This Might Be Surprising If Bachmann Didn't Hate The Gays So Much

Michele Bachmann, who believes gay people are "of Satan," and that we've all been abused, are sexually dysfunctional, and suffer Sexual Identity Disorder, hired Peter E. Waldron to run her campaign, when Peter E. Waldron has been tied to the key backer of the "Kill the Gays" bill in Uganda.

She thinks we are "of Satan" and she hires a man who works with people who want us dead.

It seems that Peter E. Waldron has tried to be coy about his identity when confronted; at first he refused to even offer his name, but , at first refusing to provide his name, but The Atlantic journalist Garance Franke-Ruta discovered that the evangelical pastor was once imprisoned in Uganda for a supposed terrorism plot.

And now he's trying to get Michele Bachmann elected.

A film about Waldron's experience, 'The Ultimate Price: The Peter E. Waldron Story,' is apparently in the works. It tells the story of how Peter E. Waldron was in Uganda from 2002 to 2006, and was reportedly arrested with a small weapons cache. While the details are murky, it is clear that he spent more than a month in prison.

The surfacing of his name, especially as it ties in to Bachmann, and to Uganda before that, got people wondering. Andrew Rice, a journalist with The New republic, actually saw Peter E. Waldron while Rice was visiting the church of staunchly antigay pastor Martin Ssempa; Rice was visiting the church while researching an article on evangelicals in the country. Ssempa is well known for inflaming violence against gay people in Uganda, even screening gay porn to incite backlash.

Now, to be fair, no one is saying Peter E. Waldron actively helped push for the "Kill the Gays" bill, Andrew Rice does say that Peter E. Waldron spoke to Ssempa's congregation about his time in the military--which he strongly implied was CIA related--and how cozy he is with the Ugandan president.

Bachmann has a clear history of antigay rhetoric, Her own statements--which she tries to distance herself from today--and her  husband's "Christian" counseling clinics that were found to practice so-called reparative therapy.

She doesn't like The Gays. Peter E. Waldron has ties to evangelicals and political leaders who want to pass legislation in Africa to Kill The Gays. And Bachmann and Waldron are working together on her presidential campaign.

Alice Stewart, a spokesperson for Bachmann, while not asked directly about Waldron's association with the "Kill the Gays" church, said, in a statement in response to his time in prison, that Bachmann is sticking by Waldron: "Michele's faith is an important part of her life and Peter did a tremendous job with our faith outreach in Iowa. We are fortunate to have him on our team and look forward to having him expanding his efforts in several states."

She says we are "of Satan".
He works with people who want us dead.
Just think about that.

via The Advocate

Turn Or Burn Gays! Turn. Or Burn.

Love the sinner, hate the sin. That's what they say, right?

Maybe not so much at the Seagate Community Chapel in Wilmington, North Carolina, where the sign out in front of the church instructed gays to 'turn or burn'.

God is love. No?


Tammy Heuring, the moronic wife of the Seagate Community Chapel pastor, says, “It's kind of like salt in a wound. However, salt does heal a wound. It just hurts really bad at first.”

Does salt heal the wounds of a parent whose child kills him-or herself after being bullied for being gay, Tammy? Is that how your god works? Adding pain upon pain upon pain?

Pastor David Heuring says "[w]ithout having the space, the person who does the sign used the most concise wording that they could. Was that the best wording possible? I don't think so.”

But the sign wasn't rewritten or taken down, so what does that say about the good pastor?
The sign was, however, rewritten by vandals, who spray-painted over it, writing the words 'god loves gays.' Church members then added 'but he hates sin.'

Church members. Hate.

Wilmington Pride, an area organization that supports gay rights, wanted to do something about the message they called hateful and organized a peaceful protest across the street from Seagate. Pastor Heuring was outside, offering up a dialogue, no doubt about god and hate and changing your wicked ways; he also offered up lemonade. But neither group felt the protest would make a real difference.

“It's just a sin,” said Tammy Heuring. “We're all in it, so unfortunately they just need to realize it.”

Perhaps, Tammy, but do people expose your sin outright and ask you to turn or burn? Could your alleged sin result in you being beaten and battered and left to die? Does your sin make you a second class citizen in your own country?

Or just a sinner.

And the good Pastor Heuring says the 'turn or burn' sign is just the first in a series of signs they will be putting up about different types of sinners. But I imagine it'll be the only one that leads to death threats for the LGBT community.

God is love, except at Seagate Community Chapel.

Yet, after that peaceful protest, something more happened. Wilmington Police are now searching for a man who smashed the chapel's sign Sunday afternoon. witnesses say a tall, white man took a hammer to the sign, then left in a silver Ford Taurus. The car is reported to have bumper damage and a missing hubcap from the front, left tire.

I might be wrong, but I think that tall man was Jesus, and he wasn't happy with Pastor Heuring, his wife, or his alleged church.

Church Sign Spurs Protest
Church Sign Hammered

A Kiss Is Just A Kiss

Unless it's planted on the cheek of a homophobic preacher protesting Gay Pride. Which it did.......
See, up in Salisbury, North Carolina, on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Day, Joan Parker, a 74-year-old female gay rights supporter, kissed a preacher, and is now being charged with simple assault. Parker is due back in court in September, where simple assault is a misdemeanor and could bring a sentence of up to 30 days of community service for a first-time offender.

For.Kissing.A.Preacher. What would Jesus do?

Parker says the preacher man "was just waving his arms and has a Bible in one hand, up and down, and screaming at the top of his lungs, `sodomites' and `you're going to hell. I thought he needed a hug. So I gave him a hug."

And it was during that hug that the preacher, so offended at being hugged by a woman, yelled to a nearby man with a camera to photograph the "assault". That was when Parker actually assaulted him, by placing her lips on his cheek.

Of course, the perverted preacher claimed she kissed him full on the lips.
"He claims I kissed him on the lips, and he's a damned liar," said Parker, who attended the Pride event with her husband to show support. "I believe I did kiss him on his cheek."
The preacher, one James Edward Belcher of Taylorsville, said he never claimed Parker kissed him on the lips, but that's only because he turned his face as she came toward him. "If I hadn't turned my head, I'd have gotten it right on my mouth."

In.Your.Dreams. 

Belcher says it all went down like this: "She ran her arms all the way around me and pulled me toward her." Belcher then raised his Bible high in the air and turned toward a police officer to show him the attack. he says the kiss "was just one of many attempts to silence the preaching to those in need of salvation who practice a death style that they call a lifestyle."

Oh, honey, if a kiss was enough to shut you up, I'd do it, too. And then dash off to a local hospital for a Silkwood scrubdown. God only knows where your lips have been.
 
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Father Unni Stands Up To Catholic Bigotry

It seems that the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, responding to criticism that it was actually sanctioning a Gay Pride celebration, has announced that it had ordered a South End church to cancel a Mass scheduled for next weekend that was themed, “All are Welcome."

And perhaps subtitle it, *"Unless You're Queer."

Well, the LGBT community is not amused. 

It seems that St. Cecilia Parish in Boston had planned a “liturgy to commemorate Boston Pride 2011" and, in a church bulletin, announced: “The Rainbow Ministry of St. Cecilia Parish invites all friends and supporters of the LGBT community to a Mass in celebration of Boston’s Pride Month. The theme of the liturgy, ‘All Are Welcome,’ honors Christ’s message of hope and salvation to all people. We will also celebrate the diverse community that finds its home at St. Cecilia."

What a lovely message, and one that was obviously culled form the Book of God Is Love. But then the conservative members of the Church, got their collars and shrouds and granny pants in a twist, and demanded that the archdiocese intervene.

And they trotted out their spokesbigot, Terrence Donilon, who is rereading the Book Of God Hates Fags, to say: “The wording and placement of a bulletin notice announcing that the St. Cecilia Rainbow Ministry will be joining the parish at a Mass on June 19 may have given the unintended impression that the Mass is in support of Gay Pride Week; it is not."

Father Unni, the pastor of St. Cecilia's has not commented, but Donilon said that he spoke for the parish and that the decision was made by senior officials at the archdiocese.

Foot stomp. Head snap.

Donilon, of course, took no questions about the apparent contradiction of the church’s bulletin and his statement, but did say that there would be a Mass sometime in the future to welcome the community, though not specifically the LGBT community.

It is written in The Book Of God Hates Fags, you know.

But then, just as the conservative Catholics railed about homosexuality and sin and pride, and how they loved the sinner but hate the sin, except if the sin is hate, Father Unni had something to say, and, upon finishing his sermon, received an actual standing ovation from his parishioners.

Father Unni:. “You are welcome here, gay or straight, rich or poor, young or old, black or white. Here, you all can say, ‘I can worship the God who made me as I am. [G]ood love always requires sacrifice. We are being called to do not what is easy, but what is holy.’’

“We are not this renegade, crazy, liberal church. We’re just Christians trying to live the gospel."

And preach the word of The Book Of God Is Love.

Canceled Mass Outrages Gays
Priest Says All Are Welcome In His Church

Apparently, It's In The Water!

Imagine, if you will, that it's a hot day, and you want to go for a swim to cool. And imagine that your town has a lovely recreational facility with pools and athletic courts and saunas and sundecks. You know, just the place to spend a hot summer afternoon.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Now, imagine you're a person with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and you are being helped by a local group with rehabilitation and therapy sessions, and they suggest you head on over top the local pool for some cool relaxation.

Again, so nice.

Now, picture yourself as the person with these disabilities, and you are also gay. And so is your friend. And you head on over to The Pavilion, a public recreational facility in the city of Hazard, Kentucky. You and your friend, along with staff members from Mending Hearts, which provides support for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and provides ongoing support for their clients regarding appropriate behavior within the community.

Sounds like a fun day, right?

Then imagine that, while swimming with your friends at The Pavilion, a maintenance technician comes over and tells you to leave, saying "[W]e own this place and can tell you to leave if we want to."

That happened. in a public pool, paid for by public tax dollars. Gay and straight public tax dollars.

Shirlyn Perkins, Executive Director of Mending Hearts: "The Pavilion staff immediately entered the pool area and asked my clients and their staff to leave the Pavilion. My staff asked The Pavilion staff why they were being asked to leave, and they were informed that 'gay people' weren't allowed to swim there. My staff told this man that what he was trying to do was discrimination. The man stated that what he was doing was in the Bible and he could do it. My staff continued to argue with this man, but was ultimately forced to leave. My clients, whom already feel ridiculed and different, left the city owned facility crying and embarrassed for trying to participate in 'normal' activities that everyday 'normal' people do."

He was doing what the Bible says. You know, in Lost Commandment Eleven. Thou Shalt Not Swim In Public Pools If You're Queer.

And now the Kentucky Equality Federation is in the fight. And before you can say lawsuit, they will tell you that they want no money, they filed no lawsuit. All they want is an apology from the Pavilion and the staff.

And to let those two gay men back in the pool.

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What Do Lesbian Comics Know About Homophobia?

Dawn Whitwell is a Canadian comedian. I know, sounds like an oxymoron to me, too, but I digress.

Dawn was invited by a teacher at the Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School to do her routine, in which she addresses the issue of homophobia, at the school's anti-homophobia event.

Let's digest that for a moment. A Catholic school hosting an anti-homophobia day? Talk about your oxymoron.

But the school was having it, and Whitwell was asked to attend and perform, until......Dawn Whitwell is a lesbian. Invitation rescinded.

The teacher told her not to come. Apparently, one of the members of the school board Googled Whitwell, and not in the way lesbians google themselves, and discovered that she is ::::gasp:::: married to a ::::bigger gasp:::: woman!

Holy Mother Of God!

Whitwell was then told that she would not be allowed to perform because she has an "affiliation to gay marriage." Whitwell, a recovering Catholic schoolgirl, herself, found the phrase hysterical.

"I was telling people about it, because it was funny," she said. "Then I was getting angry that they can still do this kind of thing. Not so much for me performing there, but you've got to be kidding me — I thought the tide was turning in '87."

Emmy Szekeres Milne, a spokesbigot for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, said the school was planning an event to focus on anti-bullying strategies, not anti-homophobia, and that Whitwell had been considered as a possible speaker, but was never officially slated to attend. She added that "[s]taff who were organizing the event reviewed the individual's online information, and felt that because of the serious nature of the topics being discussed, this person would not be a good fit for their program."

Hmmm, let me get this queer. The school is having an anti-bullying event, which may, or may not, focus on homophobia, and they invited a comedian, a lesbian comedian, who talks about homophobia in her act, then asked her not to come because she's married to a woman.

Oooooooh, so they were using her as an example of homophobia and bullying. You know, invite the dyke to perform then tell her she can't because she married another dyke.

Lesson learned.

Whitwell, who likes to keep the funny, does not take the snub personally, and thinks she might actually use the experience in her act; you know, the one where she talks about homophobia. One thing she does not plan to do is pursue any legal action against the school board.

"What action could I take?" She asked. "To make them let me perform there to a captive audience? There's nothing for me to do other than to support the larger issue at hand."

Go get 'em, Dawn. And keep it funny!

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What's sauce for the goose...

These two messages from two branches of female sports are in Hebrew, but the gist is:

The court of appeals of the international basketball association rejected an appeal by Israeli basketball association to allow Naama Shafir, a member of Israeli national team to play with a long-sleeved shirt under the standard jersey. The request was made due to Naama being religious...

The Iranian female football team was punished by a technical loss in its game with Jordan. The decision was made due to Iranian team members appearing for the game in hijabs.

So... yeah, reach your own conclusion. Oh, and another thing: the first article carries a picture of Naama:

While the second article offers only a generic female mannequin in a hijab:

Which is, strictly speaking, unfair to the readers. Oh well...

And Then There Were Two

Back in April, I posted about the Douglass Boulevard Christian Church, in Louisville, Kentucky, and how they were no longer sign marriage licenses for heterosexual couples when homosexuals couples are denied those same rights. See post HERE.

Well, it looks like another Louisville church is following suit.

The Reverend Dawn Cooley of First Unitarian Church in Old Louisville announced on her blog that, while she would continue to perform religious marriage ceremonies for both straight and gay couples, she would no longer perform the civil function of signing marriage licenses on behalf of the state, until same-sex marriages are legal in Kentucky.

And her congregation stood right by her side, asking her to refrain from signing marriage licenses "until such time as Kentucky ceases to discriminate against same sex couples with respect to civil marriage.”

Cooley says that heterosexual couples can choose to have their marriage license signed by a justice of the peace, or they could "choose not to have their licenses signed, and stand with gay & lesbian couples and not participate in civil marriage until it is a civil right."

You know, just when I grow tired of all those religious institutions, and I'm talking to you, Catholics, and Baptists, that would deny services to everyone rather than offer services to gay men and women, someone like the Reverend Dawn Cooley comes along and makes me see that not all religions spout their love rhetoric while practicing, tolerating, and endorsing hate.

Hats off to the Reverend Cooley, the First Unitarian Church in Old Louisville, the Douglass Boulevard Christian Church and its ministers, and the city of Louisville, for proving that god is love.

First Unitarian Church in Old Louisville Won't Sign Marriage Licenses

They're Not Having A Gay Old Time

Florida Family Association, a Christian group--and they call themselves 'christians' while they discriminate--is going after Disney World because of the theme park's annual Gay Days celebration by flying a banner plane over Disney World that reads: "Warning Gay Day at Disney".

Danger, Will Robinson, danger!

I have a message for oxymoronic group, FFA: Better people than you have tried to stop Disney from having, promoting, and profiting quite nicely--since it's a huge success--off a Gay Day Celebration. And, in the near-twenty years there have been Gay Days at the park, no one has ever succeeded.

And why is that?

Well, for starters, it's that whole Christian thing where you spout love out of one side of your mouths and hate out of the other.

For another, most of the people who attend Gay Days aren't even gay. With parks as large as Disney's the majority of park goers are straight, and have no problem with Gay Days.

The FFA claims hundreds of thousands of people arrive at the park this time of year, only to turn around because of the weeklong celebration, Yes, I can imagine Joe Podunk and the wife and kids loaded up the camper and drove all the way across the country to spend a week at Disney, and then just went home because fags were on the Matterhorn.

Don't.Think.So.

Personal story: Carlos and I went to Disney World while we lived in Florida, only we went in January, We had a lovely vacation at Epcot and Disney World, and on our last day, after watching the fireworks, we headed for the exit.

As we walked along, we began holding hands, as we are apt to do sometimes, and I noticed a lesbian couple come up alongside of us; they, too, were holding hands.

Suddenly, a voice behind us shouted: "What is this? it isn't Gay Days!"

One of the lesbians turned back, and said, "Honey, every day is gay day for us."

And it is. And will be at Disney World for a long time to come, no matter how many Christians boycott or fly banners or simply wallow in their intolerance.

We're here. We're queer. And we're on Mister Toad's Wild Ride, right alongside of you.

source

A Tale Of Two Churches

Out in Illinois, the Catholic Charities of Rockford has announced that they will put an immediate halt to its state-funded foster care program and adoption services on the very day that the new civil unions law takes effect in the state.

Yes, they will no longer be helping children be adopted or placed in foster care, because, god forbid, those children might go to a gay couple. See, the Catholic Church, home to child rapists and their protectors, wants to punish children now, rather than protect them.

Catholic Charities say they are leaving the foster care and adoption business to avoid liability if state law requires them to place children with parents in civil unions--either gay or straight--though we all know too well that they mean just the gay parents. Catholic Charities has no problem with fostering children to straight couples, even straight single people, but they don't want children raised by gay people, or couples, so they'll just stop the programs entirely.

This moronic, bigoted, homophobic, anti-children decision will displace about 350 children and put nearly sixty people out of work.

How effing-christ-like.

Meanwhile, up in St. Cloud Minnesota, the debate over marriage equality is dividing members of the clergy within the United Methodist Church.


At their annual conference in St. Cloud, some 40 Minnesota United Methodist clergy signed a statement saying they would marry any couple who came to them, including same-sex couples.

Reverend Bruce Robbins, of the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, initially said he hoped about a dozen or so of his colleagues might sign the statement, by the number has grown to 40. 

Now, to be fair, Methodist church discipline forbids same-sex marriage, so members of the clergy who perform them could lose their conference membership, or clergy credentials.

But they are making a statement. And so is the Catholic Charities of Rockford. One is following the tent that god is love, the other is saying children should suffer.

 
40 United Methodist Clergy Pledge To Marry Gay Couples
 
Catholic Charities Ends Foster Care, Adoption Services To Avoid Serving Same-Sex Parents

You Have Two Choices: It's Wrong, Or It's A Sin

Well, it seems that the Presbyterian Church wants to allow openly gay and lesbian pastors to begin serving congregations around the country, but South Carolina congregations are, naturally, pissed off about it.

At a national assembly of Presbyterians last year, they voted to change the church constitution to removed wording that required celibacy and fidelity in marriage when considering church leaders. The proposed changes needed approval by a majority of the denomination's 173 regional presbyteries and just last week a Minnesota presbytery cast the deciding 87th vote. The new policy now goes into effect in July.

Of course, because it's South Carolina, all five of my state's presbyteries voted against the change. Dr. Alan Arnold of the Trinity Presbytery, which oversees the majority of Midlands congregations, says that, while churches are now permitted to ordain homosexual clergy, local congregations retain control over that process and he does not expect to see any immediate major changes here.

Which means South Carolina can keep it's homophobia in tact.

Still, more annoying than the idea that these "Christians" are such intolerant bigots, is what our local Fox News channel--Wach Fox 57--did with the story. As news channels often do, they offered up a poll for people to vote on whether or not they agreed with the Presbyterian church welcoming gay church leaders. But they didn't phrase the question like that. It was like this:

Wow.
 
Either way you look at it, it's anti-gay , homophobic, bigoted intolerant nonsense. Thanks South Carolina, and Wach Fox 57, for keeping it real.
 
Real stupid.
 
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Just For Giggles

Source





Some Teachers Shouldn't

Down in Texas, where things are big, and sometimes stupid, a high school teacher has been put on administrative leave after an incident where he allegedly said, to a 9th grade Muslim girl, "I bet that you're grieving" following the death of Osama bin Laden. he also, allegedly, said, before that, "I heard about your uncle's death."

A teacher. Someone who should know better.

The girl's name is not being released--and neither is that of the teacher--but what sickens me most, other than the blatant sickness of the comments--are the fact that the teacher allegedly showed no remorse for his comments. 

After making his remarks, the girl began to cry, and when he asked why she was crying, another student said it was because of what he'd said to her. the teacher allegedly shrugged and smirked and went on with the class.

The Clear Creek Independent School District released this statement:

In the Clear Creek Independent School District, we believe diversity strengthens our community and seek opportunities to celebrate the different cultures within our schools and neighborhoods. The sentiments allegedly shared by this teacher are not reflective of the staff at Clear Brook High School or anyone within the Clear Creek Independent School District.

In accordance with CCISD policy, the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a personnel investigation. The student did the right thing and immediately notified an adult regarding the teachers' comments. The principal at Clear Brook High School notified the child's parents and has been in communication with the family.

I think the statement could have been a bit more succinct; something along the lines of: The teacher has been fired.

via TalkingPointsMemo

God Is Love, Two: Central United Methodist Church

The good folks at Central United Methodist Church, in Toledo, Ohio, are starting a new campaign. It's a simple one, really, with a simple message they've displayed on an electronic billboard. It is intended to be a gift to those who have experienced hurt and discrimination because of their real or perceived sexual orientation. The Church seeks nothing less than the healing of the world, and Central UMC wants to offer words and acts of healing to those hurt and marginalized.

Their message:

Declaring that being gay is a gift from God is a prophetic call to the Church to get out of the business of marginalizing gay and lesbian persons from the Church, and to welcome them as full members. The purpose of this campaign is 1) to offer welcome to all persons who are gay; 2) to challenge the larger Church to fully accept persons who are gay into the life of the Church; and 3) to call on all people to bring all the gifts of who they are to God.
God is happy about this, because she's tired of all the bull shiz.

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Letters! We Get Letters: Stacey Campfield's "Don't Say Gay" Bill Edition

So, way back at the first of March, I wrote a post [HERE] about Tennessee asshat Stacey Campfield and his proposed "Don't Say Gay" legislation, in which elementary and middle school teachers would not be allowed to mention the word gay, er, well, Campfield uses the word 'homosexuality', focusing on the word 'sex', in any classroom, anywhere, any time, ever.

And I got a few responses, mostly from people thinking with a full deck. But, imagine my surprise when, just last night, I got a response of a different color from 'Anonymous,' who apparently gets around because I see his, or her name, on a lot of blogs.

Anyhow, 'Anonymous' took umbrage with some of the things I said, and decided to set me, er, straight, so let's listen in:

Anonymous:

"I would just like to say that you are really throwing around alot of mud with your name-calling. In addition, you are taking everything Mr. Campbell says out of context."

To be fair, Anonymous realized after posting this comment that it was Stacey Campfield, and not Stacey Campbell, because he or she came back to tell me that it was Campfield and not Campbell. But, about the name-calling. i called Campfield a wingnut, twice, and an asshat, once--to be fair, I misspelled asshat as ashat, but still.......I failed to call him a fucktard. I failed to call him a douchenozzle. I failed to call him a dumbass homophobic moronic knuckle-dragging pigfucking loser.

So, I deserve some credit for my restraint. But, 'Anonymous' goes on:

"He says that controversial issues like this should be dealt with 'in the home'--not nonexistent "until high school" as you put it."

Hey, 'Anon', homosexuality isn't a controversial issue. It's a sexual orientation just like heterosexuality, and when Campfield says it shouldn't be said, discussed, uttered at no time, in elementary and middle schools, that means it is a 'non-existent- topic until high school. You'll understand this when you get to high school, fingers crossed.
Still, it goes on:

"And as Campbell also said: the gays he has had "civil" conversations with about the bill agree with him. As he also described to them (not direct quotation): how would you feel if a teacher was allowed to say that homosexuality is evil or an abomination? This bill would prevent that as well."

Of course he calls the conversations with gays who agree with him civil, yet he doesn't seem to mention one single gay person who agrees with him. And, while it's nice to say teachers can't call being gay an abomination, the mere fact that they cannot discuss it all makes it seem shadowy and suspect to their students. And what about the gay kid? See, gay folks are born gay, and even in elementary school gay kids suspect they are gay. But then they're made to feel less than because they, and their families, aren't discussed. And what about the kid with two mommies or two daddies? They are made to feel invisible as well. Yeah, that's a nice way to educate people.
Look, the Holocaust was ugly and nasty, so, let's not discuss that either.
And it goes on:

"So, really, this bill IS neutral. It helps both sides by keeping such controversial and personal issues out of the school classroom."

First off, 'Anonymous,' neutrality is non-existent, which is another way of saying gays don't exist. We do. We have. We will. And just because some wingnut in Tennessee, and a wingnut with an 'Anonymous' fetish doesn't like it, doesn't make it so. Campfield called being gay controversial. It isn't. He also called it a personal choice. It isn't. Unless you think people like Stacey Campfield, and yourself, for that matter, choose to be straight. And, if you did choose your hetero-ness, please tell me when and where and how you came to that realization?
Then 'Anonymous' brings in God and Christianity:

"Plus, now you know how Christians feel when they try to discuss Creation or a Young Earth instead of evolution in the classroom. I don't see you standing up for that kind of equality; oh wait, that's probably because it doesn't contrast what YOU yourself believe right?"

Hey wingnut. Pay attention, You can go to a church, or a religious school and read all about Creationism, and Adam and Eve, and a boat large enough to hold two of every single animal on Earth--except for the poor unicorns--on it.
Public school is not a church-sanctioned education,. There is, still, in this country, a separation of church and state for a reason, so wingnuts like you do not impose your ideas on anyone else. But, that's what you want.
I say, you wanna learn about Creationism, go to a religious school, go to church, but public schools teach s-c-i-e-n-c-e.
And then 'Anonymous' goes off the deep end, blaming all the ills of the country on abortion and homosexuality:

"And to everyone who thinks this issue isn't somehow tied to our failing economy. . .Have you ever thought that maybe the Bible is right, and that because our nation blatantly goes against God's Word--about moral issues like abortion, homosexuality, etc.--that this is the reason our country is plummeting into massive chaos?"

Seriously? God caused the failing economy because of abortion and homosexuality?
Um, homosexuality has been around for thousands of years, so why did God wait until 2011 to get all anti-gay. And, if she was so pissed off about abortion, which has been legal in this country for decades, what took her so long to get mad?
And, if God gets all pissy about moral issues, um, yeah, what about punishing Germany after Hitler killed 6 millions Jews? Was God too busy back then? What about the genocides going on all over the world? Has God got better things to do than to punish those people responsible for killing millions more?
I guess, for you, the only immoral things God cares about are a woman's legal right to choose, and people being born gay.
Your God doesn't care about the rest.
My god, little g, is love.
So, in closing, 'Anonymous', if you and your ilk, and by ilk, I mean the Stacey Campfields of the world, don't like the idea of gay people, don't be gay. You don't like abortion, don't have one. But do not attempt to tell me that not allowing the word 'gay' to be uttered in schools isn't a form of discrimination.
It is.

God Is Love: Douglass Boulevard Christian Church

Last week, in Louisville, Kentucky, the congregation of Douglass Boulevard Christian Church unanimously--you read that right, unanimously--voted to end the practice of signing marriage licenses because they give legal benefits to heterosexual couples that are not available to homosexual couples. 

And until marriage equality is the law of the land, Douglass Boulevard Christian Church ministers will only perform religious wedding ceremonies, which we all know are not legal without a signed marriage certificate.

Associate Minister Ryan Kamp-Pappan: "As an Open and Affirming Community of Faith, our membership is committed to treating homosexuals and heterosexuals equally. Our congregation believes it is unfair to provide different services and benefits to heterosexual couples than we can provide to gay and lesbian couples."

Senior minister, the Reverend Derek Penwell added, "Heterosexual couples enjoy a number of benefits that result from having state-sanctioned union. They may inherit property, adopt children together, visit one another in the hospital, and save thousands each year in taxes by filing as a couple. Ministers, as agents of the state, have the power to confer these benefits-and the imprimatur of normalcy-on heterosexual couples, but we do not have the honor to bestow these benefits on gay and lesbian couples."

The Reverend Chuck Lewis, Chair of Elders with the church, said, "In our attempt to live out God's call to pursue justice for all, the Elders of the congregation joined the Pastors in witnessing to the right for gay and lesbian persons to God's blessing on their union and witnessing to the Commonwealth toward ending the refusal to recognize these unions."

Douglass Boulevard Christian Church has been committed to seeking justice for all people since it was founded in 1846. In 2008, Douglass Boulevard Christian Church voted to become an Open and Affirming Community of Faith.

In 2011, God--if you believe in that sort of thing--was doing cartwheels and heaping praise ion the ministers and congregation at Douglas Boulevard Christian Church.

source

Just a Thought: People Who Use God For Hate

I saw this on something called the Catholic News Agency--all the new that's fit for hate, I'm guessing. It's the story of how people in Colorado are using god as a weapon of hate, and smiling while they do so.

It seems that Colorado Catholics, and others in a coalition of hate, opposed to a civil unions bill, gathered on the steps of the Colorado statehouse to pray to god to stop gay people from being allowed, not to marry, but to civilly unite.

Wow.

All the things wrong with the world--not to mention all the things wrong with the Catholic church....pedophiles--and these people want to pray to god--and before anyone gets wingnutty, I mean the little g--not to feed the poor, or heal the sick, or cure the dying, or save the planet, or help Japan, or stop the wars, but to keep Colorado lawmakers from enacting civil union legislation.

This is how they think god works?

Their god wants to keep gay men and women from being open and honest and out about their love for one another. Their god wants to keep gay men and women who fall in love from expressing that love? Their god doesn't believe in love?

No, for those "good"Christians, god says that marriage is between one man and one woman, or some version of that since it's changed dramatically since mortal men wrote the Bible, and then edited it down to what they wanted it to say, and called it the word of god.

I wonder why they think god has the time to waste on this nonsense. Why is their god a god who seeks to keep people who love one another, one of the greatest things we can ever do for each other, from being united in that love and that commitment?

I wonder why they think their god wants to waste her time this way.

See, what some lawmakers, and a great many people, in Colorado, want is quite simple. The legislation simply grants gay men and women the same legal benefits, protections, and responsibilities that are granted under the law to spouses. Not moral benefits, because morality is an individual thing; you cannot, or at least should try not to, legislate morality.

But these folks want their god to do some wild and crazy things; like keep gay couples from leaving their own property to their partner or loved ones, or anyone of their choosing; they use their god to keep gay couples from adding their partner, their spouse, their loved ones, to their insurance; they ask their god to keep gay people from visiting their partners in the hospitals, even in the cases of one partner dying.

They ask their god to hate gay people.

And then they smile about it.

If that's what they believe their god is up to, then they can have it.

The god, or being, or entity, that I believe in, is simply love. And she doesn't care whom you love, just that you love, and be loved in return. She isn't marching on state capitals trying to impose her iron will on others who believe differently. She isn't trying to legislate hate. She isn't working overtime to keep people who love one another apart.

She has better things to worry about.

And so should you.

And the folks who question the existence of a god, or being or entity, or deny the existence of a god, being, or entity, only want that same thing. To have us all treated equally.

Such a novel concept.

Now, to make matters worse, and to give these people who use god as a weapon of hate feel a tiny bit better in their cold stone hearts, the Colorado civil union bill was killed by a House committee.

And, before you get your rosary beads in a twist, it wasn't god who did this. It was Republicans. And if you think Republicans are god-like, or Christ-like, think again.

It's simple bigotry and intolerance and fear.

Not god.  She wouldn't do this to anyone.

source

Murray Richmond: Coming Out Of The Dark

Murray Richmond was a Presbyterian minister for 17 years, and a hospital chaplain for three years. He used to stand at the pulpit and preach against The Gays and the sins of homosexuality, and the Word of God and blibbety blah blay blue everything anti-gay.

Murray Richmond

Now, however, Murray Richardson has come out of the darkness, revealing that, as Americans have shifted their attitudes bout marriage equality--from 32% approval in 2004 to 53% today--he is one of those Americans who has changed his mind.

Pastor say what?

He tells of being ordained back in 1989, and serving a church in North Carolina. Homosexuality wasn't much of an issue, gay rights weren't an issue, except maybe to the LGBT community, and the idea of an openly gay pastor was, well, it simply wasn't done. Murray Richmond believed, then, that no one "could be a practicing homosexual and a Christian. The Bible was straightforward on this issue. It all seemed incredibly obvious to me."

Then came the 90s, and suddenly homosexuality became a hot-button issue for more than just The Gays; straight people were talking about it, supporting it, protesting it. Murray Richmond advocated that old chestnut, "hate the sin, love the sinner"--he'd picked his side in the debate, and his side was anti-gay.

However, even then he didn't like the debate, because he thought other things, like, oh say, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, aiding the homeless, should be of the utmost importance, not, as he says, "determining the morality of what adults did in their bedrooms."

But Murray joined the crowds and preached against homosexuality. Today, he calls that holding "the traditional line" and limiting the role of gays in the church. But Murray felt something wasn't right with the anti-LGBT preaching; what he had once believed to be "biblically correct began to feel less and less right" in his heart.

And then Murray had an epiphany, well, three epiphanies, I guess.

He began having an online chat with a gay Christian man, who, like so many gay Christians, struggle with their orientation and their faith, and how those two things should work. The man struggled to tell Murray of his thoughts and ideas, that "God was more concerned with his pride than his sexuality" because he felt Murray, like every other man of the cloth to whom he'd spoken, had tried to convert him. But Murray listened, and questioned himself, and the church.

Then, one of his parishioners asked him to perform an exorcism for him because he was gay. The man had tried everything to change from gay to straight, and thought exorcism might actually do the trick. Murray still felt the man, and his homosexuality, were sinful, but he also knew that the man was not demon-possessed. He was just gay, and afraid.

Finally, Murray Richmond met a woman whose husband had left her for another man. And, to make matters worse, in the woman's eyes, her husband was, of all things, a minister in a small-town. But Murray Richmond was astonished by "her grace," and how she still called her husband the best minister she had ever known; a man who had simply decided that "he could no longer live the lie of his sexuality." 

These three revelations convinced Murray Richmond that no one chooses to be gay, like he had not chosen heterosexuality. And Murray realized that, after years of doing so, albeit begrudgingly, he could no longer condemn gay men and women for something that is not their fault, not their choice.

In the end, what affirmed his newfound beliefs, was when he was "approached by five individuals who demanded: that he come out strongly against acceptance of LGBT people in his next sermon. They wanted him to preach what the Bible said on the issue, but found it funny that "all five of them were divorced and remarried...[and]...[h]ad I done a sermon on what the Bible said about divorce, every one of them would have left the church in a huff."

Indeed.

Still, Murray Richmond did that sermon, possibly out of fear of repercussions from his flock, and today he says it was not his "best hour as a Minister of Word and Sacrament." He felt the Bible, and, apparently God's, view on homosexuality, was far more nuanced than he thought, and, while he tried to instill that thought into his sermon, he still feels he came off as anti-gay.

Murray Richmond:

"Looking back, I see how much my own opinions had been formed by the fact that I was representing a split congregation. Our church, like so many, was divided. And while the people who believed it should be accepted were not going to leave if we maintained a position of non-acceptance, those who felt it was a sin would bolt in a heartbeat if we ever allowed gay clergy or gay marriage. If they bolted, half our budget would go out the door. I knew the issue could tear the church apart. What I didn't realize was how it could tear apart the people in the church as well.
[....]
Murray Richmond left his ministry in 2005 to work as a hospital chaplain. He says one reason he left was because his own marriage was breaking up, but also he was "tired of trying to live up to standards that I did not fully agree with."

Now, he believes in the change, he believes in marriage equality, he believes you can be gay and Christian. He's a believer of all things possible now, and realizes why the church singles out homosexuality as a "litmus test for True Christianity."

Murray Richmond:

Now I am wondering why, if two gay people want to commit their lives to one another, they should ever be denied that chance. No church or pastor should be forced to perform those ceremonies, and they can choose not to recognize gay marriage for their adherents. But the constitution of the Presbyterian Church does not explicitly forbid a pastor from being a thief, a murderer, or an egotistical jerk. It is not designed to do these things. It does prohibit a gay person from becoming a pastor. All I can ask is: Why?"

sourceWelcome into the light, Murray, and keep spreading your words wherever you can.He began to see how the churches use the anti-gay movement as a means to raise money for themselves, and he began to really look at the Bible, and how it talked about homosexuality, and he realized it wasn't as clear cut as he'd been taught, and as he'd once preached.

Letters! We Get Letters: Petals And Promises Wedding Flowers Edition

My gosh.
You gotta love a Christian who endorses discrimination, dontcha?
After writing about how Kim Evans, of Petals And Promises Wedding Flowers, refused to complete the order she was given for wedding flowers after discovering the flowers would go to a :::gasp:::: gay couple, I got all sorts of lovely Christian responses.
Let's take a look:

Anonymous [Bob: Anonymous, naturally] said:

Petals and promises does not need to worry about losing business, for it is inheriting the kingdom of heaven...and I would say that is a pretty good return on investment:

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

So, um, yeah, the Christians are the only persecuted people on Earth, eh? Well, what about the gay couple Kim Evans of Petals And Promises Wedding Flowers persecuted because she don't like The Gays?
You wanna talk about persecuted people being welcomed into the kingdom of heaven, y'all better get ready for a Big Gay Invasion!

TED the Tiger said:

Awww, the poor persecuted florist... lol. I love how there's this huge ethical lapse as the florist refuses business to a gay couple and is now considered 'persecuted'. Just think, you can't deny business to gays...what next, they're going to make you sell to n*ggers too? GASP! GOD forbid!

You know what sucks? Try being gay and ordering flowers for your lover, then wondering if they'll actually reach their destination in decent shape because you can't trust your florist. Something straights might not have had to consider.

Amen, Ted.
Kim Evans of Petals And Promises Wedding Flowers is, let's say this together, in business, not in church, and if she doesn't want to serve gay people, or gay couples because of her skewed vision of what it means to be a Christian, then good for her.
But Kim Evans of Petals And Promises Wedding Flowers should hang a "Straights Only" sign in her window, so people who don't like being discriminated against, or don't like discrimination of any kind, can go to any other florist.

Danny said:

Moncton homosexuals harass at the home of Kim Evans of Petals and Promises Wedding Flowers in Riverview, NB

The Moncton homosexual community organized and executed what they termed a “peaceful” protest at the home of Kim Evans of Petals and Promises Wedding Flowers in Riverview, NB.

Of course we know that this was nothing short of militant homosexuals gathering to harass a Christian who in fact serves homosexuals but not homosexual weddings. Huge difference between persons and events.

The Moncton homosexuals mobilized through Facebook (click here) and while claiming to be “peaceful” they instead were harassing, with two RCMP cars needing to be present to make sure the peace was not broken. It’s quite obvious that perhaps things could have turned sour…otherwise, the RCMP would not have needed to be there.

There was, of course no counter-protest or confrontation with these militants as this is (1) what they wanted and as it was (2) what they expected and as (3) we did not want this. Instead, we went into the home early and gathered to pray.

Some of the homosexuals believed, initially, that I was leading the prayer meeting, which was inaccurate information. I led nothing; a Pastor led and all of us prayed together as one voice raised up by God to magnify the Name of Jesus.

Gathered inside of the home were Christians from different Bible Believing Churches and we did not even see the small crowd of homosexuals outside as we were involved in praying for one another, the protesters and all the way up to praying for the Japanese earthquake victims. There was simply no time for us to focus our attention towards what was happening in front of the home.

Just after 3PM, two individuals came to the door to offer their support with a wonderful letter they wrote. They were invited in and joined in the prayer meeting with all of us.

True to their word, the homosexuals left flowers outside of the home of Kim Evans while the media filmed the event.

By the Grace of God we had no sense of awareness that a crowd had gathered outside; instead, we lifted their voices to God and called on the Name of Jesus in earnest prayer for various things.

The atmosphere in the home was powerful as the Presence of God filled the home; there was a clear sense that God’s Hand was moving and will continue to move without the need for Christians to speak a word.

While the homosexuals were gathered in unity outside, we were gathered in one accord inside.

There was no hatred or mean spiritedness towards those we prayed for; instead, there was a clear love and compassion from the Believers who were praying. It was wonderful to come into such an intimate atmosphere of prayer with these spiritual giants who didn’t show anger or hatred but instead loving prayer, not only for Kim Evans and her family but also for the protesters.

The common theme was: God has everything under control.

Oh, Danny, how nice that you lifted your voice to God about those "militant" homosexuals, who left flowers for Kim.
How.Militant.
But, um, while you were all inside praying, did God happen to mention how she felt that one of her own was discriminating against another of her own?
Yeah, I know.

Anonymous [Bob: dunno if this is the first Anon or a new Anon] said:

Here's the sick homosexuals harassing the home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNHHNTUZ5Z8

Hmmm, Anon must have gone to a different protest because, unless laying flowers at someone's door is harassment, I'm missing the point.

Anonymous [Bob: Again with the Anon?] said:

I support Kim. She is really Christian, really smart and brave woman. On her place I woudnt care about stupid demonstrations. I dont think that I have to do something against Got to be nice for gay/lesbians. I absolutely dont care what they think and what they feel. May be I also feel bad when I see them. Does they care?

Um, wow.
Where to begin.
Get thee to a dictionary.

Sanne said: 

everyone has the right to love, everyone. i think people are so smallminded about these sort of things.

It don't matter if you love a boy, or girl. I can't stand people think they better because of some book that's morde then 2000 years old (if it's real) if you are a good christian (what ever that means) you have to follew everthing what the bible says, so don't work on sunday, a virgin when you marre etc.

all people are equel.

sorry for the language but I;m Dutch (you know the country where gay-marriage, abortion en euthanasia is legal, hallelujah)

Well-said, Sanne, even in the broken English!
I have a question for the "Christians":
If a gay man or woman owned a flower shop and refused to have any part of a Christian heterosexual wedding, you'd be cool with that?

Or would it just be militant homosexuals again?

Anonymous [Bob: another Anon!] said:

I support kim and she has every right to her religion and to refuse serving Gays& Lesbians.

I hope she is reading this also!

Its a wellknown fact the bible is against homosexuals..

I will Gladly continue to support petals and promises riverview nb

Anonymous [Bob: Oy! So Many!] said:
Apperntly god isn't so forgiving.

Now you're just poking them with sticks.

Amanda said:

lol i love how all of the "Christians" are remaining anonymous to quote the bible and everything. For those of you who believe that she was right in refusing, have you not heard of in the bible how it tells you not to judge others? or how about all men/women were created equally and we are all his children?

I agree, Amanda.
They are acting very Christ-like.

Troy said:

Petals & promises just earned me as a customer! Ill be sure to tell her why the next time i call for an order. Good job Kim.

First off, Troy, thanks for what ALLEGEDLY is your real name.
Secondly, how are you to feel when a business decides it won't cater to Christians?
Or men named Troy?
Discrimination against one of us is discrimination against all of us, so when it happens to you--and it will--who are you going to ask to help.
Not The Gays, please.

Anonymous [Bob: Is it part of the faith to post anonymously?] said:

Amanda you pathetic frothing hypocritical nihliist and slave to the marxist thought crime police, post your full name, address and phone number then.

Didn't think so.

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

And there we have it!
The anonymous name-calling in the name of God, someone chooses to believe differently.
And, of course, the perfect Bible verses that fit your rant, while seeking to ignore all the others.
Very, very Christ-like.
She would be so proud.

Name Goes Here [Bob: Another form of Anonymous] said:

Anonymous said..."Apperntly god isn't so forgiving."

To receive forgiveness you must first repent and ASK TO BE FORGIVEN.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Lev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Yes, Anon, tell us what God thinks.
About judging others.
Casting stones.
I don't think she'd be too happy with you.

Here's the final word, because I'm closing the comments on that post since some of you "Christians" have resorted to name calling and veiled threats:
Kim has the right to believe whatever she chooses, but it is illegal, um, against the law, for her to discriminate against people for many reasons: color, gender, age, religion, orientation.
She is breaking the law.
Plain and simple.
And the Bible is also against eating shellfish. Put down the shrimp, Christian.
It's against wearing clothing of mixed fabrics; get thee to a Hemp store.
It's against tattoos, cutting your hair, shaving your face.....I could go on.
Do not call yourself a Christian when you pick and choose which parts of the Bible, which is a history book, not a book or morality, to which you will adhere.
You don't want to cater to gay people, put the "Straights Only" sign in your windows and your ads and see how long you stay in business.