Dear Religious Right, Catholic Church, and Mormon Church

With all your hard work spreading the "Christian" message of hatred for gays and lesbians, I thought you'd like to see some of the fruits of your labor. And make no mistake, this man pictured in this post is the product of all your hate-mongering in the name of God.

No wonder the number of Americans who have no religious affiliaton has doubled over the last decade. And count this seething mom as one of those who has walked away. My only regret? That I didn't do it sooner. Somehow pleading to God for my son's safety from the inside of one of your "Houses of God", ground zero for much of the hate and homophobia that endangers our gay and lesbian children, just doesn't make much sense anymore.

Is it any wonder gays think Christians hate them?:



Hat tip JMG

Making straights walk in the moccasins of the glbt community

Some excellent PSAs that give those people unable to put themselves in someone else's shoes an idea of what it would be like to be denied the many rights that straights have and take for granted. Via Queers United:



And in Spanish:



Time to take the megaphone away from those who twist the bible to hide their own bigotry and homophobia. Most Americans are fair minded. Frame it correctly and show the injustice from their perspective, and I think we can win this battle. And I think these PSAs are a good start.

Where have you been Frank Schaeffer?

This video clip from D.L. Hughley's show is just so good, that I have nothing to say. It speaks for itself. Please watch it:




UPDATE: If you loved what this man had to say as much as I did and you want more, then go here. Here's a taste of what you'll get if you do:

You Republicans are the arsonists who burned down our national home. You combined the failed ideologies of the Religious Right, so-called free market deregulation and the Neoconservative love of war to light a fire that has consumed America. Now you have the nerve to criticize the "architect" America just hired -- President Obama -- to rebuild from the ashes. You do nothing constructive, just try to hinder the one person willing and able to fix the mess you created.

A big fat thank you to Laffy for posting this

Could China beat the U.S. to marriage equality?

Note: this post is dedicated to my dear friend in china whose name shall remain anonymous

Wow:

There is still no legal protection against discrimination in China and few role models: no mainstream figures are openly gay. Yet now parts of China's gay
population are calling for the right to wed - and meeting with some sympathy.

I am probably a bit premature with my excitement here. But I am certainly struck by the irony when I think about the possibilities. I had to read the above snippet twice in order for it to sink in, we are talking about China and gay marriage in the same sentence. And I definitely think it begs the question Andrew asks, "Wouldn't it be amazing if China got there first?"

Here is a snippet from the article that got Andrew asking the question:

Li's research in cities suggests about 91% of people are happy to work with gay colleagues - a higher rate than in US surveys - and that 30% back gay marriage.

She argues that Chinese culture has historically been more tolerant than others: "We don't have religions which are absolutely against homosexuality, for example. But the pressure to marry is huge - far greater than in the west." Han, 27, thinks her parents know she is a lesbian. "But my mum told me I must have experience of marriage, no matter how long it lasts. I don't think she hopes to change my sexuality, she just thinks my life will be more stable," said the media professional.

Say what you will, but I believe organized religion of the right-wing whacko bent is going to continue to be this country's biggest road-block. And once again, I'll quote Andrew: "If you decouple the notion of "family" from fundamentalist religion, same-sex marriage is revealed as the socially conservative reform it actually is."

Damn! I get so depressed when I think about the number of people in this country who are perfectly content letting others define what is moral for them. And I get downright enraged when I think of the years that people like Ted Haggard had a U.S. President's ear when it came to legislating my morality. My God that just fries me.

I hope China does beat us to the finish line on this one, we'd deserve it for letting a bunch of odious, hypocritical, sanctimonious frauds with more sexual hang-ups than Carter has pills define what is and isn't a sin.