Daily Archives: April 17, 2015
Award Inspired by Martin Luther King Goes to … Antigay Justice Roy Moore
Award Inspired by Martin Luther King Goes to … Antigay Justice Roy Moore
In a move that will strike some as curious, a pastors’ group presents the Letter From Birmingham Jail Award to the jurist leading the charge against marriage equality in Alabama.
Trudy Ring
Homosexuality Has Cost The U.S. Government 'More Than $225 Billion,' Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver Claims
Homosexuality Has Cost The U.S. Government 'More Than $225 Billion,' Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver Claims
Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver slammed the “cost of homosexuality” in a radio bulletin this week.
Staver, who is no stranger to anti-gay declarations, claimed that the U.S. government has spent “more than $225 billion” on homosexuality over the course of 26 years, resulting in “the breakdown of the family culture” and other “social consequences,” Right Wing Watch first reported.
Founded in 1989, the Liberty Counsel is a nonprofit Christian policy organization whose aim is to “preserve religious liberty and help create and maintain a society in which everyone will have the opportunity to discover the truth that will give true freedom,” according to its website.
“Studies repeatedly show that homosexual conduct can result in significant cost to the community that encourages it,” he says, though he does not specify the “studies” he is referencing nor provides any additional background information, in the bulletin. “Same-sex marriage leads to the devaluation of both a mother and a father, who each provide a unique contribution to the family.”
Staver’s remarks echo those he made at a “Celebrate America” event in Washington D.C. last year. At the time, he argued that homosexuality is “unique from any other sin” because it is a “sin against your own body” and “a direct attack on who God is.”
The right-wing lawyer and pundit, who has praised Russia, Uganda and Nigeria for their anti-LGBT laws, has also argued that the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Prop 8 were not reflective of “natural law, biblical law or common sense; it is contrary to the natural created order of God almighty.”
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LGBT Activists Gather in D.C. for World Bank Discussions
LGBT Activists Gather in D.C. for World Bank Discussions
LGBT activists from around the world came to Washington, D.C., this week to take part in events surrounding the World Bank.
HRC.org
Rick Santorum And Ted Cruz Pressed On Whether They’d Attend A Gay Wedding
Rick Santorum And Ted Cruz Pressed On Whether They’d Attend A Gay Wedding
When contemplating same-sex marriage, it’s important to take into consideration how it might affect straight guys who don’t know any gay people. They really have the best perspective, don’t you think?
Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt really got to the heart of the debate when he asked Rick Santorum and Ted Cruz to blabber about gay marriage as if it had one single damn thing to do with them. Hugh also asked them if they’d attend the same-sex wedding of a loved one.
Their answers are positively heartwarming — surely just what Jesus would have said.
Rick Santorum’s response was a predictable “no,” couched with some garbage about how it violates his faith but he’d still love the person because he’s a good Christian. Please go home, Rick.
Ted Cruz tried to tap dance a little, but his response is so clearly indicative of the problem.
So, Ted — would you attend the same-sex wedding of a friend, family member or loved one?
“I have not faced that circumstance. I have not had a loved one have a gay wedding.”
He also doesn’t understand the concept of a hypothetical question, and he does go on to spout this nonsense:
“What the media tries to twist the question of marriage into…is a battle of emotions and personalities. They try and make it say, for example, ‘gosh any conservative must hate people who are gay.’ As you know, that has nothing to do with the operative legal question…I’m a constitutionalist, and under the constitution, from the beginning of this country, marriage has been a question for the states.”
Why would marriage make people emotional, we wonder?
Fellow Republican Christian Marco Rubio also opposes gay marriage and was asked the same question. He was the only one who sounded vaguely human. “If there’s somebody that I love that’s in my life, I don’t necessarily have to agree with their decisions or the decisions they’ve made to continue to love them and participate in important events,” he said.
Listen to the two clips below:
Dan Tracer
Irish Government Says No to Religious Groups' Call For 'Conscience Clause' In Marriage Referendum: VIDEO
Irish Government Says No to Religious Groups' Call For 'Conscience Clause' In Marriage Referendum: VIDEO
A collection of Irish religious groups has sent a petition to Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald seeking a “conscience clause” that would allow for a right to discriminate if next month’s marriage equality referendum passes, reports the Independent.
The petition has been signed by 246 people. Ireland’s Taoiseach Enda Kenny has already ruled out any potential “conscious clause” being inserted in the referendum.
Citing recent controversies where businesses have been brought to court for refusing to provide services to gay people, the group has asked Fitzgerald to “ensure the referendum guarantee equality for all”.
Dr. Ali Selim, from the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, said:
“If we are having this referendum on the firm belief of equality then also we should allow people with consciences objections as well. What we are asking for is that we are not forced to endorse a practice that is in conflict with our fate. It is the freedom of choice not to have views imposed on our religious beliefs.”
Petitioners state that they disagree strongly with the proposed constitutional changes and warn that if passed, it would discriminate against people opposed to same-sex marriage for religious reasons who “risk prosecution” because of their personal beliefs.
Speaking on national radio broadcaster Newstalk, Selim said:
“Who decides what discrimination is? Of course decisions should be made in light of Irish law – but if Irish law says you’ve got to endorse something against your beliefs that is discrimination. And that is exactly why we are campaigning – so that there is equality for all, not just for certain people.”
Earlier in the week, Selim said “no Muslim would vote yes” in the referendum.
Listen to Selim threaten legal action against Irish media outlets, AFTER THE JUMP…
A March Irish Times poll found that 74 percent of the electorate intend to vote in favor of same-sex marriage.
Jim Redmond
Cinnamon Sugar Snickerdoodle Cookies
A Leatherman Exposes Himself! Clifton Tatum: His Heart, Soul & Vision
A Leatherman Exposes Himself! Clifton Tatum: His Heart, Soul & Vision
Clifton Tatum’s winning of Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2015 in November 2014 was one more step, albeit a very visible one, in a lifelong journey of being of service. In this episode of Nicholas Snow Live, we go into the heart and soul of a Leatherman, dispel myths about the leather community, and give the general public compelling thoughts to ponder. In the competition, in addition to the fashion, posing and of course the interview question, Clifton spoke of his vision of supporting LGBT youth charities, foster care and suicide prevention programs, and the fight against bullying. He has remained true to his word. He says:
It has been my experience, after working with young people for over 30 years, that when given a fair and balanced chance at life, the majority of young people make good choices.
Meet Clifton Tatum:
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And here’s video of Clifton winning his title:
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Sexual Assault Awareness Month: What It’s Like to be a Queer Survivor
Sexual Assault Awareness Month: What It’s Like to be a Queer Survivor
Sam Anderson shares their story.
HRC.org
Debra Messing Wanted A Few More Years Of “Will & Grace”
Debra Messing Wanted A Few More Years Of “Will & Grace”
Will & Grace ended its award-winning run nearly nine years ago, but for some the memory still lingers on. Well, the memories and about 300 re-runs a day. But for Grace Adler (née Debra Messing), Will & Grace was too little of a good thing.
“I guess I would change the fact that we stopped after eight years,” Messing told HuffPo Live. “It was such a happy time, and we were all really exhausted by that point and it was the right thing to do at that time, but now obviously time has passed, and I watch the show with my son who laughs at it and I think it would’ve been really great to do it a few more years.”
So, Gracie, you’re telling me you wanted a few more years of this?
Or this?
And this?
And. This.
Even this?
I don’t know how I feel about that. Oh, right.
Les Fabian Brathwaite — Anastacia like Russian royalty, Beaverhausen like…where the beavers live.
Les Fabian Brathwaite