Silencing of the Homosexuals Part II

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(For those who missed Part I, you can read it here.)

If you can't twist them to conform to your standards, shove them back in the closet where no one can see the dirty laundry.

Them are gay, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people. The dirty laundry is the topic of sex. And the closet is on the fringe of society where most people won't bother to take a gander.

In the conservative right's and Christian right's effort to marginalize homosexuals and make them appear as less than normal, they have banned books, banned discussions of homosexuality in public schools, recinded discrimination and equal rights laws, and now - in at least one county in Florida - have banned official recognition of "gay pride, little g, little p".

The county is Hillsborough. Thanks to the effort of one homophobe, Ronda Storms, the county has deleted all references to homosexuality in its Human Rights Ordinance and now refuses to recognize gay pride. It is unclear if the ordinance means just the Gay Pride celebrations during the month of June or anything gay. Storms apparently wanted the ambiguity by refusing to capitalize the g and p.

Since the county is intent on setting the moral standard for America by example, what has the county produced so far?

• A father who beat his three year old son to death because he "wanted to toughen him up". During testimony in the father's murder trial, she said he was afraid his son might be gay.
• A 24-year-old teacher who had sex with her 14-year-old student in the backseat of her car while the boy's 15-year-old cousin drove them around. No, she wasn't teaching sex ed and drivers ed at the same time. She may claim a temprary insanity defense.
• We can't forget about the 8-year-old boy who beat his 7-month-old half-sister to death because her "crying made him mad". The murder occurred while the boy and his half sister were visiting the boy's father and his girlfriend. Note the "stability" of the heterosexual relationships involved.
• And let's not forget the plight of two migrant workers from Mexico - Areli Nava, 15, gave birth to Leonel Reye's son in a Florida hospital. Reyes is 24. The state immediately seized custody of the newborn. You see, in Florida, the sexual relations between the two are illegal because Areli is 15 - even though in their own country, their relationship is perfectly legal and, in this case, supported by both families. In fact, in Reyes country, a woman over 17 is "too old" to marry. The two, accompanied by Areli's parents, braved hurricanes to get their family reunited. The mother and child are still in state custody and the father is allowed supervised visits. He showed up to court with pay stubs in hand to show he can support the mother and child. The mother's parents showed up to plead with the court to allow Reyes to marry their daughter as all parties had planned. "He's a good man," pleaded Areli's father. Until Reyes completes a sex offender program, he won't be allowed to be reunited with his bride-to-be and son. He is required to complete the program even though he has never been charged with a sexual offense nor ruled a danger to Areli or his son. This is one story among thousands of migrant worker's cultural clash with Florida laws.

In all fairness, one can't judge a county, or any locale for that matter, by picking and choosing cases to present as evidence. One has to wonder, though, if these cases are symptomatic of a failing conservative agenda liberally infused with Christian philosophy.

Tell Hillsborough County what you think of their "gay pride, little g, little p" ban.

Teen Sent to Ex-Gay Ministry

From Zach's blog just before his parent's "shipped him off to camp":

Thanks. Thank you for all of the comments and messages, they mean a lot. really. I was shocked to see all of this... of course I haven't been on a computer, phone, nor have I seen any friends in a week almost-- Soon. Soon, this will be all over. My mother has said the worst things to me for three days straight... three days. I went numb. That's the only way I can get through this. I agree, if you're thinking that these posts might be dramatized.. but the proof of the programs ideas are sitting in the rules. I pray this blows over. I can't take this... noone can... not really, this kind of thing tears you apart emotionally. To introduce THIS subject... I'm not a suicidal person... really I'm not.. I think it's stupid - really. But.. I can't help it, no im not going to commit suicide, all I can think about is killing my mother and myself. It's so horrible. This is what it's doing to me... I have this horrible feeling all of the time... I wish this on no person... I'm so satisfied--happy's too strong of a word the state I'm in-- that everyone's taking the time to email and write letters in complaint to these people. I dont know if it will do anything, but if something did happen it would be -- awesome.


He was due to leave camp on Jun 20. He hasn't been heard from in the blogosphere world and no one knows if he is still away in the camp or not. His blog gained international attention and launched a series of investigations into the Love in Action camp by Tenn authorities. Many bloggers who interacted with him are very concerned that he is being isolated from the world until he "changes". On gay who was forced by his parents into the program for two years is particularly concerned for his mental well being. He says that the decline in Zach's mental state is apparent in his blog.

Yes, I'll definitely be following up on this story so if anyone learns anything new, please let me know.

Update: (20 Jun 05 1:45 PM EDT) PFLAG reports that Zach's initial 2-week stay has been extended another six weeks. Since he is cut off from the outside world and using the computer, we'll have to wait to see if he emerges a changed man espousing the ex-gay life or a damaged boy bitter at the world for treating him as they have.

UCC Endorses Gay Marriage

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In an historic vote, the United Church of Christ passed a resolution that endorses same sex marriage. The vote means that the UCC is the largest mainstream Christian religion to officially recognize and endorse gay marriage.

In addition, the resolution encourages its congregation to develop wedding policies, endorse nondiscriminatory and gay rights legislation, oppose discriminatory legislation, including constitutional amendments, which deny homosexuals equal rights, and calls for an end to the rhetoric that promotes devisiveness and hatred towards homosexuals.

Specifically, as posted on the UCC website, the marriage equality resolution

1. Affirms equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender and declares that the government should not interfere with couples regardless of gender who choose to marry and share fully in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of legally recognized marriage;
2. Affirms equal access to the basic rights, institutional protections and quality of life conferred by the recognition of marriage,
3. Calls for an end to rhetoric that fuels hostility, misunderstanding, fear and hatred expressed toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons,
4. Asks officers of the church to communicate the resolution to local, state and national legislators, urging them to support equal marriage rights,
5. Calls upon all settings of the church to engage in serious, respectful and prayerful discussion of the covenantal relationship of marriage and equal marriage rights,
6. Calls upon congregations, after prayerful, biblical, theological, and historical study, to consider adopting Wedding Policies that do not discriminate against couples based on gender, and
7. Urges congregations and individuals of the UCC to prayerfully consider and support local, state and national legislation to grant equal marriage rights to couples regardless of gender, and to work against legislation, including constitutional amendments, which denies rights to couples based on gender.

Now, if only all those other Christian denominations would follow suit....

Nah. I'm sure those seven points are far too controversial for them to adopt.

Fight Discrimination in Florida

Last month, County Commissioner Ronda Storms in Hillsborough County, Florida banned any recognition of “gay pride, little p, little g”. (story ) Her use of “little g, little p”, added to the ambiguity of the county ordinance and has a lot of people up in arms, including the Mayor of Tampa.

This isn’t the first time Storms has shown her homophobia, either. A few years ago, she successfully rescinded the county’s Human Rights Ordinance that protected homosexuals. At the time, she claimed the “government should not be in the business of saying this is acceptable behavior.''

If you live in Hillsborough County, Florida, now would be a good time to let your commissioners know how you feel. If you want a good idea of what to write, you might want to use the First United Church of Tampa’s letter as an example. (their letter)

If you live outside of Hillsborough County, Florida, you can still let the commissioners know how
you feel about the “gay pride, little g, little p” ban. You can use the letter linked above for ideas of what to write, but tailor it to your needs as an “outsider”.

For address/contact information and sample letter, please visit Little Guy Protest's effort. Please let them know if you plan to participate. An easy to fill, anonymous form is provided.

Quiet Acceptance From the Homophobes - Naturally

The twice-divorced Angelina Jolie adopted a Ethiopian, baby girl who was left orphaned by AIDS. While she has been linked romantically to Brad Pitt and Pitt did accompany her to Ethiopia to file the adoption papers, a source told People magazine that the two aren't planning to start the family together. "Angelina is adopting as a single mother and she wants that emphasized," the source said.

Earlier this year, after a trip to Ethiopia, Jolie said, "My son is in love with Africa, so he has been asking for an African brother or sister."

He got his wish.

Now, where is the conservative's and Christian right's uproar? A single Mom adopting? And adopting because her son wanted an "African brother or sister" as if African children are to be traded as commodities?

A gay couple's adopting gets the conservative's panties in a wad. Just ask anyone in Florida (where gay adoption is illegal) or Texas (where gay adoption ban legislation is pending). But a single Mom adopting doesn't raise an eyebrow.

The hypocritical silence is deafening. Can you hear the silent approval of single-parent adoption and the thunderous roar of gay condemnation?

I can.

Maybe it has to do with Jolie being rich and able to buy what she wants - including an African child.

Be sure to check out Little Guy Protest's campain in favor of gay marriage.

For all the Racists, Bigots, and Homophobes

My note: I wrote this in response to the continual bantering against the need for hate crime legislation, anti-discrimination laws, affirmative action programs, and anything against homosexuals spewed on the myriad of BBs on the web. I doubt any of them actually see themselves as racists, bigots, or homophobes, but their words speak for themselves.

Imagine for a moment that you are a wheelchair bound, Black transsexual. Despite your faithful attendance at your Church and the practicing of its magic that is supposed to help you through life, you feel the Church of Satan isn't enough to protect your from the inujustices of the world.

What injustices do you think they are? What do you think are appropriate remedies to those injustices?

If you're mind is a bit too small too imagine a handicapped, transsexual, Black Satanist, which most likely it probably is, then pick one of those minority groups and pretend for a moment you aren't a White, middle class suburbanite, but are Black or handicapped or gay/transgendered or a member of a religion other than a mainstream Christian religion (Satanist, Wiccan, Islamist, Hindu - pick one, any one).

And, yes, we all know you are at least White. We can tell by what you write with 99.9% certaintity.

Now picture yourself as a minority:

As you are wheeling yourself to your Church, a group of teenage thugs tease and taunt you because you are worthless cripple sucking off of society while everyone else has to work hard. Since they never hit you, the most they get is a slap on the wrist for juvenile delinquency. Since they targetted you for being in a wheelchair, do you think their punishment should have been more severe (hate crime)? What about if you came home from Church and found your door spray painted with "Satan ain't watching you, but we are. Burn at the stake you witch!" The vandals are caught and charged with criminal trespassing (a misdemeanor) and vandalism (another misdemeanor). They're ordered to pay for a new door and sentenced to 80 hours community service, typical sentence for first time misdemeanor offenses. Should their punishment have been more severe? Do you really believe the teen's parents (those perfect role models who raised and taught them to act that way) will mete out a more severe punishment to teach them a lesson in tolerance?

Oh, yeah, that's right. A reminder to you tunneled-vision practioners of hate. Religion is protected under hate crimes legislation, including your Christian religions. So is disability and race. Sexual orientation/identity isn't always a protected status.

Being Black, how would you describe your quality of life, especially when you are trying to navigate in a White world? You're an inner city Black youth. You graduate high school in the top third of your class. What do you think are your chances of being accepted to a good-named university? (We know Harvard is out of the question.) Let's say you work hard and through scholarships and affirmative action programs, you manage to tweak your way through a community college. How far behind are you compared to your White, suburbanite peers? How much harder will you have to work to attain a middle management level job than your White suburbanite peers - the ones who teased you on the way to Church? How many Black CEOs of fortune 500 companies are there?

Being gay/transgendered, how safe do you feel being yourself in public? Dare to hold your boyfriend's/girlfriend's hand at the mall while shopping together? How about hanging up pictures of you and your "other" in your cube? Talk about your vacation gay cruise? Do you think your company can fire you because you don't fit the "family image" the company is trying to project? How about being evicted from your apartment because the complex is family-orientated with children running around and you make your neighbors nervous?

Of course, you can't answer these questions. No one really expects you to answer them. Discrimination doesn't happen and when it does, it's all the social programs discriminating against the Whites. Affirmative action deprives qualified Whites an equal opportunity to acceptance in a school or a job. Hate crime legislation makes crimes against minorities more important than crimes against Whites. And anything that gives homosexuals a fair shake in the world is forcing acceptance of something Christians are strongly opposed.

See the trend? If something threatens the secure world of White Christians, then it must be bad.

Be sure to write your own bill to Congress in support of gay marriage...