Suspended Law Student Sues Regent University

I posted an article or two last year about the Regent University Law School student who was basically thrown out of the school for being what some might describe as disrespectful to Pat Robertson. Subsequently, he filed a federal lawsuit against Pat Robertson and Regent University in the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas since the student lives in Spring, Texas, which is near Houston, as reported in this Boston Globe story. The case survived Robertson's and Regent's motion for a summary judgment dismissal and has now been transferred to the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia based in Norfolk for trial.

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I have been contacted by Texas counsel for the law student and been asked to serve as Virginia associated counsel on the case since it is a requirement that out-of-state counsel associate Virginia counsel to assist in the case and be local counsel of record. Since I am (1) admitted (a) both in Virginia and Texas, and (b) to both the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (as well as the 5th and 11th Circuits) and (2) apparently viewed as someone not afraid of the wrath of the Christian Right, I guess I seemed like a good attorney to ask. In any event, after reviewing the Complaint and speaking with Texas counsel, I have agreed to act as associated counsel.

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It will be interesting case. It will also be interesting to see if I end up being described as a "militant, radical homosexual activist" by the Christianist news services once my involvement becomes widely known.

Pope T-Shirts

My blogger friend, Magic Bellybutton sent me this photo which, given my posts about Benedict XVI, is just too funny. She has such a marvelous whit and sense of humor. :) Click on the photo for a larger view. Thanks, Magic!!

More Saturday Male Beauty

Coming Out in Mid-Life - My Thoughts Six Years Later

As happens regularly, I received an e-mail from a reader who is married and in the closet and struggling with the issue of what he should do. Should he come out and lose his world as he knows it? Or should he stay closeted and try to find a way through life largely denying (or at least trying to deny) his sexual orientation and in essence who he really is. It is a terrible issue to have to face as I know having been there and struggled with my demons in silence. Frequently, I though suicide or a "surfing accident" was the best resolution for me and my family Sadly, I suspect the number of men - and women - who find themselves struggling with this issue which in some ways goes to the core of one's being is far larger than anyone imagines. It's not exactly a topic one shares with others and hence you are left to struggle and suffer feelings of guilt and/or self hate and/or longings for death alone. It is such a terribly lonely place.

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Deciding what course to follow ultimately is a personal decision that no one can make for another person. Each fact situation is different and what works for one person may not work for another. Anyone making the decision to come out in mid-life should know that telling one's spouse and family, moving out, and facing a new beginning is very difficult and down right terrifying at times. There were many times after I first came out and moved out where death continued to look ever so attractive. I actually almost succeeded in following that route at one particularly dark period. Now, I am glad I was not successful even though I still have some elements missing in my life, a committed boyfriend being but one of them. But I am at peace compared to anything I previously knew.

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Here is an edited version of some of what I shared with my reader today: my wife's position was that I either go "back in the closet and pretend none of it ever happened" or move out. Obviously, I chose the latter. I will say that for me coming out was about much, much more than just having moments of physical pleasure with another guy. Not only have I been able to experience a physical/emotional connection I could never achieve with a woman (through no fault of the woman), but ultimately, I have been able to finally be OK with my sexuality and who I am. Yes, it was one Hell of a difficult process, but I honestly do not think I could have ever found spiritual/inner peace, if you will, if I had not come out and moved out.

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As I have stated before, no dollar amount or price tag can be placed on not living every day hating one's self and trying to repress what is an unbidden part of you. I am almost 56, but at last I can look in the mirror and say to myself, you are a good person and you're gay, and that's OK. No matter what my reader may ultimately decide, I hope he finds that sense of peace with who he is.

Pope Sheds Crocodile Tears in Australia

Apparently faced with public and media pressure, the Nazi Pope, Benedict XVI, shed crocodile tears in Australia feigning sadness and shame for the clergy sex abuse scandal which has cost the Roman Catholic Church billions of dollars worldwide (in the USA alone the amount of settlement paymenst has well exceeded $2 billion). Of course, if Benedict XVI was truly sorry - which he is not other than for the fact that the Church got caught - he throw numerous bishops and cardinald out of the priesthood and out of the Church without pensions. I.e., like what would have happened in any other institution where such gross negligence if not down right criminal conduct occurred. I will NOT be holding my breath. In my view, the Church is beyond saving unless and until a complete removal of much of the guilty hierarchy occurs. Here are some highlights from the Sydney Morning Herald concering Benedicts false remorse (remember, actions speak louder than words):

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Before 3400 guests, including cardinals, bishops, Australian seminarians, victims and pilgrims from around the world, he said: "Here, I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. "Indeed I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that as their pastor, I too share in their suffering. "These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and have damaged the Church's witness."

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Pope Benedict XVI called on those assembled in the great cathedral to help their bishops and to "work together with them in combating this evil". "Victims should receive compassion and care and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice," he said. "It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people.

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But Anthony Foster, whose daughters were raped by a Melbourne priest, said the words were meaningless unless they were accompanied by practical measures. Mr Foster's daughter Emma committed suicide in January at the age of 26, while her sister Katherine drank heavily and was left disabled when she was hit by a drunk driver in 1999.

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I agree with Anthony Foster. The Pope's words ARE meaningless. I particularly like the part where he asks Catholics to work with their bishops to address the problem. Now isn't that special! In the USA, the Dallas Morning News in a special report found that roughly 2/3's of the bishops allowed priests accused of sexual abuse to keep working, a systematic practice that spans decades and continues today. Anyone stupid enough to believe Benedict XVI please call me: I have some oceanfront property to sell you in Arizona.

Saturday Male Beauty

Discrimination Looks Even Dumber Now

There is an interesting op-ed in the Detroit Free Press that looks at what Michigan has brought on itself through some of its discriminatory policies in terms of economic harm. The piece is especially timely with the auto industry making additional cuts in employment and closing more plants. Studies have shown that money, talent and creativity (the so-called creative class) flock to cities and regions that embrace diversity and tolerance. Sooner or later, this will bring tangible benefits to these locales and their citizens. A case in point is in the opposite direction is Alabama where I lived for four years from 1977-1981. After having been gone from the state for over 20 years, when I went back in 2005, I found a state that seem far more conservative and backwards than in the early 1980's. This seems to directly track the rise of the stranglehold of the Christian Right over the political landscape - e.g., think Judge Roy Moore. While I had always thought Alabama to be conservative when I lived there, I had never seen it as downright backwards and reactionary. In 2005, my view had altered and I doubted whether I could ever live in the state again. I still believe the state has great potenial, but it will never achieve what it otherwise could until there is a radical shift in the prejudiced and discriminatory mindset that goes hand in glove with conservative Christian control of the political machinery of the state. Here are some highlights from the op-ed column:

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As far as I can tell, no reputable pollster has taken our state's temperature on gay marriage since 2004, when Michigan voters overwhelmingly opted to outlaw it. But I've a hunch that at least a few thousand of those who voted to ban same-sex unions just four years ago would happily pony up for a mass wedding ceremony at Comerica Park if enough creditworthy gay couples could be found to purchase all their houses today.

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Tread water long enough and you're bound to become a little less particular about who tosses you a lifeline. God may not have created Adam and Steve, but if that happy couple opened a factory in southeast Michigan, I know a whole lot of straight guys who'd be willing to work in it. Of course, gay home buyers and entrepreneurs have been even less likely than straight folk to invest their hard-earned dollars here since Michigan voters went out of their way to let same-sex couples know they weren't welcome -- as if economic stasis and long winters weren't disincentive enough.

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Today, as Michigan stews in its own family values, other economically pinched states are competing for gay favor. In California, the public backlash against a state Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriages is being tempered by the recognition that gay weddings are a growth industry.

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As Michigan wages a mostly unsuccessful struggle to retain good jobs and well-educated workers, its policy of excluding gays (or exempting them from rights and privileges enjoyed by other citizens, which is the same thing) looks stupider with each passing day. What, exactly, have we accomplished by erecting one more obstacle to fresh talent and investment? (And please don't talk to me about protecting Michigan's children; they're bailing faster than anyone.)

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To the rest of the world, running gay couples out of the state is of a piece with banning stem cell research and building trucks no one wants to buy. Banning same-sex unions has done less to preserve marriage than it has to reinforce Michigan's retrograde image. Repealing Michigan's ban on gay marriage wouldn't solve unemployment, end the foreclosure crisis or restore medical benefits to retired autoworkers. And it wouldn't transform Detroit into a world-class city, or even a sustainable one. But it would be a signal -- the first in many years -- that Michigan had given up trying to barricade itself against the future and begun, however tentatively, to embrace it.

Acceptance of Gays in the Military Grows Dramatically

I know that I talk about gays in the military with some frequency. Partly it is because living in this area with its huge military personnel population I see first hand virtually daily, patriotic, competent and responsible gays and lesbians who are serving with distinction. I also see what "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" does to them in terms of making them live secretly and the constant fear of discovery that so many of them live with. It's destructive not to mention utterly stupid - and all because of repressed, frigid, sexually dysfunctions types like Elaine Donnelly get off by disparaging gays and seeking to make them less than full citizens just to massage their warped egos. It is sick and disgusting. And it needs to end NOW. Fortunately, hearings on DADT will begin on July 23rd when the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on the impact of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The hearing will be the first since Congress enacted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” fifteen years ago. Just in time to support throwing DADT on the garbage heap is a new poll that shows a radical change in the public attitude that shows the false premise behind DADT does not have public support (not that the gay-hating Christianists won't scream and belly ache to no end about the fabricated need to retain the policy). Here are some highlights from the Washington Post on the new polling results:
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Public attitudes about gays in the military have shifted dramatically since President Bill Clinton unveiled what became his administration's "don't ask, don't tell" policy 15 years ago today. Seventy-five percent of Americans in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll said gay people who are open about their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, up from 62 percent in early 2001 and 44 percent in 1993.

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Today, Americans have become more supportive of allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the armed forces. Support from Republicans has doubled over the past 15 years, from 32 to 64 percent. More than eight in 10 Democrats and more than three-quarters of independents now support the idea, as did nearly two-thirds of self-described conservatives.

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Changing attitudes on the issue parallel broader swings in public views about homosexuality. In their recent review of 20 years of polling data, the Pew Research Center reported "a major shift away from highly negative attitudes toward gays and support for punitive actions against gays." In the 2007 Pew data, for example, 28 percent said local school boards should have the right to fire teachers known to be gay; that was down sharply from the 51 percent who said so in 1987.

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Fifty-seven percent of white evangelical Protestants now support allowing openly gay service members in the military, compared with 82 percent of white Catholics and 80 percent of those with no declared religious affiliation. Three-quarters of both married and single people support the idea, both significantly higher than in 1993. Across all three periodic Post-ABC surveys on the issue, women have been more apt than men to support gays in the military. Today, more than eight in 10 women support allowing openly gay soldiers, compared with nearly two-thirds of men.

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Needless to say, these polling results will terrify the extreme lunatic fringe of the Christianists because it shows that despite all their lies and distortions and vast spending to denigrate gays they are nonetheless slowly losing the war. One can only wonder who their next target for discrimination will be since they seem to only feel good about themselves when slandering someone else. They are one sick bunch, in my view.

Final Friday Male Beauty

Group Protests Karl Rove Virginia Beach Appearance

I mentioned the other day that GOP Congresswoam Thelma Drake in what appears to be desperation since her Democrat challenger is doing well with fundraising, had a fundraising event of her own today with guest speaker Karl "Turd Blossom" Rove (I have other names for him, but will refrain from profanity). As promised, protesters picketed outside of the Drake event, garnering media coverage that I suspect will only serve to remind voters of Thelma's slavish support of the Chimperator who is unpopular even among many in the local military. In my opinion, Rove is one of the nastiest, sleaziest and disgusting figure in politics today and I have to wonder what was Thelma thinking? Here are a few quotes from the Virginian Pilot:

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The protesters outside Ruth’s Chris Steak House, where the fundraiser is being held, are carrying signs and chanting “Arrest Karl Rove” and “Shame on Thelma Drake.” The protest started about 11:30 a.m. Democrats earlier called on Drake to cancel her sold-out fundraiser with Rove because the former White House adviser defied a congressional subpoena last week.

South Carolina - Another Jackass State

Fortunately for North Carolina (see my earlier post) it doesn't have the knuckledragger limelight all to itself. South Carolina and at least one of its residents have gone far out of their way to make the state look backwards and small minded. (I guess one way to look at it is that Virginia by default looks at least a bit less backward and reactionary in comparison.) First, there is the father who assaulted his 18 year old son with a baseball bat for being gay. Here's highlights of what the Andersonville Independent Mail is reporting:

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ANDERSON COUNTY — Violence broke out Sunday in Anderson when an 18-year-old man returned home from a gay pride parade and was assaulted by his father. . . . During the assault, the teen's 49-year-old father yelled, cursed, swung a baseball bat, prayed and tried to “cast the demon of homosexuality out of him,” according to the teen's version of events to Deputy S.C. Weymouth, the incident report states. The teen told deputies that his father “has a problem with him being gay and that is why he hit him with the baseball bat Sunday,” Weymouth said in his report.

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Yep, that kind a lunacy will certainly do wonders for efforts to recruit progressive businesses to the state. However, as if that wasn't enough, the Governor of South Carolina has managed to get the state huge negative publicity over the decision to pull an overseas ad campaign to lure gay tourists. What makes the matter so ridiculous is the fact that the total cost of the ad campaign was $5,000. Now, because of Governor Mark Sanford's homophobic behavior, the state has received the equivalent of millions of dollars in NEGATIVE media and tourist travel coverage. Talk about making yourself look like an ass. Now, not only will the state potentially lose gay tourist dollars but also those of people who don't want to vacation in what they perceive to be a backward and reactionary state. Great job Gov. Sanford. Here are highlights from The State:

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South Carolina’s top tourism agency has canceled an overseas advertising campaign targeting gay tourists. The campaign, tied to gay pride week celebrations in London, included ads that proclaimed “South Carolina is so gay.” A handful of other U.S. destinations joined the campaign, including Atlanta, Boston and New Orleans. After learning last week the state had agreed to spend tax money on the campaign — and spurred by a post on The Palmetto Scoop blog — the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism said Thursday it would not pay the tour operator. . . . The agency will not pay the roughly $4,942 fee to take part in the campaign.

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The campaign touts Amro Worldwide, a London-based company specializing in gay travel. The campaign was meant to reclaim the phrase “so gay,” which has been used as a slur, Amro CEO Andrew Roberts said in a press release June 27.

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That press release also included a statement from a “South Carolina tourism” spokesperson noting “we think people may be surprised to see our destination reaching out to the gay market.” . . . Joel Sawyer, spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford, said using tax money to support a social or political agenda is inappropriate.

More Friday Male Beauty

Bullying Bill Dies Over Gay Controversy

I am continually amazed at the meanness and un-Christian mindset of the Christianists who oppose any legislation that would protect gay youth from bullying. These less than godly folks apparently think it's fine to bully, physically assault and/or drive gay youths to suicide in the furtherance of their cruel agenda. WWJD? Not what they do, I suspect. A case in point is the defeat of an anti-bullying bill in the North Carolina legislature. As reported by the News & Observer, The bill was controversial because it listed "sexual orientation" and other characteristics as reasons schoolchildren might be the targets of bullying. Not surprisingly, in the forefront of those opposing the bill were the Christian Action League and the North Carolina Family Policy Council which might just as well adopt a motto along the lines of "Kill the Faggots" or some such equally un-Christian message. These folks are seriously f*cked up. What's even more f*cked up is that so many members of the legislature allow themselves to be intimidated by these lunatics. (Note: the Christianists in Virginia likewise think the harassment and persecution, and bullying of gays is just fine) Here are some highlights from the News & Observer:

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The Senate had the bill, which would have listed gay students as potential harassment targets, on its list of issues to vote on Thursday. But the measure was sent back to committee, where it is likely to stay as the legislature works to finish this year's session. Sen. Doug Berger, a Franklin County Democrat, said the bullying bill will not be approved this session.

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The bill was controversial because it listed "sexual orientation" and other characteristics as reasons schoolchildren might be the targets of bullying. Groups such as the Christian Action League and the N.C. Family Policy Council did not want the term in state law, saying that gay-rights groups would use it to leverage other rights. The bill would have required bullying to be reported and school boards to set anti-bullying policies.

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Bullying is already against school policies, Berger said, but the only way it is going to be seriously addressed is if people talk frankly about who gets targeted. "The failure of this bill to pass, I think, it sends a bad message," Berger said.

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I sincerely believe that if anyone is going to burn in Hell, it's not gays, but rather these foul, nasty, false Christians who work to keep gays subjected to abuse and torment.

End-Running Contraception

From my review of Christianist organizations' websites for a number of years, it has long been evident to me that gays are not the only targets in the Christianist agenda to implement a Taliban-like legal structure to bar all citizens from exercising rights and choices not supported by the Christianists' warped, intolerant religious views. Among the other matters they seek to force to conform to their views are divorce - they want to make divorce much harder, even though ironically they have the highest divorce rate of any religious group - and contraception. A reading of their sites and articles by their blowhard talking heads make it clear that they believe that there is NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY under the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, they seek not only a reversal of Roe. v. Wade and Lawrence v. Texas, but also Griswold v. Connecticut which struck down laws banning the use of contraception by MARRIED couples. Now, Bob Felton over at Civil Commotion has a post that shows that the Chimperator is trying to assist this agenda backhandedly by regulations and interpretations. Here are relevant highlights:

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It’s been clear for a long time that the evangelical right means to eliminate not merely abortion, but even contraception; I’ve written about it previously here, here, here, and here. Now, President Bush’s Health and Human Services department proposes a rule that permits employees of facilities that receive federal dollars — which is practically all hospitals — to refuse to participate in any procedures that violate their religious beliefs, including the provision of contraception.

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I am not making this up, or indulging in hyperbole:

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Therefore, the Department proposes to interpret this term broadly, as encompassing individuals who are members of the workforce of the Department-funded entity performing the objectionable procedure. When applying the term “assist in the performance” to members of an entity’s workforce, the Department proposes to include participation in any activity with a logical connection to the objectionable procedure, including referrals, training, and other arrangements for offending procedures. For example, an operating room nurse would assist in the performance of surgical procedures, and an employee whose task it is to clean the instruments used in a particular procedure, would be considered to assist in the performance of the particular procedure.

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And don’t kid yourself: These yahoos won’t hesitate for an instant to put their hands on other people’s lives and destroy them for the glory of Jesus. It is beyond shocking that HHS would seriously propose to codify such a wide-ranging veto of private health decisions. Contact Congress … today.

Friday Male Beauty

Wee Hour Ramblings; HRBOR and the NGLCC

UPDATE: As readers of this blog know, HRBOR and the NGLCC are focused on business networking with a social aspect as well. Pretty harmless stuff - unless one is a crazy wingnut. Here's what the AFA recently said about the NGLCC:

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Recently, the McDonalds Corporation contributed thousands of dollars and joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, a radical homosexual activist organization that pushes the homosexual agenda, including calling for legalization of so-called "same-sex marriage." In so doing, McDonalds has publicly sided in the ongoing culture war against the majority of Americans who hold traditional family values. For this reason, AFA called for the boycott against McDonalds.

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Funny. I never released marketing my firm and trying to earn a living made me a radical homosexual activist. These folks truly need some serious medication.

I did not do many posts today/yesterday. Between craziness at work, a HRBOR networking event - we had a HUGE turnout at the Franklin Condominiums in Norfolk (one of the units is pictured above) which may turn out to be the largest ever and then going by friends prior to meeting friend at The Wave to dance, the day was insane. Time permitting, I will try to post more on my normal level tomorrow.

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I must admit that I am humbled by what HRBOR is growing to be (it is currently the fast growing affiliate of the NGLCC in the USA). Neither I nor my other nine compatriots ever dreamed that we would create an entity that not only keeps on growing, but which may turn out to be a great marketing tool for the region in endeavoring to attract progressive businesses. The non-religious may laugh at me, but I do feel truly called to do some of the activist work that I do. Slowly but surely, I hope HRBOR and its allies can remake the mindset of many in this region.*

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The HRBOR function was a little weird at first. One of my former neighbors from my old neighborhood who is with an artists coop that has joined HRBOR was at he function. Her husband (whose family lived in my parents' old neighborhood in Virginia Beach) and I did a number of Indian Princess meetings and camp outs together. She and I had not really seen each other since I moved out of the old marital home. Needless to say, she had heard all of the gossip that had exploded (since I had been so involved in things, including the local civic league and the board of the neighborhood pool, there was Lots of gossip), but tonight she was totally cool and very accepting. Yes, it felt nice and I am glad that she had the chance to see HRBOR at its best.

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All in all, it was a good day. Oh, and Justin, have a safe trip. :)

Appalachian Trail - 7/17/08/ Update

My son's adventure now has him in New Hampshire (He began the trip at the end of March in Georgia). The photo below was taken two days ago and is the view looking north towards the mountains he will be entering (or has by now entered). He continues to be having a wonderful time and as I have said numerous times before, I as SO VERY proud of him and I am glad that he is making the trip.

Thursday Male Beauty

Growing American Inequality

UPDATE: The New York Times also has an article that looks at the health care system in the USA that looks at a lot of failings even though Americans spend more than twice as much on healthcare costs as in other nations. That story can be found here.

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One thing that has struck me for many years - and often was an outright embarrassment at times when I traveled extensively overseas as in-house counsel based on the boorish behavior or moronic statements of some Americans - was the blind belief by some Americans that the USA is superior to all other countries and that there is only one perspective on issues: their own. Worse yet, no objective data can convince them that maybe, just maybe, they might need to re-evaluate. Not surprisingly, many of these folks are the same crowd that has remained in the GOP and blindly supported the Chimperator and his failed policies. Am I anti-America? No, definitely not. I am however, against closed minds and stupidity. A new story in the Independent gives plenty of reasons why Americans need to wake up and open their eyes. Some of the data and statistics are quite revealing, if not outright shocking. Sadly, under the Chimperator's regime NOTHING has been done to change this situation. I doubt McCain would do any better. Before one can fix a problem, you need to recognize that it exists. Simply not wanting something to be true does not make it untrue. Here are some highlights.

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The United States of America is becoming less united by the day. A 30-year gap now exists in the average life expectancy between Mississippi, in the Deep South, and Connecticut, in prosperous New England. Huge disparities have also opened up in income, health and education depending on where people live in the US, according to a report published yesterday. The American Human Development Index has applied to the US an aid agency approach to measuring well-being – more familiar to observers of the Third World – with shocking results.

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Despite an almost cult-like devotion to the belief that unfettered free enterprise is the best way to lift Americans out of poverty, the report points to a rigged system that does little to lessen inequalities. "The report shows that although America is one of the richest nations in the world, it is woefully behind when it comes to providing opportunity and choices to all Americans to build a better life," the authors said. Some of its more shocking findings reveal that, in parts of Texas, the percentage of adults who pass through high school has not improved since the 1970s. Asian-American males have the best quality of life and black Americans the lowest, with a staggering 50-year life expectancy gap between the two groups.

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Despite the fact that the US spends roughly $5.2bn (£2.6bn) every day on health care, more per capita than any other nation in the world, Americans live shorter lives than citizens of every western European and Nordic country, bar Denmark.

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"Some Americans are living anywhere from 30 to 50 years behind others when it comes to issues we all care about: health, education and standard of living," said Sarah Burd-Sharps co-author of the report.

The Making Of Me

In a new BBC program, The Making of Me, John Barrowman (who not is only gorgeous in my opinion, but also a poster boy for the UK's "Gay is OK" campaign) among other things undergoes "a series of tests including a DNA examination that is compared with his straight brother's to try out a theory that the origin of homosexuality is linked to events in the womb that may affect the foetus." I applaud Barrowman for doing the show and, hopefully, it will help wake some people up to the fact tat despite the "choice myth" propounded by the liars of the Christian Right, sexual orientaion is not something we choose.

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In fact, from all my reading and e-mail exchanges with experts and even a telephone conversation I had with Linda Titus-Ernstoff, a Professor in the Department of Community & Family Medicine, Section of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center who has done research on DES - which my mother took while pregnant with me - and has been written up in the Washington Post for her research, everything that I have been able to find points to sexual orientation being largely fixed in the womb. That is clearly what Linda Titus-Ernstoff told me she believes when we spoke back in 2003 even though the mechanism of how it occurs has still not been fully determined. In any event, here are some hights about the show and Barrowman from the Guardian:

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Handsome, charming and openly gay, actor and presenter John Barrowman has become one of the best-loved faces on British television. But, as he explains to Alice Wignall, success has brought unexpected responsibilities. . . . The results of the programme - is it nature, is it nurture? - are a closely guarded secret, though Barrowman has always been convinced that sexuality is not a choice. "I've always known who I am," he says. "That's what I believe. I feel I was born this way. I've never questioned that."

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But the recent escalation of his fame has put him in a position where he senses an obligation to do more. "I have to put it this way," he says. "There are some days that I sign, like, 400 pictures, autographs and stuff. And among those I generally get a bunch of, say, four, five emails and some written letters from young men and women who are struggling to come out of the closet and they don't know who to turn to because they're afraid of their family's reaction and they're afraid of their community's reaction. So when they approached me to do this [The Making of Me], I thought, 'Yeah, you know, I really kinda have to do it.' I do think I've got a responsibility to help change perceived attitudes or try to change them."

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"I was doing a signing at a convention," Barrowman says, "and this father brought his son over and he said, 'Do you want Captain Jack's autograph?' and the kid said, 'Yeah, Dad, I don't care if he likes boys, he's still my hero.' And I thought, 'That's why I'm doing this.' "I'd love to be a hero and that's why I love playing him, because he is a hero. But then, funnily enough, people have written to me and said I am their 'hero'" - he says the word with self-deprecating verbal air quotes - "because of standing up for what I believe in".

More Wednesday Male Beauty

More Roman Catholic Church Sex Abuse Scandal News

As the disingenuous Pope Benedict XVI feigns sorrow (yet refuses to give a formal apology) for the sexual abuse of children by priests in Australia, the Roman Catholic Church continues to receive deservedly bad news coverage. First, in Denver, Colorado, the Catholic Archdiocese has been hit with yet another lawsuit by the victim of a priest who was to to superiors to be a sexual predatory, but nonetheless allowed to remain a priest and shuffled off to another parish where he molested more children. Then, there are the parents of two Australian girls repeatedly raped by a Catholic priest - one girl later committed suicide - who are questioning the role of Bishop Anthony Fisher as coordinator of World Youth Day since he fails to have any regard for the victims of abuse or their families. Personally, I find the hypocrisy and false piety of Benedict and pretty much all of the Catholic clergy to varying degrees enough to make one vomit and want to become an atheist.

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One would think some lay Catholics and laity controlled organizations would wake up to the cesspool the Church has become and demand change and that the Pope clean house of the bishops and cardinals who enabled or covered up the sexual abuse of children. Instead, we see the increasingly servile Knights of Columbus worrying about gay marriage and giving $250,000 to support passage of Proposition 8 in California. The Knights are allegedly - and I use the word allegedly deliberately - a fraternal organization with a goal of protecting widows and children. One would think the molestation of children by priests would be a more serious threat to families than gay marriage under the civil laws. Yet now fawning over clergy who enabled and/or covered up the sexual abuse of children has become a "family value" under the lunatic leadership of the Knights. Neither they nor the Church hierarchy give a rat's ass about children or truly protecting families from sexual predators and their enablers. Moral bankruptcy dose not even begin to describe the situation. Here are some highlights from the Washington Post:

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DENVER -- A man sued the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver on Tuesday over sexual abuse after seeing documents released as part of a big settlement last month that name the same priest he says molested him as a teenager. The accuser claims he was abused by the late Harold White, an ex-priest who was named in the bulk of the cases that were settled this month. White was removed from the ministry in 1993 and died in 2006. The lawsuit claims the abuse occurred in 1969 or 1970 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Loveland when the plaintiff was 14.

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According to the suit, the documents _ posted on the firm's Web site _ show White had admitted in February 1961 to sexually molesting five or six children. That was seven years before he was moved to St. John's. . The archdiocese has settled 43 sex abuse cases since 2005 for a total of $8.2 million. Under the settlement reached this month, the archdiocese agreed to pay $5.5 million. Two other lawsuits besides the new one remain unresolved.

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Then from the Sydney Morning Herald come these highlights:

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The father of two girls repeatedly raped by a Melbourne priest has questioned the credibility of Bishop Anthony Fisher and his role in the Catholic church and World Youth Day (WYD). Bishop Fisher, who is WYD coordinator, yesterday said media attention paid to the abuse of sisters Emma and Katherine Foster was detracting from the positivity of the massive Catholic youth festival under way in Sydney.

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The couple is seeking an audience with Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell to discuss the church's handling of priest Kevin O'Donnell's rape of their daughters when they were in primary school. O'Donnell died in prison about 10 years ago, and the Fosters have accused Dr Pell of stalling their compensation claim. Emma Foster committed suicide this year at the age of 26, while her sister Katherine drank heavily before being left disabled when hit by a drunk driver in 1999.

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In the statement he prepared for media waiting at the airport, Mr Foster said Bishop Fisher should be ashamed. "I would like to address the outrageous comments and attitude of Bishop Anthony Fisher, which we have found to be endemic to people unaware of the impact of sexual assault," he said in the statement. "The ... 'old wounds' he speaks of, never heal and victims of sexual assault suffer all their life.

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Truth be told, the Pope and the hierarchy care only about three things: money, power and good PR. The welfare of children and/or their families are nowhere on the radar screen.

Know Thy Enemies - Take the Battle to Their Wallets

As I have said on any number of occasions, it is important that members of the LGBT community know who their enemies are so as to better defend against their attacks, expose their untruths, and - and this is important - take the battle to where it hurts them where it really counts: in their wallets. Fortunately, the California Secretary of State's Office makes it easy to see who is funding the effort to pass the anti-gay marriage amendment to the California Constitution. This information can be found here. As a diary on Pam's House Blend points out, to the extent businesses or their senior management are contributors, I believe they should be challenged and targeted for a boycott of their products by the LGBT community. Bigotry needs to have a real tangible price. This page and this page show those contributing over $5,000 and lists Focus on the Family, the Knights of Columbus, and some contractors, leasing agents, doctors, lawyers, a Vice President of San Diego Gas & Electric, the President of Hoehn Motors, and officers of other businesses. Here are some highlights from the PHB diary:

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If you look at these spreadsheets, the data includes the name, the company, and the position of the person if it's an individual giving the donation. I'm particularly interested in high profile corporate donors to the campaign to keep gay people as second class citizens. Here is just one item: In the Protectmarriage.com section on the website, you will notice a $1,000 contribution from one Tamara Seymour, who is the Chief Financial Officer of Favrville, Inc.

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If you look at the main page of the Favrville website, it bills itself as a purveyor of "cancer treatment technologies". Its business would not seem to be to weigh in one way or another on the same sex marriage equality battle. Does Favrville wish to be associated via its CFO with an ugly bigoted campaign to deny same sex couples the same benefits as any other married couple has? I have not written Favrille yet, but I surely will.

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I firmly believe that those who give money to deny us equality (especially corporations) ought to at least be asked to publicly answer for their positions.

Wednesday Male Beauty

More Homeowners Taking in Boarders

The New York Times has a story today on a growing trend: homeowners taking in boarders in order to help make financial ends meet as their incomes decline and/or their mortgage payments increase. Actually, this is something I have done myself as have several friends and clients. In my case, it is also nice to not be alone in the house all the time. My current roommate is in the Navy and works crazy watch schedules so often we barely see each other for a number of days when he is working evening to early morning watches. How McCain and Phil Graham can believe that the current financial strain so many are feeling is only due to "whining" when people are being forced to rent out portions of their homes is a bit frightening. The country cannot afford another president like the Chimperator who has no clue of reality. Sadly, McCain looks more and more out of touch - as one blog has commented, he still thinks Czechoslovakia is a country even though it ceased to exist 15 years ago when the country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Here are some highlights from the NYT story:

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With residential mortgage foreclosures still on the rise, more homeowners nationwide are considering Miss Terry’s choice: whether to take in a boarder to keep their homes. Modest but growing numbers are turning to agencies nationwide like the St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center Homesharing Program in Baltimore, which screen boarders to find appropriate matches and relieve some of the fear of strangers.

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In some communities, local zoning laws or homeowner associations may limit the number of nonrelated people who can live in a house. Ms. Brennan said that home-sharing could help some people caught in the housing downturn, but that its benefits were limited. “Where we see it being of value is if someone is having short-term problems,” she said. “The average stay of a sharer is about a year, and some are much less. It’s good for someone leaving a marriage or a relationship, or going to school. You can’t count on it as a regular income. It’s a stopgap.”

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Renée Drell, executive director of HomeSharing Inc., in Bridgewater, N.J., where home-shares rose 14 percent last year, said that as mortgage payments, heating costs and taxes have all risen, homeowners are asking for higher rents to share their homes, often more than seekers can afford.

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But Ms. Dunn, of HomeShare Vermont, said people should not look at home-sharing only as a last resort or a financial Band-Aid. “When you look at the data on people living alone, they tend to die younger and be sicker. We’ve done surveys, and people say they’re happier, sleeping and eating better, and feel safer in their homes with someone around. If I sold you that as a drug, you’d pay thousands of dollars.”

Catholic School Principal Caught In Gay Tryst

Why anyone gay would remain in any kind of affiliation with any aspect of the Roman Catholic Church dumbfounds me. The institutional Church is corrupt, homophobic and the hierarchy is full of phony hypocrites from the Pope on down. It is like a Jew joining the Nazi Party in 1930's Germany. Yet, gays continue to act against their own best interests and remain affiliated with the Church, which in my view, can only serve to damage them emotionally and psychologically and possibly lead to foolish, self-destructive actions such as in this case. And what is with these idiots who engage in sex in public places or property other than their own? How stupid can one get? Here are highllights from WCBS-TV:

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GREENBURGH, N.Y. (CBS) ― A Westchester County Catholic school principal is in serious trouble after he was arrested for allegedly going on a naked sexual romp with two other men in the backyard of a vacant home in the Orchard Hill section of town on Sunday. Gabriel De Jesus, 41, of Ossining told police he was the principal of Sacred Heart School for the Arts, a Catholic elementary school at 71 Sharpe Blvd. in Mount Vernon.

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Authorities said DeJesus, Francesco Autera, 31, of Thornwood and another man met online. The trio allegedly picked the backyard of a vacant Abbeyville Lane home to conduct their group sex. An alert neighbor called 911 after noticing something suspicious.

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Police found DeJesus and Autera naked and arrested both. They are charged with misdemeanor trespassing, public lewdness and disorderly conduct. The third man ran naked down the street before he could be apprehended, according to police. The New York Archdiocese said it is looking into the matter and plans to speak with police. Officials add that DeJesus has been a well-regarded educator up until this point.

More Tuesday Male Beauty

Thelma Drake with Special Guest Karl Rove

UPDATE: Apparently Thelma and Karl will have some company on Friday. I received this blast e-mail via a Democrat site:

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Mock Trial of Karl Rove to be held at Virginia Beach Town Center FountainFriday, July 18, 2008 11:30 a.m. Mock Trial of Karl Rove to be held at Virginia Beach Town Center FountainFriday, July 18, 200811:30 a.m. Local concerned citizens are staging a mock trial of Karl Rove in front ofRuth's Chris Restaurant where he will be hosting a fundraiser forCongresswoman Thelma Drake. We are inviting all local press to coverour fun event. All are invited to participate or be an observer. Bring signs if you'd like.

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As I have indicated on a number of occasions, I have known GOP Congresswoman Thelma Drake for over a decade and while I have I have often not agreed with her political positions, I have always respected her as a person. Particularly, since of all the elected GOP officials in Virginia Beach - including current Virginia Attorney General Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell - Thelma was the only one who apologized for the mistreatment I received when I warned all of them roughly 8 months before he was outed by Mike Rogers that Congressman Ed Schrock was a closet case and that he would ended up being outed due the the GOP anti-gay jihad. However, now I HAVE to condemn her for having a fundraiser on Friday, July 18, 2008, at the Ruth's Chris in Virginia Beach with KARL ROVE as the guest of honor. Save for the Chimperator and Emperor Palpatine Cheney, I can think of few more disgusting and amoral figures than Karl "Turd Blossom" Rove. The man will say and do anything no matter how low and harm anyone in his thirst for power. As I said, in my opinion, the man is truly amoral and hopefully will be found guilty for contempt of Congress and incarcerated. Here's what Thelma's campaign website is saying:
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11:15 a.m. Roundtable discussion & Photo-Op with Karl Rove 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. Luncheon. Karl Rove remarks followed by Q & A Please make reservation by faxing this form to 757-491-7143 or call 757-491-7141 or mail this form with your personal check made out to: “Thelma Drake for Congress” and mail to Thelma Drake for Congress, P.O. Box 61480, Virginia Beach, VA 23466.

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Honestly, I don't know what the Hell Thelma was thinking. Not surprisingly, the Democrat Party of Virginia has seized on this decision to launch a fundraising campaign seeking contributions for Thelma's Democrat challenger, Glenn Nye. I do not know who is advising Thelma, but to me, this was an incredibly stupid decision which only serves to underscore her blind lockstep voting record of supporting the Chimprerator and his ill conceived policies almost 100% of the time. Fortunately, Thelma had the sense to override the Chimperator's veto of the Medicare Bill today. Nonetheless, that does not excuse her for being seen with Rove this Friday.

Quid Pro Quo

Tuesday Male Beauty

Aussie Gays Win Pope Protest Battle

365gay.com is reporting that an Australian Court has struck down the draconian regulations that were passed to restrict the speech and actions of anyone who might want to voice protest over the visit of the Nazi Pope, Benedict XVI, in conjunction with World Youth Day. The new regulations had made behavior that "caused annoyance or inconvenience" to festival participants punishable by fines up $5,300. The language of the regulations was thus so open ended and vague that in addition to resricting free speech, it was open to arbitrary and capricious abuse (in fact, the language was like something the Chimperator and Emperor Cheney would have loved). Here are highlights:

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(Sydney, Australia) A court struck down a new law Tuesday that banned people from annoying participants of a Roman Catholic youth festival in Australia that the pope plans to attend, ruling that the law restricted free speech. The ruling handed down on the opening day of the six-day World Youth Day festival paves the way for activists to hand out condoms and coat hangers - symbolizing abortions - to pilgrims in a demonstration planned for Saturday. Three federal court judges ruled that the law was invalid under Australia's constitution because they limited freedom of speech.

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The legal challenge was brought by two activists from the NoPope Coalition, a group of gay rights and secular activists. The coalition is planning a rally on Saturday at which activists said they would wear T-shirts condemning Pope Benedict XVI and hand out condoms and coat hangers to pilgrims taking part in a procession through Sydney.

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"We now have a lot more confidence to take to the streets to condemn Pope Benedict's policies against condom use, against contraception, against homosexuality," said Rachel Evans, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. "We are glad that the court has ruled that we do have the freedom of expression to communicate our political views on Saturday."

“Bi-Curious” Summer

That's the title of a column on Wingnut Daily by Christianist Brent Bozell, III, which would be almost laughable were it not for the fact that it epitomizes the Christianist mindset that everything is supposed to conform to THEIR religious views. Especially when it comes to homosexuality. The Christianists want to pretend that we do not exists or that we have rights and a significant purchasing power. With Christianists, the concept of simply changing the channel or that parents - not broadcasters - should be responsible to monitor what their children watch never seems to register on the radar screen. Personally, even though I might never watch the shows that set Bozell to ranting, I applaud MTV and the others that Bozell lambastes for refusing to censor their broadcasting to satisfy the Bozell's Christianist world view. One thought however: Do Christianists like Bozell rant because of their prudishness or because of their own repressed sexual frustration/dysfunction which is threatened by gays and bisexuals? My guess is that it's the latter. Here is a sampling of Bozell's rantings:

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When our culture merchants calculate how to exploit societal attitudes toward the homosexual lifestyle, one factor doesn't enter into the equation. Frankly, they don't give a damn about people who believe it’s a sin against God. Those religious people with their religious hang-ups aren’t likely to watch MTV, so why bother with their silly complaints.

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Religious concerns safely tossed aside, producers are free to explore how best to profit from pushing envelopes. They know that (most) men don’t enjoy watching gay men, but enough do like to watch women flirt with lesbianism to make it a commercially viable enterprise. Enter the idea of women being “bi-curious,” as the slang goes.

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The trend has landed on top of the Billboard pop charts and has dominated the top of the i-Tunes download list in the form of Katy Perry’s song “I Kissed A Girl.” The concept has become so mainstream that she performed her song on Fox’s summer series “So You Think You Can Dance.” She’s also made a cameo appearance on the CBS soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” This summer she’s one of the few female performers featured on the Warped Tour, an appropriate word for her act. Her lyrics have the flirty patter down. “I kissed a girl and I liked it /The taste of her Cherry Chap-Stick / I kissed a girl just to try it / I hope my boyfriend don’t mind it.” Should the public be scandalized? Perry sings that they should not, that it’s saucy, and yet innocent: “Too good to deny it / ain’t no big deal, it’s innocent.”

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That’s all in keeping with MTV, which in the pursuit of profit will film anything short of anyone smoking a cigarette because that, after all, would be to send the wrong message to impressionable youngsters.

James Dobson Has Drag Queen Worthy Hissy Fit

James Dobson, the windbag homophobe who heads up Focus on the Family ("FOF") is having a hissy fit over Wayne Besen - who I know personally - starting a campaign to block Dobson from getting elected to the radio Hall of Fame. Dobson can dish out lies and disinformation of the most outrageous nature, but he gets all prissy and haughty like an irate drag queen when someone points out what he's really all about. Today on Citizen Link, one of FOF's propaganda arms, Dobson said this about Wayne:

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Infamous homosexual activist Wayne Besen has fashioned a career of sorts out of taking potshots at Focus on the Family and Dr. James Dobson. So it's not surprising he is trying to get Dr. Dobson taken out of the running for the Radio Hall of Fame, saying Dr. Dobson "lacks character and integrity." He's even launched a petition drive asking the Museum of Broadcast Communications to have Dr. Dobson removed from consideration.

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In point of fact, all Wayne has ever done is (1) prove that some of Daddy D's "ex-gays" are frauds, and (2) spotlighted how Dobson and FOF have fraudulently misrepresented legitimate research and/or put out fraudulent research by the likes of Paul Cameron. The truth hurts, but if Dobson were the Christian he pretends to be - lining his pockets with wealth in the process - he would not be putting out lies. Dobson is an insufferable demagogue, plain and simple. Here's what Wayne e-mailed to me:

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Over the weekend, Focus on the Family's James Dobson released his pit bulls and personally attacked me. He is irate because I dared to launch a campaign to keep him out of the Radio Hall of Fame. Dobson is a venomous bigot who has said that same-sex marriage will "destroy the earth." Clearly, he does not deserve to be honored and must be stopped.

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YOU are the only thing standing between James Dobson and a Hall of Fame victory dance. The last thing we want is for him to parade around on-stage with a trophy, using his platform to spew more bile against the GLBT community. There are four things you can do TODAY to stop this troglodyte.

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You must act NOW, as Hall of Fame voting ends on July 15.

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1) If you haven't done so already, sign TWO's formal request to have the Radio Hall of Fame dump James Dobson as a candidate. SIGN HERE

Final Monday Male Beauty

Mormons Excommunicate Creator of "Men On A Mission" Calendar

I have actually posted photos of some of the guys from the "Men On A Mission" calendar which featured shirtless Mormon missionaries on this blog, so I was somewhat sad to hear that its creator, Chad Hardy, was excommunicated Sunday after a disciplinary meeting with local church leaders in Las Vegas. Personally, I thought all of the photos were tasteful and pretty tame compared to some of the other G-rated photos I use that push the envelop a bit. In my opinion, the calendar actually helped make Mormons look like more normal people as opposed to the more lunatic members of the church that typically get all the media attention. In any event, here are a few highlights from Salt Lake City Tribune:

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SALT LAKE CITY - The creator of a 2008 calendar that featured shirtless Mormon missionaries was excommunicated Sunday after a disciplinary meeting with local church leaders in Las Vegas. Chad Hardy says he bears no ill will toward the council of elders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He says an official letter severing his ties with the 13 million-member Salt Lake City-based church should arrive in about two weeks.

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''Men on a Mission," which has sold nearly 10,000 copies at $14.99 each, included pictures of 12 returned missionaries wearing black slacks, but not their trademark white shirts, in modest poses. The men are also photographed in traditional missionary garb and share their religious beliefs in biographical sketches. Some of the 12 models have also been called to disciplinary meetings, but none were punished.

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Hardy said he considered resigning his membership to avoid the hearing, but decided against it out of respect for his family. Hardy is a sixth-generation Mormon. His parents live in Utah. ''I really feel sorry for my family," Hardy said. ''They are going to be so sad. But I feel empowered and free and I feel like I no longer have to apologize for anything." Hardy insists that the purpose of the calendar has never been to tear down the church or its 13 million members.

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The 2009 calendar - which drew 100 inquiries from interested missionaries - will be released in September.