Awesome Website of the Week: 'God Hates Shrimp' »
Sometimes you just have to smile at the snarky, fun skewering of the anti-LGBT right.
Activists Joe Decker and Ryland Sanders have created my new favorite parody site called “God Hates Shrimp”, a smart poke at people like Fred Phelps, NOM, and other fundie hate groups who use the Bible to beat the community over the head. It’s an old argument given new flair by these creative folks.
The front page reads:
Shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, all these are an abomination before the Lord, just as gays are an abomination. Why stop at protesting gay marriage? Bring all of God’s law unto the heathens and the sodomites. We call upon all Christians to join the crusade against Long John Silver’s and Red Lobster. Yea, even Popeye’s shall be cleansed. The name of Bubba shall be anathema. We must stop the unbelievers from destroying the sanctity of our restaurants.
Continue reading “Awesome Website of the Week: ‘God Hates Shrimp’” »
Prop 8 Court Challenge: Judge says San Fran In, LGBT Orgs Out »
Judge Vaughn Walker has denied the request of several LGBT legal groups, including the ACLU, Lambda Legal and NCLR, 
to join Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8. He also approved the City of San Francisco’s request to join the case. Ted Olson and David Boies will now be joined by San Francisco City Attorney David Herrera as the lawyers in the challenge to Proposition 8.
The judge approved the City of San Francisco’s request due to “a government interest that wasn’t represented by any of the current parties.” He said the LGBT organizations, however, “would needlessly delay the case’s resolution.”
The trial has been set for January 11, 2010.
Statement from the LGBT orgs after the jump…
Continue reading “Prop 8 Court Challenge: Judge says San Fran In, LGBT Orgs Out” »
No Wonder Letterman is Beating Conan in the Ratings »
Self-promoting king, Donald Trump, appeared on Letterman last night to talk about the Miss Universe contest. 
Not surprisingly, Carrie Prejean came up, with Trump touting her “great beauty” as reason for caring about her opinions…
Gotta love some late night misogyny from the Donald. Sigh.
Letterman took the opportunity to take a stand for marriage equality:
Anybody who wants to get married ought to be able to get married.
Quite a different tone than that of new Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, which has come under fire quite a few times lately for anti-LGBT humor.
Videos after the jump
Continue reading “No Wonder Letterman is Beating Conan in the Ratings” »
Justice Department Hires New LGBT Liaison »
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has hired Matt Nosanchuk, a former staffer for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), 
to serve as a a senior counselor and a representative to the LGBT community.
Nosanchuk, who is openly gay, has worked for the DOJ’s Office of Policy Development and handled judiciary and civil rights issues. He also advised the Obama campaign on LGBT issues during the run for President.
The hiring of an LGBT outreach person for the DOJ comes on the heels of huge push-back from the community, ranging from complaints against inaction on LGBT issues and legislation to the Obama Department of Justice’s brief defending the “Defense of Marriage Act.”
Continue reading “Justice Department Hires New LGBT Liaison” »
Anchorage Mayor Vetoes LGBT Rights Ordinance: The Power of Privilege »
It looks like we won the battle against discrimination and no one bothered to tell us! At least that seems to be the opinion of Mayor Dan Sullivan of Anchorage, Alaska.
Sullivan has vetoed an ordinance that would ban discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in Anchorage. The ordinance passed last week by a 7-4 vote.
In a statement, Sullivan said he sees no need for the measure:
My review shows that there is clearly a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance. My review also shows that the vast majority of those who communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition.
See? Sullivan asked his other straight, white, male friends about discrimination and found it wasn’t a problem. Of course!
Continue reading “Anchorage Mayor Vetoes LGBT Rights Ordinance: The Power of Privilege” »
FL Rep. Alcee Hastings Speaks Out for Gay Iraqis »
Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, Florida has issued a scathing statement against the extreme violence against gays and lesbians in Iraq. The Human Rights Watch has released a 67 page report detailing a wide-reaching campaign of extrajudicial executions, kidnappings, and torture of gay men that began in early 2009.
Hastings, who has been an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights (including opposing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”), issued this statement:
The report documents the extrajudicial persecution, torture, and execution of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Iraqis. In recent months, hundreds of gay men have been tortured and murdered in Iraq in a systematic campaign of social cleansing by Shiite militiamen and extremists. Furthermore, victims and witnesses allege that Iraqi security forces have colluded and joined in the killing.
The alarming testimonies detailed in this report are undeniable evidence that the rights and safety of gay Iraqis are at risk.
Continue reading “Rep. Alcee Hastings Speaks Out for Gay Iraqis” »
Gay Geek iPhone App Review: My Gay Agenda »
I just love cheeky gay humor.
I recently got a request on twitter from a new iPhone Application called “My Gay Agenda.” My curiosity was piqued by the humor of their tweets so I checked into the App and ended up downloading it.
The calendar/scheduling app describes itself as “witty, discreet and virtually leather bound- sort of like that married advertising exec you met through Craigslist.”
That sense of irreverent humor is everywhere in the application, but it also gives back to the community by donating a portion of the $2.99 download cost to Project Angel Food, a non-profit organization that provides daily meals for people homebound or disabled by HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses.
More after the jump….
Weird Science: A Laughable New "Scientific" Study on Ex-Gay Conversion »
Sometime you just have to shake your head when right-wing fundamentalists claim to use science…
A new “study” has been released, conveniently on the heels of the American Psychological Association adopting a resolution calling on mental health professionals to stop telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments, claiming a 53% success rate in ex-gay conversion therapy.
There are so many holes in this bit of “science” that even the anti-gay, ultraconservative Baptist Press sounds a bit skeptical, introducing the study by saying: “In findings that directly contradict mainstream academic thought…” I think that’s the first truthful thing they’ve ever reported.
And anyone want to guess who completely funded the bogus report? If you guessed Exodus International, then you get to move to the head of the class!
Let’s take a trip down the rabbit hole and break down the new “study”…
Florida Governor Charlie Crist Asked to Issue Executive Order Prohibiting Discrimination »
The Palm Beach Human Rights Council, a nonprofit organization founded in 1988 that is dedicated to dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, has asked Governor Charlie Crist to sign an executive order to prevent discrimination in state employment, including LGBT Floridians.
The Council’s move comes after a similar comprehensive executive order was issued on August 11 by Delaware Governor Jack Marshall. According to the Council, similar executive orders have been issued by the governors of thirty states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Read the full press release after the jump…
Cry Me a River: 'Focus on the Family' Running Out of Cash »
I’m not smiling at the misfortune of the fundies. Really, I’m not.
The good folks over at Amplify got a pleading letter from Focus on the Fundraising… er… “Focus on the Family” whining about the hard economic times and what looks to be a 6 Million Dollar budget shortfall:
Right now we’re facing a serious budget shortfall that threatens our ability to reach out to parents, families and married couples who count on our help. Income is down nearly $6 million from what we expected and planned for this year.
I’m shedding a tear…
Continue reading “Cry Me a River: ‘Focus on the Family’ Running Out of Cash” »
ACLU Wins Yulee Florida High School GSA Suit »
Great news from the ACLU of Florida in the lawsuit they filed against the Nassau County, Florida School Board for denying a Gay-Straight Alliance to form. 
Readers may remember that the Administrators from the School Board of Nassau County, Florida unlawfully denied students’ requests for permission to form a GSA at Yulee High School and Yulee Middle School, stating:
that groups with names referencing a specific sexual orientation would not be recognized and that even if the group changed its name to one not communicating a gay-specific mission, approval was uncertain.
According to the ACLU, bullying of LGBT students in Nassau County Schools has been an ongoing and serious problem. Plaintiffs Hannah Page and Jacob Brock, who are gay and students at Yulee High School, reported that students have threatened to beat them up based on their sexual orientation, and both are routinely called derogatory names at school.
The ACLU filed the suit alleging violations of the First Amendment and the Federal Equal Access Act, which the court agreed with. The School District was ordered to stop discriminating against Gay-Straight Alliances in High Schools. The lawsuit will proceed to determine fate of the Middle School GSA.
The full press release and statement after the jump…
Continue reading “ACLU Wins Yulee Florida High School GSA Suit” »
Daniel Radcliffe Teams Up with the Trevor Project to Help LGBT Youth »
What a magical match up!
Daniel Radcliffe, the star of Harry Potter, has made a major donation to our friends at The Trevor Project, the non-profit organization that operates the only nationwide suicide-prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth.
The 20-year-old actor joined The Trevor Project’s Circle of Hope, a community of major donors which plays an essential role in providing the financial leadership and support that makes the organization’s critical lifesaving work possible.
Radcliffe had this to say:
I am very pleased to begin my support of The Trevor Project, which saves lives every day through its critical work. It’s extremely distressing to consider that in 2009 suicide is a top three killer of young people, and it’s truly devastating to learn that LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.
More after the jump…
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A Steaming Cup O' Hate with Your Tim Hortons' Doughnut- and a late breaking update »
UPDATE: It looks like the pressure and attention worked. Just as this was publishing, Tim Hortons updated their website with the message that they are pulling support for the NOM event: “It has come to our attention that the Rhode Island event organizer and purpose of the event fall outside of our sponsorship guidelines. As such, Tim Hortons can not provide support at the event.
Tim Hortons and its store owners have always welcomed all families and communities to its restaurants and will continue to do so. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused.”
Here’s the background of the Tim Hortons controversy:
Coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons, the largest food service operator in Canada which has outlets in the U.S., has decided to offer something less than appetizing on it’s menu:![Tim_hortons_logo_original[1].gif](http://www.bilerico.com/2009/08/Tim_hortons_logo_original%5B1%5D.gif){kind=logo}
Anti-gay bigotry.
Tim Hortons is sponsoring Rhode Island’s “First Annual Celebrate Marriage & Family Day”, an event put on by the National Organization for Marriage. The event is being hailed as:
a great opportunity to take a stand for marriage as it was created: between a man and a woman. Our goal is to esteem marriage to its proper place in society and make a statement that Rhode Islanders believe strongly in this cherished institution.
They’re supporting a NOM anti-gay pep rally.
NYU Anti-Gay Human Right's Professor Dr. Thio is a No-Go »
Dr. Li-ann “Anal sex is like shoving a straw up your nose to drink” Thio, a professor at the National University of Singapore and Global Visiting Professor of Law set to teach human rights at NYU, 
according to the administration, has decided not to accept the visitorship.
Thio changed her mind about teaching at New York University because:
the atmosphere of hostility by some members of our community towards her views and by the low enrollments in her classes.
It looks like being called out for being a human right’s abuser who was tapped to teach human rights just didn’t sit well with Dr. Thio.
Continue reading “NYU Human Right’s Professor Dr. Thio is a No-Go” »
Anita Bryant 2.0: Carrie Prejean Brings "Opposite Marriage" Platform to Florida »
Disgraced, nationally lampooned former Miss California Carrie Prejean, who became the bumbling spokesmodel for the National Organization for Marriage, is bringing the sideshow to Florida.
She is coming as part of the GOP “Drive the Discussion Exchange ‘09” event designed to attract younger people to the Republican Party in the Sunshine State. Even GOP members are doubting the strategy of bringing Prejean to attract young voters, since a growing number of young people (including Republicans) support marriage equality and having the inarticulate beauty queen around could alienate them even more.
Said Sandy Steen, a straight GOP activist:
It doesn’t seem like the smart thing to do. She’s in the right age bracket, certainly, but they’re going to turn off some of the young people who are moderates. That is not how you reach out to young people. She’s got every right to her opinions, but she can’t be the spokesperson for all the young people.
Continue reading “Anita Bryant 2.0: Carrie Prejean Brings “Opposite Marriage” Platform to Florida” »
