Wednesday Morning Male Beauty

Bad News for Christofascists: Strong Support for Gay Marriage Now Exceeds Strong Opposition

Yet another poll shows that the days of the Christofascists' ability to ban same sex marriage is moving towards its death throes notwithstanding what happened on May 8th in North Carolina's low turn out vote on Amendment One.  Based on the new ABC News/Washington Post poll, the Christianists are slowly but surely losing the war despite winning some battles.  And as aging bigots die off, the pace will likely accelerate.  As will the stridency and hysteria of the professional Christians and the Catholic Church hierarchy as they see their fund raising ability using "the gay agenda" as a boogie man fade away.   The GOP needless to say will continue to pander to the Christofacsists and raging bigots and homophobes like Bryan Fischer, Maggie Gallagher, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan.  Here are highlights from ABC News on the new poll results: 

Strong public support for same-sex marriage exceeds strong opposition by a significant margin for the first time in ABC News/Washington Post polls, and African-Americans have moved more in favor, perhaps taking their lead from Barack Obama on the issue.

Overall, 53 percent of Americans say gay marriage should be legal, steady the past year but up from 36 percent in just 2006. Thirty-nine percent “strongly” support it, while 32 percent are strongly opposed – the first time strong sentiment has tilted positive. Six years ago, by contrast, strong views on the issue were negative by a broad 27-point margin.

Further, this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that support for gay marriage has reached a new high among African-Americans in ABC/Post polls, up from four in 10 in recent surveys to 59 percent now.

Another result shows increasing exposure: Seventy-one percent of Americans now say they have a friend, family member or acquaintance who’s gay, up from 59 percent in 1998. People who know someone who’s gay are 20 points more likely than others to support gay marriage.

Regardless of that shift, Obama’s May 9 announcement of his support for gay marriage shows no measurable impact on political preferences. While more support than oppose his position, 51-41 percent, Americans divide on whether it’s a political plus or minus, with most saying it’s not a major factor in their vote choice.

 

Sharp differences among groups persist. Republicans and conservatives oppose gay marriage by more than 2-1, evangelical white Protestants by more than 3-1. While Democrats support it by more than 2-1, the balance is tipped, as is often the case, by independents: Fifty-eight percent support legalizing gay marriage; 43 percent do so strongly.

Among other groups, support for gay marriage reaches 69 percent among adults under age 30 (with 51 percent “strong” support), compared with just 38 percent of seniors. (Half of seniors are strongly opposed). Support is also 14 points higher among college graduates than among non-graduates, 63 to 49 percent. But it’s the same, 53 percent, among men and women alike.

These results underscore two things: (1) living out and proud does change hearts and minds and (2) the GOP is commiting long term suicide on this issue.

The Bizarre Alternate Universe of Republican Women

Despite the fact that the Republican Party opposes most women's rights laws and initiatives, including equal pay for women who do the same jobs as men and, of course, the right of women to make their own health care and contraception decisions, the Congressional Republicans have launched a  "GOP Women's Caucus" to further they ridiculous myth that it is the GOP, not the Democrat Party, that is the "pro-women" political party.  Would that pigs could fly.  In this bizarre world where black is actually white, up is really down and where being "supportive" means maligning and reducing women's rights, the GOP has paraded out some of its biggest female nut cases in Congress as evidence of the Party's friendliness to women.  Michele Bachmann and Virginia Foxx are but two of such disingenuous and delusional loons.  The International Business Times looks at the reality of the GOP's approach to women's rights versus the fantasy being promoted by the delusional GOP spokeswomen.  As noted in the article, these spokeswomen routinely vote against women's rights. Here are highlights:

In an attempt to quell accusations that the Republican Party is waging a "war on women," all of the Republican congresswomen serving in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday announced they are forming a GOP women's caucus to provide a "unified" voice on a wide range of critically important issues.

But it turns out by that they didn't mean actual women's issues.  The new caucus, formally known as the Women's Policy Alliance, does not appear to have a purpose beyond the advancement of traditional Republican policy goals. Its mission statement clearly says it is devoted to "influencing, advancing, leading and communicating the Republican agenda in the House of Representatives." The agenda cited by the group includes classic Republican issues: job creation, smaller government, lower taxes, and a strong national defense.

However, there is not one mention of subjects such as contraception, reproductive rights or domestic violence, despite the fact that controversy surrounding those areas -- and some of the Republican Party's responses -- catapulted women's issues into the national spotlight in recent months.

 A video released by the group on Tuesday follows the same vein. Aside from constant interjections of the word "women," it once again focuses on the caucus's goal of "working together to create jobs, reduce spending, help small businesses and put healthcare decisions back in your hands."

Saturday Night Live should have a field day with this batshitery.   The GOP's idea of women's rights is to keep them barefoot and pregnant, but with the benefit of indoor plumbing, apparently.

Church Members Stand Behind Pastor's Kill the Gays Sermon

UPDATED: Apparently, anti-gay hatred is nothing new for Pastor Worley. As reported by Good As You in 1978 he was preaching: 'Forty years ago they would've hung [homosexuals], bless God, from a white oak tree.' Hate and bigotry are truly the real face of Christianity nowadays.

The ugliness and venom of the "godly Christian" crowd in North Carolina seems to just keep on increasing.  Yesterday I wrote about Pastor Charles Worley's sermon at Providence Road Baptist Church advocating imprisoning all gays behind an electrified fence and allowing us to die.  Apparently, there is no shortage of similar hate merchants in Worley's church as Charlotte's WCNC-TV found out when it interviewed some of Worley's congregation.  The video clip is set out above.   Here are excerpts from WCNC's text article on the coven of haters at Providenc Road Baptist (NOTE: a peaceful protest against Worley is scheduled for this Sunday):

Members of Providence Road Baptist Church are standing behind Pastor Charles Worley and the sermon he delivered earlier this month calling for the elimination of the gay population.

Geneva Sims said she’s been listening to Worley preach the Gospel since the 1970s. She wasn’t surprised by the 71-year-old pastor’s now infamous sermon. In fact, she supports him and his message.

“He had every right to say what he said about putting them in a pen and giving them food,” said Sims. “The Bible says they are worthy of death. He is preaching God’s word.”

Povidence Road Baptist Church member Stacey Pritchard agreed.

His words are viewed as hurtful and offensive to many people around the world. The May 13 sermon video, originally posted on the church’s website (it has since been taken down), shows Worthy speaking out against gay marriage and President Barack Obama’s support of it. Most of the backlash, though, is focused on a portion of the sermon where he details a way to “get rid of” the gay population.

 Newschannel 36 tried to reach Charles Worley by phone and email. Reporter Dianne Gallagher stopped by his home Tuesday to speak with him, but no one answered the door.

“He has nothing to hide,” said Pritchard. “He’s not afraid of anything he said. He’s a good man. It’s a good church and he speaks the truth. He doesn’t tiptoe around it.”

She told Newschannel 36 her pastor is being unfairly judged, in her opinion, and has even been threatened since the video went viral.

Several groups have come together to organize a peaceful protest of Pastor Worley’s sermon. That protest is scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m.

Those interested in participating are asked to meet at Maiden Elementary School at 9 a.m. Shuttle service will be provided to the church. Pastor Worley has reportedly invited the protestors to attend his service. Local law enforcement will be on hand.

More Tuesday Male Beauty

GOP Lies About "Tax and Spend" Administrations

Admittedly, compared to the dishonesty of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Republican Party demagogues who spin deliberate lies about Democrats and Obama being a "tax and spend liberals" come off looking somewhat honest.  But then again, that's not saying much in the GOP's favor.  One of the biggest lies -  outside the birther lie that Obama is not really an American citizen - is the depiction of the spending levels of the current administration.  As the chart above indicates all too plainly, the real big spenders over the last 35 years have been the Republicans presidents.  In particular the demented Chimperator George W. Bush.  Yes, you are reading the chart correctly.  After Ronald Reagan, the biggest spender since 1985 was the Chimperator who was aided and abetted by the GOP Controlled Congress.  

It is also important to remember that during the spending spree of the Bush/Cheney regime, we heard not the first whimper about spending levels.  For the GOP controlled Congress fighting unfunded wars was no problem.  Granting huge tax cuts to the wealthy while squandering billions in Iraq was no problem.    All politicians take some liberties with the truth.  But to depict the Obama administration has recklessly taxing and spending when spending has in fact increased at roughly 1/6 of the rate in the second Bush/Cheney term is outright deliberate lying. Sadly, the cretins who make up the Christianist and Tea Party base of the GOP will likely never know the truth if they limit their news sources to Fox News and the Drudge Report.  Nor will they know that they are being played for ignorant morons by their own political party. 

I don't countenance liars and there is little escaping the fact that the GOP is lying on this issue.

Catholic Organizations File Suit in "Religious Freedom" Ruse - Meanwhile, More Predator Priests Exposed

UPDATED:  For a further sampling of the filth that The Catholic hierarchy wants the media to ignore, check out this Fox News story involving a Franciscan academy and the forced release of secret files.

Am I being too cynical, or is it more than a coincidence that a raft of lawsuits have been filed by Roman Catholic organizations claiming that the Obama administration is attacking "religious liberty" just as more filth and comes out of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia involving predator priests?   And leading the charge is Archbishop "Porky Pig" Dolan (pictured above) who is suspected of hiding millions of dollars while head of the Milwaukee Diocese so that victims of sexual abuse would not receive deserved compensatory damages.  The hypocrisy is palpable.  Yet the media and some conservative pundits like Michael Gerson apparently believe all Roman Catholics are so stupid that they cannot figure out that they are being played by the Church hierarchy.  Personally, I'd love to see the lazy and feckless mainstream media counter each bleating by the Church hierarchy with a story on the latest breaking sex abuse stories (my Google search agent discloses new stories EVERY day).  A story in the New York Times illustrates this point and shows precisely what the Church hierarchy hopes to keep off the front pages via these bogus lawsuits.  Oh, and note the Church's proposed punishment - a "supervised life of prayer and penance" with no reference made to turning the priests over for criminal prosecution.  Here are highlights:

Two more Roman Catholic priests from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been found unsuitable for ministry after sexually abusing children. 

 The archdiocese said Sunday that it had substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor against Msgr. George J. Mazzotta, 73, and Msgr. Hugh P. Campbell, 77, who were ordained in the 1960s and held a series of positions in Philadelphia-area parishes and hospitals.

Both men agreed to accept a supervised life of prayer and penance, and the findings were announced over the weekend to members of their most recent parishes, the archdiocese said. The priests are entitled to appeal the archdiocese’s findings to the Vatican. 

The two priests are not among the 26 who have been under investigation since a 2011 grand jury report accused the archdiocese of covering up sexual-abuse allegations against dozens of priests.  Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said on May 4 that 5 of the 26 priests had been judged unsuitable for ministry and would be barred from working as priests unless they successfully appealed the findings to the Vatican. Ultimately, they may be “defrocked,” or laicized. Three other priests were cleared, and 17 cases are still being investigated. One accused priest has died since the inquiry began.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a victims’ advocacy group known as SNAP, said the latest findings were another indication of the archdiocese’s failure to respond promptly to abuse allegations. “How do Philly Catholic officials explain keeping an admitted pedophile priest’s secret hidden for six months?” SNAP said in a statement on Monsignor Campbell.

News of the latest findings came amid the criminal trial of Msgr. William J. Lynn, the archdiocese’s former secretary for clergy, who is charged with child endangerment and conspiracy on allegations that he allowed accused priests to remain in positions where they could continue to abuse children. Monsignor Lynn has denied the charges.

Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting another scandal involving the Legionnaires of Christ.  Here's a sampling:

The leader of the Legionaries of Christ admitted on Tuesday he knew for years the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic order's most famous priest had fathered a child but still allowed the popular cleric to preach about morality.

The moral bankruptcy of the Church hierarchy is nearly complete.  These lawsuits are nothing more than a disingenuous smoke screen to occupy the media and draw attention away from the real story that needs to be told and retold about the Catholic Church leadership.

 

Tuesday Morning Male Beauty

Forgotten Values For the Virginia GOP

As the recent crucifixion of Tracy Thorne-Begland demonstrated, Virginia's Republican Party has totally forgotten the founding principles of this nation.  Sadly, if given the chance, the Virginia GOP would establish a right wing theocracy with Victoria Cobb and Bob Marshall playing the roles of Grand Inquisitor.  

A Cynical Look at Obama's and the NAACP's"Evolution" on Gay Marriage

Sometimes even if the end result may be beneficial, it still is galling that (1) the result took so long to achieve and (2) the real motives for the result remain open to question.  Such is the case with the recent embrace of same sex marriage by Barack Obama and the NAACP among others.  Why the change in attitude now?  Was a sense in a change in the wind direction finally enough to convince the cynical that it was finally safe to do the right thing?  Or was there a fear that by not "evolving" the political price might be too high?  These are the questions raised in a piece in Salon that looks at black homophobia and the political gyrations that have transpired over the last few weeks.  The piece also looks at the very real damage that black homophobia wreaks on the black community as black pastors continue to all too often act as willing water carriers for anti-black white Christianist organizations such as The Family Foundation here in Virginia.  Yes, there's snark in the column, but also a lot of truth.  Here are highlights:

I still believe that President Barack Obama, for his ubiquitous campaign promises of “hope” and “change,” publicly came out for same-sex marriage too late in his presidency — the time to do the right thing is (almost) always right now — and I still believe that Obama publicly came out for same-sex marriage only after he’d calculated that it was politically safe to do so (and maybe even only after he’d calculated that it was politically harmful to continue not to do so).

And I certainly don’t want to be told that I should be thankful that Obama politically went out on a limb for my fellow non-heterosexuals and otherwise non-gender-conforming individuals when, in fact, we helped put him in the Oval Office, and when, in fact, our equal human and civil rights always have been and always will be far more important than is one politician.

All of that said, Obama’s belated pro-same-sex-marriage proclamation seems to be having benefits that perhaps even he didn’t foresee.  Not only have leaders within the black community such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton proclaimed that they support same-sex marriage — Jackson not long ago enough was adamant that same-sex marriage is not about civil rights – but the NAACP yesterday announced its support of same-sex marriage, calling same-sex marriage a civil right.

[T]he good news is that old bigots do die, that they have fewer days ahead of them than they have behind them. And as today’s younger bigots grow older and their bigotry becomes less and less acceptable, at least they increasingly will keep their stupid fucking mouths shut and keep their ignorance and hatred to their miserable selves.

Given that blacks have been the one racial group in the United States most opposed to equality for non-heterosexuals and non-gender-conforming individuals, having the likes of Obama and Jealous and Jackson and Sharpton now proclaiming that the black community should share the civil rights pie already with non-heterosexuals and non-gender-conforming individuals should, within a few years, I surmise, put a fairly solid majority of Americans (say, at least 55 percent of them) in favor of equality for all.

Saletan’s article even indicates that perhaps black homophobia helped get George W. Bush a second term in 2004:

A report from the pro-gay National Black Justice Coalition attributes President Bush’s 2004 re-election in part to the near-doubling of his percentage of the black vote in Ohio, which he achieved “by appealing to black churchgoers on the issue of marriage equality.” This year, blacks in California were targeted the same way.

Saletan then goes, at some length, into the black homophobes’ “mutability”/“immutability” “argument,” which I just don’t fucking buy. (Who chooses to be a member of an historically reviled and oppressed minority group? Fucking duh.) I still surmise, as I wrote recently, that most homophobic blacks remain homophobic primarily because (1) they want to remain, in the national story, the only victims of prejudice and discrimination and oppression, because their identity is wrapped up in race-based victimhood, real or imagined/fabricated, and (2) because they want there to be one minority group that even they still can shit and piss upon, because it’s better to be near the bottom of the sociological dog-pile that is the United States of America than it is to be at the very bottom, isn’t it?

This is cruelty and hypocrisy, of course, to demand equality for one’s own minority group but to continue to shit and piss upon the members of another historically oppressed minority group.

And, of course, homophobia within the black community doesn’t just hurt gay whites like me.  .  .  .  . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in fact, reports:

African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Despite representing only 14 percent of the US population in 2009, African Americans accounted for 44 percent of all new HIV infections in that year. Compared with members of other races and ethnicities, African Americans account for a higher proportion of HIV infections at all stages of disease — from new infections to deaths.

Black homophobia — and its attendant ignorance and fear and stunning lack of education and enlightenment – probably is the No. 1 reason for those grim statistics, and, of course, heterosexual black women are less likely to contract HIV and other STDs if their black male sexual partners who actually are homosexual or bisexual don’t feel pressured to lead double lives in order to give the appearance of heterosexuality in order to please the homophobic bigots in their lives.

And, of course, it’s much easier for me and other non-heterosexuals and non-gender-conforming individuals to be supportive of the members of the black community if we have the same love and respect from them that they want from us. With equal human and civil rights for everyone, everyone wins.

Except, perhaps, for the members of the right wing, who have opposed equal human and civil rights, who have opposed liberty and justice for all, forever.  That so many blacks have shared that trait with the white wingnuts is nothing short of tragic.

 I suspect some will not like some of these opinions, but that fact doesn't make them any less true.  Even more in the black community need to wake up to the reality of our common enemy.