Bigot Eruption in Albany Over "I am Gay" Billboards

In the Hampton Roads area one of the biggest problems with HIV/AIDS is within the African-American community with infection rates rising among both males and females - young males in particular are at risk. The problem, however, is not unique to Tidewater Virginia. Yet despite the problem within their community, one of the largest obstacles to proper education and frank communication are the leaders of black churches who parrot the anti-gay propaganda disseminated by the white "family values" organizations who are in many cases the descendants of the very individuals who wanted to blacks first enslaved and then segregated under the Jim Crow laws. The segregationist loving Tony Perkins at the hate group Family Research Council is a perfect example. To try to deal with this huge problem, the New York State Department of Health has launched a billboard campaign called "In Our Own Voices" that features images of African-American men proudly saying “I am Gay and this is where I stay” or “I am Gay and this is where I play” or “I am Gay and this is where I pray.” Needless to say the black pastors and politicians willing to prostitute themselves to such forces are hyperventilating and the spittle is flying fast and furiously. Libby Post has an excellent piece in the Albany Times Union that looks at the batshitery of opponents of the campaign. Here are some highlights:
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The billboards in question? There are 18 of them throughout Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Montgomery counties. It seems Schenectady City Councilman Joe Allen and a few of the African-American clergy in the Electric City are quite upset about the gay-positive messages popping up there.
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The billboard campaign is sponsored by In Our Own Voices and the New York State Department of Health, and features images of African-American men proudly saying “I am Gay and this is where I stay” or “I am Gay and this is where I play” or “I am Gay and this is where I pray.”
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African-American men are the focus of the billboards because of the alarming rate of HIV and AIDS among black gay males–some of whom, because of the homophobia they encounter in their daily lives live on “the down low,” also known as in the Closet. These are simple billboards with a simple message–it’s OK to be gay. It’s that simple message that seems to be upsetting folks.
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Joe pSchenectady City Councilman Joe Allen] is quoted as saying “This kind of billboard is putting the stamp of approval on a gay lifestyle.” The article goes on to say that Joe insists he’s not homophobic.
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Excuse me? First of all, being gay is not a lifestyle. It’s not like having an expensive car or living in a big house or spending all your time listening to music and reading–that’s a lifestyle. What we have, Joe, are simply called lives. This is who we are. This is not a choice. This is how God created me–just as God created you as an African-American male. This is my life not my lifestyle. And, don’t for a minute think not approving of my life is not homophobia. It is plain and simple.
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And shame on Pastor Richard Parsons of Schenectady’s Consecration Temple Church of God Christ who uses the Bible as the reason for his homophobia. Homosexuality, he says is ”directly against God’s word and what God hates, I hate.” With his vitriol, Pastor Parsons has closed the door on his parishioners–those who are gay and on the down low, who are questioning their sexuality, whose children have come out and their parents need spiritual guidance. Hate is not God’s way–at least not the God most of us believe in.

Rome Told Bishops Not to Report Sexual Abuse

UPDATED: The Irish Times also has coverage on this story and it appears that the letter to be released will be quite damaging since it appears that it may implicate Benedict XVI himself. One can only hope so. Here's a brief highlight:
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In a January 1997 letter to each Irish bishop, marked “strictly confidential”, the Vatican said it would support the appeal of any priest defrocked by the Irish church in connection with child sex abuse. It did so in a number of cases, leading to a threat of resignation by one Irish archbishop.
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The Vatican opposed a recommendation in the Irish Bishops’ “Green Book” guidelines on child protection, published in January 1996, which said all allegations of clerical child sex abuse should be reported to the civil authorities.
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The foul stench from the Vatican continues to increase as more evidence of Rome's intervention to protect sexual predator priests becomes public. A program airing tonight on Irish television - aptly called "Unspeakable Crimes" - promises to showcase a letter from Rome blocking the removal of a priest who had molested children. Obviously, it will be most interesting to see whose signature is on the letter and who directed its sending. With the utterly ridiculous upcoming beatification of the less than saintly John Paul II, more evidence of the Vatican's deliberate intervention to protect predators could become most interesting. And given the current Pope's position in 1997, the filth of the cover ups might well attach to him as well. Once again, I cannot help but ask: How can a moral person remain a "practicing Catholic" and remain in the Catholic Church? Here are highlights from the Irish Examiner:
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A LETTER sent to Irish bishops in 1997 shows that the Vatican secretly blocked attempts to report paedophile priests to gardaí. In the letter, the bishops are urged not to report clerical abuse as a criminal offence.
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A documentary to be aired tonight reveals the contents of the letter and also claims that, on at least two occasions, the Vatican stepped in and stopped attempts by Irish bishops to defrock abuser priests. Last month, details of one of those occasions was made public when a High Court order finally allowed the full publication of a previously censored chapter in the Murphy Report on the Dublin Archdiocese. That revealed that when bishops made moves to dismiss paedophile priest Tony Walsh, the Vatican instead sought to send Walsh to serve 10 years in a monastery.
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In the programme the mother of that child, who didn’t wish to be named, points the finger directly at the Vatican for the abuse of her son. The programme also reveals how one Irish archbishop, who can’t be named for legal reasons, did threaten to resign because of a case in the 1990s.
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Abuse survivor and spokesperson for the Voice of the Faithful organisation Bryan Maguire said the 1997 letter sent to the Irish bishops changes the way he feels about the clerical abuse issue. He said: "It certainly puts a different complexion on the way in which the Irish bishops acted and points a finger right back to Rome.
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"At root what we’ve got is not just abusive priests and bishops that cover up, but an entire system that has enabled and facilitated those bishops and priests.

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Rather than railing against same sex marriage, moral Catholics ought to be calling for the criminal prosecution of much of the Church hierarchy and ceasing church attendance and contribution until those responsible for the horrors of the abuse scandal are removed from office - and that includes Benedict XVI.

British "Christian" Therapist Faces Loss of License for Trying to "Cure" Gays

In a move that I sincerely hope will begin to occur regularly in this country, a British therapist who claims to be able to "cure" gays through prayer faces disciplinary action and a possible loss of her license for engaging in discredited "therapy" to cure gays of their sexual orientation. I'm sorry, but in my view, one has to either embrace modern mental health and medical knowledge or get out of the profession and become some sort of religious organization functionary. One cannot be both and in this case I hope Ms. Pilkington loses her license to practice as a licensed therapist. If one wants to be a faith healer or, in my opinion, the equivalent of a witch doctor, then do not pretend to be a licensed therapist. Religious extremism need not be given credibility through those holding themselves a licensed mental health/medical providers. The Daily Mail has coverage and here are some highlights:
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A psychotherapist faces being struck off after trying to 'convert' a homosexual man. Lesley Pilkington, 60, a therapist for 20 years, is accused of 'praying to God' to 'heal' the patient . Mrs Pilkington, will appear at a landmark disciplinary hearing this week where she faces being stripped of her accreditation to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
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The patient, a homosexual rights campaigner, secretly recorded her controversial treatment at two sessions before reporting her to the association. A small group of counsellors believe all men are born heterosexual, but some choose a gay lifestyle which can be changed through therapy. Mrs Pilkington, a devout Christian, told the Sunday Telegraph that her method - Sexual Orientation Change Efforts - is legitimate and effective.
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She treated journalist Patrick Strudwick at her private practice based at her home in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, after he approached her at a Christian conference. He recorded the sessions on a tape machine strapped to his stomach. Asked if she viewed homosexuality as a 'mental illness, an addiction or an anit-religious phenomenon', she replied: 'It is all of that'. In the disciplinary letter sent to her by BACP, she is accused of having an 'agenda that homosexuality is wrong and that gay people can change and you allegedly attempted to inflict these views on him.'
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Her defence is being funded by the Christian Legal Centre which has instructed a leading religious rights barrister to fight the case.

Key West - Escape to Paradise

As regular readers know, it has been a rough week and a half to two weeks for me with the loss of my mother. What has helped me go on emotionally and psychologically more than anything else is the boyfriend, my youngest daughter and my "extended gay family," including readers who have been wonderfully supportive. Would that some of my siblings were as supportive. I have very much needed a get away and the annual pilgrimage if you will to Key West has been a life saver. As is the norm, there are a number of "the usual suspects" from Hampton on the trip and we have connected with friends who likewise visit this same week each year and also stay at the Oasis on Fleming Street abut four blocks off of Duval Street. Today was a lazy day that included hanging out by the pool - see the bottom photo below. Then we went to "tea dance' at La Te Da's - where gays, straight retirees, and others have a great time - where we saw Christian Slater hanging out and listening to the dance music.

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[A]fter tea dance, we went to a new restaurant just off of Duval called Fin where we experienced a beautiful decor, wonderful food and a great (and great looking) wait staff (see the photo above). For anyone planning a visit to Key West, I recommend trying out Fin. And for those who have never visited this wonderful island paradise, I cannot recommend it enough.

More Sunday Male Beauty

Reflections on Life, Death and Memories

Thoughts of my late mother have been with me almost constantly so far this weekend which is when the first of her funeral/memorial services are taking places. Due to sibling animosity, religious based denegration, a deliberate delay in the services to wreck travel plans, and other shades of family dysfunction, my children and I did not attend the services this weekend. Instead, we will be holding another service later in the month. Our non-attendance - despite what some will no doubt say - should not, however, be construed to mean we loved my mother any less than - in my view- the more self-centered of her children.

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Given that my mother spent more than the first decade of her life in the tropics, the vistas above have made me think of her intensely. I see her face in my thoughts and hope she is fully at peace. I will think of her often in the coming days in this beautiful tropical paradise. To me, it is only too evident that funerals and memorials are actually for the living and not the departed. And for the record, I do believe that there's a God, if you will, and an afterlife. Just not the perverted fear and guilt based God of the Catholic Church. My mother will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her of whom the boyfriend and I are numbered.

New RNC Chair Will Seek to Keep Gays Inferior Under the Law

Sadly, the tipping point for the acceptance of gay marriage has not yet been reached even though the overal trend is encouraging as shown in figure at left. Thus, not surprisingly newly elected Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus has pledged to prostitute himself to the Christianist base of the GOP and kissed the corpulent hand of Maggie "I hate the Gays" Gallagher who continues to rake in cash fomenting hatred. The only good news is that in the longer view by ignoring the calls of people like Megan McCain and Margaret Hoover for a change in the GOP's constant anti-gay agenda, the GOP may ultimately committing a form of suicide. Among the younger generations acceptance of same sex marriage is increasing while any allegiance to institutionalize religion is waning - a reality the GOP seems utterly blind to as it kisses the asses of the vilest gay haters. A post on Pam's House Blend looks at what we can expect from Priebus:
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The Courts will likely beat Congress in delivering Federal marriage equality when it comes. Foes are working hard to undermine any credibility such a decision might have.
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And Priebus does them proud. He delivers a talking point soup of all the usual RW [right wing] concerns: the Full Faith and Credit Clause (likely DOMA's Achilles Heel) isn't really part of the Constitution. The Founding Fathers weren't really serious about that separation of powers and that whole checks and balances stuff either. There are only "activists judges" overriding the will of the people. Mob rule is their only hope of staving off defeat. It will be interesting to see what they tack to when they lose that, as that house of cards is falling fast.

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Of course, Priebus can't cite the part of the Constitution that says "but none of this equality stuff is applicable to gays." Fortunately, he has his Bible for that. He seems desperate trump to the words of the Founding Fathers with the edicts of his God. He repeatedly tracks back to theological justifications for keeping marriage between one man and one woman. Constitutional reasons? Not so much.
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We know these people say they only care about marriage. But that's a damn lie. National Organization for Marriage threw their resources behind defeating Referendum 71 in Washington State, the "Everything but Marriage" civil unions alternative, and did the same in Hawaii.
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It's not really about the word. It's about keeping gay people down any way they can. So, expect candidates that pass Priebus' "no gay marriage" litmus test to oppose anything that might offer employment discrimination protection (ENDA), immigration rights (UAFA), tax disequities solutions, inclusion in health care reform, measures to address school-bullying (SNDA & SSIA). Anything nice.

Sunday Male Beauty

Will the Vatican's Hypocrisy Ever End?

The former Hitler Youth who occupies the throne of St. Peter has lobbed another attack at same sex marriage claiming that such marriages would "prejudice" heterosexual marriage and "pervert" the meaning of marriage - an institution originally created by men to keep control and manage family wealth in a polygamous context. Benedict XVI, as usually, is full of disingenuousness and bullshit. EWTN News - a Catholic propaganda outlet - has coverage of Benedict's latest verbal diarrhea. Meanwhile, a new lawsuit against the Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota reveals the true values of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy: lies, cover ups and the enabling of sexual predators. And once again, the pattern is revealed where NO ONE in the Church hierarchy has been punished. I'd venture that if there's anything perverted in the world, the Church's aiding, abetting and cover ups for child molesters - all the while pretending to be pious and holy - is at the top of the list. First these highlights on Benedict XVI's latest batshitery:
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As efforts to legalize same-sex “marriage” proceed in the United States and countries around the world, Pope Benedict issued strong remarks on Jan. 14, saying that gay “marriage” perverts the “essence and goal of the family.”
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Addressing officials from the city of Rome and the Italian region of Lazio, Pope Benedict said that legislation and policies that promote same-sex unions end up “penalizing” heterosexual couples, “who, not without effort, seek to maintain stable emotional ties which are juridically guaranteed and publicly recognized.”
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Excuse me, but I would maintain the the rape and sexual molestation of children and youths does far more to pervert the family than the boyfriend (who has taken my children fully into his heart) and I being able to have civil marriage rights, But in Benedict's world, the sexual abuse of minors somehow still isn't on his radar other than in the context of providing bad press for the morally bankrupt Church. The allegations of a new lawsuit against the Diocese of New Ulm demonstrates the real "family values" within the Church's leadership. Here are highlights from the Chicago Tribune:
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A Nevada man who claims he was sexually abused by an Irish priest sued a diocese in southwestern Minnesota on Monday, saying it knew of past abuse allegations against the Rev. Francis Markey, and failed to warn parents or children. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Minnesota accuses the Diocese of New Ulm of fraud and conspiracy for failing to disclose what it knew about Markey when the priest was assigned there in 1982.
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The lawsuit also names as defendants the Diocese of Clogher in Ireland, as well as facilities in the U.S. and Europe where Markey received treatment. The lawsuit claims all the defendants conspired to conceal Markey's activity from the public, even though it was likely he would reoffend. "Defendants knew that upon transfer to the Diocese of New Ulm, it was almost predetermined that Fr. Markey, a predator always hunting for children to abuse, would continue to sexually abuse minors," the lawsuit states.
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Last year, the diocese said Markey had been stripped of his duties in 1982 after parents complained he was overly affectionate with boys, and was sent to treatment.
Markey moved to South Bend, Ind., in 1990 and counseled drug and alcohol abusers. He was arrested there in 2009 on charges that he twice raped a 15-year-old boy in Ireland in 1968. He was extradited to Ireland last year to face those charges.
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Between 1964 and 1974 he was suspended three times amid allegations of child sexual abuse. Each time he was sent to treatment, which the lawsuit claims officials knew was ineffective, and each time he was reinstated as a priest.
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I've been attacked for leaving the Roman Catholic Church because of the sexual abuse scandal (the Church's anti-gay jihad was just icing on the cake). But I have to ask again: how can any morally responsible person remain a Catholic while all of the members of the Church hierarchy who allowed such evils continue to go unpunished? And those responsible include from the current Pope on down the lines of cardinals and bishops?

Obama's Bogus Excuses for Enforcing Discriminatory Laws

Given the recent example of former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's refusal to appeal Judge Walker's ruling in the Proposition 8 trial, one must wonder - or at least I - why Barack Obama in contrast continues to fight to uphold discriminatory anti-gay laws such as DADT and DOMA? In the case of gay marriage of gay marriage, is Obama still allowing his personal religious views to trump equality under the U.S, Constitution or is he merely still kissing the fat asses of folks like his BFF Rick Warren? And in the case of DADT which is in the process of legislative repeal, why isn't he allowing the courts to simply kill the law as unconstitutional once and for all? Something does NOT add up and, personally, I am sick to death of the White House's constant conflicting messages. Newsweek had a story that bears revisiting and which asked whether or not Obama's excuses are legitimate. The answer is, even as Obama's DOJ continues to strive to uphold DOMA and to stop the progress of the DADT ruling in California, no his excuses for working to uphold these discriminatory laws are NOT legitimate. So yes, despite legislative action on DADT, the LGBT community continues to be given another line of bullshit from the Liar-in-Chief. Here are highlights from the Newsweek article that need repeating:
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President Obama claims he must defend and enforce the ban on gays serving in the military, even though he opposes it. But most experts in constitutional and military law say he has other options.
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There are two different arguments for why Obama could choose not to enforce the law. The first one: he could say it was unconstitutional. At the time that DADT was passed, it was constitutional because there was no Supreme Court precedent establishing that homosexual relationships are protected under the implied privacy rights of the Bill of Rights. Then, 10 years later, the Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas overturned an anti-sodomy statute on the grounds that it violated the privacy rights of gay couples. Since then, laws that impinge upon the sexual-privacy rights of gay couples are presumed unconstitutional if they have no rational state interest to justify them. “Since Lawrence v. Texas, you can no longer discriminate against gays without reason,” says [law professor Diane] Mazur. “The constitutionality of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ has changed since Congress enacted it.”
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The Obama administration has consistently argued that it must vigorously defend laws that it opposes as part of its obligation to “faithfully execute” the president’s duties. But not all experts agree with that interpretation. “Why not just let the injunction stand?” Corn demands. “You don’t enforce laws overturned by the highest court in land, so why not accept the lower court ruling?” Many scholars say that there is no requirement for Obama to appeal. “The president has complete authority not to appeal the decision in these cases,” says [Jonathan] Turley, [a constitutional law expert at George Washington University], who in 1989 successfully argued in federal appeals court for overturning a law and saw the George H.W. Bush administration choose not to ask the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of that decision. “The appeal is completely discretionary. Whatever duty the president has to defend the existing statute was satisfied before the trial court.”
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In my view, it's far past time for Obama's apologists in the LGBT community to start demanding that Obama cease the appeals to uphold DOMA and other of anti-gay laws. His first duty is to uphold the U.S. Constitution which trumps acts of Congress - especially when such laws do nothing but enshrine religious based discrimination into the nation's laws. Either religious based discrimination is unconstitutional or it's not. Obama must stop trying to have it both ways.