This post was actually written by another QueerToday member, Jason, and I first read it via a social networking site. I think it's REALLY important that we take steps to advocate for this person, and for other folks suffering under the "justice" system in this country, so I am reposting it so you all have a chance to take action. I called her and got her voicemail, and you probably will too, but let's pack her machine! Here's Jason's text:
**URGENT** Calls needed in support of prisoner in Mass.
***100 phone calls needed Friday, March 30th ***
***Support the safety of a targetted out gay prisoner***
Tod Walsh has been targetted for violence in nearly every prison he's been at in Massachusetts. Souza Baranowski and Cedar Junction have been two of the worst. They are also the highest security facilities within Massachusetts. With the new classification process Tod is being threatened with a transfer to Souza Baranowski, the prison where he experienced months of sexual violence as guards stood by and watched.
The demand is simple. DO NOT TRANSFER TOD WALSH TO CEDAR JUNCTION OR SOUZA BARANOWSKI! Tod is willing to be moved to any other facility in Massachusetts and is even willing to be placed in isolation. Tod would be willing to go out of state if that was possible. Because he has continuously advocated for himself and got prison guards in trouble, there are few safe places for Tod to finish his sentence, but Cedar Junction and Souza Baranowski are OUT OF THE QUESTION.
Please call Carol Mici, Director of Classification for the Massachusetts Department of Correction. She can be reached at:
(508) 850-7745 ext.7750
Easy script: "Hello, my name is (your name). I am calling in support of Tod Walsh a prisoner currently at Old Colony. It is my understanding that you are intending to classify him to a prison where he has experienced violence and sexual assault in the past. He is willing to be placed anywhere other than Souza Baranowski or Cedar Junction. I expect that you will look out for his safety and place him at one of the other prisons. Thank you."
The goal is to have 100 phone calls this Friday. Please take 2 minutes of your time to do so and then please ask 5 of your friends to do the same. It is very challenging to make significant difference within the prison industrial complex, this is one simple thing that could really help one person.
Thank you!
Jason
The Return of Civil Disobedience?
When the establishment starts getting tougher, you know you're making an impact. In true deep South fashion, a Mississippi judge took the unusual step of mandating jail time (10 days) and community service for some Soulforce protesters after they were arrested at Mississippi College.
All Soulforce wanted to do was dialogue with students about homosexuality, but the administration of Mississippi College was disturbed by the prospect of critical thought coming to their campus and promptly had them arrested.
With the Soulforce arrests and Larry Kramer of ACT UP calling for civil disobedience (as well as arrests at a recent ACT UP protest), I am sensing that a large number of people are sick and tired of being "nice" and ready to start confronting homophobia head on again.
Now if only we could get like minded people organized...
All Soulforce wanted to do was dialogue with students about homosexuality, but the administration of Mississippi College was disturbed by the prospect of critical thought coming to their campus and promptly had them arrested.
With the Soulforce arrests and Larry Kramer of ACT UP calling for civil disobedience (as well as arrests at a recent ACT UP protest), I am sensing that a large number of people are sick and tired of being "nice" and ready to start confronting homophobia head on again.
Now if only we could get like minded people organized...
News Briefs: The Sissy Church, New Jersey Black Lesbians From Civil Union, and NBJC Responds to Actions of Army Recruiter
Hutchinson on “The Sissy Church”
There’s an interesting article on BlackAmericaWeb.com today posted by my friend and mentor Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson entitled, “Talk of ‘The Sissy Church’ – Meaning Tolerance for Gays – Inflames Many Blacks.”
Here’s an excerpt...
The Rev. Dennis Meredith’s mouth had to drop when his head deacon brusquely accused him of turning their place of worship into "a sissy church” and left in a huff. Rev. Meredith had committed the unpardonable sin to the deacon -- and, as it turned out, hundreds of other black members at the predominantly black Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta -- of embracing and welcoming gay members. The deacon and the other members that fled the church in protest over gays are not a hateful, intolerant aberration. There are reports from other black churches of members marching out in indignation when their minister preaches a message of tolerance toward gays......(Read More)
New Jersey Black Lesbians Form Civil Union
On National Public Radio’s News&Notes, Black lesbians sued the state of New Jersey for a same-sex marriage. But Saundra Toby-Heath and Alicia Heath-Toby say for now, they are satisfied with their civil union. Click here to listen.
NBJC Fiercely Condemns Actions of Army Recruiter
Words cannot fully express the shock, disgust, and anger that has risen within the Black LGBT community over the recent actions of Army recruiter, Sergeant Marcia Ramode.
Back in February, Sgt. Ramode responded to an online resume post of Jersey City, NJ resident Corey Andrew. After revealing that he was openly gay Sgt. Ramode responded with the following email rant.
"GO BACK TO AFRICA AND DO YOUR GAY VOODOO LIMBO TANGO AND WANGO DANCE AND JUMP AROUND AND PRANCE AND RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE HALF NAKED THERE...THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG"
In addition, Sgt. Ramode stated that being gay made him unqualified, and that it was "disgusting and immoral."
The National Black Justice Coalition denounces the actions taken by Sr. Ramode and strongly urges that Ramode be promptly relieved of duties for violating the Department of Defense's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in which recruiters are barred from asking applicants about their sexual orientation.
"Sgt. Ramode's comments demonstrate her callous disregard for the dignity and humanity of Corey Andrew. It is no small leap to assume that her words reveal her narrow-minded and un-American view of all Black and gay Americans as well. Those sworn to protect our nation should not tolerate such venal attacks on our fellow Americans. Ms. Ramode should be immediately dismissed and the Army should examine the role that the Army's culture has played in tolerating such views within its ranks" stated H. Alexander Robinson, NBJC Executive Director/CEO.
There’s an interesting article on BlackAmericaWeb.com today posted by my friend and mentor Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson entitled, “Talk of ‘The Sissy Church’ – Meaning Tolerance for Gays – Inflames Many Blacks.”
Here’s an excerpt...
The Rev. Dennis Meredith’s mouth had to drop when his head deacon brusquely accused him of turning their place of worship into "a sissy church” and left in a huff. Rev. Meredith had committed the unpardonable sin to the deacon -- and, as it turned out, hundreds of other black members at the predominantly black Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta -- of embracing and welcoming gay members. The deacon and the other members that fled the church in protest over gays are not a hateful, intolerant aberration. There are reports from other black churches of members marching out in indignation when their minister preaches a message of tolerance toward gays......(Read More)
New Jersey Black Lesbians Form Civil Union
On National Public Radio’s News&Notes, Black lesbians sued the state of New Jersey for a same-sex marriage. But Saundra Toby-Heath and Alicia Heath-Toby say for now, they are satisfied with their civil union. Click here to listen.
NBJC Fiercely Condemns Actions of Army Recruiter
Words cannot fully express the shock, disgust, and anger that has risen within the Black LGBT community over the recent actions of Army recruiter, Sergeant Marcia Ramode.
Back in February, Sgt. Ramode responded to an online resume post of Jersey City, NJ resident Corey Andrew. After revealing that he was openly gay Sgt. Ramode responded with the following email rant.
"GO BACK TO AFRICA AND DO YOUR GAY VOODOO LIMBO TANGO AND WANGO DANCE AND JUMP AROUND AND PRANCE AND RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE HALF NAKED THERE...THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG"
In addition, Sgt. Ramode stated that being gay made him unqualified, and that it was "disgusting and immoral."
The National Black Justice Coalition denounces the actions taken by Sr. Ramode and strongly urges that Ramode be promptly relieved of duties for violating the Department of Defense's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in which recruiters are barred from asking applicants about their sexual orientation.
"Sgt. Ramode's comments demonstrate her callous disregard for the dignity and humanity of Corey Andrew. It is no small leap to assume that her words reveal her narrow-minded and un-American view of all Black and gay Americans as well. Those sworn to protect our nation should not tolerate such venal attacks on our fellow Americans. Ms. Ramode should be immediately dismissed and the Army should examine the role that the Army's culture has played in tolerating such views within its ranks" stated H. Alexander Robinson, NBJC Executive Director/CEO.
Circumcision
The UN is recommending circumcision to prevent HIV/AIDS in Africa. Studies show it can reduce the risk up to 60%. (Of course, that does not apply for gay sex.) I feel a bit conflicted about this. Personally, I hate circumcision and I'm still mad at my parents for mutilating me and robbing me of my natural sexual sensitivity. And are there any studies on what difference it would make if we actually put the kinds of money and resources towards safer sex education and other efforts that we should? Thoughts?
Don’t throw rocks when you live in a glass house.
Amy Contrada has been on the Board of Parents Education Foundation since 2006. The foundation is the backbone of MassNutBags, where Brian Camenker is the President. If you want to donate to to Amy and Brian while getting a tax break you can donate to the education foundation. But if you want to donate to their hate mongering... well that is not tax deductible. Do not worry, Brian and Amy both have split personalities. They keep their hate mongering separate from their educational work so that they follow the tax laws accordingly!
Introducing Amy's Evil Husband
Amy Contrada lives with Michael Contrada in Acton. (click here if you would like to see a picture)
Michael is the Executive Vice President of Balanced Scorecard Collaborative. His company helps increase the financial success of huge oil companies (the 7th largest) that destroy the earth and the army that has killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people around the world.
Michael is also a supporter of George Bush! He was even silly enough to give money to him in 2004...after he fucked up this country... (shame on you Michael)
Before working at this weird Balanced Scorecard company, Michael did work for chemical companies, pharmaceutical companies, and energy companies. How Christ-like of him.... destroy the earth, take advantage of the sick and poor, and support the murdering of innocent Iraqis! What about the parts of the bible that say we are the caretakers of the earth, we should feed and clothe the poor, and "thall shall not kill"?
We here at QueerToday would like to give our first ever Good Christian Award to Michael & Amy. For your hateful disregard of Christian values. Don't let it get to your head: Remember Jesus loves you but he is not in love with you.
Amy & Brian are the largest complainers on the planet. Their recent post and hilarious radio hatecast (a must listen!) both prove it. They take pictures of me.... then claim I am there to intimidate them with my camera.... and then turn around and post pictures of me on their website. {Hmmm I think I have to go put on some boots, this shit is about waist high.} Wait until you hear the ridiculous descriptions of QueerToday.com and our friends!
They used to call us radical homosexual terrorists, but now we are reduced "sad effeminate gay boys." I'm actually really happy. Some might even call me gay.
Notes to Amy: A. Your frumpy clothes and disorganized web site do not reflect the amount of money your husband ( or do you live with your brother?) must be raking in helping evil corporations increase their productivity. B. "Radical homosexual terrorists" works much better... it adds that element of fear that you desperately try to instill in your readers. No one is afraid of a sad effeminate gay boy Amy. Don't you want these people to stand up and fight against our homosexual agenda? C. As long as you continue posting our photos on your web site, we will do the same.
Shout out to MassResistanceWatch for keeping on top of the MassNutBags and their continual hypocrisy!
Introducing Amy's Evil Husband
Amy Contrada lives with Michael Contrada in Acton. (click here if you would like to see a picture)
Michael is the Executive Vice President of Balanced Scorecard Collaborative. His company helps increase the financial success of huge oil companies (the 7th largest) that destroy the earth and the army that has killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people around the world.
Michael is also a supporter of George Bush! He was even silly enough to give money to him in 2004...after he fucked up this country... (shame on you Michael)
Before working at this weird Balanced Scorecard company, Michael did work for chemical companies, pharmaceutical companies, and energy companies. How Christ-like of him.... destroy the earth, take advantage of the sick and poor, and support the murdering of innocent Iraqis! What about the parts of the bible that say we are the caretakers of the earth, we should feed and clothe the poor, and "thall shall not kill"?
We here at QueerToday would like to give our first ever Good Christian Award to Michael & Amy. For your hateful disregard of Christian values. Don't let it get to your head: Remember Jesus loves you but he is not in love with you.
Amy & Brian are the largest complainers on the planet. Their recent post and hilarious radio hatecast (a must listen!) both prove it. They take pictures of me.... then claim I am there to intimidate them with my camera.... and then turn around and post pictures of me on their website. {Hmmm I think I have to go put on some boots, this shit is about waist high.} Wait until you hear the ridiculous descriptions of QueerToday.com and our friends!
They used to call us radical homosexual terrorists, but now we are reduced "sad effeminate gay boys." I'm actually really happy. Some might even call me gay.
Notes to Amy: A. Your frumpy clothes and disorganized web site do not reflect the amount of money your husband ( or do you live with your brother?) must be raking in helping evil corporations increase their productivity. B. "Radical homosexual terrorists" works much better... it adds that element of fear that you desperately try to instill in your readers. No one is afraid of a sad effeminate gay boy Amy. Don't you want these people to stand up and fight against our homosexual agenda? C. As long as you continue posting our photos on your web site, we will do the same.
Shout out to MassResistanceWatch for keeping on top of the MassNutBags and their continual hypocrisy!
Rally for the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride
Soulforce is touring the country to educate Christian colleges about our lives and the harm done by discrimination and predjudice. The cool thing about Soulforce is that they believe in non-violent civil disobedience. They have already been arrested on several campuses. View their web site for a list of all of their arrests and rallies so far. Help us give them a warm welcome to Massachusetts! They have been getting arrested all across the country for us!
The North Shore Unitarian Universalist Church [NSUU] in Danvers, MA and Greater Boston PFLAG [Parents, Family and Friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons] are holding a special event to welcome the 25 Equality Riders from Soulforce who are touring Christian colleges in the Eastern United Sates.
The Equality Ride’s next stop is Gordon College where they will be attending Vespers and other events with students, faculty and administration. Their mission “is to engage in dialog about the damaging affects of homophobic doctrine and the false notion that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities are sick and sinful”. “In their creative pursuit of social justice they are empowered to change countless lives”.
Twenty Five young adults will be on the bus and grateful for a large welcome to the North Shore community!
Who is Soulforce? “The Purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless non-violent resistance”
Date/Time: April 15th at NSUU 5-6 pm dinner for the riders 6-9pm Rally
Rally: Join us for music, refreshments, inspirational speakers, And meet the Equality Riders.
For Directions: www.nsuu.org Contact: Marty-langlois@comcast.net
The North Shore Unitarian Universalist Church [NSUU] in Danvers, MA and Greater Boston PFLAG [Parents, Family and Friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons] are holding a special event to welcome the 25 Equality Riders from Soulforce who are touring Christian colleges in the Eastern United Sates.
The Equality Ride’s next stop is Gordon College where they will be attending Vespers and other events with students, faculty and administration. Their mission “is to engage in dialog about the damaging affects of homophobic doctrine and the false notion that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities are sick and sinful”. “In their creative pursuit of social justice they are empowered to change countless lives”.
Twenty Five young adults will be on the bus and grateful for a large welcome to the North Shore community!
Who is Soulforce? “The Purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless non-violent resistance”
Date/Time: April 15th at NSUU 5-6 pm dinner for the riders 6-9pm Rally
Rally: Join us for music, refreshments, inspirational speakers, And meet the Equality Riders.
For Directions: www.nsuu.org Contact: Marty-langlois@comcast.net
Update: More Arrests As Gay Equality Ride Rolls On
(Williamsburg, Kentucky) Another day, another college campus, and more arrests as the Soulforce Equality Ride continues its journey across America protesting against schools that bar or restrict LGBT students.
support transgender & youth rights
Let's give the Governor's new web site the benefit of the doubt. Vote for LGBT Youth Rights and Trans rights below. Let's see if we can get them up high enough to raise attention (at least among readers of that site) to these two important issues.
Romney Buying College Republicans
Mitt Romney is paying college republicans to fundraise for him. May the candidate who pays the college students the most win? Classy. One thing I can agree with the MassNutBags is that Mitt Romney is a total nightmare.
Boston, Massachusetts) A millionaire thanks to his work as a venture capitalist, Mitt Romney is acutely aware of the motivating power of money. His presidential campaign hopes it will have a similar effect on college students, which is why it's offering them a cut of their fundraising.Participants in "Students for Mitt" will get 10 percent of the money they raise for the campaign beyond the first $1,000. While candidates often offer professional fundraisers commissions up to 8 percent, campaign experts believe the Massachusetts Republican is the first to do so with the legion of college students who have historically served as campaign volunteers. - 365gay/AP
QueerToday Vs. MassNutBags
Based on a quick google search, here are the numbers.
GOOGLE HITS:
MassNutBags.org- 748
MassNutBags.net.com- 253
QueerToday.com- 3,810 !
We don't cover the news, we are the news.
GOOGLE HITS:
MassNutBags.org- 748
MassNutBags.net.com- 253
QueerToday.com- 3,810 !
We don't cover the news, we are the news.
MassEquality Supports The War!
On Saturday MassEquality staff canvassed the anti-war rally on the Boston Common. I always love telling MassEquality staff that I will not wear their stickers because I am queer. It confuses them every time because they only know what it means to be mainstream gay.
Note to MassEquality : If you want to canvass and distribute patriotic stickers at anti-war rallies you should probably stop supporting the war!
Fact: MassEquality has endorsed Republicans who support the hateful Republican Platform, Mitt Romney, and the Republican party. Fact: MassEquality and HRC have close ties and work together. Fact: HRC has endorsed pro-war candidates and helped to maintain the Republican majority for years. Fact: HRC and MassEquailty have never denounced the occupation of Iraq.
"McTighe, (MEQ Director) who spent eight years in Washington, D.C., as the Republican point person for the Human Rights Campaign, has been working at MassEquality since early 2006......While in D.C., McTighe established friendships with many Log Cabin Republicans, which helped him develop the skills necessary to establish a strong foundation for the long-term success of MassEquality’s goals." - EdgeBoston
Quotes from a MassEquality Endorsed Republican Racist:
"Illegal aliens are a burden to the taxpayers. Illegal aliens are persons who have entered this country illegally. They have broken laws to do so. They are not immigrants, they are illegal trespassers. Preventing access to the country by illegal aliens is a means of protecting the health, security and safety of all Americans." - Steven Howitt
Will MassEquality continue their hypocrisy by canvassing at the immigrants rights rally this may?
I have no problem with MassEquality lobbying Republicans, wooing them, etc. so they vote the right way on marriage. But they should leave the protests and rallies to the activists who actually care about social justice across the board unless they are goingto publicly say they are against the war, the immigrant raids, etc. They are not the voice of the LGBT community, which both mainstream and gay papers often make them out to be. To counteract this misconception we must all speak out about issues of racism, classism, sexism, etc. louder than ever.
Discussion is now happening at Quench Zine on this topic as well > check it out!
Note to MassEquality : If you want to canvass and distribute patriotic stickers at anti-war rallies you should probably stop supporting the war!
Fact: MassEquality has endorsed Republicans who support the hateful Republican Platform, Mitt Romney, and the Republican party. Fact: MassEquality and HRC have close ties and work together. Fact: HRC has endorsed pro-war candidates and helped to maintain the Republican majority for years. Fact: HRC and MassEquailty have never denounced the occupation of Iraq.
"McTighe, (MEQ Director) who spent eight years in Washington, D.C., as the Republican point person for the Human Rights Campaign, has been working at MassEquality since early 2006......While in D.C., McTighe established friendships with many Log Cabin Republicans, which helped him develop the skills necessary to establish a strong foundation for the long-term success of MassEquality’s goals." - EdgeBoston
Quotes from a MassEquality Endorsed Republican Racist:
"Illegal aliens are a burden to the taxpayers. Illegal aliens are persons who have entered this country illegally. They have broken laws to do so. They are not immigrants, they are illegal trespassers. Preventing access to the country by illegal aliens is a means of protecting the health, security and safety of all Americans." - Steven Howitt
Will MassEquality continue their hypocrisy by canvassing at the immigrants rights rally this may?
I have no problem with MassEquality lobbying Republicans, wooing them, etc. so they vote the right way on marriage. But they should leave the protests and rallies to the activists who actually care about social justice across the board unless they are goingto publicly say they are against the war, the immigrant raids, etc. They are not the voice of the LGBT community, which both mainstream and gay papers often make them out to be. To counteract this misconception we must all speak out about issues of racism, classism, sexism, etc. louder than ever.
Discussion is now happening at Quench Zine on this topic as well > check it out!
STOP THE WAR NOW!!!!
Today was the Stop The War march where Cindy Sheehan and Howard Zinn both spoke. It was definitely the largest march in Boston in a few years.
This was up on the hill on the common.
The most recurring theme of the speeches today was the huge setback by the Democrats in congress by approving to fund the war and not end it now. Now the democrat’s hands are dripping with blood.
Here are just a few of the photos I took today.
This was up on the hill on the common.
At the end of the march the anarchist contingent led a small group of people to the
Congrats to Pride Marshalls
While the theme for pride still makes us throw-up in our mouths a little bit, we must congratulate the folks chosen to be marshals this year. They deserve it!According to BayWindows:The marshals are state Rep. Liz Malia (D-Jamaica Plain), Jacob Smith Yang, executive director of Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islanders (MAP) for Health, and the LGBT speakers bureau SpeakOut.
SpeakOut was the first LGBT organization I ever became involved with, and has made a huge difference in my life while giving me the opportunity to make a difference in other's lives. When speakers from that organization go to schools and tell students their stories, you can see instant change happen in the young people's lives. They have a great cable tv show too!
MAP is an important organization serving queer Asian and pacific Islanders who are so often overlooked by our community.
And Liz Malia was one of the biggest opponents of Romney's plan to abolish the commission on LGBT Youth.
Sick and Fucking Tired!
MassResistance or Massnutbags (as I like to call them) has once again been spewing lies and miss information about our community.
Chris Mason has been a long time activist fighting for many different levels of social justice. He recently left MassEquality (good move) to work for a prominent senator.
Chris Mason has been a long time activist fighting for many different levels of social justice. He recently left MassEquality (good move) to work for a prominent senator.
Although Massnutbags lied about QueerToday being "his" (Chris's) group, we here at QueerToday would like to send out warm Congratulations to Chris we hope the transition is going smoothly. Our community is lucky to have you up there pushing our “homosexual agenda”. Hahaha
Brian Camenker called Chris an “angry” homosexual. I’m sorry to inform you Brian our whole community is angry! We are sick and fucking tired of conservatives oppressing and killing our community.
Instead of picking on Chris why don’t you Massnutbags go back to blogging about Mitt Romney - you're doing our community a favor!
Brian Camenker called Chris an “angry” homosexual. I’m sorry to inform you Brian our whole community is angry! We are sick and fucking tired of conservatives oppressing and killing our community.
Instead of picking on Chris why don’t you Massnutbags go back to blogging about Mitt Romney - you're doing our community a favor!
LGBT News Update (365gay)
While we patiently wait for 365gay.com to update their news feed box for blogs, here are some recent LGBT news updates:
Four Guilty In Kevin Aviance Gay Bashing
(New York City) Four men charged in the brutal homophobic assault on gay entertainer Kevin Aviance last summer pleaded guilty in a Manhattan court Wednesday.
Christian Coalition Honcho Backs Romney
(Columbia, South Carolina) A Christian Coalition of America officer who ran a successful campaign to ban gay marriage in South Carolina said Thursday he is endorsing Republican Mitt Romney's presidential bid and will work for the campaign.
N.H. Moves To Allow Gay Couples To Adopt
UK Gay Equality Law Passes Final Hurdle
(London) As of next month it will be illegal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in England and Wales in accommodation, employment and adoption.
Four Guilty In Kevin Aviance Gay Bashing
(New York City) Four men charged in the brutal homophobic assault on gay entertainer Kevin Aviance last summer pleaded guilty in a Manhattan court Wednesday.
Christian Coalition Honcho Backs Romney
(Columbia, South Carolina) A Christian Coalition of America officer who ran a successful campaign to ban gay marriage in South Carolina said Thursday he is endorsing Republican Mitt Romney's presidential bid and will work for the campaign.
N.H. Moves To Allow Gay Couples To Adopt
UK Gay Equality Law Passes Final Hurdle
(London) As of next month it will be illegal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in England and Wales in accommodation, employment and adoption.
it's in their eyes
"Let's Talk Trash!" - Oscar
Brenna Kate Simmonds: Dangerous "certified" Ex-Gay by Exodus International (The scary ex-gay and gay conversion camps people). She is also a "Minister" at Boston's Park Street Church "helping people with same-sex attraction find freedom."
From her blog: "The funny thing is that this photo is the end result of the photo session from when I had to send a photo to Exodus in order to become a ministry :) I think I had had my fill of having my picture taken! " - Brenna Kate or BeeKay as she says her friends call her. Also... Exodus requires photo sessions to form a ministry? Hmm. Get a life BeeGay! Our queer army and every major credible psychological, psychiatric, and counseling association will continue to fight against your anti-gay lies.
The "Runaway Bride" of 2005
Call Your Legislator Today!
Please take a moment to speak out against the right-wing legislation being supported by MassResistance. Click here to see the hateful MassResistance web site and their "parental rights" bill. And click here to see all 6 of the dangerous right-wing bills they are trying to push through! This bill would be dangerous to young people and halt the efforts to provide young people with accurate information about their health and lives. Find your rep here!
Intimidation from the Left
Last night was the Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth meeting at the DPH. It was a great meeting where Grace Sterling Stowell was chosen to be vice Chair of the commission. She might be the highest-ranking trans-woman in any state government! (please correct me if I’m wrong) It is amazing to have someone so committed to social justice be at a top post.
The commission also planed to expand it’s mission for youth who aren’t in schools (homeless youth, youth who have dropped out ect.)
There was also a sighting of the infamous Amy Contrada. She is the writer behind the hateful massresistance blog. I moved to the back of the room when I realized who she was to finally get a picture.
A.C.“ don’t you want to sit next to me”
T. “no I want to take your picture”
She put her note pad over her face and told me that I could not take her picture. I pointed out that it was a ‘public’ meeting and I can and will! She went out into the hallway and cried to the State Police officers. The officers are out there to protect the commissioners from people like her and the repressed homosexual Brian Comenker. They backed me up and told her that I had every right to take any pictures I wanted. *as Brian Camenker took pictures of me*
She refused to come back into the meeting and had a follower grab her stuff.
She is willing to endanger the lives of queer youth and trans folks by outing them with photos on her nasty blog, but she won’t have her own picture taken. She is a shameful FUCKING BEAST.
The commission also planed to expand it’s mission for youth who aren’t in schools (homeless youth, youth who have dropped out ect.)
There was also a sighting of the infamous Amy Contrada. She is the writer behind the hateful massresistance blog. I moved to the back of the room when I realized who she was to finally get a picture.
A.C.“ don’t you want to sit next to me”
T. “no I want to take your picture”
She put her note pad over her face and told me that I could not take her picture. I pointed out that it was a ‘public’ meeting and I can and will! She went out into the hallway and cried to the State Police officers. The officers are out there to protect the commissioners from people like her and the repressed homosexual Brian Comenker. They backed me up and told her that I had every right to take any pictures I wanted. *as Brian Camenker took pictures of me*
She refused to come back into the meeting and had a follower grab her stuff.
She is willing to endanger the lives of queer youth and trans folks by outing them with photos on her nasty blog, but she won’t have her own picture taken. She is a shameful FUCKING BEAST.
Gay Hating New England Patriot Football Player, Or Crackpot Catholic?
"I also want to add that I am a New England Patriot football player, I'm just not in union with coach Bill Belichek and owner Robert Kraft."~JayG, webmaster of "Defending The Faith".
When Larry Cirignano pushed Sarah Loy to the ground out of anger at the anti-gay "Rally for Democracy" last December, I was there. Tom Lang, co-director of knowthyneighbor.org and I made up our minds that enough was enough, and we were not going to let him get away with this. We decided to help make sure this act of violence got the public attention and hopefully the penalty it deserves. When bloggers everywhere made Cirignano's rage the talk of the blogosphere there were a few websites that were trying to paint a very different and dishonest picture of what happened. That's how I stumbled across Jay G. and his website.
Jay wrote, "...she started moving fast, stepped on another girls foot, then took a dive like you'd see in Big time wrestling..." On another thread he wrote, "So I saw the whole thing." Jay tries to discredit the very credible eyewitness account of Worcester Telegram & Gazette reporter Richard Nangle in saying, "Worcester Telegram reporter Richard Nangle wrote a completely one-sided and distorted article on the Traditional Marriage Rally held on the steps of Worcester City Hall on Saturday, December 16. Nangle wrote that Larry Cirgnano of Catholic Citizenship is guilty of assault and battery when the incident was actually staged."
I asked Jay if we would be hearing him testify to his claims in court under oath, yet never received an answer. The Worcester Police have no record of a statement taken from him, and it is my suspicion that he was not even there that day.
These are the circumstances by which Jay and I met. After defending the truth of what happened during the Cirignano incident on his site, I stayed on Jay's blog in an attempt to find a way Catholics and the gay community could live together in peace. It was important for me spiritually to try, since I was a lapsed Catholic myself. So that people reading my comments would better understand why I can relate to their beliefs, I lowered my guard and made my life an open book. Just when it seemed people may have begun to see the sincerity of my efforts, the mood started to change, and things like this were soon said:
"Furthermore, the push for pedophilia is now the "extreme" which will push homosexuality out of the spotlight of public debate and into full normality."
Then the attacks really began, and the poisonous remarks went wild. In more than 200 comments back and forth a plethora of hatred is spewed out at myself without provocation, as you can see for yourself.
Much hostility is evident here with comments aimed only at insulting. "Nazis" are brought up and compared to me, and the term "Sh@t eater" was used in the discussion of gay sexual behavior. The list goes on in a diatribe of hate and misrepresentations of the truth instead of the simple dialog on how we can live together in peace, which is why I came to talk there. My calmness in the face of this vitriol only seemed to add fuel to the fire.
In these repetitious unending personal attacks, I began to see a similarity that reminded me of another time in September, 2005 when I was talking to opponents of gay marriage on knowthyneighbor.org. I helped to expose that one person was fraudulently posting under several different names. When caught, the culprit had this to say:
"It took you long enough to figure this out. I had given some thought to sending the messages through proxy servers to disguise the IP, but that wouldn't have been as much fun. It was far more amusing to lead Cherie Johnson and John Hosty around by the nose for a couple of days."
In August, 2006 I had encountered another issue of dishonesty and have documented that here on my website for further reading. This was where the webmaster of knowthyfactsnotthyneighbors.blogspot.com is caught posting as the radio show host "Gregg" from the Pundit Review Radio Show. When called out on his lie, he pulled the article off his blog, doctored the comments, and screwed up covering his tracks so badly that he left a trail of evidence for all to see.
After coming across both these situations, it was easier for me to recognize the tell tale signs of fraud on Jay's site. I noticed that the names who argued with me appear no where else in his blog, and the similar writing style and content seems to give away the truth. Suspecting fraud, I put some of the names through the "Who Signed the anti-gay marriage petition" tool on knowthyneighbor.org. You would think that if these people were so against gays they would have gladly signed the petition, yet suspiciously, none of their names are listed. Some of the posts tell more details than others, and allow for further investigation, like Theresa LeBlanc who claims to be from Groton, yet is neither listed on the petition nor in that city. Plainly put, I believe Jay has been posting under these other names, but readers can judge for themselves. In case something "happens" to his blog, or the thread in question, I have saved it here on my blog for all to see.
If Jay is truthful, then Sarah Loy is a liar, all these aliases are real people, and Jay is a New England Patriot Football Player who seems to hate gays. What's your opinion? Mine is that once again the elaboration of a bad liar has gotten the liar caught.
RISE Fills The Void for 18+ Queers
In light of the new ban on under 21 club nights in Boston RISE has stepped in with a solution. They can do this because they do not serve alcohol at their venue. DJ Susan Estera is one of my favorite DJs. Both she and RISE have been supporters of the queer community, particularly the youth of BAGLY in the past. And Rise club is a really relaxed chill atmosphere - I highly recommend checking this out.
New Bedford Raid
Background Information:
- http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/03/11/state_fails_immigrants/
- http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/12/immigration.arrests.ap/index.html
- http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/4620476.html
CLINTON TOSSES BALL TO OBAMA
AFTER PLEDGING TO SUPPORT GAYS...
CAN OBAMA DO THE SAME?
WILL HE GO AFTER THE GAY VOTE?
Guest post by Jasmyne A. Cannick
Okay so it's really starting to heat up. Presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton has upstaged her rival Senator Barack Obama, and I am not talking about her Selma appearance.
CAN OBAMA DO THE SAME?
WILL HE GO AFTER THE GAY VOTE?
Guest post by Jasmyne A. Cannick
Okay so it's really starting to heat up. Presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton has upstaged her rival Senator Barack Obama, and I am not talking about her Selma appearance.
Clinton also said she opposes the "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays in the military that was instituted during her husband's presidency.
"I am proud to stand by your side," Clinton said in a keynote speech Friday to the Human Rights Campaign. "I want you to know that this is exactly the kind of partnership we will have when I am president," Clinton told the group. "I want you to know that just as you always have an open door to my senate office, you will always have an open door to the White House and together we can continue this journey."
I could just here it now, "Bet you can't top that one Obama."
So what should her Illinois rival do?
I'll tell you.
He needs to make an unannounced appearance with the National Black Justice Coalition, the nation's leading Black gay civil rights group, and do the same thing.
But will he? Can he?
Obama has so far benefited from having the support of Black America in his presidential bid. Would that all diminish if he were to go after the gay vote with Clinton?
In 2004, we saw an abundance of Black pastors campaigning from the pulpit on the issue of gay marriage and actually urging their parishioners to vote for President Bush because he opposed gay marriage.
Should Obama decide to go after the gay vote, are we doomed to see a repeat of years past that had the Black leadership ducking and dodging the issue at their annual get togethers for fear of incurring the wrath of the Black Church?
One thing is for sure, Obama and his strategy team have some work to do to keep up on this one.
It's no secret that Black America is assumed to be homophobic from the church to the kitchen table, and NBA Player Tim Hardaway's statement of hating gays didn't help. Going after the gay vote may infuriate his Black supporters, but on the other end might give him the boost he needs to keep up with Senator Clinton.
Fact: gays do vote and in numbers.
If I were on Obama's political strategy team (and for the record I should be), I would advise him to go after the gay vote through African-American lesbians and gays. It's a win win in my book. He's catering to African-Americans and gays at the same time in a way that no other presidential candidate has done or shown a willingness to do. When it comes to gays, it's always the white gay vote which further feeds into the notion that all gays are white, which we are not.
In the spirit of full disclosure, it's no secret that I am one of the founders of the National Black Justice Coalition, commonly referred to as NBJC. I currently sit on the board of directors and I chair our Action Fund Board. For over three years, we have been representing the Black same-gender loving community in politics, religion, and the media. We will be holding our 3rd annual Black church summit in Philadelphia this weekend bringing together religious figures and theologians to discuss the Black church, religion and gays. Co-chaired this year by author Dr. Michael Eric Dyson (last year's co-chair was Reverend Al Sharpton), this year's summit will feature an appearance by newly out former NBA player John Amaechi.
It makes perfect sense for the Black presidential candidate to go after the gay vote through Black people, Black gays to be specific.
Either way it goes, he's going to have to eventually court the gay vote if he expects to win as president because he's not running to be the President of Black America but for all of America, and that most surely includes gays.
Back in 2004, Obama said he would not let his religious beliefs dictate the way he approaches public policy.
"Giving them a set of basic rights would allow them to experience their relationship and live their lives in a way that doesn't cause discrimination," Obama said. "I think it is the right balance to strike in this society."
In his recent memoir "The Audacity of Hope," Obama said, "I was reminded that it is my obligation not only as an elected official in a pluralistic society, but also as a Christian, to remain open to the possibility that my unwillingness to support gay marriage is misguided."
Obama, you've got the ball, make your move and make it fast.
NAACP DENOUNCES ENG COLUMN HATING BLACKS
...BUT STILL SAYS NOTHING ABOUT HARDAWAY HATING GAYS
Guest Post By Jasmyne A. Cannick
Last week after Kenneth Eng's Asian Week column "Why I Hate Blacks" was criticized, guess who issued a statement denouncing the article? NAACP President Bruce Gordon is quoted in a press release as saying "Eng's comments expose the racial tension--often hidden, but still very much present -- in communities across America. These types of remarks widen the racial divide and further promote negative stereotypes." And for the record I agree. But then why the silence on Tim Hardaway? If Eng's comments widen the racial divide, then what exactly does "I hate gays" do to the Black community? And why isn't Hardaway worth a press release and a comment from the NAACP President? With each instance like this, I become more and more disillusioned with the Black leadership. You can't tell me that Eng's column and Hardaway's comments both don't merit a response from the organization that is nationally recognized for defending Black people. As long as the leadership of institutions like the NAACP aren't challenged to represent all Black people, not just the heterosexual Black people, then Hardaway and others like him, will get a pass from the Black community. The NAACP is not this organization that is untouchable. I think we've already seen their vulnerability with their waning membership numbers. Just like with GLAAD, HRC, the Task Force and those other gay organizations that claim to represent the gay community in its entirety, the NAACP has to be held to the same standards. You can't represent only the Blacks that are heterosexual or the middle class Blacks. You have to represent the Blacks that are gay, transgender, poor and so forth. What I read in the NAACP's statement was that it was more important to keep relations good between Asians and Blacks than to keep relations good between Blacks themselves. I read that someone at the NAACP thought the Eng column posed a significant threat to Black America, unlike the public announcement from a major Black sports figure that he hated gay people and would hate his own relative if he or she were gay. Sure denouncing Asian Week and Eng is the right thing to do but it's also an easy thing to do. Blacks aren't going to argue with the NAACP on that. But what about addressing the real challenges in America, starting in our own backyard with the rampant homophobia that exists from the church house, to Congress, to the ball court, to the kitchen table. |
About Ms. Cannick
Jasmyne A. Cannick is a commentator/critic who addresses social, cultural, and race issues and is based in Los Angeles. She can be reached via her website at www.jasmynecannick.com.Cpl. Matt Sanchez, aka Rod Majors, and Ann Coulter
Joe.My.God. is reporting that Cpl. Matt Sanchez, the 36-year old Columbia University junior and USMC reservist who recently appeared on right-wing talk shows to discuss how he was mistreated by some of Columbia's radical anti-military students, was once a gay porn star! Sanchez, aka Rod Majors and aka Pierre LaBranche, had a lengthy career in porn that apparently ended years ago. Last week, he attended the same Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) conference where Ann Coulter made her notorious "faggot" remark in reference to John Edwards. For a picture of Sanchez and Coulter happily posing with each other, along with details and even some commentary from Sanchez himself, go to Joe.My.God. Summary - Straight white conservative woman Coulter refers to straight white democrat man Edwards as a "faggot" and poses for photo-op with gay conservative military man of color Sanchez! Messy. Messy. Messy.
kicked out of boston bar for gay kiss
This story is sad, but not surprising. In the past few years there have actually been several accusations of homophobia at local bars. And we know this type of thing happens daily to many people in our comunity. Contrast this real-life event with the Snickers ad and you can see why the ad spurred so much outrage.
From the Boston Globe:
From the Boston Globe:
A gay kiss spurred violent ouster from bar, lawsuit says
A Boston man is accusing Jeremiah Foley, a member of the family that runs the well-known J.J. Foley's pubs in Boston, of assaulting him and physically throwing him out of the chain's bar in the Leather District because he was kissing another man.
Martin T. Keenan says in a civil lawsuit filed this week in Suffolk Superior Court that Foley grabbed and forcibly removed him from the bar in September 2005 and in the process broke one of Keenan's fingers and caused permanent disfigurement.......
He said he occasionally has to remove patrons for "inappropriate behavior," but he did not recall the two men kissing. Asked whether he would allow two men to kiss in one of his establishments, Foley said: "Hell no. What would you think?" Keep Reading>
- Also read "A Kiss Too Far?" by the New York Times which discusses the politics of the gay kiss.
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