Aug 10
2007
Punted| Category: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, DADT, Debate, Don't Ask, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Don't Tell, ENDA, HRC, Hate Crime Laws, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Pam's House Blend |
The Forum last night wasn’t exactly a huge success. While it was the first of its kind addressing solely the issues that affect the LGBT community the candidates were mostly able to wriggle out of answering a lot of questions that pertained to our equality.
The candidates went in the order that they responded to the invite which shows Hillary responded last while Obama responded first. it looked a lot like the set of Oprah the way seats were laid out and the audience, clearly hand-picked for their notability/recognizability in the queer community looked decidedly uncomfortable.
The order in which I write about the candidates is basically the order at whcih I pull them out of memory.
Edwards did not move positions. Once he realized that it sounded like his position had changed he backtracked immediately with the comment “My positions haven’t changed.” Edwards seems to be as he stated “evolving” but purposely saying, “Oh yeah, I wanna support you, but can’t ‘cuz I won’t get the votes. But my wife supports you, can’t you just take that?”
Kucinich and Gravel, we knew would be in our court. Gravel sounded less crazy than Kucinich, and at the same time actually discussed a lot more than the front runners.
Hillary, even when pressed by the question of “state’s rights” (my submitted question I might add) couldn’t bring herself to answer the question directly. Of the candidates so far I’m still for Kucinich and Gravel for their unaplogetic stances on anything, but that’s a different story. She even at one point said and I’m paraphrasing ‘Even if I went through the things that you all went through for the last 15 years my positions would not be any different.’ If that’s not a kick in the teeth I don’t know what is. When pressed about why she hasn’t introduced legislation in the Senate as a companion bill to the House’s Military Readiness Enchancement Act (MREA), she merely went on about
Bill Richardson lost A LOT of points when he melted down on Melissa’s and Joe’s questions. When asked whether or not he thought homosexuality was a choice his first response was “Yes, it’s a choice.” After three attempts at giving him the chance to answer the question in a different manner he maintained. He only changed his response to that after the forum when pressed about it by blogger Pam Spaulding. The question he was posed by Joe Solmonese which remains unanswered was “If presented with a bill for equal marriage, would you sign it?” His response: “I’ve done everything I can to push for ‘Domestic Partnerships.’” Three times he was asked this as well, twice in the forum and again, by Pam. Simply, he wants us to go on his record. My response to that is that while one’s record is clearly important what you say and what you do know is very important to the survival of your comapaign.
Obama did fairly well however still when pressed about the hard issues couldn’t break from his personal stance. At one point he even, and unfortunatley not many caught it, prioritized us and homophobia as last among all other things that need to be addressed in the black community.
None (other than Edwards briefly) actually seemed to be able to identify with our community and our struggles. Most candidates touched on AIDS and Healthcare and what they’ve done. But clear to me was the bottom line, we’re just not important enough for any of the top tier candidates.
We have a right and a responsibility to demand what’s right form our candidates. We still have a long road ahead of us to get to the 2008 elections and we need to keep pressing these issues to get the answers that we deserve. Human equality is not something that should be “left to the states.” Human dignity is not a votable issue. No more 85% citizenship simply because of who we love or who we’re attracted to. No more getting fired from jobs because our boss just happens to be bigoted against gay people. Whether or not your Creator is God, Jehova, Allah, Zeus, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or none of the above, we all are guaranteed equal legal status by our constitution and our government and it’s time that we stand up and unite to demand it.
Jun 13
2007
JoeBrummer| Category: Cross-Posted, Hate Crime Laws |
Cross posted at Replace the lies With Truth
A new report released today shows that baised related crimes motivated by the individual’s perceieved sexual orientation are just as comparable to other groups who are already protected by Federal hate crime protections.
The Advocate reports:
A new report released by the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School shows that crime rates against lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are comparable to other groups already covered by federal hate crime laws. The “Comparison of Hate Crime Rates across Protected and Unprotected Groups” shows that on average, 13 in 100,000 gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals per year report being the victim of a hate crime, compared to 8 in 100,000 African Americans, 12 in 100,000 Muslim-Americans and 15 in 100,000 Jewish-Americans.
“Often, people try to pass off [the lack of legal protection for gays] as ‘Oh, it’s not as big a problem as race-based hate crimes,’” says Rebecca Stotzer, a research fellow at the Williams Institute. “But when you actually look at the rates and you think of it as a risk per person, you can see that the numbers are actually much more even between groups that are protected versus those that are not.”
The new report was based on a 2004 study by Williams Institute Faculty Chair William Rubenstein, but current hate-crimes legislation before Congress and the availability of more data prompted an update to the report. The U.S. Senate is presently considering the Matthew Shepard Act which would extend legal protections to the LGBT community; an identical bill passed the House of Representatives last month. The bill proposes expanding current federal hate crime laws to include actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability. Current law only defines race, color, religion and national origin as protected categories.
“This report’s findings provide a new perspective that should inform policymakers who are deciding whether to include hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in federal hate crime laws,” noted M. V. Lee Badgett, research director of the Williams Institute. “The numbers show that hate crimes remain a serious problem for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities.” (Padraic Wheeler, The Advocate)
Apr 27
2007
JoeBrummer| Category: Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies |
Cross posted at Replace the Lies With Truth
A man named, Aaron Hall (pictured) was found beaten and murdered and his body found wrapped in a tarp in his garage. The victim had been kicked with a pair of boot over 75 times. Hall was killed, admittedly by the assailants, because they thought he was gay. In reality, he was not.
The report from WTHR in Indianapolis says:
Police say on April 12th, Hall and the three suspects were drinking at Gray’s house. The suspects told police Hall grabbed Coleman King and questioned his sexuality. That set off the deadly beating.
“And they’re saying that’s why they killed him. Because he was gay. And he wasn’t gay,” said Thomas Hall. “I don’t know any crime on the planet that deserves that type of punishment.”
Court papers show Gray and King brutally attacked, then photographed Hall. King hit him with his boots at least 75 times. The suspects told police they dragged Hall down the steps, loaded him into Robert Hendricks’ truck, and dumped his body in a ditch. They say they went back two days later, and found Hall in a nearby field. That’s when they tell police they wrapped the body in a tarp and hid it in Gray’s garage.
To be beaten and kicked 75 times just because someone thinks you are gay is horrible. What a terrifying way to die. Studies indicate that hate crimes tend to be far more violent and brutal than non-biased crimes. That is certainly why we need punishments that fit the crime. Current sentencing guidelines are just not enough to speak to the brutality of hate crimes.
Here is some FACTS, not FICTION about hate crimes:
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Apr 20
2007
Punted| Category: Ex-Gay Issues, Exodus International, Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Lies |
This week according to Baptist Press, professional “ex-gay”-for-pay Alan Chambers and about 50 “others” from Exodus International visited and met with members of the House and Senate to express their opposition of adding “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the existing hate crimes legislation as well as giving the FBI the tools to assist local law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting offenders of all bias related crimes.
“[R]eally what we’re saying is this legislation is unfair, because it means that I was more valuable as a homosexual than I am today as a former homosexual,” Chambers told reporters before he began visiting on Capitol Hill April 17. “You know, this law would give special protection to those who are gay and lesbian, yet it doesn’t give any protection to those who are children. That’s saying that a gay man is more valuable than a child, is more valuable than a grandmother, is more valuable than the majority of Americans. That’s just not fair.”
The bill is “primarily being pushed by those in the homosexual activist community, really as a reinforcement that homosexuality is valid, that they need protection, and that’s just not the case,” said Chambers, who left homosexuality 15 years ago and has been married for more than nine years. “[Homosexuals are] protected as much as I am protected under the Fourteenth Amendment.”
The first and most important part, is that Alan Chambers, “formerly” gay himself, asserts that we are invalid! What? I’m not valid? As I live, breath, love, read, work, pay taxes, I can assure you that I and countless other people in America and throughout the planet are very valid and very real. The fact that most “pro-family” organizations put scare quotes around the word gay and homosexual as though we do not exist is very telling, but to outright say it is well that’s just what we want. Yes, we want Exodus International, and all of the other right wing organizations to relegate themselves into obscurity by showing just how truly hateful they are.
Secondly, Alan, who obviously “left” the homosexual “lifestyle” because he was tired of being a second class citizen, has now said that he thinks it’s unfair for him because it will somehow make him less valuable now than if he had “stayed” a homosexual. Newsflash for Alan, the legislation will make our lives equally valuable to his currently superior RELIGIOUS protection. Children and the elderly already enjoy a higher degree of protection than the rest of us! How do I know? Watch the news. How many stories a day are about children and how they’re treated? How many stories are there about the elderly and how they’re treated? Society will always hold special protection for children and the elderly because THEY ARE THE DEFENSELESS or as Christ would call them “the meak.”
A few questions for Alan. Is your life somehow less valuable to a black person because you are not a racial minority? Oh wait, ALL racial qualities are protected from race related hate crimes. Is your life somehow less valuable because you were born American and not in a foreign country? Nope, because national origin also includes the United States from origin related crimes based in bias. Are you somehow less valuable as a Christian than as a Jew, or a Muslim? Nope, because Religion is also a protected class. So what you’re really saying is that you would oppose all hate crimes legislation if and only if “sexual orientation and gender identity” were added as a protected class. Until this bill passes and is signed into law, the lives of gays and lesbians will continue to be worth less than that of heterosexuals.
Alan Chambers, don’t be afraid to say what you really mean. We already know it, but say it for all of those that don’t.
h/t to Reality Cubed
Apr 12
2007
Punted| Category: Debate, Fundies, Good-As-You, Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies, Threats, Video, Violence |
A big hand to Jeremy at Good As You for the hat tip on this one.
Old Lou-ser Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition created a really interesting video in which he makes the standard set of lies about the pending hate crimes legislation in Congress. Specifically, H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. But then he throws an easily fact checkable lie out there to further bait his audience into frantically calling their Reps and Senators to squash this bill Immediately.
Surf on over to Jeremy’s Pad to view the video for yourselves. Careful, it’s a doozy!
After the fold read the letter I sent to Lou. I’ll be sure to post a response should I get one! (more…)
Mar 23
2007
Punted| Category: Americans for "Truth", Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies, Peter LaBarbera, Uncategorized |
It came to my attention today on the AFT home page that Peter Labarbera has started yet another misleading website/organization aimed at fighting the forces of good and equality in Illinois. His new organization that he’s “director” of is called “Real Civil Rights Illinois.”
From the “About” section:
Real Civil Rights Illinois is a statewide pro-marriage, pro-life organization founded for the purpose of defending real civil and human rights as opposed to the modern, counterfeit variety based on homosexuality, abortion and pornography usage. We reject the notion of expanding “civil rights” to include homosexual behavior (”sexual orientation”) - which tramples on the rights of people of faith to oppose homosexuality - and abortion, which destroys the God-given right of children in the womb to live. We oppose the idea that citizens have a “right” to view pornography in taxpayer-funded public libraries. Real Civil Rights Illinois is part of Americans For Truth Action, a national C-4 organization. Gifts to RCR-IL and Americans For Truth Action are not tax-deductible, allowing us greater freedom to lobby in defense of pro-family and pro-life values.
Peter LaBarbera, Director
630-717-7631
Send E-mail
Where to begin? Has Peter LaBarbera gone daffy? Discrimination and fomenting violence are not rights. Ensuring that a group of law-abiding, tax-paying, citizens remain second-class is not a right. Forcing people in a free society to live by the rules of someone’s God is not a right. Peter apparntly doesn’t know what a civil right is.
| civil right |
| noun |
| right or rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship including especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and subsequent acts of Congress including the right to legal and social and economic equality |
Poor, poor, Peter. He pulls out the religious persecution card again, saying equal civil rights would trample of the rights of people of faith to oppose homosexuality. How is this so? In the United States he and everyone else that is opposed to LGBT equality are and will be forever able to spout their anti-gay rhetoric. What is not acceptable and that we fight for unapologeticaly is the same fundamental rights that heterosexuals have. We want to know that if we’re attacked solely because of our real or percieved sexuality that law enforcement officials will not be able to turn a blind eye because of their personal bias agianst us. No one is going to take away Peter’s right to be a ‘Peter’ and disagree with us.
Besides, Peter, aren’t two anti-gay organizations enough? Now you need to inject a third dosage of poison into Naperville?
Mar 20
2007
Punted| Category: Action Alert!, American Family Association, Don Wildmon, Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies, Pride, Video |
Ole Don Wildmon cranks it out again with another “Action Alert!” He posts a vide which he calls “very offensive” because most of it doesn’t fit into his narrow, twisted-bible-view of the world. All this to drum up fear of the Hate Crimes bill being worked on in the Congress.
A new “hate crimes” bill further protecting homosexual activity has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would increase protection for the kind of activity shown on this video.
The bill is the first step toward silencing any opposition to the homosexual lifestyle. This video will show you the kind of activity this bill protects. The video was shot during an actual homosexual pride parade in Dallas.
If this “hate crimes” bill is passed, and you publicly protest, complain or oppose the type of activity in this video, your action could eventually be construed to be subject to prosecution for a criminal act.
Well there’s probably only one overtly sexual scene in the entire video and that’s the two “cowboys,” one giving another a bath, which sort-of looks like siimulated masturbation which the parade probably could have done without. But the main thing is the people that go to be in the parade and those who watch the parade know exactly what to expect.
You be the judge.
*Update: Video set to private by poster (good for him), so you’ll have to go by my description below.
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Feb 02
2007
Punted| Category: Fundies, Good-As-You, Hate Crime Laws, Threats, Violence |
Our fellow football, Jeremy Hooper, of Good As You (and this writer’s inspiration to blog), was typographically accosted in his comment section by a not-so-anonymous or bright reader.
In recognition of the great work that Jeremy does in the gay community to point out and respond to gay-centric news and anti-gay rhetoric with humor and fact he has been featured on “In The Life” which is airing on PBS throughout the month of February.
But this attack on Jeremy (typed on his blog) is 1) grammatically incorrect and 2) threatening the very safety and life of the blogger if Jeremy does something “gay” in front of him or his children.
You CAN’T just expect everyone to be okay with you, and your life. Your (sic) a fag, and that fine (sic), but keep it to yourself. Trust me, if I ever walk by you on the street with my kids and I see you kissing or holding hands with some dude, I’ll brake (sic) every bone in your gay little body. Keep your shit behind closed doors, so children can’t see you.
Jeremy, in his ever-so-witty way and not one to respond with dripping bile had this to say in response.
My bones are accelerating an exorbitantly high rate of speed? I mean, sure, holding hands with my partner really revs my engines, but I didn’t realize that put my bones in a place where they need “braking.”
But as I was mulling over how, exactly, one goes about putting the brakes on my femur and clavicle, I remembered something: This respondent had left his email address along with his comments. Then I remembered: Hey, I know how to Google! So wanting to learn more about this brake expert in case my car ever needs a tune up, I inserted his email, beefman500@hotmail.com, into the search engine to see what I could find.
Yes, the commenter trying to be anonymous with “StraightGuy” left his real email address. Jeremy being the smart sleuth he is found out that beefman500 is really Nick Peronace of Enterprise Steaks.
Please contact the beefman, but take the high road and don’t resort to his level of attack. Show him what true compassion really is. And let others know not to buy steaks from him. After all, bad PR is bad PR. Maybe a pinch in the wallet will make him re-think his violent and intolerent ways.
Further coverage on Joe.My.God, Pam Spaulding, Queerty.
**Update: Beefman500 has quite an Internet paper trail and could he be bi-sexual? (see last entry) Other’s dislike him as well. (Google-Cached)
Jan 28
2007
JoeBrummer| Category: Americans for "Truth", Ex-Gay Issues, Exodus International, Hate Crime Laws, Janet Folger, Lies, Peter LaBarbera, Sonja Dalton, Uncategorized |
Reposted from “Replace the Lies with Truth“, my daily blog.
While bullying and violence continue to be a problem in this country for all youth, anti-gay forces have done zilch to solve this problem. 365gay.com is reporting today that two states, Florida and Iowa have anti-bullying laws on the table that are moving forward with protections for students perceived to be gay or lesbian. It doesn’t really matter if the students are or are not gay, it is about how people perceive them. Just so the anti-gay forces don’t try to claim this is a special rights thing, it covers all students, even if those students claim the ex-gay identity.
A father whose son was badly beaten in school by other students told the school board:
“For 22 minutes of my life I had to sit there and watch that clock tick by, and I had to contemplate I was going to have to go home and tell my wife we didn’t have a son no more”
It is proven by the science, over and over again that kids are bullied based on sexual orientation. Many of these kids are not even gay, but seen as gay by their peers. Anti-bullying laws would send a message that this violent behavior towards fellow students is wrong, yet anti-gay groups are against any form of anti-violence, anti-hate crime, or other that would reduce, stop or prevent violence against GLBT students, and even adults.
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Jan 16
2007
JoeBrummer| Category: Ex-Gay Issues, Exodus International, Hate Crime Laws, Uncategorized |
(This was cross posted at Replace the Lies With Truth)
Again in the news, today, Exodus International sent out a press release to invoke more fear in Christians about gay and lesbians folks. The email urges people to fight Hate Crime Legislation.
The email starts right off by saying:
“Today, as the nation celebrates Religious Freedom Day, Exodus International, the world’s largest ministry to those desiring freedom from unwanted homosexuality, joins pro-family groups around the nation in urging Congress to stop a hate crimes bill that would penalize those with faith-based beliefs about homosexuality.”
There is no language in the proposed legislation that limits free speech or religious freedom, so right off the top, Exodus is lying to you to invoke fear against GLBT folks. This is shameful on the part of Exodus. No law can be passed that will limit religious expression or free speech as long as we have the Constitution.
We have had hate crime enhancements federally for years covering race, gender, age, religion, disability and nationality. It has not stopped anti-semitic websites or KKK rallies from thriving. It has not stopped white supremacist groups from marching, spewing hate speech, protesting, testifying on legislation or holding anti-black, anti-semitic demonstrations. Exactly how will adding gays limit religious freedom if adding religion or race did nothing to stop this stuff? Hate Crime Laws didn’t stop these cute little blonde haired, blue eyed twins from singing “White Power” music, so how will hate crime laws stop anyone from preaching against gays? It won’t because Exodus is lying to invoke their own brand of hate dressed in cute clothes and holy looks. They are outwardly trying to invoke fear in others about gays. GUESS WHAT, that is protected by the constitution too! It is not protected by the court of public opinion.
The press release continues (emphasis mine):
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Jan 14
2007
JoeBrummer| Category: Americans for "Truth", Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Janet Folger, Peter LaBarbera, Uncategorized |
(Split post to preserve front page space. Please follow the link at the bottom or click the title to view the entire post. -Punted)
Faith 2 Action, a group led by Janet Folger recently had Peter La Barbera on her radio show entitled, Faith2action. This group is making a blantent call to Christians to go against their faith’s message of nonviolence and calls them to fight in the cultural war rather than do the right thing.
To start with the host of the show Janet Folger is planning to launch a new website against hate crime laws called http://www.stophatecrimesnow.com/. The site will be dedicated to stopping hate crime laws from protecting gays and lesbians. No words on whether the site will stop hate crime protections for christians. I will be watching to see the day the site goes up and keep you posted.
In the second half of the show, Janet had long time activist, Peter La Barbera from Americans for Truth on the show. Here is my sum up of the show:
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