My kids are pretty open-minded. They know that families come in all shapes and sizes and that the make-up of your family is not what is important. They know that (as cliché as it is) love is what matters.  (Sometimes, things are clichés because they are true.) The only thing they don’t understand is why everyone can’t see what is so plain to them.

Really, this was supposed to be about raising a gay-friendly child, but to be honest, that’s the easy part.  That hard part is sending that child out into the world to be questioned, berated and badgered for their beliefs.  It’s sending them out there, armed with knowledge that will make some people hate them.  It is knowing that this will make life harder for them, even dangerous at times. Because, the people who will stand against them are not what one would call sane.

But, what other option is there?  Do I tell them to stay quiet when someone says “That’s so gay”?  Do I tell them to be silent when someone spreads untruths about what will happen if gays and lesbians can marry?  Do I tell them to stay away from the child that is being taunted for being gay, and to just let he or she work it out on their own? Do I teach my child that others don’t matter and to just let someone else fight the battle?

Another one? Really? I had to refresh the page to make sure it was real. Another organized group of rational humans are going to wage a very public campaign to hopefully convince people that it's better to operate from a logical and intelligent perspective than to base your morality on a myth?

The American Humanist Association is a group which, surprisingly, has been around since 1941. Humanism, as they describe it, is "a worldview which says that reason and science are the best ways to understand the world around us, and that dignity and compassion should be the basis for how you act toward someone else."

They are about to launch their Holiday Ad Campaign which will place their message of "No God? No Problem!" on transit systems from coast to coast, making it the first ever nationwide humanist ad campaign. They describe it as..."Celebrating a new kind of holiday tradition, the American Humanist Association has launched a new advertising campaign. Ads will be blazoned across transit systems in five cities--including Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco--marking the first-ever nation-wide humanist holiday advertising campaign."

One of the group's principles is something most people of faith fail to understand about those of us who don't subscribe to mythology in order to live our lives, and that is... "Humanism is nontheistic. By this, we don't mean to say that there is no God. Instead, we say that there is no proof for the existence of God, any gods, the supernatural or an afterlife."

So often in debates concerning whether there is a mythological being out there who designed everything around us, I'm faced with the question that virtually all those who don't subscribe to mythology are faced with..."Why don't you prove to me that there is no god?" Of course, we can't do that, no one can, but the problem is that non-believers in any form of mythology do not have the burden of proof, the believers do. I don't think I've ever spoken to a non-believer who has definitively stated, "There is no mythological god, no god, none, no chance at all." Instead, the response is typically..."I don't know if there is a god or not, and if one appeared before me now, I'd believe in it, but until that happens, I'm not going to subscribe to any of those theories." (Okay, it's not worded quite that way, but that's basically it.)

So that's the fatal flaw in certainly the American Christian argument, as well as every other group of "faith" on the planet. They know they can't prove any of it, but they also know they can't continue their wages of discrimination, war and condemnation if they enter into a debate on proof, so they turn it around and throw it back in the direction of non-believers, which is, of course, ridiculous. I've actually been told by many believers over the years that their "proof" that a Christian God is out there is how strongly they've felt it in their heart. Really? Then we should let all those committed to mental institutions go free. If "feeling" something is all it takes then pretty much anything goes, doesn't it? You can see where that kind of "proof" would lead us...

I'm surprised this kind of public advertising is finally happening, as with the other recent ad campaigns which I've reported on here before. I'm just thankful it's happening.

Upcoming Holiday Events at the local Clubs...Click on flyers to enlarge...Click on the Club NAMES to access their official website...Happy Holidays!!   

The Fresno Express
The Circle  
The Den
The Red Lantern  

(Baltimore) A preliminary report commissioned by the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops on the roots of the clergy sex abuse scandal found no evidence that gay priests are more likely than heterosexual clergy to molest children, the lead authors of the study said Tuesday.

The full report by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice won’t be completed until the end of next year. But the authors said that their evidence to date found no data indicating that homosexuality was a predictor of abuse.

“What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse,” said Margaret Smith of John Jay College, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now.”

Read the rest of this story here: Report: Homosexuality no factor in abusive priests

The latest reports on the web indicate that the accidental celebrity,  Levi Johnston, will NOT be offering up his "hockey stick" when the Playgirl pics come out.

If you haven't learned by now that the media MANIPULATES every word of every story, then this little nugget may sway you. Of course they were insinuating, of course they were suggesting, of course they were promising...

Or maybe, just maybe, this is another move in the media machine to create interest over pictures of the Alaskan "numb-nuts" that this is all about. The fact that this came out the same day as Sarah Palin's  interview with Oprah Winfrey? Maybe they're smarter than we give them credit for...or not...

You make the call.

Read more here 

The campaign to collect signatures in order to qualify a ballot initiative for the 2010 election has officially started. On Monday, November 16th, Love Honor Cherish launched Sign For Equality, an online site dedicated to gathering enough signatures to place an initiative on the ballot in November of 2010 which, if successful, will repeal California's Proposition 8.

The site offers Training Videos, ways to organize and find teams locally and downloadable petition and signature forms. While the website offers the resources, signatures cannot be gathered online or through email, all signatures must be obtained in person, pen to paper. Gathering of signatures will not be driven by major gay groups as has happened in the past. This campaign will rely on an all volunteer army of signature gatherers, working locally on their own or in teams. This appears to be a much smarter approach, rather than a select group of volunteers standing post at shopping malls.

In order to be eligible to be placed on the ballot next year, 700,000 valid signatures are required. Since there are always signatures which are disqualified during the approval process, about 1,000,000 signatures need to be gathered. The deadline for signatures to be gathered and submitted is APRIL 5TH, 2010.

The approved language of this ballot initiative is the following...

We, the undersigned, registered, qualified voters of California, residents of __________ County (or City and County), hereby propose amendments to the Constitution of California and petition the Secretary of State to submit the same to the voters of California for their adoption or rejection at the next succeeding general election or at any special statewide election held prior to that general election or otherwise provided by law. The proposed constitutional amendments read as follows: This amendment would amend an existing section of the California Constitution. Existing language proposed to be deleted is printed in strikeout type. Language proposed to be added is printed in underlined type.

    Section 1. To protect religious freedom, no court shall interpret this measure to require any priest, minister, pastor, rabbi, or other person authorized to perform marriages by any religious denomination, church, or other non-profit religious institution to perform any marriage in violation of his or her religious beliefs. The refusal to perform a marriage under this provision shall not be the basis for lawsuit or liability, and shall not affect the tax-exempt status of any religious denomination, church or other religious institution.

    Section 2. To provide for fairness in the government’s issuance of marriage licenses, Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 7.5. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.

If you plan to help the campaign, be advised that there are strict guidelines for forms and signatures gathered. Signatures can be disqualified if all procedures are not followed, so please visit Sign For Equality and read all the details.

(These videos are HD, so view them at full screen for the best experience)

This NEW LEFT MEDIA film was produced and edited by Chase Whiteside (interviews) and Erick Stoll (camera). DONATE: Donations to New Left Media will go toward the production costs of future videos. Any contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way in keeping us online.
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In May, 2009, the Maine Legislature extended marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples. As expected, opponents of equality, led by the National Organization for Marriage and the Catholic Church, petitioned to have those rights put to a vote by referendum. This film chronicles the final days of the on-the-ground campaign to protect marriage equality in Maine.

A NEW STUDY FOR FTM

Are you interested in participating in a study to help improve the understanding of the sexual health needs of FTM?

Study Title:

Sexual Identity, Behavior and Risk among Female-to-Male (FTM) Transgender Persons who are currently using Testosterone

What’s Involved?

2 interviews lasting 90 minutes to 2 hours

A $20 gift card for the first interview

A $10 gift card for the second interview

Who’s Eligible?

Any FTM 21 or older who has been taking testosterone for a least one year

Who is conducting the study?

Researchers from UCSF, School of Nursing

To Find Out More Please Contact:

Stefan Rowniak, RN FNP

415 863 6615

email: stefan.rowniak@ucsf.edu

I have a new hero today in this story of a 10 year old student who refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in class, after considering that there is no "liberty and justice for all" when it comes to LGBT Americans. He's faced condemnation from students and teachers, and I can more than relate. I attended school from the late 1960's through the 1970's and around 3rd grade I slowly began the process of standing silent while students recited the pledge. I got a lot of attitude for it, a couple of threats of violence from fellow students, stern stares from teachers. But I had a number of problems with the pledge, and although the gay issue may have been under the surface somewhere, my main objections were the following...

I couldn't understand why I would pledge allegiance to a flag, rather than to a country...It was clear that Americans were not treated equally and there was not liberty and justice for all, which at that time applied mostly to minorities and one of my best friends, my next door neighbor was a black American...I didn't like that God was involved with the pledge, not only because I wasn't a Christian at the time but because I didn't see what that had to do with the country...and I have to admit, that having always had a rebellious nature to me, I never liked being forced to do something without a valid reason. My biggest reason though, was something I carry strongly to this day. I don't understand any group of people, be it citizens, or religious groups, etc, reciting pledges that are in fact, hypocritical. The most hypocritical thing about the pledge is the forcing of children to pledge an allegiance to a mythological creature such as God, when we're supposed to be about freedom of and FROM religion in this nation. The second is this  whole "liberty and justice for all" BS which has never been true in America.

The fact that this happened in Arkansas makes it even more amazing...this kid rocks...

WEST FORK, Arkansas -- "When I heard from the principal, I was not happy," said Jay Phillips. Jay and Laura Phillips were shocked to hear their 10-year-old talked back to a teacher at West Fork Middle school Thursday -- but were less surprised when they found out why.

"Don't push him -- four days of hassle, hassle, hassle and raise your voice," said Laura Phillips. "He's going to lose his temper."

Their son told them last weekend he had decided to no longer stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school because he didn't believe there is liberty and justice for all, especially when it comes to gay rights. "To say them [words] and not mean them would be a lie," Jay said.

This week their son says a substitute teacher prodded him every day to stand up and say the pledge after he had refused. He then says he got angry, and talked back. The Phillips said that they reprimanded him for that, but they don't want him to be pushed to do something he doesn't feel comfortable doing.

"We would like to have the school make sure the teachers know the kids do have the right to sit down and make their own choices, even if he is only 10 and in 5th grade," Laura said. She chooses not to say the Pledge of Allegiance, but Jay does. They said that they respect each other's choices -- and their son's -- and they don't see it as an insult to the country.

"He is not anti-American," Laura said. "He is very proud to live here, but he knows even at 10 he can make changes."

The West Fork School District responded by saying that they don't require students to say the pledge.

Source: http://www.momlogic.com/2009/10/10-year-old_boy_refuses_to_say_pledge_of_allegiance.php#ixzz0Wb4bGuSJ

Watch News Video Here

Boy, wading through the news, which tends to be dismal and antithetical to logic and reason, is tough. But once in a while, I see a story that makes it all worthwhile...this is one of those stories. It may not seem like much to a lot of people, but it made my day...

The following is courtesy of The Post & Courier in South Carolina...

A federal district court ruled Tuesday that the "I Believe" license plate approved by the South Carolina Legislature violates the constitutional separation of church and state and cannot be issued.

In a summary judgment ruling, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie said the plate was based on a discriminatory law. "Such a law amounts to state endorsement not only of religion in general, but of a specific sect in particular," Currie said.

The plate featured a cross set against a stained glass window.

Read the whole story here: JUDGE RULES AGAINST "I BELIEVE" LICENSE PLATES

The effort to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will likely come next year as an amendment to the Defense Department spending bill, rather than through a standalone bill, according to gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.). Frank said in an interview with the Blade that repealing the 1993 law barring gays from serving openly in the military would happen as part of the fiscal year 2011 defense authorization bill.

“The House will take up and the Senate will take up ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal,” he said. “That will again, like hate crimes, even more so, will have to be done, I believe, in the context of the defense authorization. You can’t do the standalone bill. It belongs in the defense authorization.”

Frank said lawmakers would seek to amend the defense measure to include a provision repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Such a move would mimic the way Congress recently enacted the hate crimes measure.

For the rest of this story click here: ACTION EXPECTED SOON ON ENDA, FEDERAL DP BENEFITS

In Florida, a Marine Reservist attacked a Greek Orthodox Priest who stopped to ask for directions. Oh, and he used a tire iron, and chased the priest several blocks. Oh, and he claimed at first the priest was a terrorist, then changed his story to say the priest "hit on him" and therefore his defense is "gay panic". Oh, and did I mention the buff marine also sells himself out for provocative male model jobs where he strips down to his underwear and even less? This is a true case of the closet being filled with self homophobia.

ENDA, the Employment Non Discrimination Act, is now moving through Congress. You can watch the latest Senate hearings, which took place on Thursday, November 5th, by clicking here...ENDA - Senate Hearings on November 5th, 2009

Clay’s Way

Author: Blair Mastbaum

Review By: Leon Velasco

Rating: One Thumb Up

This is a very detailed book, set in Hawaii. The author out does himself and actually gives you enough information of the surroundings that you actually feel that you are there. You can hear the sounds of the surf as it rushes in, the sounds of rain as it hit pavement and roofs. He also added a little something unique to a book I’ve ever read so far. This author is also a poet. He included Haikus written in his adolescent years. This coming-of-age story of a native Hawaiian boy is very moving and appealing to all generations, I would think. There hasn’t been a person who’s had their eye on someone who didn’t even know what feeling stirred within you as you stood in their presence. Giving this book a read through may surprise you.

A wanna-be punk rocker who writes bad haiku poetry, 15 year-old Sam is fed up with his middle-class parents, his geeky best friend, and his inability to do the raddest skate board tricks. Then he meets Clay. Mistaking lust for fate, Sam becomes obsessed with the 17-year-old surfer boy; who’s island cool masks an internal conflict even darker than Sam’s. Directing his furious energy toward winning Clay’s heart, Sam goes on a reckless odyssey to become everything Clay seems to be. Through hurricanes, car accidents, teenage parties, and monster waves, they ricochet off each other until one night on a remote beach, in the flickering light of torches and campfires, the violence and tumult of Clay and Sam’s dynamic propels them both through the hardest decisions and obstacles of their young lives.

“A gay Catcher in the Rye. A terrific, auspicious debut by a writer we will surely be hearing much more from.”—John Rechy, author of  City of Night       

“Thrilling, sexy, terrifying… I recommend this book to all adventurous readers.”—Susanna Moore, author of In the Cut

Click below for more reviews...

One year after losing the right to marry and a day after Maine voted to ban same-sex marriage, the organizations: Meet in the Middle for Equality, Erase the H8, GayFresno.com, EQCA, Courage Campaign, Central California Alliance demonstrated for marriage equality at Shaw and Blackstone.

The event was a candle-light vigil but it was not a mourning. The tone was one of frustration and debate, even anger, about the return for a ballot initiative to legalize same-sex marriages.

Robin McGehee, the gay activist and leader for the Fresno and the valley, explained, “It's not a vigil for something dying. It's candlelight for people to keep the faith,” she said. But even McGehee expressed her impatience. “I am tired of vigils and mourning's. It's time to take action. In civil rights movements, the element of protest can't be just lobbying. I want to do more acts of civil disobedience. I want to do things that are going to agitate.”

On the evening of the one year anniversary of the California Supreme Court Decision to uphold Proposition 8...an interview at the Fresno, CA demonstration with Robin McGehee by Chris Jarvis for GayFresno.com... 

These and many other videos are available by visiting Gay Fresno on YouTube

Carrie Prejean, the idiot who just keeps on giving...it's being reported by TMZ that the quick settlement of her lawsuit with Miss California officials is due to the revelation of a sex tape she once recorded. How very Christian of her...you can read the story here...Prejean Sex Tape Triggers Settlement

Joel Osteen appeared on The View today and was asked his opinion on homosexuality. You can watch the video attached to this article to hear his response.

Why are we interested in his opinion? Osteen explains from a biblical standpoint why he feels homosexuality is a "mistake" but then goes on to say he can't "pick and choose" what he believes from the bible. If that's so, he'd better start stoning children to death who speak back to their parents and murdering women who aren't virgins when they get married. Picking and choosing is EXACTLY what he's doing, and he's making MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars doing it, and NO ONE on that show called him on it.

When do we get to the point of ration and reason in this nation and treat religion like the mental disorder that it is. We admire leaders who believe mythology is reality instead of taking them out of the equation when discussing real, actual issues.

In my opinion, if we're going to keep bringing religious people into debate on real issues like politics and civil rights, then we need to start throwing in some people who believe in leprechauns and elves as well. Then things would be a bit more "fair and balanced"...

While the state of Maine lost marriage rights, in Washington, Referendum Measure 71 passed, 51% to 49%. The text of the measure was as follows...

The legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5688 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill.

This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.

From the Associated Press:

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Maine voters repealed a state law Tuesday that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed, dealing the gay rights movement a heartbreaking defeat in New England, the corner of the country most supportive of gay marriage.

Gay marriage has now lost in every single state - 31 in all - in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine - known for its moderate, independent-minded electorate - and mounted an energetic, well-financed campaign.

With 87 percent of the precincts reporting, gay-marriage foes had 53 percent of the votes.

"The institution of marriage has been preserved in Maine and across the nation," declared Frank Schubert, chief organizer for the winning side.

Gay-marriage supporters held out hope that the tide would shift before conceding defeat at 2:40 a.m. in a statement that insisted they weren't going away.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, voters in Washington state voted on whether to uphold or overturn a recently expanded domestic partnership law that entitles same-sex couples to the same state-granted rights as heterosexual married couples. With half the precincts reporting, that race was too close to call.

In Kalamazoo, Mich., voters approved a measure that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Read more HERE

NY Times 2009 Election Results

(We'll update information Wednesday)

On a day of critical elections of concern to LGBT Americans, irony is not absent. Equality Across America, responsible for the National Equality March, is in chaos. This news, when not even a month has passed since the DC March.

Resignations abound, including Derek Washington, Kip Williams and Robin McGehee. Reasons are varied, including financial, personal and differences in opinion. A temporary project director has been put in place to hold things together while the group restructures. The future doesn't look bright however, especially considering this statement from Cleve Jones... "We're still not sure this is a viable organization. It's still not clear to me that EAA is going to happen yet. There needs to be a working group to take EAA forward. I'll be inviting [the March's] steering committee and executive committee members to participate."

Add to that the fact that it's reported the groups has no formal bylaws, budget, mission statement or organizational structure and it appears clear that Equality Across America rests on a precipice. Derek Washington, who resigned his position only today, had this to say about Cleve Jones... "I also will not be at all happy if it becomes about any one person as if it was some monarchy. Mr. Jones and I are probably never going to be team mates on The Amazing Race." He went on to add, after resigning... "I never realized what a complete sociopath he was until I had the displeasure of spending time working with him."

We'll update you as the story develops, but I wanted to add one thing. Many people, including myself, were vocally opposed to the March from the start. While I personally stated on this very website that although I had questions about the March's effectiveness at a crucial time in the battle for civil rights for American citizens, I added that I wished it great success. I posted a piece urging the conflict between those questioning the March and those supporting to stop, that regardless of the questions surrounding every aspect of the March, from its time frame to its effectiveness, we should support each other once it came time for Americans to make the statement they'd make on October 11th. After the march, we at Gay Fresno, Gay Visalia and Gay Hanford posted video, photos and news about the March. All of us were pleased with the success of the March and worked to share the media surrounding it.

However now, with the recent revelations, it's clear that those of us questioning the March had valid points to make. Certainly no one would be re-visiting those questions without the news of the unraveling of the organization less than a month after their national event. It's particularly telling that during the planning of the March, all of us who put forth questions and concerns were shouted down, condemned and belittled. Even Barney Frank, a gay congressman serving for 28 years was and still is ravaged by LGBT Americans because of a few poorly chosen words just before the March. Even today, in the comments on internet sites, some are blaming failure of the organization on Frank. Others are stating that the Hate Crimes bill passed because of the March. Both of these statements are far beyond ridiculous.

Weren't we all told from the very beginning, and certainly force fed in the days that led up to the March, that the event was a beginning, a jumping off point, that there was a plan, a strategy and a methodology in place to assure this organization would be a force to be reckoned with? It can't be surprising to anyone in the upper rankings of the March that after months of concrete, self assured and often dismissive response to any LGBT American who didn't agree or attend the March, that these revelations carry more weight than they otherwise might. If things were as solid as the organizers repeated over and over, how could it possibly have fallen apart less than a month after the March?

I hope that in the days to come, the circumstances explaining the collapse of this organization will change, and be more palatable. I hope that, but I also doubt it. 

Maybe this will finally be the moment when LGBT camps will stop their unwavering certainty and dialogue with those who have different ideas. It looks, at this point, like the Maine campaign will probably lose. After this, after all this, will there be another group so willing to dismiss and condemn opposing opinion? Is the LGBT movement for equality now just a splintered mixture of A Listers and B Listers? Or are we going to pay attention to all the evidence in front of us? All the strategies that refused critique and ultimately failed? Or are we going to thoughtfully consider the next move, as well as the advice of those like Barney Frank, who works every day toward the goal of equality for LGBT Americans, and might have more insight into the way Congress works than the rest of us? Exactly how much are we going to THINK before our next move?

Read more about these events at Bilerico.com