On Sunday, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's a cappella group Psalm 100 unanimously voted to remove Will Thomason, a gay senior who has been a part of the group since his freshman year, ostensibly for his views on homosexuality, reports The Daily Tar Heel, the campus newspaper.
Psalm 100 is a student organization that is recognized by the university and must follow the school's nondiscrimination policy. The university will be investigating whether Psalm 100 violated the policy, according to Winston Crisp, vice chancellor for student affairs.
The policy says university-sanctioned groups may limit membership to those who share the group's beliefs but cannot prohibit members for individual characteristics, including sexual orientation.
"Our commitment to nondiscrimination is bedrock strong but so is our commitment to the First Amendment rights of freedom of association," Crisp told the paper. "The nondiscrimination policy for student organizations tries very hard to balance those issues."
Blake Templeton, general director of the group, said Thomason was removed for his opinions about homosexuality, not for his sexual orientation — his views clashed with the Bible, hence the ideas of the group.
Zealan Hoover, student body vice president, has asked the student solictor general to prepare a legal brief, as well as the student body treasurer to prepare a list of the funds allocated to the group. If the organization does not abide by university policies, it will no longer be recognized by the school. Jon Curtis, associate director of student activities and organizations, said he has yet to receive a formal complaint against Psalm 100.
Crisp added, "We're going to take the time that is necessary to thoroughly investigate the issues before we draw any conclusion."
Thomason said he remains friends with members of the group. "I'm especially appreciative of the willingness of the larger UNC community to openly engage in the dialogue and I trust there will be continued respect for all parties involved," he said.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
California Pastor Evicts Gays From Church Meeting But He's "Not Bigoted"
A Los Angeles, California Pastor Wednesday night evicted gays and lesbians from a meeting his church was having about SB 48, the FAIR Education Act, that ensures the correct teaching of the history of the LGBT community, along with that of the disabled and of minorities. Pastor Xavier Thompson of the Southern Missionary Baptist Church falsely claims that SB 48 “sexualizes history,” and says “this is not about us hating anyone or being homophobic or guilty of bigotry.”
Sadly, KTLA did a horrendous job with this piece. It falsely characterized SB 48, it showed footage of what appears to be a gay pride parade — something that would not be part of a school history lesson — it did not push back at all on the mischaracterization of the law by church leaders, it did not mention that the law was already a law, it did not explain to church leaders that the law protects them too, it did not mention that SB 48 ensures the accurate teaching of history of minorities or the disabled either.
Sadly, KTLA did a horrendous job with this piece. It falsely characterized SB 48, it showed footage of what appears to be a gay pride parade — something that would not be part of a school history lesson — it did not push back at all on the mischaracterization of the law by church leaders, it did not mention that the law was already a law, it did not explain to church leaders that the law protects them too, it did not mention that SB 48 ensures the accurate teaching of history of minorities or the disabled either.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Trans Singer Rocks Oz X Factor
Paige Elliot Phoenix, a 35-year-old transgender man, recently won over the judges on Australia's X Factor reality show.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Rick Santorum Says Piers Morgan Called Him a 'Bigot', Gets Ripped by Penn State Student
“I had Piers Morgan call me a bigot. Because I believe what the Catholic Church teaches with respect to homosexuality. I'm a bigot. So, now I'm a bigot, because I believe what the Bible teaches. Now, what 2000 years of teaching and moral theology is now bigoted. And, of course, we don't elect bigots to office, we don't give them professional licenses, we don't give them preferential tax treatment! If you're a preacher and you preach bigoted things, you think you're going to be allow to have a 501(c)3 as a church? Of course not.”
Then, a Penn student called out Santorum over falsehoods in his argument, pointing out studies by the American Psychological Association
STUDENT: "It is extremely unfair for you to say that there are no social science reports that suggest that children are okay in a same-sex relationship. There are plenty of statistical studies that they are just as happy and successful and everything else as long as they have two parents."
STUDENT: The American Psychological Association has enumerated - in 1974, that gay marriage does not prohibit (inaudible)...
SANTORUM:Yes but the American Psychological Association is made up of people who agree with the American Psychological Association, just like the AMA...all these associations prove is that they have a point of view and the people who join them agree with that point of view...That's not evidence!"
Santorum then raises his voice at the student and screams "Time out, time out, time out!"
Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/08/penn_santorum.html#ixzz1Wdx26146
Evangelical Millennials look more favorably on gay marriage
This year marks a sea change in public opion about gays and lesbians according to Robert P. Jones, CEO of Public Religion Research Institute, which Monday released a report called “Generations at Odds: The Millennial Generation and the Future of Gay and Lesbian Rights.”
In the new PRRI poll, majority support for marriage ranges across religious groups from Catholics to Protestants – the main exception being white evangelicals, plus, to a lesser extent, black Protestants.
Religion Dispatches points out that religious Millennials (currently 18-29 year olds) favor marriage equality – even among young evangelicals, there is 44 percent support for marriage equality, compared to 12 percent of eveangelical seniors.
Says RD:
Laura Olson, a Clemson University political science professor who also commented on the poll, agreed, speculating that if anything the trend will continue to intensify as people come out younger and are more free to be out at work and to participate in social and athletic activities and religious congregations.
The best predictors that someone opposes gay marriage?
1. Having a literal view of the Bible
2. Attending religious services at least once a week
3. Being conservative
4. Being an evangelical Christian
and…
5. Having a close friend/family member who is gay or lesbian
In the new PRRI poll, majority support for marriage ranges across religious groups from Catholics to Protestants – the main exception being white evangelicals, plus, to a lesser extent, black Protestants.
Religion Dispatches points out that religious Millennials (currently 18-29 year olds) favor marriage equality – even among young evangelicals, there is 44 percent support for marriage equality, compared to 12 percent of eveangelical seniors.
Says RD:
Laura Olson, a Clemson University political science professor who also commented on the poll, agreed, speculating that if anything the trend will continue to intensify as people come out younger and are more free to be out at work and to participate in social and athletic activities and religious congregations.
The best predictors that someone opposes gay marriage?
1. Having a literal view of the Bible
2. Attending religious services at least once a week
3. Being conservative
4. Being an evangelical Christian
and…
5. Having a close friend/family member who is gay or lesbian
Best in Drag
This legendary fundraiser is an outrageous beauty pageant farce that is supported by a large group of talented volunteers and executive produced by Aid For AIDS. It began in 1993 as "Battle for the Tiara" with a small group of friends wanting to see how much they could raise for AIDS assistance while having fun and spending as little as possible.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Absolutely No Reason Why Homosexuality Cannot Be Criminalized
Bryan Fischer, the public face of the certified hate group American Family Association, on his radio program yesterday called for the re-criminalization of homosexuality in every state, saying that every state in the union had sodomy laws on the books decades ago.
“Both of the cases that went to the United States Supreme Court that dealt with the issue of whether states should criminalize sodomy, and of course they still ought to be able to do it, every state in the union criminalized sodomy until 1962 and then forty nine states until 1972, then they began to fall like dominoes. But by the time of the founding until the late 20th Century, homosexual activity was a felony offense in the United States of America, there is no reason why it cannot be a criminal offense once again, absolutely none.”
Bryan Tashman at Right Wing Watch, who provided the transcript and video, writes,
“In 2003, the Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas overturned anti-sodomy laws in the fourteen states that had them on the books and reversed the Supreme Court’s prior decision Bowers v. Hardwick. Fischer’s opinion should come as no surprise as the AFA filed an amicus brief in support of Texas’s anti-sodomy law and condemned the court’s decision, calling the decision tantamount to ‘tyranny’.”
Last week, Fischer wrote,
“I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, until everyone in the United States agrees with me. America must choose between homosexuality and religious liberty, because we cannot have both. America must choose between homosexuality and freedom of speech, because we cannot have both. America must choose between homosexuality and freedom, because we cannot have both.”
“Both of the cases that went to the United States Supreme Court that dealt with the issue of whether states should criminalize sodomy, and of course they still ought to be able to do it, every state in the union criminalized sodomy until 1962 and then forty nine states until 1972, then they began to fall like dominoes. But by the time of the founding until the late 20th Century, homosexual activity was a felony offense in the United States of America, there is no reason why it cannot be a criminal offense once again, absolutely none.”
Bryan Tashman at Right Wing Watch, who provided the transcript and video, writes,
“In 2003, the Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas overturned anti-sodomy laws in the fourteen states that had them on the books and reversed the Supreme Court’s prior decision Bowers v. Hardwick. Fischer’s opinion should come as no surprise as the AFA filed an amicus brief in support of Texas’s anti-sodomy law and condemned the court’s decision, calling the decision tantamount to ‘tyranny’.”
Last week, Fischer wrote,
“I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, until everyone in the United States agrees with me. America must choose between homosexuality and religious liberty, because we cannot have both. America must choose between homosexuality and freedom of speech, because we cannot have both. America must choose between homosexuality and freedom, because we cannot have both.”
Puerto Rican Republican and Grindr Aficionado Resigns
Roberto Arango, who seems to have posted photos of his chest and posterior to Grindr, just resigned from the Puerto Rican senate. You'll recall that he vice-chaired Bush's 2004 campaign in Puerto Rico. Along with the pictures, details have surfaced about his alleged anti-gay past. A tipster at Joe.My.God wrote:
In 2009 he voted in favor of Resolution 99 which would have amended Puerto Rico’s constitution to ban the recognition of same-sex marriages (it didn’t pass). He has been opposed to civil union bills and in 2004 he used a rubber duck and made it quack to make fun of an opponent (in Puerto Rico, the word for duck, “pato”, means faggot.)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Presbyterian Church Faces Split Over Anti-Gay Conservative Movement
Gays Waging "Jihad" On My Anti-Gay, Anti-Constitutional Ideas
Rick Santorum is so wrong it’s embarrassing. In this video of a recent campaign stop, in which he appears to be talking to a fews dozen folks, Santorum says marriage was given to us since the beginning of time, and has been remarkably consistent since the beginning of time.
Marriage used to be one man and as many wives as he could afford. Even according to Rick’s Bible. Marriage used to be about property, or the uniting of kingdoms to prevent war.
Santorum now admits he’s “taken on the gay community.”
Perry signs anti-gay pledge, vows to support federal marriage amendment
The “Marriage Pledge,” prepared by the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) commits Republican presidential candidates to supporting a federal marriage amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
The pledge asked candidates to support five of the group’s goals:
Send a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman to the states for ratification;
Defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which includes the traditional definition of marriage and ban states from recognizing gay marriage, in court;
Appoint judges and an Attorney General who oppose a constitutional right to same-sex marriage;
Appoint a commission to investigate claims of harassment against those who support marriage as being only between a man and a woman;
Support legislation that would give people living in the District of Columbia the right to vote on marriage;
Candidates Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum were the first to sign NOM’s pledge. Tim Pawlenty, who initially declined, succumbed to NOM’s pressure and signed the pledge also, but has since abandoned his presidential campaign.
“Kudos to Gov. Rick Perry for making it clear: he’s a marriage champion!,” said Brian Brown, president of NOM, in a statement. “The purpose of NOM’s Marriage Pledge is to move from vague values statements to concrete actions to protect marriage.”
‘There’s No Proof’ that LGBT people exist
Harvey was particularly perturbed by the GLSEN Sports Project, which works towards “creating and maintaining an athletic and physical education climate that is based on the core principles of respect, safety and equal access for all students, teachers and coaches regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.”
According to Harvey, there is no need for such an effort because gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people simply do not exist.
Harvey: “There’s one big fact that’s not backed up. There is no proof that there’s ever anything like a gay, lesbian or bisexual or transgendered child, or teen or human. One of the other things you’re gonna see as I mentioned is a big campaign GLSEN’s gonna roll out this year calling for ‘respect,’ respect! Not just for people, but for homosexual lifestyle. The PR campaign to hold up gay as a good thing: the lifestyle, not the person, because there are no such humans.”
Michele Bachmann Says Hurricane Irene And Earthquake Are Divine Warnings To Washington
"I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?'" Bachmann, a third-term Minnesota congresswoman, told a crowd in Sarasota that the St. Petersburg Times estimated contained around 1,000 people.
Gay 'Barbarians' Perform 'Born This Way' Glitter Baptism at Marcus Bachmann's 'Ex-Gay' Clinic
A group of gay glitter "barbarian" activists returned to Marcus Bachmann's "ex-gay" clinic today where they performed Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and performed a glitter "baptism" on an activist dressed as Bachmann.
Southern Fights SB48 with City-wide Prayer Meeting
Spiritual warriors from throughout the Southland are invited to join Pastor Xavier L. Thompson and local clergy at a city-wide prayer meeting on Wednesday, August 31, to protest the FAIR Education Act signed into law last month by Gov. Jerry Brown.
The legislation, also known as Senate Bill 48, requires that the contributions of lesbians, gays, bi-sexual and transgender individuals be included in the social science curriculum at California public schools.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m., at Southern Missionary Baptist Church, 4678 West Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles. The ecumenical, multi-cultural event will feature a broad spectrum of the faith community voicing support for the StopSB48 Coalition in Sacramento, CA. Also, community leaders, school board members, educators, government officials will be in attendance
"Let me be very clear, this is not an attack on the LGBT people or any particular group. I believe I am taking a stand for Biblical principles and righteous standards as outlined in the word of God. This is a big issue because you cannot sexualize history. The underlying impact of SB 48, I believe, is the advancement of a pro-homosexual, world-view in the public classroom," said Rev. Thompson.
"I believe if anyone has made a noteworthy contribution to society, they ought to be acknowledged, regardless of their sexual orientation. The writer, Langston Hughes, was a gay man but we don't know him as that. We celebrate his poetry. J. Edgar Hoover was a gay man, but we know him as the F.B.I. director. I believe this law promotes one's sexual identity beyond their societal contributions, so it's not ‘let's celebrate their contributions' as much as ‘let's celebrate their sexuality,'" he said.
Further explaining his viewpoint, Pastor Thompson insisted that he is not homophobic or a bigot nor does he condone speech or actions reflecting those beliefs. "I have out-of-the closet, in the closet, down-low members that are in my congregation. They feel comfortable talking with their pastor about their struggles because they know I am not going to judge them, isolate them or alienate them. They know my Biblical convictions are balanced by personal compassion.
"But there is a standard set by God. I can't lower it or raise it to fit those that I love or dislike. God has set the standard in His word and it's my job to uphold it. I believe I can come out against this SB 48 bill, yet love my members and non-members who live this lifestyle,' said the pastor.
Utilizing the power of prayer will make a big difference, he said, because "God honors prayer. It starts with prayer. We're petitioning God for His mercy, for His will to be done, that He will favor us to get this bill repealed, and let people have a chance to vote it up or down."
An important element of the meeting is petition-signing to obtain the 550,000 signatures of registered voters needed to place the repeal referendum on the November ballot. Only 60 days remain to gather the signatures.
"But if you're not an eligible voter, don't let that discourage you from attending. We need the community to be here. We will have voter registration forms available. You can register to vote, sign the petition and pray with us," said Pastor Thompson.
"We have to let the powers that be know that that Zion, the Church, is an institution to be reckoned with and we have the power to vote you in or out and you must honor us."
For more information, call Southern MBC at (323) 731-2303.
The legislation, also known as Senate Bill 48, requires that the contributions of lesbians, gays, bi-sexual and transgender individuals be included in the social science curriculum at California public schools.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m., at Southern Missionary Baptist Church, 4678 West Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles. The ecumenical, multi-cultural event will feature a broad spectrum of the faith community voicing support for the StopSB48 Coalition in Sacramento, CA. Also, community leaders, school board members, educators, government officials will be in attendance
"Let me be very clear, this is not an attack on the LGBT people or any particular group. I believe I am taking a stand for Biblical principles and righteous standards as outlined in the word of God. This is a big issue because you cannot sexualize history. The underlying impact of SB 48, I believe, is the advancement of a pro-homosexual, world-view in the public classroom," said Rev. Thompson.
"I believe if anyone has made a noteworthy contribution to society, they ought to be acknowledged, regardless of their sexual orientation. The writer, Langston Hughes, was a gay man but we don't know him as that. We celebrate his poetry. J. Edgar Hoover was a gay man, but we know him as the F.B.I. director. I believe this law promotes one's sexual identity beyond their societal contributions, so it's not ‘let's celebrate their contributions' as much as ‘let's celebrate their sexuality,'" he said.
Further explaining his viewpoint, Pastor Thompson insisted that he is not homophobic or a bigot nor does he condone speech or actions reflecting those beliefs. "I have out-of-the closet, in the closet, down-low members that are in my congregation. They feel comfortable talking with their pastor about their struggles because they know I am not going to judge them, isolate them or alienate them. They know my Biblical convictions are balanced by personal compassion.
"But there is a standard set by God. I can't lower it or raise it to fit those that I love or dislike. God has set the standard in His word and it's my job to uphold it. I believe I can come out against this SB 48 bill, yet love my members and non-members who live this lifestyle,' said the pastor.
Utilizing the power of prayer will make a big difference, he said, because "God honors prayer. It starts with prayer. We're petitioning God for His mercy, for His will to be done, that He will favor us to get this bill repealed, and let people have a chance to vote it up or down."
An important element of the meeting is petition-signing to obtain the 550,000 signatures of registered voters needed to place the repeal referendum on the November ballot. Only 60 days remain to gather the signatures.
"But if you're not an eligible voter, don't let that discourage you from attending. We need the community to be here. We will have voter registration forms available. You can register to vote, sign the petition and pray with us," said Pastor Thompson.
"We have to let the powers that be know that that Zion, the Church, is an institution to be reckoned with and we have the power to vote you in or out and you must honor us."
For more information, call Southern MBC at (323) 731-2303.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Not Against Gays, Just Against Gay Sex
The pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, where Starbucks’ CEO recently canceled an appearance after the church was accused of homophobia, says Willow Creek is not antigay — it just expects gay members to be celibate.
Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Schultz had been invited to speak at Willow Creek’s annual Global Leadership Summit earlier this month but canceled after a Change.org petition noted that the suburban Chicago megachurch had a long association with Exodus International, which believes that gay people can — and should — be converted to straight. Willow Creek ended its association with Exodus two years ago, but the petition sponsors said the church has its own outreach program that sends an anti-LGBT message.
In a video posted on YouTube, Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels addresses his congregation about the matter. He says the church is not antigay or anti-anyone, but he makes it clear there are different standards of behavior for gay and straight people. “We challenge homosexuals and heterosexuals to live out the sexual ethics taught in the scriptures, which encourages full sexual expression between a man and a woman in the context of marriage and prescribes sexual abstinence and purity for everybody else.”
Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Schultz had been invited to speak at Willow Creek’s annual Global Leadership Summit earlier this month but canceled after a Change.org petition noted that the suburban Chicago megachurch had a long association with Exodus International, which believes that gay people can — and should — be converted to straight. Willow Creek ended its association with Exodus two years ago, but the petition sponsors said the church has its own outreach program that sends an anti-LGBT message.
In a video posted on YouTube, Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels addresses his congregation about the matter. He says the church is not antigay or anti-anyone, but he makes it clear there are different standards of behavior for gay and straight people. “We challenge homosexuals and heterosexuals to live out the sexual ethics taught in the scriptures, which encourages full sexual expression between a man and a woman in the context of marriage and prescribes sexual abstinence and purity for everybody else.”
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Apple’s new CEO, Tim Cook, could be the world’s most powerful gay executive
The sudden resignation on Wednesday of Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs paves the way for the ascension of Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, who, upon being named Apple’s new CEO, was hailed by many in the LGBT community as possibly the world’s most powerful gay executive.
Cook, 50, who has remained private about his sexual orientation, was outed earlier this year by Gawker when it named him “the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley.”
After Cook was profiled as a “lifelong bachelor” and “intensely private” elsewhere, we wondered if he might be gay. We’ve since heard from two well-placed sources that this is indeed the case, and it sounds like Cook’s sexual orientation has been the topic of at least some discussion within the company.
Cook would be, by far, the most powerful openly gay executive in tech, trailed by Microsoft’s openly lesbian HR chief Lisa Brummel and by Megan Smith, the former PlanetOut CEO now working as Google’s vice president of new business development.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sunset Junction Festival Canceled
At issue was an outstanding tab from last year’s event, plus another $141,000 that would need to be paid to the city for this year’s event.
Two days ago, an attorney for the Sunset Junction festival told the board the organization could only offer $50,000 toward this year’s event. Following that meeting, Live Nation made a $100,000 donation to the group however, a review of the group’s available checking balances showed the funds had yet to clear.
The annual festival was slated for this Saturday and Sunday.
“This is not an indication to me of any sort that any funds are secured, that any funds will be available for issuance of a check to support this special events permit,” board President Andrea Alarcon told the festival’s attorney, Phillip Tate.
“This is a remarkable disappointment.”
USC Scientist Develops Virus That Targets HIV
In what represents an important step toward curing HIV, a USC scientist has created a virus that hunts down HIV-infected cells.
Pin Wang’s lentiviral vector latches onto HIV-infected cells, flagging them with what is called “suicide gene therapy” - allowing drugs to later target and destroy them.
“If you deplete all of the HIV-infected cells, you can at least partially solve the problem,” said Wang, chemical engineering professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
The process is analogous to the military practice of “buddy lasing” - that is, having a soldier on the ground illuminate a target with a laser to guide a precision bombing strike from an aircraft.
Like a precision bombing raid, the lentiviral vector approach to targeting HIV has the advantage of avoiding collateral damage, keeping cells that are not infected by HIV out of harm’s way. Such accuracy has not been achieved by using drugs alone, Wang said.
So far, the lentiviral vector has only been tested in culture dishes and has resulted in the destruction of about 35 percent of existing HIV cells. While that may not sound like a large percentage, if this treatment were to be used in humans, it likely would be repeated several times to maximize effectiveness.
Among the next steps will be to test the procedure in mice. While this is an important breakthrough, it is not yet a cure, Wang said.
“This is an early stage of research, but certainly it is one of the options in that direction,” he said.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
"Homosexual Marriage" Caused The Earthquake
Come on, you knew it was only a matter of time.... Rabbi Yehuda Levin, a New York City-based rabbi, has blamed “homosexual marriage” as the cause of yesterday’s east coast earthquake.
Rick Perry Struggles to answer Question on Abstinence
Rick Perry’s views on sex, sex education, and abstinence-only education.
Rick Perry appeared before the Texas Tribune and was asked why Perry holds on to abstinence-only education when it has been proven Texas has the third-highest rate of teen pregnancy. “It works,” Perry responded, to laughter from the audience. Watch carefully this entire video, and see the wheels spinning in Perry’s head as he struggles to come up with a reasonable answer that fits his worldview.
Rick Perry appeared before the Texas Tribune and was asked why Perry holds on to abstinence-only education when it has been proven Texas has the third-highest rate of teen pregnancy. “It works,” Perry responded, to laughter from the audience. Watch carefully this entire video, and see the wheels spinning in Perry’s head as he struggles to come up with a reasonable answer that fits his worldview.
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