Radical fundamentalist activists are meeting at a ranch outside Houston today and tomorrow hoping to line up behind a Republican presidential candidate that isn’t that dreaded Mormon guy. Currently their loyalties are divided between the peanut, the walnut, the Brazil nut, and the nut-job (Santorum). Such indecisiveness is giving Romney a decisive advantage in South Carolina.
The clandestine meeting has been endorsed by Focus on the Family co-founder James Dobson, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Richard Land and will likely be attended by American Values’ Gary Bauer, the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, the American Family Association’s Donald Wildmon, and Skyline Church’s Rev. Jim Garlow.
If the extremists can’t decide on one nut to rally behind, they will discuss how to extort promises and blackmail Mitt Romney at the expense of America. According to the New York Times:
The evangelical leaders say they will also prepare for the strong possibility that Mr. Romney wins the nomination. In Texas, they expect to discuss what promises — in the party platform, in the choice of a vice-presidential candidate and in judicial appointments — they should seek from Mr. Romney in return for their enthusiastic support.
It seems this collection of crazies is overreaching and inadvertently aiming to make Romney unelectable. Their message to Romney: “If you are not really one of us, pretend that you are and succumb to our demands or we will whine and stay home on Election Day.”
Of course, expect Romney to bow at their feet. It seems that the shape-shifting, oleaginous Romney will say or do practically anything to win the support of these dangerous zealots.
This is sort of insane, but it exemplifies the point that legal scholars have been making: DOMA is not only flatly unconstitutional, but it’s just not sensible law:
In a case causing rising controversy in the US, a judge has told a Texan man he cannot leave his children in the care of the man he married.
Inter-state tension continues as the marriage between William Flowers and Jim Evans fails to be properly recognised in the second-largest US state.
Flowers had been married to a woman previously and fathered three children with her before they divorced in 2004. At the time, it was agreed she would keep custody of the children.
Over six years on, in early 2011, Flowers married Jim Evans in Connecticut, and began proceedings to claim custody.
Evans didn’t get custody, but that’s not the problem. The judge in the case has ruled that Evans can’t leave the children with anyone “not related by blood or adoption,” which specifically excludes his husband.
You see, this is the problem with wingnut ideas of “federalism.” Maybe back in the day, it was tenable to have states set their own marriage laws — this is still the position of even gay wingnuts. But now people move, they migrate, they travel, and it’s simply unworkable for marriage laws not to apply nationwide. Perhaps if DOMA were gone and Full Faith and Credit were in place for same-sex couples, it would be a better situation, as confederate states and unfortunate annexations like Texas would have to either like it or lump it when it came to recognizing other states’ marriage contracts. Of course, all this will be resolved one day when the Supreme Court steps in and forces those states to be seated at the grown-up table on the marriage issue, but until then…
LGBT Groups to Host Week of Education, Entertainment, and Protests to Show Harm of ‘Ex-Gay’ Programs in Houston
What: On September 10, the infamous “ex-gay” organization Exodus International will host Love Won Out in Houston, which is a quarterly road show promoting the false and dangerous idea that one can “pray away the gay.” (Sugar Creek Baptist Church)
In response, a coalition of local and national LGBT organizations will host a weeklong series of educational and entertainment events highlighting the harm caused by “ex-gay” programs. The week will conclude with a Saturday protest outside Love Won Out and an MCC church service highlighting the values of love, inclusion, diversity, tolerance, pluralism, and acceptance.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (All events open to media)
Opening Night: Overview of ‘Ex-Gay’ Ministries with Wayne Besen
Wednesday, September 7
7:00 – 9:00 pm Resurrection MCC (2025 West 11th Street, Houston TX)
Presentation followed by a Pastors’ Panel and Q&A Session
Event Info: Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen will discuss in an acclaimed multi-media presentation the history of ‘ex-gay’ programs, the techniques used, the key players involved and political context in which these dangerous programs operate. Besen is the architect of the recent undercover operation that revealed that the clinic of Michele Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, practiced “ex-gay” therapy. Besen is the author of Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth. He has appeared on leading shows including: NBC Nightly News, ABC Nightline, ABC World News Tonight, ABC’s Good Morning America, FOX’s The O’Reilly Factor, MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Film Screening: This is What Love in Action Looks Like
Thursday, September 8
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Resurrection MCC (2025 West 11th Street, Houston TX)
Event Info: America was captivated when Zach Stark, a gay teenager, was forced by his parents into the Memphis “ex-gay” ministry Love in Action (LIA) against his will. This is What Love in Action Looks Like is a new film that explores the controversial LIA experience and shows how youth are coerced into “ex-gay” programs. Film director Morgan Jon Fox and interviewee Brandon Tidwell will be on-hand to answer questions about the film and “ex-gay” programs.
One Man Show: Peterson Toscano
Friday, September 9
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Resurrection MCC (2025 West 11th Street, Houston TX)
Event Info: Celebrated comedian and actor Peterson Toscano shares his own story of trying to ‘de-gay’ himself and the process he took to integrate his sexuality with all parts of his life. In this presentation you will witness the Best of Peterson Toscano as he presents excerpts from original plays including The Re-Education of George W. Bush, Queer 101–Now I Know my gAy,B,Cs, and Doin’ Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House. Peterson will also share extracts from his newest play, Transfigurations, which looks at the stories and lives of transgender Bible characters. Peterson is the co-founder of Beyond Ex-Gay and has been featured on the Montel Williams Show, The Tyra Banks Show, FOX’s The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, and the BBC.
Protest of Exodus International’s Love Won Out
Saturday, September 10
11:30AM – 1:00PM
Outside the Sugar Creek Baptist Church (13333 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX)
Founded in 1972, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church serves more than 850 members and friends and is one of the largest congregations within Metropolitan Community Churches, a Christian denomination with churches in more than 35 countries. The church is widely known for its positive, affirming ministry to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, along with their friends, families and allies, and for its strong commitment to social justice as an expression of the congregation’s Christian faith. For additional information on the ministry, services, and programs of Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, visit www.ResurrectionMCC.org.
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.
I’ll post a bit a more about Rick Perry’s Hate Group-Led Prayer-apalooza later [at some point...I'm in the middle of moving], but I just happened upon this little Facebook exchange that really says everything that needs to be said about the poorly attended event:
Annise Parker was elected mayor of Houston in 2009, and it made news across the country because she was the first LGBT person to hold such a position in such a large city. Houstonians seem to like her for the most part. The Dallas Voice brings us news, though, that Parker is again being targeted for her sexual orientation by “homophobic electrician” Dave Wilson, who was a gnat in her face during the 2009 elections as well.
It was only a matter of time really: Dave Wilson is sending anti-gay letters (above) to Houstonians attacking Annise Parker, who’s seeking re-election in November.
Wilson, you may remember, is the homophobic electrician who sent 35,000 fliers like the one below to Houston homes during the 2009 elections with a picture of Parker’s swearing in for her previous position as City Comptroller, her partner Kathy Hubbard at her side. The 2009 fliers asked the question, “Is this the image Houston wants to portray?” To which Houston voters resoundingly replied, “Yes!” Parker became the first openly gay person elected mayor of a top 10 U.S. city.
Wilson’s latest attack is on a much smaller scale than his full color assault from 2009: It’s a personal letter sent to Parker’s donors and Houston Democratic precinct chairs.
They just don’t stop. Just as with DADT dead-enders who will cry about openly gay servicemembers until their dying breath, long after they lose and we win, they’ll keep complaining, keep annoying, and looking more and more unhinged to the general population in the process.
Here’s the letter [click to embiggen, of course]:
The Dallas Voice points out, sighing, that the claims in the letter are, of course, inaccurate, starting with the usual fundamentalist scare tactics about “men dressed as women using the women’s bathroom,” etc. But they also point out that this weirdo, Dave Wilson, actually funnels money into the mayoral races, so unfortunately, like most gnats, he’s impossible to ignore.
One of these days, gay and lesbian politicians will be able to do their jobs without their detractors’ complaints focusing on nothing but their sexuality. Maybe. We thought we were past that with race, but then Obama was elected and the Tea Party sprang into existence, using every code word they could to express their fear of a black president. So I’d say “one of these days” is probably a long way away.
Well, this made your blogger cry some good, healthy tears. ABC’s “What Would You Do?” placed actors pretending to be gay couples with children dining at a restaurant in Texas, and another actress pretending to be a waitress who is morally outraged by the idea of gay couples with kids. The point was to see if other patrons would stand up to defend the gay families, or whether they would support the waitress in her bigotry. The results are quite moving, and are a testament to how much better things are getting, even in Texas. There’s one guy at the end who supports the waitress’s hate, but he’s too ashamed of himself to appear on television, as well he should be. But the rest of it? Amazing. Especially the guy in the middle who brings one of the “gay moms,” who actually is a lesbian in real life, a heartfelt note of encouragement, love and support.
Concerned about a drama that depicts Jesus as gay, a diverse collection of the city’s religious leaders has banded together to denounce the play, scheduled to begin next month at the San Pedro Playhouse.
“Corpus Christi,” written by Terrence McNally, has ignited controversy in other cities for its coming-of-age story about Jesus growing up in that South Texas city during the 1950s. In the play, Jesus is curious about same-sex attraction, is bullied and later presides over a gay wedding at which he’s dubbed the “King of Queers.”
The religious leaders — ranging from a rabbi and an imam to Protestant regional overseers and Catholic bishops, all of whom belong to the San Antonio Community of Congregations, a local interfaith organization — plan to voice their disapproval of the play at a news conference scheduled for 1:30 this afternoon at Main Plaza.
You know, they could always just not go to the play.
Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg of the Rodfei Sholom Orthodox congregation said he would stand today in solidarity with fellow religious leaders mainly to object to the offensive language in the play.
“It’s just a vulgar piece of literature, if you want to call it that,” he said. “I read excerpts, and it wasn’t so much the homosexuality. It’s just that it’s art without any responsibility to the sensitivities of others.”
Art that doesn’t respect peoples’ sensitivities?! Horrors! As usual, these characters seem to believe that religion should be above criticism, unorthodox artistic interpretation, or any sort of commentary that might put it in a bad light. The piece mentions that the group includes an imam, but this is why I always think it’s a bit funny when fundamentalist whack-jobs of other religions scoff at conservative Muslims for getting angry about depictions of Muhammad. This is the same thing. Unfortunately, the First Amendment in the United States of America doesn’t include the right not to be offended by anything, ever.
Flour Bluff Independent School District will not allow a proposed club supporting gay and lesbian students, but the proposal prompted the district to rethink allowing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to meet on campus.
Superintendent Julie Carbajal said she has asked the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to meet off campus while the district studies the legality of allowing the club while disallowing a club supporting homosexual students. She said there is no chance the district will approve the proposed Gay-Straight Alliance, but she will make sure all other school clubs are following the district’s policy.
“We need to be fair and equitable to all,” she said.
In disallowing the Gay-Straight Alliance, the district said it didn’t have to follow a federal law mandating schools offer equal opportunities for all students to organize. The district approved a policy in 2005 that did not allow student clubs not tied to curriculum to meet on campus.
Absolutely pathetic. Local activists would protest, but since the wingnut superintendent is apparently so irrationally fearful of The Gays that she’s willing to screw the Christian clubs in the process, they’re sort of at a loss:
Carbajal’s decision to disallow any non-curriculum clubs from meeting on campus may stop a local gay activist from protesting next week.
“They’d rather get rid of all organizations rather than to allow this one to start? Wow,” said Paul Rodriguez, president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. “If she’s not going to allow any other clubs on campus then we have no ground to stand on.”
Yeah, sometimes you sort of have to let bigots implode all by themselves. I feel sorry for the kids, though — all of them — for whom such a poor example is being set by the supposed “adults.”
Texas is preparing to give college students and professors the right to carry guns on campus, adding momentum to a national campaign to open this part of society to firearms.
More than half the members of the Texas House have signed on as co-authors of a measure directing universities to allow concealed handguns. The Senate passed a similar bill in 2009 and is expected to do so again. Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who sometimes packs a pistol when he jogs, has said he’s in favor of the idea.
Texas has become a prime battleground for the issue because of its gun culture and its size, with 38 public universities and more than 500,000 students. It would become the second state, following Utah, to pass such a broad-based law. Colorado gives colleges the option and several have allowed handguns.
Supporters of the legislation argue that gun violence on campuses, such as the mass shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Northern Illinois in 2008, show that the best defense against a gunman is students who can shoot back.
Yes, because in the hysteria of a mass shooting, when things are so disorienting that it’s hard to tell where the gunfire is coming from until long after the bodies are down, what we need is MORE ARMED PEOPLE.
And one of the speakers for the gay wingnut contingent is referring to this as a, wait for it…
“Victory for Gay Rights”!
Uh…
This is great news for gay people whom many believe are more vulnerable than straights for harassment based on our sexuality. If a potential bashers know that gay students might be packing, they’ll be less likely to attack. And if they do attack, gay people will better be able to defend themselves.
Kudos to Texas legislators for considering providing gay men and lesbians with an important tool to protect against ourselves against those who would do us harm. Let’s hope gay organizations in Texas and nationwide push the legislature to act speedily on this important gay rights measure.
Mind-blowing. And people, I’m not anti-gun. But this doesn’t have a damn thing to do with gay rights, nor does it have anything to do with changing the climate that would lead people to attack gays and lesbians in the first place, and moreover, lots of gays and lesbians have guns already! This has never been a deterrent to hate crimes in the past, so why the possibility that a member of the GSA at the University of Texas might have a gun on campus would somehow deter an attacker in the future, is beyond me. Indeed, most of the massacres we’ve seen in the past several decades have been carried out with guns purchased legally, so as far as I can see, the only thing this changes is that, if a malcontent headcase decides to open fire on a college campus in Texas, he can rest easy knowing that it was perfectly okay, thanks to Governor Goodhair and the intellectually slowest governing body on the face of the earth, for him to waltz onto campus with that gun.
This is what Stockholm Syndrome looks like, people. It’s sad.
A Catholic priest, facing criminal charges and a lawsuit alleging that he sexually abused a teenage boy, is now charged with attempting to hire someone to kill the youth, authorities said Tuesday.
The Rev. John M. Fiala was in the Dallas County, Texas, jail on Tuesday, charged with one count of criminal solicitation to commit capital murder, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety and the jail’s website. He also is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. His bail totals $700,000.
Fiala, 52, of Dallas, was out on bond on other sexual assault charges involving the youth, now 18, when he allegedly attempted to negotiate the boy’s murder, said Tom Rhodes, the teen’s attorney.
Not only that, but he’s accused of raping the teen at gunpoint! Moreover, the lawsuits state that the archdioceses and religious orders Fiala was under ALL covered up his sexual abuse.
It’s not often that the Catholic Church can shock me these days, since child rape and Catholicism are so inextricably linked in the public mind, but this one…
Radical fundamentalist activists are meeting at a ranch outside Houston today and tomorrow hoping to line up behind a Republican presidential candidate that isn’t that dreaded Mormon guy. Currently their loyalties are divided between the peanut, the walnut, the Brazil nut, and the nut-job (Santorum). Such indecisiveness is giving Romney a decisive advantage in South Carolina.
Opening Night: Overview of ‘Ex-Gay’ Ministries with Wayne Besen
Film Screening: This is What Love in Action Looks Like
One Man Show: Peterson Toscano
Protest of Exodus International’s Love Won Out
Founded in 1972, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church serves more than 850 members and friends and is one of the largest congregations within Metropolitan Community Churches, a Christian denomination with churches in more than 35 countries. The church is widely known for its positive, affirming ministry to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, along with their friends, families and allies, and for its strong commitment to social justice as an expression of the congregation’s Christian faith. For additional information on the ministry, services, and programs of Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, visit 
