Changing hearts and minds one Republican at a time

A little background:

GOP Maryland Delegate Wade Kach (R) delivered an emotional address explaining his evolution towards supporting marriage equality, just moments before the state House passed legislation extending marriage rights to gays and lesbians. Kach had voted down the bill as recently as Monday night, in a committee vote, and had co-sponsored a measure to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

But tonight, Kach attributed his change of heart to his “pro-life” roots, explaining that he changed his mind after hearing testimony from gay and lesbian families, and realizing that their children deserved the same legal protections as the kids of opposite-sex parents:

We need em folks. And this is why we must never give up on even the most hard-core conservatives. Some of them do have hearts and we can never know who those people are or what is going to penetrate their right-wing shields and appeal to their humanity and sense of fairness.

Look, this guy is a perfect example. Just one week ago this gentleman had believed so firmly in marriage as a one-man-one-woman institution, he voted down a marriage equality bill in committee and was a co-sponsor of a measure to define marriage as a hetero-only privilege. The lesson here is clear: We must never, ever write anyone off as a lost cause. Ever!


And yes, I know, I seethe, and rant, and rage, and say nasty things on this blog all the time. And I make no apologies for it. But, I have always presented this blog as my outlet for all the pent-up anger that had nowhere else to go, so I will continue to rant and rage and make no apologies. But I will do it semi-anonymously here (some of you know who I am), while presenting a far more composed and reasonable persona in public. It really is about changing hearts and minds - and I get that. I have to. It is the only way I can do my part to make a better world for my son and the lgbt community I love so dearly.

The GOP's "Utterly Surreal" Contraception Hearing

I thought you'd enjoy a recap of the Darrell Issa (R-CA) Contraception two-ring circus show hearing last week. If one can separate one's self from the freakishness of a panel of all-white men in collars testifying to a panel of all-white men in suits about a women's health issue, it is rather comical in a stomach-churning kind of way. But how on earth pork and kosher delis got into a conversation that should have been about contraception and how it pertains to women's health  is beyond me, but then again, this was never intended to be about women, the people testifying at this hearing don't give a rip about women's health or a woman's right to be in control of her own health, it was all about them and their victimization.

Some of my favorite lines:

• "The violation of a person's religious conscience is nothing less than the rape of the soul." (My personal favorite-would have loved to see the look on the Catholic Bishop's face when this was said )
• "Please get the federal government, Mr. Chairman, out of our consciences."
• "This whole conversation is utterly surreal." (Yup sir, you have no idea how many women are vehemently agreeing with you right now.)

Watch and weep:

Evangelical Lutherans Oppose Proposed Minnesota Gay Marriage Ban

Ahhhh the clip below is so refreshing. This is the Minnesota I know and love with all my heart!



But of course, there always has to be a fly in the ointment when something this beautiful and Jesus-like happens, and no big surprise here, it is the Catholic Church, an organization that is bound and determined to fight to its extinction demeaning and dehumanizing our glbt brothers and sisters & making sure women are dragged by their hair, barefoot and pregnant, back to the stone ages.

Related: Dear Minnesota

Question: How does a rising GOP star in Arizona Anti-Immigrant Politics sink his career?

Answer:

Piss off his secret "illegal-alien" gay lover by threatening to deport him if he exposes their affair:

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu — who became the face of Arizona border security nationally after he started stridently opposing illegal immigration — threatened his Mexican ex-lover with deportation when the man refused to promise never to disclose their years-long relationship, the former boyfriend and his lawyer tell New Times.

Now as someone who has a gay son, my heart does go out to this poor tormented soul. The closet is a toxic and suffocating place to be, but for the life of me, I cannot understand anyone choosing to be a member of a Party that bases their platform on extreme hatred of any and all minorities, with gays and Mexicans being at the top of the list. So my sympathy is tempered with a whole lot of disgust for this man.

How on earth could he have thought he could play this game and run for Congress and not get caught. Maybe he didn't realize how quickly his star was going to rise once he jumped into the "Be very afraid of the brown people" game:



Alas - yet another tragic ending for a deeply closeted, self-loathing, GOP hypocrite. When will they learn?

Oh and one more thing: Apparently Sheriff Babeu was the Arizona co-chair for Mitt Romney's Presidential campaign , but is stepping down for um more time with the family? Ahhhhhh the ripple affect of pure unadulterated schadenfreude.

Bill Maher holds up our lovely Arizona Governor as an example of how vile and disrespectful the GOP has become

Poor poor Arizona, just can't catch a break, but then, we've gotten what we paid for. Vote in Teabaggin, right-wing hacks and we are gonna garner some bad press:

Dear Bishops testifying in DC right now

Hurry up and get done oppressing women so you can get back to your full time job of demonizing and condemning young glbt children because lord (and the homeless shelters) knows you've been wildly successful at that job:



And to the parents who are throwing their children out like trash and thinking they have God's approval -- you are horribly and tragically wrong. Looking to these homophobic religious leaders for any kind of guidance is a big mistake. If there is a God, these men who claim to speak for Him will have to one day answer to Him. And so will you.

Here is the woman silenced by Chairman Issa at birth control hearing

Here is the testimony the GOP good ole boys club and the Religious Right good ole bishops club absolutely, positively do NOT want you to hear:



And as for her friend who has polycystic ovarian syndrome and needed the prescription birth control to stop cysts from growing on her ovaries:

"For my friend, and 20% of women in her situation, she never got the insurance company to cover her prescription, despite verification of her illness from her doctor.  Her claim was denied repeatedly on the assumption that she really wanted the birth control to prevent pregnancy.  She’s gay, so clearly polycystic ovarian syndrome was a much more urgent concern than accidental pregnancy.  After months of paying over $100 out of pocket, she just couldn’t afford her medication anymore and had to stop taking it.  I learned about all of this when I walked out of a test and got a message from her that in the middle of her final exam period she’d been in the emergency room all night in excruciating pain.  She wrote, “It was so painful, I woke up thinking I’d been shot.”  Without her taking the birth control, a massive cyst the size of a tennis ball had grown on her ovary.  She had to have surgery to remove her entire ovary.  She’s not here this morning.  She’s in a doctor’s office right now. Since last year’s surgery, she’s been experiencing night sweats, weight gain, and other symptoms of early menopause as a result of the removal of her ovary.  She’s 32 years old.  As she put it: “If my body is indeed in early menopause, no fertility specialist in the world will be able to help me have my own children."

Her friend will also face an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis as a result of being forced to go untreated, but at least our GOP politicians and the so-called religious leaders they'll do anything to protect (especially if it is politically advantageous) will be sleeping well knowing their freedom of religion has not been trampled.

So what's next for our fearless leaders? Why taking on those dirty, icky homos of course!

:

So the Republican good ole boys club don't need no stinkin wimen to make sweeping decisions on women's health issues

This is the All-Male Panel chosen by the GOP for the oversight hearing on Contraception and women's health. Boy o boy, this has got to be making a lot of Republicans very happy. They screech by day about the evils of Sharia law, but I've always believed by night  ... 

They envy these guys:

So what's next boys? This?

Update: I couldn't resist. I am adding yet another picture I lifted from Andrew's place - not that I needed further proof that the GOP has completely jumped the tracks when it comes to women and gays. But you know what they say about pictures being worth a 1000 words and all ...

Update #2: Here's my dream panel for an oversight hearing on Viagra and guns:

Following the journey of one Arizona man's travels on the gender expressway

I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people since I got involved with PFLAG. It truly opened up my world and gave me the chance to meet some of the most incredible and compassionate people I have ever met. It is one of the few places one can go and be who they are without judgment or shame cast upon them. And for anyone out there grappling with their sexual orientation, gender identity, or something within that spectrum, OR, if you are a family member or friend of someone struggling with these issues, OR, just an ally to the lgbt community, PFLAG is the place for you. And don't worry, if you do not live in Arizona, simply do a google search for the PFLAG meeting location nearest to you. You will not regret it - I promise.

Ok, with that said, I have gotten permission to post a link to a blog written by one of our very own PFLAG members who has decided to blog about his own unique story. And am I ever glad he is sharing his very personal story so publicly. He started the blog earlier this month so it is very new and I would strongly suggest scrolling down to his very first post and working your way up to his most recent post. You will understand why when you start reading, but I'll get you started by snipping and pasting his very first blog entry from February 8th titled Florida or Bust right here, that way you will get a taste of where his journey is taking him:

When I was 15 years old something terrible happened. I grew boobs. But on Valentine’s Day I’m giving myself the two best gifts ever. First, I’m burning my bras. Then, I’m heading to Sunrise, Florida, for male chest reconstruction surgery. Excited for me? Think I’m totally bonkerpants? Have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about? Come back each day and follow my adventures along the way.

I think, with some exceptions**, that we have reached a pretty good place when it comes to acceptance and  understanding of gay and lesbian issues, but I know we still have a long way to go to reach that same level of understanding and acceptance when it comes to gender identity issues. And ignorance can be such a formidable obstacle to reaching that point. So it is going to take courageous people like this young man to tell their story and share their fears and emotions to move understanding and acceptance forward. By blogging his transition story he not only lets others who are walking this same path know they are not alone, but he also educates those of us who do not understand what people who are struggling with these issues are going through. And I thank him for that. It is one more step towards reaching that same level of understanding and acceptance we've reached with our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

**exceptions: Most of the Republican Party including every one of the 2012 Republican Presidential candidates, most conservative right-wing religious groups and churches, most so-called family advocacy organizations (Focus on the Family, American Family Association, The Family Research Council), and most organized groups who claim to want to protect marriage (NOM).

Dear Rick Santorum, blow it out your frothy @$$

I just read the most amazing post over at Daily Kos and it is just too fantastic not to share, but splicing, dicing, and pasting does not do it proper justice either so please, please go read the whole thing. It will make your day.

Here is a taste to whet the appetite:

Dear Rick Santorum, I'm sorry you have the sexual maturity of a fucking twelve year old. I'm sorry that you would rather talk about the evils of gay people and women's access to contraception because you have no jobs plan at all, other than to scream "GET A JOB!" at people. I know why you do this, its' because you are a wholly corrupt corporate whore who wants to help the banksters screw American consumers and you have absolutely nothing else to offer people, but please, spare me your hurt feelings about being disrespected. Because of your blatant bigotry you already share a name with a fecal sex by-product, I think we are way past disrespectful at this point.

The reason we disrespect you, Rick Santorum, is because you are disgusting, hateful bigot and a massive corporate tool who has dedicated his life to making life miserable for a small percentage of LGBT Americans while you work tirelessly to enrich the already very rich. You long for a time when Blah People and Women knew their place, and you seem to think that the Presidency is like the Papacy. You're not running for the job of Pope of America, Pat Buchanan already has that job.

So spare me your self-righteous indignation, you mouth breathing, knuckle dragging troglodyte stereotype of a sexually suppressed Broadway villain from the 1950's.

[...]

Dear Rick Santorum, I'm sorry you don't like certain kinds of sex. That is your fucking problem.

To the sexually repressed adults who want to make believe it is 1955 and that a voting booth is a Delorean with a flux capacitor, I'd like to remind you of the movie Back To The Future. Just like the movie, eventually you are going to be forced to realize it is 2012, but you are still the repressed, conspiracy theory driven John Birch Republicans of 1955, and you're gonna be mad as hell when you figure out that just like in the movie, at the end Biff is just a chump and the black guy who used to mop the floor at the diner who Buff used to look down on is going to end up running the town and there is nothing you can do, Rick Santorum, to stop it.

But please, ENOUGH with the gay bashing religious extremist bullshit. Your entire campaign is a frothy blend of bigotry and bankster worship. Your campaign doesn't make me think of Jesus Christ, it makes me think of Fred Phelps. 

[...]

So, in closing, dear Rick Santorum, blow it out your frothy @$$. I'm sorry if that sounds divisive or disrespectful, but frankly, no one gives a fuck about your hurt feelings you bigoted corporate whore.

Peace and love to all, even the sexually repressed.

Rant over 

Arizona Republic online poll: "Was the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals right to overturn California's Prop 8 ban on gay marriage?"

Yes, 57 percent
No, 41 percent
Hard to say, 2 percent
Total votes: 2,304

Well this is interesting and yes, I know, quite unscientific, but still interesting. This is Arizona - you know.  And probably enough to cause Cathi Herrod, Arizona's top homophobe, a few sleepless nights, which makes this seething mama very, very happy and ready for a good night's sleep.

SFPD "It Gets Better" Video

This video really got to me. And I've got to believe that if I were a scared, bullied, gay or lesbian kid, this clip would really give me hope and comfort. It is one of the more powerful "It Gets Better" videos I've seen.

And speaking of non-partisan issues ...

I posted a rant just a few minutes ago about marriage equality and how it is not a partisan issue and then lo and behold, I come across this clip below. It's a bit beyond the scope of what this blog is all about, but not really. It certainly begs the question: Why do Republicans try and divide this country so much. And no issue is too divisive, too repulsive, too hurtful, too racist, too homophobic, or too despicable to use if it means a political gain for the person exploiting it.

This is the description on the YouTube page of this clip below:

February 8, 2012 - Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) came to the House Floor to respond to Newt Gingrich, who has begun calling President Obama the "Food Stamp President." Armed with facts, the Congressman has a little fun setting the record straight and despite the name calling, be concludes that "hunger knows no race or religion or age or political party. Hunger is colorblind."

SUH-NAP!

We need more Republicans like this Washington state legislator

I dare you to watch this without a tissue. I sure couldn't do it. Watch it and weep (with tears of joy).



The fact is, this fight for equality for the glbt community should not be splitting down party lines. It is NOT a partisan issue. Having a gay or lesbian child is not exclusive to any political party, religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, or any other category. And equality, dignity, family values, fairness, personal responsibility, the right to marry who we love, and the pursuit of happiness are certainly not values reserved for some Americans and not others. They are values that define us as Americans, they are values that unite us as one, they are values for everyone and not just for those that don't give Rick Santorum the heebie jeebies. And yet, for the most part, the Republican party believes these values should be divvied up based on what makes their socially conservative religious base most comfie. Being able to commit to and marry the person you love, without government intervention, without Religious intervention, and without restrictions that others around you don't suffer, is the American way, which is why we need Republicans on board to win this battle once and for all. And it is also why we should be applauding the Republican legislator in the above clip and any other Republican who recognizes that this is an American value we are fighting for, not a right wing Republican value.

  

Huge victory in California! Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

All I can say is THANK YOU Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for that oh-so wonderful ruling and victory #2.

And as is expected after such a momentous victory. There is just a ton of hub-bub and chatter on the internet and t.v. today. Unfortunately, I have been unable to fully revel in it all, there is just too much going on in my life right now. But worst of all, I cannot sit down and completely immerse myself in the anti-gay crowd's full-blown misery. And dang that really stinks!

But as usual, Joe. My. God. is doing a yeoman's job of covering it all. So give him a visit and enjoy the stay. He is in his blogging glory and seems to be doing a fine job of immersing himself in the anti-gay crowd's misery, even if I can't right now.

The thing that's toughest for me is not being able to watch the people at NOM, the AFA, the FRC, the Catholic Church, the Mormon Church, and every other hateful organization dedicated to demeaning and dehumanizing gays and lesbians as they suffer the pain and humiliation of this of loss. I just wish I could sit in front of my computer and watch them tremble with the same kind of seething rage I have been feeling since I found out my son was gay in 2003 and realized these heathens existed only to make life miserable for him. I want to revel in their anger and agony of defeat. I want them to feel neutered, impotent, and completely powerless like they thought they were making the glbt community feel. And yes, I want them to suffer as much as they have caused our gay and lesbian children and the people who love them to suffer. And if that sounds horrible and mean - it's meant to. These people are hateful scum and they deserve nothing more than our scorn and hate. To say I have been dreaming of this day is an understatement. And like an addict, I am going to need another fix and then another one after that, and then another one after that, and then ... well you get the picture.

Am I mean and cruel? Am I uncivilized and nasty? When it comes to these sanctimonious frauds - yes I am. And guess what?  I don't care. I am over the moon with joy and happiness and part of that joy and happiness is seeing them get a taste of the agony they have cause so many. And I do not give a rat's ass what anyone thinks of me. In fact I hope they hate me as much as they hate my gay son. That would be a badge of honor I'd wear proudly.

I have never claimed to be a moral, holier-than-thou, god-botherer. I have only claimed to be a mom who loves her gay son no matter who he loves. And the nasty, evil haters that stand in his way of having the same rights as everyone else are my mortal enemies.

But enough of my nasty, spiteful incivility - even though I am having way too much fun. I also want to talk about a hero in this story and that is Rob Reiner - one of the main players in this successful Prop 8 repeal saga. He made this happen. And we owe him a huge debt of gratitude. And Stephanie Miller had him on her radio show today to discuss the huge victory that happened in California yesterday.

After Prop 8 passed in 2008 and stripped California gays and lesbians of the right to marry, Mr. Reiner emerged as a huge and extremely supportive voice for marriage equality and the repeal of Prop 8. And he backed that supportive voice with money - a whole lot of it. In fact, he is the main financial backer behind this fight, and he is the person responsible for recruiting the big name attorneys that have been fighting this battle from the beginning.

Listen and enjoy:

Rob Reiner Talks About The Repeal Of Prop 8 on The Stephanie Miller Show 2-8-12 by RadioGuyChris

gotta go ... 

Study Suggests Low IQ, Social Conservatism, And Prejudice Are Linked

No big surprise in this study's findings:

There's no gentle way to put it: People who give in to racism and prejudice may simply be dumb, according to a new study that is bound to stir public controversy.

The research finds that children with low intelligence are more likely to hold prejudiced attitudes as adults. These findings point to a vicious cycle, according to lead researcher Gordon Hodson, a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario. Low-intelligence adults tend to gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies, the study found. Those ideologies, in turn, stress hierarchy and resistance to change, attitudes that can contribute to prejudice, Hodson wrote in an email to LiveScience.

"Prejudice is extremely complex and multifaceted, making it critical that any factors contributing to bias are uncovered and understood," he said.

Have not seen the show yet (it's DVR'd), but apparently Bill Maher discussesd this study with his panel last night:




I didn't need a formal study to convince me that low IQ is linked to racism, prejudice, and overly simplistic & rigid world views, but I would add that even smart people can choose to be ignorant. In my own family I see a version of this.

There are 5 kids in my family: I have 4 brothers and then there is me. Four out of the 5 of us have college degrees and most of us have significant post graduate studies under our belt as well. Now I'm not saying my one brother who chose not to pursue a college degree is dumb or has a low IQ, he's not and he doesn't, but isn't it ironic that this is the brother who absolutely, positively knows, without even a scintilla of a doubt that my gay son is going to spend an eternity in hell for choosing to be gay? 

Washington state Senator Steve Hobbs: I’m voting for marriage equality because I will never leave a fallen comrade behind

Full story and transcript written by Laurel Ramseyer over at Pam's place. Please watch this wonderful Senator's moving speech and then head on over to Pam's and get Laurel's very perceptive take on things.

How completely refreshing, invigorating, and inspirational it is to see a politician vote for something because it is the right thing to do and not because it is the politically advantageous thing to do for his career. What a  moving and brave speech and what a hero this guy is. 

Big-time insomnia, brain in overdrive, too much stimulation, I need a release, and I need some sleep

Having a really, really bad night. Can't sleep. Too much on my mind. So what better way to lull myself to sleep than to put all the mumbo jumbo that is running through my brain in an endless loop down in one post. Please forgive. I know this post is going to make you think this seething mama has gone off the rails, but trust me, this blog post is my therapy. Release the toxins here and then go to bed and sleep like a baby. Let it all out. Don't even try to make sense of it all - just let it flow.

So here goes. A quick look into the mind of a woman on the edge:

First a most apropos post of a very homophobic idiot who deserves all the humiliation we can throw at him - and a damn good laugh at the expense of a very vile Rick Santorum - Big thanks to Bad Lip Reading:



Next a very rewarding glitter bombing in Minnesota (thanks for the heads-up Jeff)  of another very worthy target - another GOP idiot and most likely the presidential nominee for the Party, Mitt Romney - couldn't happen in a better place either - keep on glitterin MN:

And now, my greatest hope: that Barry Goldwater was right - the Religious Right is going to eventually destroy the Republican Party- may it happen soon:

And last but probably the most pressing thing on my mind - could this possibly help my mom? Well it's worth a try - no?:



OMgawd forgive me! I had no idea the embedding code I grabbed before going to bed last night included an introduction by the Reverend Loopy himself. The original clip I saw didn't start off with him. Obviously this is not the clip I meant to use, please accept my apologies.

There now - I feel better...

Night night. Love you. May the sweet dreams begin ...

SM

Lovin me some Benson

Oh lookie, Arizona's wicked witch of the west is once again making Arizonans proud

Well color me shocked - our backwater guv is truly a nasty, disrespectful, and embarrassing hag. No sooner had President Obama's plane touched down at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport this evening and our classless governor was all up in his grill wagging her bony finger and giving him what looks like a nasty tongue lashing. 

Where is that flying house from Kansas when we need it? Her term cannot end fast enough for this fed-up Arizona mama.

Dear Minnesota and North Carolina:

Take a look at Washington state and see how it's done:

BREAKING: Washington’s Marriage Equality Bill Has Enough Votes to Pass and here is the 25th vote that will ensure full equality and dignity to that state's gay and lesbian citizens:

Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island)

And here is her statement in full:

Haugen announces stance on marriage equality

OLYMPIA – Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen issued the following statement today following the Senate hearing on Senate Bill 6239 to allow same-sex marriage:

“For several weeks now, I have heard from the people of my district. They’ve shared what’s in their hearts and minds.

“I have received many letters, emails, phone calls, very heartfelt, from both sides of the issue. I’ve also received a number of very negative comments from both sides.

“For some people, this is a simple issue. I envy them. It has not been simple or easy for me.

“To some degree, this is generational. Years ago I took exception to my parents’ beliefs on certain social issues, and today my children take exception to some of mine. Times change, even if it makes us uncomfortable. I think we should all be uncomfortable sometime. None of us knows everything, and it’s important to have our beliefs questioned. Only one being in this world is omniscient, and it’s not me.

“I have very strong Christian beliefs, and personally I have always said when I accepted the Lord, I became more tolerant of others. I stopped judging people and try to live by the Golden Rule. This is part of my decision. I do not believe it is my role to judge others, regardless of my personal beliefs. It’s not always easy to do that. For me personally, I have always believed in traditional marriage between a man and a woman. That is what I believe, to this day.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Steps Down from Congress

This is such a huge loss for Arizona:



There are so many emotions I am feeling right now: sadness, loss, anger, and fear - just to name a few. I don't think I need to explain all of these feelings, in particular, the sadness and loss, but the anger and fear? Well there are so many reasons to be both angry and fearful and one does not need to look too far back in Arizona's past to understand why anger and especially fear are legitimate emotions to be feeling right about now. Here are just two reasons from Arizona's very recent history that should scare any sane person, but rest-assured Arizona has a very long and colorful love affair with guns and the nuts who've lost any hint of sanity or common sense when writing laws regulating them:

• Arizona's well-earned and very deserved reputation for having a very right-wing, gun-luvin, NRA-beholden legislature, which has only gotten crazier and more prolific with their legislation of guns-for-everybody-anywhere-anytime laws since the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords. Examples here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. And those are only the tip of the iceberg. 
• And secondly, I worry about the huge hole Gabby's resignation leaves on the list of sane Arizona congressional representatives. I simply cannot forget the nutcase teabagger who ran against Gabrielle Giffords in the 2010 elections. His name is Jesse Kelly and his campaign was enough to send the fear of God through me.  In this case, just 2 pictures are worth a thousand blog posts on this idiot:

So Newt, the family values adulterer, has won the South Carolina primary

The clip below is for you Newtie ...



Via BJ's Anne Laurie

Psst: be sure and click on over to Anne's post and see what special anniversary Newtie will be celebrating tomorrow...

Tony Perkins: "Evangelicals are not judgmental."

So Mr. Tony Perkins thinks Evangelicals are not judgmental. And he says it with a straight face and without even a scintilla of shame. What a lying ass this man is ... or maybe he's just trying out the face-saving talking points he will have to use when scraping the egg off his face when his party, the party of Family Values and Sanctity of Marriage, nominates a thrice married adulterer as their candidate for President of the United States.

Why the hell MSNBC continues to invite this hate-filled, judgmental, homophobe and leader of the Family Research Council, an officially designated hate group, onto any of their shows is beyond me. I immediately turn the channel when I see this man's face. I cannot help but feel like I need to shower when I hear Tony Perkins speak, he really gives me the creeps. And I don't think I am the only one who feels this way.

How dare anyone ask Newt, the Family Values and Sanctity of Marriage protector, anything about how he personally destroyed his own multiple marriages and families

Newt, the adulterer, hypocrite, and general scumbag, throws
tantrums when  anyone calls him on it.

So Republicans in South Carolina are lovin them some Newtster right about now. Or at least it looked that way at the debates last night. Just take a look at the clip below if you don't believe me.

Just 5 minutes in and CNN's debate moderator, John King, dared to question this relatively new and very staunch Catholic and old and very staunch Family Values politician about ABC's interview with Newt's former mistress and second ex-wife, Marianne, in which she claimed Ole Newtie wanted her to "share" him with his second mistress and current third wife, Calista, in an open marriage. And WOW. Just wow. Newt's response was pure Academy Award level faux outrage and distraction from the screaming fact that he is a pig, adulterer, and a grave danger to the institution of marriage as he envisions it for everyone else - except those icky homos.  

But apparently the bible belt Southern Baptist South Carolinian Conservative Evangelicals in the audience just lapped up Newt's blustery, blowhard, aghastedness at the fact that anyone would dare ask him about his own long and sordid history as a man-whore, hypocrite, and general scumbag extraordinaire. And boy oh boy did he let loose on poor ole John for daring to do the job he was being paid to do, ask the tough questions so we voters can get to know who we are voting for.

I personally was sickened by the Newt's tantrum, but then again I am not a Republican, I am not a Republican (deserves repeating), I am not a bible-thumpin hypocrite, and I certainly don't want Obama defeated at any cost even if it means voting for a toxic, stomach-turning pig and hypocrite like Newty. But I am not the people who attended the debate last night and clapped with glee in response to Newty's "performance". They ate it up and begged for more. And poor John King ... well ... as much as it pains me to do so,  I guess I am going to be forced to quote Brent Bozell for lack of a better quote that sizes up what the audience thought happened last night, so please forgive me:

Someone get the license number of the truck that just ran John King over. 

Take your Rolaids and watch at your own risk. Barf bag might be needed:

The Gay Rights Movement

I came across this short documentary by Ryan James Yezak over at Pam's House Blend. It is a powerful 7 minute reminder of how far this country has come, but how far we still have to go when it comes to full equality for our glbt brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. The clip is very well done and very emotional (at least for me), but I do agree with Pam's quibbles about the piece, which I have snipped and posted below.

This is the first time I have encountered anything by Ryan James Yezak and I am impressed. He is definitely very talented and I think his work will have a powerful impact in the fight for full equality. I am including a link to his next project, Second Class Citizens Documentary, I hope you'll check it out.



And as for Pam's quibble, which is not directed so much at Yezak as it is at the gay rights movement in general, I'll post a snippet and you can decide if she has a legitimate point or not, I believe she does:

My quibble with the piece is about the decisions revolving around what is and isn’t included.  In a compilation of any historical movement that is only around seven few minutes, you have to select what you feel is representative, and that’s editorial license of the filmmaker. My comments aren’t really toward Yezak; his selections do represent the status quo thinking about the movement – it’s largely about gay white men.

Aside from clips of Ellen DeGeneres talking about the murder of Lawrence King (and a blink-of-an-eye clip of her coming out on her sitcom), you’d think lesbians are practically non-existent in the movement. And it’s definitely “gay rights” only – don’t expect anything related to trans folk here either. If gays and lesbians are second-class citizens, you have to wonder what society considers transgender citizens if we render them invisible from the movement (as bis already are).

And people of color? Well, aside from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (an opportunity to show gay activist and organizer of the March on Washington, from which the clip is taken, Bayard Rustin, was missed), one unmistakable landmark event in gay rights history is Lawrence v. Texas, which revolved around an interracial couple, John Geddes Lawrence and Tyron Garner. Not in the clips. Note: if Dan Choi hadn’t been in the DADT-related clips, then the vid would have been a complete whitewash. It’s kind of sad.

But my point is that editorial decision making is subjective in any film or documentary, and this particular slice of the cinematic pie probably represents the general audience’s perceptions of the movement and what it looks like as well. Will that ever organically evolve into broader vision of the movement? I hope so.

No, I am not manic depressive, I just play one when blogging

For those who have followed my blog for any significant amount of time, you know I am not the most prolific blogger in the blogosphere, nor am I a very reliable source for those who need a daily fix of seething rage. In fact anyone with even the slightest familiarity with my blogging habits might conclude I suffer from something akin to bipolar affective disorder in that I go through periods where you'd think I dropped off the face of the map never to be heard from again and other periods where I am darn right chatty and in your face when it comes to blogging.

Thankfully, I can assure you I am not suffering from any mental disorders that I know of, but as is the case with most of us, life can throw some pretty good curve balls and get in the way of even the best laid plans (to be a prolific blogger aiming a non-stop barrage of incendiary seething rage at anyone who dares to stand in my gay son's way of being a first-class citizen of this great country). And the curve ball I am dealing with right now was actually thrown back in August of 2007 when my mother fell and sustained a TBI (traumatic brain injury) that was far more serious than I realized at the time. I actually blogged about it here when it first happened and before I knew what that fall was going to mean down the road.

My mother was married and living down in Tucson at the time she fell. Her husband (of 7 years) was going downhill fast and very dependent on her. He was fast descending into his own world of dementia and alcoholism, making what she had hoped would be their golden years more of a nightmare than a fairy tale. He died while she was up here in Scottsdale going through the long and arduous task of rehabilitation and getting some semblance of her past life back.  It was not a great situation, but one she handled the same way she handled all the challenges in her life and there were plenty of them. She has always been an extremely strong and very capable woman who knew how to handle tough situations. She proved that early on when she ended up a single mom supporting and raising 5 young children and doing a damn good job of it. She amazed everyone who knew her with her beauty, her brains, her independence, her strength, and her amazing gut instincts and 6th sense about things. She was and is my Rock of Gibraltar and my best friend. We were and are very very close. I say "was" and "is" because the dynamics have changed. Now it is me who needs to be my mother's Rock of Gibraltar.

My mother has been diagnosed with dementia. She is still doing well, but the future is a great big unknown. I am scared. I am devastated. And I am mourning. I am watching the mom I have loved and adored die a slow-motion death and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. Our roles have been reversed and it is me she leans on and me who will take care of her as she slowly loses her independence and her mind. And I would have it no other way.

It hurts so damn much. I don't want to lose her. But there is nothing I can do to stop what is going on. The wheels were set in motion back in 2007.

And so, I will continue to blog in a manic depressive fashion. I started this blog as an outlet for my intense anger at things I thought I could not change and I will continue to use this blog as an outlet for my intense anger at things I cannot change. There will just be a whole lot more stuff fueling my emotional outbursts. So please bear with me.  

WHAT FANTASTIC NEWS FOR MINNESOTA

Jeff Wilfahrt, father of fallen soldier Cpl Andrew Wilfahrt, and hero to all
who believe in marriage equality for everyone.

JEFF WILFAHRT IS RUNNING FOR A SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES!!!!! Sorry for the shouting, but I've misplaced my bullhorn and the mountaintop I use to shout amazing news like this. And I also want to apologize for being so late in reporting this so please forgive me. I received an email the other day from the man himself, Jeff Wilfahrt,  announcing his plans to run for the MN House of Representatives in the fall of 2012 on the DFL ticket. From his email:

I am running on DFL ticket. To that end I declare myself fiscally conservative and socially progressive.

To the first point I offer the following evidence. We own our home free and clear. We put two of our children through college debt free. Aside from the revolving door of taxation we owe no one. In our leanest years we went without to achieve those ends.

To the second point; as you are aware last year in 2011 we lost our eldest son to an IED in Afghanistan. Had the GOP not put forward the Marriage Amendment for the 2012 ballot many of you would not know my name nor would you be receiving this beg letter.

And his political philosophy: 

My core philosophy is a paraphrase of the Wellstone statement; “Everyone does better when everyone does better.” We achieve the best of that through governance.

I believe in Government. It is what binds us as a society. It serves a critical function across the spectrum of our daily lives.
I believe in Labor, as in unionized. If you have benefits and the weekend off, thank the labor movement in this country in years gone by.
I believe in Education. To the point of boredom I have told our children that by definition half the population is below average (the ‘mean’ for you technocrats) and that our only hope is to raise the average.

I am definitely prochoice on the issue of abortion.
I am definitely supportive of the long overdue Equal Rights Amendment in the state constitution.
I am definitely supportive of a resolution to establish fairness on the issue of immigrants and their status.

I oppose the notion that government is our kitchen table and bound the trite idea that we must live within our means. Government to me is the lever by which we will lift ourselves upward and outward from this morass we are in.
I oppose Photo ID. As put more succinctly by others, this is a solution looking for a problem.
I oppose the marriage amendment.
I oppose the requirement of a super majority for tax increases.

Should you like to contribute to this terrific candidate's campaign, you can mail your check to:

 

12707 Chinchilla Ave
Rosemount, MN 55068

You are allowed to donate in any amount up to and not exceeding $250 per individual. The initial balance is $500, comprising $250 each from my wife and me.

Jeff and Lori Wilfahrt are huge heroes in my book and they are just what the Minnesota state legislature needs to get Minnesota back to the grand state I will always love and treasure. So out with the bad (buh-bye Minnesota Senate Majority Leader, adulterer, and Family Values Fraud, Amy Koch) and in with the good (hello Champion of marriage equality and dignity for all Minnesotans-straight or gay, Jeff Wilfahrt).

Related:
And there is no shortage of anti-gay hate going on in my beloved Minnesota either
"Andrew’s Round Table" aims to defeat MN marriage amendment
Minnesota DFL: In All Its Different Forms...Family Is About Love
Of loaves and fishes by Jeff Wilfahrt
Minnesota Poll: 55% oppose ban on gay marriage
MINNESOTA: Openly Gay State Sen. Scott Dibble: What problem are we trying to solve here?
Another Minnesota Politician and Hero
Dear Minnesota,
Thank you Jeff and Lori Wilfahrt, your son would be so proud
Revisiting my Minnesota days and hoping that Minnesota doesn't lose what sets it apart from states like Arizona
A heartfelt letter of apology from the MN gay community to recently resigned Republican Senate Majority Leader, Amy Koch
DADT Cannot End Soon Enough!
Rachel Maddow Puts A Spotlight On Minnesota's Anti-Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment And The Heroes In This Fight
CNN: Soldier leaves legacy much larger than 'he was gay'

As my family comes together for Thanksgiving, it is hard not to think of families like the Wilfahrts 

Why I Hate Religion ...

Last night my son showed me the first of the 2 video clips below and told me it is going viral on Facebook. And at this moment of posting it has had 6,984,315 viewings. It is titled Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus - Spoken Word. It is quite good and I can see why it is so appealing to young people. And I gleefully cheer its raging success on the interwebs - its message is quite powerful and quite damning.

But what is a more powerful video clip in helping me explain why I, as an older person and a mom who has a gay child, hate religion with every fiber in my body is the It Gets Better video by EricJames Borges that follows the first clip. And I will explain why this second clip sends me into a seething rage filled with nothing but contempt for those who hate and bully and destroy in the name of God. So watch both clips and then join me for some final commentary afterwards - k?





Both are great clips - no? The first one has really caught fire with the younger crowd and I am glad - it has a message I think is great. And it does a stupendous job of exposing the right-wing sanctimonious frauds who claim to be Christians as the cruel, bigoted bullies many of them really are.

But it is the second clip that gets to parents like me and here is why:

Eric James Borges, 19, of Visalia, California, succumbed to suicide Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Known as EricJames to his friends, he was an intern with the Trevor Project, and a Supplemental instructor at the College of the Sequoias.

So I am going to do what I do a lot on this blog when words fail me and quote Andrew Sullivan's comments about "what fundamentalist Christianity and social ostracism can do to a human soul". As always, his words are profound:

Eric - after making this video and struggling to overcome the impact of this psychological and physical warfare against him - killed himself two days ago at the age of 19. His own mother had tried to exorcize the gayness out of him. His own mother.

You want to know why so many of us are so impassioned to change the world that effectively killed this human being, made in the image of God? To love and save the Erics of today, and to prevent the laws and culture that reduce him - and all that he is - to the word "faggot." And this is a task real Christians need to be in the vanguard of, rather than adding to the pain and torture that seeps into the lives of so many, so young, and so vulnerable.

Why is that so hard to understand? Can anyone doubt where Jesus would be in this battle?

Congratulations - You did it!

You soloed! 

And for those who are wondering ... yes, this is the son that inspired this blog. And for those who are curious what he looks like now ...  he looks like this: