Sad news. Mike Tidmus, a longtime friend of Truth Wins Out and a prolific blogger and activist on LGBT and HIV-related issues, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was a great friend to us and personally gave me a lot of encouragement as I found myself getting more and more involved in the LGBT rights world, always making me laugh and truly embodying the sense of Molly Ivins’ words when she said that when you’re fighting for freedom, you’d better have a good time doing it. Karen Ocamb has a long piece up about Mike, which chronicles his work, his friendship with openly gay Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger, and captures his trademark style. Mike Airhart and Wayne may have more to say about this later in the day, but for now, I’ll leave you with another picture Karen posted, as Mike, on top of his activist work, was a great photographer.

Train station – Namur, Belgium (photograph: © 2010 Mike Tidmus, all rights reserved)

RIP, Mike, and condolences and love to all his friends and family, from the TWO family.

TWO’ Executive Director, Wayne Besen, was in San Diego last week to join nationally recognized gay and lesbian advocates to oppose Exodus International’ “ex-gay” road show, Love Won Out, which took place in La Mesa’ Skyline Church on Saturday.

On the same day as the Exodus event, a counter-conference was held, Just Love, which exposed the ex-gay industry and educated people about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Just Love took place at St. Paul’ Episcopal Cathedral.

“We thank Rev. Canon Albert Ogle (pictured) and Mike Tidmus for their outstanding leadership in organizing a terrific forum,” said TWO’s Besen. “As a result of their hard work, we were able to educate and inform people about our lives as LGBT Americans.”

The San Diego Union Tribune covered the dueling events. (Although they misquoted me saying the word “lifestyle”, which I would never say.)

Truth Wins Out also held its first San Diego fundraiser on Friday at the lovely home of Bryan H. Wildenthal and Ashish Agrawal. Best selling author of The Front Runner, Patricia Nell Warren, (Pictured Left) was joined by TWO Founder Wayne Besen at the event, which raised more than $1,600.

“We thank Bryan and Ashish for a wonderful event and a memorable evening,” said TWO’s Besen. “Their generosity and commitment to our work allowed TWO to speak out against the ex-gay myth in San Diego and help educate people about these dangerous programs.”

If you are interested in hosting a fundraising event for Truth Wins Out, please contact the organization at wbesen@truthwinsout.org.

Our friend Mike Tidmus reports on his blog about an ad campaign by the American Humanist Association. The effort seeks to help people “come out” about not believing in God. The ads have been under attack from intolerant fundamentalists who believe they are superior to other Americans and want to undermine our nation’s commitment to genuine liberty.

Whether one believes in God, or not, is irrelevant. What matters is the necessity of continuing America’s commitment to ensuring a tradition of freedom of conscience. If fundamentalists have a problem with such campaigns, the answer is to exercise their First Amendment rights and make a more persuasive case for faith in God. If they fail to do so, that is a consequence of living in a country that thrives because of its free marketplace of ideas.

Sadly, there are people who prefer to bully, threaten, deface and destroy messages, and even the messengers, when they feel their religion is faced with competition. This, in my view, shows a lack of true faith on the part of such angry fundamentalists. They fear doubt will creep into their minds and undermine their narrow worldview. In trying to protect their fragile faith, too many people are willing to undermine the Constitution and destabilize democracy.

If America is to remain a free country, then all people must be able to form their own belief systems without fear of being ostracized or persecuted. The greatest monument to religious freedom in America remains that a person can openly choose no religion at all.

The moment such liberty is lost (hopefully never), is the moment the “Welcome Mat” has been placed to greet tyranny. On this Thanksgiving, let us thank God, or not, that we live in a nation where such ad campaigns can occur.