There Will Be Consequences

I thought this was worth posting.

Invoking Anger

Like many, I am dismayed at Obama's choice of Rick Warren to lead the invocation at his inauguration. Warren is an outspoken supporter of Proposition 8 comparing gay marriage to incest polygamy and pedophilia. He does have some good progressive values: he is concerned about global warming, telling fellow evangelicals it is not just made up hooey and he is supportive of AIDS work with a caveat... only when it involves children in Africa. But he is solidly in the right wing when it comes to gay issues. Gay leaders are of course quite upset. The gay community got behind Obama early and solidly, voting overwhelmingly for him. Some evangelicals, on the other hand, continued to support the theory he was not American, would not wear the flag and was really a Muslim. Needless to say, evangelicals were not solidly Obama.

Obama said he is passionately supportive of gay issues and that "It is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues." He went on to say that the Rev. Joseph Lowery of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference would give the benediction. Lowery is a long time civil rights leader and supports GLBT causes.

So that is supposed to make iit ok. But is this any different than having an anti semitic leader start the cermony, but close with a Rabbi? Obama would never think of that. To initiate dialog with others of different view points, would it not be fitting to ask a KKK Grand Wizard or what ever they are to talk about the evil of having a black man as president? Is this further "proof" of black homophobia as some have mentioned.

No one will win on this. But hopefully Obama will learn that Proposition 8 has ignited the GLBT community. He will have to listen.

Proposition 8, Saturday Rally

Despite a cold day, the coldest one yet, and a really inadequate sound system, Kansas City's anti-Proposition 8 rally Saturday was a success. Here are a couple of reports from the rally, one by "Julia" and one by me from www.365gay.com:

Julia: I attended the rally in Kansas City, MO. I am 65 years old and straight and had never attended this type of function before. I was very moved by the people and signs. I stood on the curb with the associate pastor of my church (MCC-KC) and held the church flag while across the street members of the ‘church of hate’ from Topeka, KS stood with the flag of our country on the ground under their feet and around their waist like a skirt.

People passing in their cars either honked or gave a ‘thumbs up’ to us. I saw young people from GSAs in the area with their signs in support. One sign that I noticed said ‘I’m too old to wait for my civil rights’. A friend who is the mother of a gay son who was married in San Francisco went with me. We met another mother of a gay son who was married in LA just before the election. One of the speakers (a young man from GLISSEN) said that he had brought 10 straight allies with him (his co-workers). I am not good at estimating numbers of a crowd, but I’m sure there were close to 1000. I congratulate the organizers for their good work in bringing so many people together in such a short time particularly the people from the LGBT center in KC and PROMO.

Don said: I too was at the Kansas City Rally. Despite a cold day and an inadequate sound system the 1000 people did a great job of protesting our dismay yet not attacking anyone. I came with a 65 year old man whose partner of 40 years stayed home as he could not endure the cold and the standing due to arthritis. I was honored to be in their presence and call them friends.

My favorite sign was “I want my cake and to eat too!” superimposed over a wedding cake with same sex couple figures. Good job KC!

As usual I forgot my camera. I took a couple pics from my cell phone, but damned if I know how to get them off the phone and transfer them to my computer. After the speeches and rally, many of the protesters lined 47th and Main with signs.

Protesters all over the country took to the streets to show our disapproval over the outcome of the vote. On the Fux News and all that crap in TV, those opposed were whining "the people voted, get over it, stop bringing it up." Well then, you give up on abortion then. And, certainly, if it ever came to a vote, slavery, women's right to vote, racial equality would have been voted down as well.

I was glad I went. I hope the spirit goes on and it does not end there.

And remember this, 129,000 children in this country are in foster care. And the state of Arkansas feels they are better off this way than with a loving and safe gay family. In Arkansas, many gays with foster or adopted children are living in fear that they will be taken away.

Family Values my ass.

Religious Hypocrisy

From the New York Times:

“We’ve spoken out on other issues, we’ve spoken out on abortion, we’ve spoken out on those other kinds of things,” said Michael R. Otterson, the managing director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormons are formally called, in Salt Lake City. “But we don’t get involved to the degree we did on this.”

From the Washington Post, same person speaking:

"[W]e're talking about 750,000 Californians who are Latter-day Saints," he said. "These are California families. They are registered voters. They have the right and the obligation to express themselves on a major social issue. To imply that there was an attempt to manipulate the election from outside the state is bizarre and absolutely ridiculous."

Church members "have a right to speak, they have a right to vote and to do so without this kind of reaction and without this kind of intimidation," Otterson said.

Didn't Jesus preach more about hypocrisy and lying than gay relationships??

Or did I read the wrong book?

Defend Equality

Work to defeat homophobia, lies and ignorance. Do it strongly, but respectfully.

Go out on Saturday and show your community that ignorance and homophobia do not belong in our country!

JOIN IN