11/20/2009
'No Law Against Woman Marrying Another Woman', says 103 years ago
A fascinating read from 1906:
------------------
------------------
11/20/2009
What the hell is Brian Brown smoking?!
The National Organization For Marriage's Brian Brown begins this week's email missive with the line:
"The great victories in Maine and New York-23 for pro-marriage forces continue to reverberate up and down the Eastern Seaboard."
Only problem: Brian's side won nothing in NY-23! Yes, they were able to get the more progressive (if Republican) Dede Scozzafava out of the race. But NOM and crew still lost, and did so to the tune of $112,736.75. Despite their focused efforts and rabidly anti-gay fliers in support of Doug Hoffman, they were forced to spend election night watching NY-23 turn Democratic for the first time since the civil war!
Yes, NOM might have narrowly (and expensively) duped Mainers into supporting civil unfairness and inequality (a disturbing, un-American goal that never had the chance of being a "victory," by the way). But when it came to changing the game in New York, the efficacy of their extremely offensive campaign tactics have not been emboldened: They have instead been called into question!
*After the jump, you'll find Brian's full email. Be sure to note his characterization of the D.C. council as being "men with hardened hearts," despite the fact that (a) the council is not all male, and (b) they are the ones who are standing against heartless attempts to destroy other people's love. Also notice the reference to Catholicism, which we have long known to be the driving faith of NOM:
Their bullcaca will never ENDA
The religious right is simply unbelievable in the way that they take any sort of bone that our side might throw to them, and flip it so that it instead sounds like a bomb. Like take this quip, attributed to longtime foe of the 'mos Robert Knight. he's speaking about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and the religious exemption that has been placed within the legislation:
"If this law is so immoral that churches have to get an opt out, why would we impose it on everyone?"
See what we mean? He is taking something that was put into the bill for the SOLE PURPOSE of appeasing evangelicals, and he is flipping the script to make it sound as if it's an admission of "immorality" on the part of the measure's drafters. Rather than thank lawmakers for including religious language that, truth be known, they did not have to include in this church/state-separated nation, Mr. Knight is instead spitting in their faces!
And of course he's far from alone when it comes to bulldozing the lay of the land. The writer who printed the above quote, Baptist Press contributor Penna Dexter, says the following about supposed gay quotas:
"Homosexuals tend to be more highly educated and to have, according to some surveys, higher disposable incomes than heterosexual couples. Many companies court homosexuals for hiring. The government does not force those companies to hire Christians. Neither should it require religious and moral people to bring into their organizations workers who openly flout God's standards."
We thank her for the "highly educated" concession. But we have to wonder: If our side truly is more educated, then why do Penna and her pals refuse to believe our education on LGBT issues and how they fit into civil law?!?! If she would, she wouldn't set up these straw man arguments about forced hirings, since nothing in ANY civil law requests any kind of quote regarding any kind of employee! Nobody on our side wants this! What we want, nay, DEMAND, is fairness in terms of public companies' employment decisions! Most of us our 100% fine with these prescribed religious exemptions, as well as the ones that apply to small businesses with fewer than fifteen employees. But we are not fine with the religious right's one and only negotiable, which undeniably boils down to: "Let Christians discriminate against gays at will, in any setting, for any reason that they see fit."
Perhaps its just our pesky education and insight getting in the way. But we will never be okay with their endgame!
Piece with Robert and Penna's quotes: FIRST-PERSON: ENDA VS. religious liberty [BP News]
Here it is: 'The Manhattan Declaration'
We got our hands on an advanced copy (though it's now up everywhere). Check out the blatant attempt to hijack in morality and civil rights in America, while still retaining tax-exempt status:
For Gwen For Lateisha For Angie For Adolphus For Simmie For Ebony For Lawrence For Duanna For...
Today:
(click graphic for list of worldwide events)
tdor events and locations 2009
For all of the friends who we hope to never put in a future headline.
Far right to issue manifesto, drag Big Apple into rotten attacks
Today in DC, convicted Watergate felon Chuck Colson will join with 145 other evangelicals (including NOM founder Robert George) to issue a "manifesto" against gays and liberals. Here's what Chuck has to say about us, complete with Hitler comparisons:
And here's more from Chuck, this time focusing on "non-cooperation with evil":
Here's The New York Times' take on the so-called "Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience”:
"The signers include nine Roman Catholic archbishops and the primate of the Orthodox Church in America. They want to signal to the Obama administration and to Congress that they are still a formidable force that will not compromise on abortion, stem-cell research or gay marriage. They hope to influence current debates over health care reform, the same-sex marriage bill in Washington, D.C., and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation."
Christian Leaders Unite on Political Issues [NYT]
We'll get you the document as soon as we have it. Try to contain your excitement.
**UPDATE: Here it is: 'The Manhattan Declaration'
'Daily' video: Wise beyond years vs. unwise inability to get beyond fears
How spot-on is Jon Stewart when it comes gay issues? Well consider this: Yours truly genuinely owns both the towel warmer and AeroGarden that Jon mentions at the :56 mark:
Gaywatch - Peter Vadala & William Phillips [Colbert]
Peter's case is ridiculous, William's case is admirable, and Jon is such a good friend and advocate that you'd think he and Colbert were literally rubbing up next to each other every night the way that their shows currently do. Got it.
Oh and P.S.: Both the towel warmer and AeroGarden would make good holiday gifts.
Well since you did ask, Pete...
In a new, rambly attack in which he chastises New York Times columnist David Brooks for committing the GOP "sin" of not being conservative enough for the religious right's liking (as they have defined conservativism in America), Peter LaBarbera has raised the same, odd question that we've seen him bring up from time to time:
Besides, even in their gut most people recognize that there’s something deeply wrong with homosexual acts: why else would we cringe at the thought inspired by this question: How do two men consummate their “same-sex marriage”?
Yuck.
Palin Basher and Pro-Homosexual-’Marriage’ New York Times Columnist David Brooks Is a ‘Joke’ as a Conservative[AFTAH]
Whenever Pete asks this bizarre question, which seems like the last thing an anti-gay, heterosexual, evangelical would ever raise, we genuinely never know if he's being rhetorical or if he actually wants an answer. So that being the case, we will repeat our stock response:
Anally and orally, with some hands likely involved as well. Oh, and it'll be done frequently. Literally, like every chance we get. Breakfast -- sex. Lunch -- sex. Walk on the beach -- sex (perhaps on the beach). Dinner -- sex. Can't sleep at night -- sex. Wake up -- sex (but only after requisite teeth brushing). On top, on bottom, on side. On pieces of furniture that had previously seemed like impossible places to make love. SEX. Hot, steamy, sweaty, bangfest. Just like most hetero couples on their own honeymoons.
Fun.
Now Pete, if you will please cut out this smutty talk about people's marriage beds, that would be great. Sheesh, dude -- there might be children reading!
