gilbert Caldwell (52) and David David Ferrel (72) were married in June 2008.

Caldwell, an employee of SkyWest, is suing his employer in order to gain the benefit of having his husband fly for free through the airline.

Married heterosexual couples are granted this particular benefit by the .

Caldwell works for SkyWest in Palm Springs, California. State law requires that all same-sex couples who are either married or have entered into a domestic partnership be granted the same rights as heterosexual couples who are married.

According to Caldwell’s lawyer Tara Borelli, SkyWest has been insisting that they are simply following the rules laid down by their regional partner, Delta. This appears to be contradictory to Delta’s policy on this issue. Delta treats all its employees equal irregardless of their sexual orientation.

Ms Borelli has stated that she is aware of other complaints regarding the treatment and respect of other marriages out of California, but this is the first one to go to court.

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Quoting: The Democratic Party Site – CALL OUT: 

 “A lot of folks use Facebook to stay in touch with friends and family. For Sarah Palin, it’s a great way to spread lies about health insurance reform.  A few months back, Palin took to Facebook to declare that health reform would create “death panels,” and drive private insurers out of business — and nonpartisan fact-check sites and the independent Congressional Budget Office debunked those lies.

But that hasn’t stopped Sarah Palin. She’s back with a new Facebook note claiming that reform will raise costs on families and drive up deficits. Unfortunately for her, even the conservative “Tax Foundation” says those claims are false. “

So we’re calling out Sarah Palin, and taking to Facebook to debunk her lies on the very same pages she’s using to spread them.  Call Sarah Palin at 202-747-1812″

No more lies – it is not going to work anymore….

Refs: http://www.democrats.org/page/content/callemoutpalin

 Melanie Nathan -Quoting from Democratic Party Webpage and e-mail. Spread the word good lezgetrealpeeps- especially on your facebook sites!

10/29/09-by Paula Brooks
A federal judge has ruled that Maine’s reporting requirements for ballot question campaigns do not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as claimed in a lawsuit filed last week by the National Organization for Marriage and has said the State of Maine can compel the National Organization for Marriage to disclose the identities of donors who contributed to its effort to repeal Maine’s gay-marriage law.

On Oct. 1, the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices voted 3-2 to investigate the fundraising practices of the National Organization for Marriage. One concern is whether the group has violated state law by not registering as a “ballot question committee” and by withholding its contribution records. Maine law requires any individual or group that raises or spends more than $5,000 to influence a ballot question vote to disclose contributors who gave more than $100 for that purpose.

Judge D. Brock Hornby order on Wednesday denied the request for a temporary restraining order, and said the National Organization for Marriage is not likely to succeed on any of its claims. Nom had asked for a temporary restraining order that would have let it operate outside of the state’s reporting requirements while the lawsuit was pending.

“Maine is entitled to conclude that its electorate needs to know, on an ongoing basis, the source of financial support for those who are taking positions on a ballot initiative,” Hornby wrote in his 32-page ruling.

“I conclude that the state’s interest to provide this information to voters is ‘not only compelling but critical’ to the proper functioning of the system of direct democracy,” Hornby wrote, quoting from a similar case in California in which the National Organization for Marriage is a plaintiff.

Reinforced by Hornby’s ruling, Maine’s attorney general challenged the advocacy group Wednesday night to make its records public before next week’s vote on Question 1.

“We are not going to give them legal advice. We trust that their legal counsel will advise them to comply fully,” said Attorney General Janet Mills. “The court has ruled that it is in the public interest to do so, and the law couldn’t be clearer.

“I would hope that they would file before the election,” Mills said. “Why not? What is there to hide?”

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10/28/09-by Paula Brooks
Michael Jones of Change.org is reporting that Scholastic Books has reversed their decision to exclude a book from Scholastic’s popular book fairs, simply because that book featured two moms raising a child.

Last week Jones launched a petition drive from Change.org after the popular children’s book club excluded author Lauren Myracle’s best-selling children’s book, Luv Ya Bunches over concerns Myracle included same-sex parents in her book and then refused to include a heterosexual couple when that was requested by Scholastic.

The controversy over Myracle’s book began after The School Library Journal reported that global children’s publishing, education and media giant decided not to include a book about the friendship among four elementary school girls, with one of those girls, Milla, having lesbian moms, from its Scholastic Book Fair, because the company says one of the main characters had same-sex parents.

According to Jones, the reversal by Scholastic came after more than 4,000 people contacted the publisher expressing concern Scholastic was attempting to censor books with LGBT characters.

A statement from Scholastic said…

“Scholastic does not censor books. We review thousands of titles each year for our book clubs and book fairs, and we are committed to a review process that considers all books equally regardless of their inclusion of LGBT characters and same sex parents. In an interview with School Library Journal, Scholastic stated that we are currently carrying Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle in our school book clubs. We also said we were still reviewing the book for possible inclusion in our book fairs. Having completed our review of Luv Ya Bunches, Scholastic Book Fairs will carry the title in our spring fairs for middle school.

Scholastic is proud of our long history of providing books that will appeal to the wide range of interests and reading abilities of children in the many diverse cultures and communities we serve. Luv Ya Bunches is just one example.”

The Scholastic Mission Credo notes the company produces educational materials to assist and inspire students:

• To cultivate their minds to utmost capacity
• To become familiar with our cultural heritage
• To strive for excellence in creative expression in all fields of learning, literature, and art
• To seek effective ways to live a satisfying life
• To enlarge students’ concern for and understanding of today’s world
• To help build a society free of prejudice and hate, and dedicated to the highest quality of life in community and nation.

Lesbian Mom Blogger Dana Rudolph, who was instrumental in alerting parents about Scholastics slight on Luv Ya Bunches said, “I am pleased Scholastic has decided to include Luv Ya Bunches in its School Book Fairs. It is unfortunate that they initially felt the need to ask Myracle to change the lesbian moms (who play only a minor role in the book) to a mom and a dad, but it is heartening to know that they listened to the more than 4000 people, LGBT and not, who signed Change.org’s petition in support of the author. The upside is that going forward, the company is on record as stating: “We are committed to a review process that considers all books equally regardless of their inclusion of LGBT characters and same sex parents.” I hope that will benefit many authors—and, more importantly, many children—in the future.”

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10/25/09-by Paula Brooks
The School Library Journal is reporting that global children’s publishing, education and media giant, Scholastic, decided not to include a book from its Scholastic Book Fair, because the company says one of the main characters has same-sex parents.

The book, Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle, is about the friendship among four elementary school girls, and one of those girls, Milla, has lesbian moms.

Scholastic has said it will refuse to carry the book unless the author makes some changes, such as removing a few words — “geez,” “crap,” “sucks,” and “God” (as in, “oh my God”) — and by writing out the lesbian moms. She has said she would be willing to remove the supposed offensive words, but refused to remove the lesbian moms.

Myracle, no stranger to controversy, and has appeared on the American Library Association’s top 10 list of most often challenged authors, however the children’s book author says she is surprised that Scholastic would shy away from a reality that exists in numerous households across the country.

Says Myracle, “A child having same-sex parents is not offensive, in my mind, and shouldn’t be ‘cleaned up.’”

The author says, “Over 200,000 kids in America are raised by same-sex parents, just like Milla. It’s not an issue to clean up or hide away,” says Myracle. “In my opinion, it’s not an ‘issue’ at all. The issue, as I see it, is that kids benefit hugely from seeing themselves reflected positively in the books they read. It’s an extremely empowering and validating experience.”

Scholastic says Love Ya Bunches will still be available in their Book Club catalog, and a spokesperson said, “the company will continue monitoring the book’s popularity as well as the input from book fair field representatives to decide whether it should be included in future book fairs.”

The Scholastic Mission Credo notes the company produces educational materials to assist and inspire students:

• To cultivate their minds to utmost capacity
• To become familiar with our cultural heritage
• To strive for excellence in creative expression in all fields of learning, literature, and art
• To seek effective ways to live a satisfying life
• To enlarge students’ concern for and understanding of today’s world
• To help build a society free of prejudice and hate, and dedicated to the highest quality of life in community and nation.

Lesbian Mom Blogger Dana Rudolph thinks Scholastic should be held to that credo and said, “That sounds like a call to action for me.” Rudolph has asked her readers to contact Scholastic Investor Relations and to “get yourselves to your local book fairs and ask the field reps for Myracle’s book, as well as others that depict LGBT families.”

The website Change.org has also posted an action alert about this, complete with an automated message to Scholastic.

Lesbian Mom Kathy Young of Arizona said, “Diversity in families is a fact of life. Whether that diversity includes kids being raised by grandparents, single Dads, or LGBT parents, it is important that those families are represented in the stories the kids read. Not only is it important for my child to see but for her friends to see that these families exist in our culture.”

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10/22/09-by Paula Brooks
The Navy has announced it will discipline Chief Petty Officer Michael Toussaint, the former chief of a working dog unit in Bahrain following an investigation into allegations of hazing and sexual harassment.

Among Toussaint’s victims was a gay sailor, Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Rocha, who claimed he was subjected to a two-year pattern of abuse that included hog-tying him to a chair and pushing him, still bound, into a dog kennel full of feces.

Rocha also said he was forced him to simulate oral sex with a man more than thirty times, on video tape, as part of a training exercise to teach sailors how to respond to a hypothetical complaint about homosexual sex. He also claims to have been beat repeatedly while being forced to bend over a desk.

Rocha latter developed post-traumatic stress disorder from the abuse and left the Navy after outing himself.

During the course of its initial investigation the Navy also discovered that while Rocha was singled out and forced to endure the longest period of abuse, others were also victimized.

An official military summary of the investigation lists 93 incidents, such as allowing a dog to attack a sex worker, and handcuffing two female sailors to a bed and forcing them to simulate lesbian sex while being videotaped.

One of those sailors in the handcuffing incident eventually committed suicide.

The decision to discipline Toussaint was announced yesterday, after the Navy’s decision last month to review the allegations following a letter from Pennsylvania congressman and former admiral Joe Sestak to Navy Secretary Raymond Mabus asking he take another look at the case.

In his letter to Marbus, Sestak said, “During my 31 years in the military, I served alongside and in command of men and women of all backgrounds, beliefs, and identities who fought valiantly and selflessly…. When a man or woman puts on a military uniform, he or she immediately assumes a commonality of purpose with all fellow service members. Failing to treat everyone with the same level of dignity and allowing acts of assault or battery to go unaddressed, would be counter to not only our national values, but to the concept of brotherhood and sisterhood that I learned is so essential to – and such a key part of – the spirit of our armed forces.” Sestak added, “My inquiry is to determine whether there is any basis for actions contrary to that spirit.”

That letter from Sestak spurred the Navy to take action against Toussaint.

As part of his punishment a letter of censure is to be placed on the record of Toussaint and his request to extend his enlistment in the Navy will be vacated, forcing him to retire.

Additionally the CNO is convening a pay grade determination board to review the pay grade at which Toussaint will retire.

The advisory board will present its recommendation to the Secretary of the Navy who personally will make the final decision. This has significant financial implications for Toussaint.

Toussaint has also been removed from his current command and placed in an administrative position without leadership until removal from service and the pay grade determination is made by early next year.

The CNO has in addition directed that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) conduct additional interviews with other officers stationed in Bahrain at the time of the incidents in question to assess further questions of the leadership in that region when the abuses occurred.

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In a statement issued yesterday, Sestak said…

“I support the penalties assessed to SCPO Toussaint for his outrageous behavior and I look forward to further briefings about results of interviews with others in leadership positions in the Bahrain area when the incidents took place,” said Congressman Sestak. “However, after reading the initial investigation reporting 97 documented incidents of abuse – more than abuse; brutal criminal behavior from hitting sailors to breaking regulations by asking if someone is gay, to dragging sailors through feces and locking them in dog kennels – there is absolutely no way anyone can accept that the administrative actions – and non-actions taken in two of the cases – by commanders should not have been overruled by the chain of command, which had sent them the investigation’s recommendations to be dealt with ‘as appropriate.’

However, the junior commanders did not deal with the investigation’s recommendations ‘appropriately,’ and as permitted by the legal system, the senior commanders who had sent the report’s recommendations to be followed up on by others, should have overruled the inadequate accountability, particularly since the actions involved criminal behavior.
“In the military, we often delegate responsibility, but can never delegate accountability. The astonishing absence of accountability in this case throughout the chain of command was inexcusable. As a result of the criminal abuse committed in the Bahrain dog unit, a life has been lost and irreparable harm done to sailors involved.

The Secretary of the Navy has assured me that in proceeding with the additional interviews the CNO mentioned, he will expand them to include the chain of command that did not overrule their subordinate commanders of inappropriate actions for those implicated of wrongdoing. I look forward to being apprised of the results of this close examination of the lack of accountability by seniors in the chain of command and their actions, or non-actions.

“That said, I strongly believe that the abuses reported do not at all reflect the institution of the Navy, but a standard must be transparently set that we will never tolerate – whether in the Navy, other branches of the military, or other public institutions – the lack of accountability that occurred in the case of those who committed crimes or those who did not ensure appropriate punishment for those crimes. If these abuses – which are not, I am certain, reflective of the Navy as a whole – are permitted to pass without full accountability, that speaks most strongly to our current and prospective sailors and their families.”

Sestak also specifically addressed the case of Rocha by saying the abuse he experienced was a clear violation of the military’s policy toward LGBT service people.

“Petty Officer Third Class Rocha could not even come forward to fully report the criminal actions and the attempt by members of the unit to have him reveal his sexual orientation,” said Congressman Sestak. “As we work to address the stark lack of accountability in this case, we should not lose sight of another example of an illogical policy, which is Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

“I commend him for his courage both in service and afterwards as he has bravely detailed what happened in his unit, while maintaining that the abuses do not speak to the overall caliber of our Navy.”

Toussaint is currently assigned to Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, VA.

http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/091021_NavyAbuseResults.shtml

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10/15/09-by Paula Brooks
The LGBT activist group Queer LiberAction is set to hold a Queer Kiss-in at the Fort Worth Stockyards on October 17, 2009, when Queer LiberAction members intend to call attention to LGBT civil right issues in Fort Worth by displaying their affections for one another in a positive and affirming way in a very socially conservative area of that city.

The event organizers say their protest is designed to be fun and engaging while carrying a serious message….

That message… LGBT’s should be able to express their affections in public without the fear of intimidation, or violence.

Says Blake Wilkinson, founder of Queer LiberAction…

“In 2009, GLBT people have every right to display our affections publicly just as everyone else does. Our community is harassed in our own bars and clubs. We do not have the right to marry the person whom we love. We are not included in federal hate crime legislation, which protects us from violence directed towards our community, and we can be fired from our jobs simply for being gay.

It is of the utmost importance now to respectfully but without falter publicly affirm who we are and who we love.

We are holding the Queer Kiss-in at the Fort Worth Stockyards to illustrate how GLBT people are treated as second-class citizens in our everyday lives. ”

10/13/09-by Paula Brooks
Oral arguments will begin today in New York’s Court of Appeals on a case brought by the Alliance Defense Fund of Scottsdale, Ariz., challenging New York’s recognition of same sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.

At stake in the case are the health insurance benefits the New York Department of Civil Service extended to same-sex spouses of state and local government workers in 2007.

The suit was filed after Westchester County agencies granted similar recognition and benefits by the Alliance Defense Fund, purportedly representing New York taxpayers. They sued the county executive claiming that he did not have the right to issue the order, contending those benefits are unlawful in New York, as it does not permit same-sex marriages.

A Lower court however had previously upheld the benefits, saying New York generally recognizes marriages from elsewhere unless specifically prohibited or found abhorrent to public policy.