Tony Perkins comments on SPLC press conference

Thanks to Alvin McEwen at Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters.

Today is the beginning of the dreary religious right "Values Voters" conference which will see - amongst other things - GOP presidential candidates mingling with folks who seem to think that God gave them the patent on the words "morality," "family," and "values."

In anticipation of this, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Truth Wins Out will be holding a press conference today highlighting the venomous anti-gay rhetoric of two groups involved in this conference - the Family Association and the American Family Association.

The press conference is the latest salvo in very public fight between SPLC and various "values" organizations designated as hate groups by the organization because of their tendency to demonize the gay community through propaganda, inaccurate rhetoric, or junk science.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council weighed in on the SPLC's press conference:

Perkins said the SPLC news conference reflected an attempt to prevent free discussion of ideas and noted that he doesn’t show up at SPLC events to protest the civil rights organization’s beliefs.

“Southern Poverty Law Center is obviously desperate to try to shut down public debate,” he said.

Perkins is again casting FRC and AFA as the victims, which is what he and others affiliated with these groups have been doing since last year when the controversy began. However, SPLC is not seeking to shut down anyone. If anything, the organization wants to have a conversation as to why the FRC uses junk science - such as the work of the discredited researcher Paul Cameron (a man who claims that gays stuff gerbils up their rears) - to demonize the gay community.

Or why the organization has made the following other inaccurate claims:

• Homosexuals molest children at far higher rates than heterosexuals.

• Same-sex parents harm children.

• Homosexuals don’t live nearly as long as heterosexuals.

It would be in FRC's best interest to answer these charges. However there will be no conversation as long as FRC double down on the "we are being attacked because of our faith" and "SPLC is trying to shut down the debate" whines.

The organization has YET to come out with a detailed response to SPLC's charges even after claiming earlier this year that it would.

Matthew Shepard was attacked 13 years ago tonight

A great piece by ByJohn Aravosis at  AmericanBlog.com

Thirteen years ago tonight Matthew Shepard was lured to a rural road, tied up, crucifixion style, pistol whipped then left for dead, simply because he was gay. He wasn't found for nearly a day, still barely alive in the 30 degree weather, the only part of his face not covered by blood was where the tears had streamed down. The attack on Matthew, and his subsequent death a few days later, was a galvanizing moment for the gay community. It was one of only a handful of moments I can think of, in the twenty years that I've been out, that something changed in all of us, nationwide, at a much larger, meta level.

Within a day of hearing of the story I set up a Web site (now that I think about it, it was a blog, long before we called them that) to help coordinate news about his attack. It was called Matthew Shepard Online Resources. The site, and its accompanying bulletin board, quickly became the main organizing point for our community and our allies, and for a good year it advocated for amending the US' already existing hate crimes law to include gender, disability and sexual orientation. The Republicans blocked legislation, and it wouldn't become law for another eleven years.

Noah Baron from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism has a very nice post up about Matthew's attack and his legacy:

It is necessary to speak out - as Jews, as Americans, as human beings - against the ugliness that reared its head that October day 13 years ago. No person deserves to die the way Matthew Shepard did. No person should have to live in fear simply because of who they are. To speak out - to decry this violence, to oppose bigotry, to take a step closer to a better world - is not merely an option; it is a fundamental obligation. As it is written, "Do not stand idly by while your neighbor bleeds" (Leviticus 19:16).

It is not enough, then, to simply refrain from homophobia or refrain from violence. Rather, we must speak out, to stop the violence, to stanch the blood of our neighbors. Matthew Shepard was not simply a victim at the hands of his attackers; he was the victim at the hands a society that sent the message that who he was as a person was wrong. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once said, "Few are guilty, but all are responsible." We are all responsible; every additional week that we do not work for justice, every day that passes in which we do not imbue in our children an ethic of acceptance and uprightness, every moment of our silence is an act of violence against our LGBT brothers and sisters.

As the Mishna tells us, "It is not our responsibility to finish the task, but we may not refrain from starting it." It may be that we will never eradicate homophobia - or Islamophobia, or transphobia, or anti-Semitism - in our lifetimes; the task itself often feels overwhelming. But that is no excuse, for silence is not an option.

The "Values" at the Values Voters Summit - All LIES

This weekend every GOP candidate will be attending the Values Voters Summit hosted by religious Hate Groups. This is scary!
Thanks to Right Wing Watch for putting this info together and thanks to all the bloggers who are spreading it around.
People need to know what the "Values" of this group really are.
I could counter every remark made in this video.
If you know someone who is LGBT or of a different faith or have read our American history, you will know that these people are not telling the truth.

TODAY: Labor Unions To Join In Massive #OccupyWallStreet Protest March

 

Found at joemygod.com

We are the 99%

Today's planned 4:30pm march from City Hall to Wall Street is expected to be the largest show of numbers in the three week old Occupy Wall Street protest.

Unions, community groups, college students and the unemployed - calling themselves "the 99%" who are getting the shaft from the richest 1%, which controls 40% of America's wealth - are joining in. "Join us to protest the arrest of 700 marchers on the Brooklyn Bridge while the banksters who wrecked the economy remain free," urged NYU Prof. Andrew Ross. Anticipating more mass arrests, Samuelsen filed for a federal injunction to stop the city from commandeering city buses to transport NYPD prisoners. The transit workers union said regular passengers were kicked off at least five buses on Saturday when NYPD brass ordered drivers to take some of the 700 detained protesters to booking.

Boneer should be fired!

This guy is out of his mind. He is so busy sticking his nose in everything from the arts to blowing OUR tax money on a losing battle.

From joemygod.com

House Speaker John Boenher has tripled the allocation to defend DOMA to a possible $1.5M.

A modified contract between the General Counsel to the House of Representatives and former Solicitor General Paul Clement of Bancroft PLLC sets a cap of $750,000 which can be raised up to $1.5 million. "It is absolutely unconscionable that Speaker Boehner is tripling the cost for his legal boondoggle to defend the indefensible Defense of Marriage Act," Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, said in a statement. "At a time when Americans are hurting and job creation should be the top priority, it just shows how out of touch House Republicans have become that they would spend up to $1.5 million dollars to defend discrimination in our country," Hammill continued.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler reacts via press release:

“In the current climate of Republican-sponsored deficit hysteria, draconian spending cuts, and an ongoing recession in which Americans are still awaiting congressional leadership on jobs and mortgage relief, it is shocking and supremely hypocritical for Republican Leadership to spend additional taxpayer dollars on the unwarranted, unconstitutional and unnecessary defense of DOMA. It seems that the only jobs program the House is creating is one for high-priced lawyers to defend an unconscionable law.

Freedom To Marry's Evan Wolfson:

“At a time when Americans are struggling through one of the worst economies in our nation's history, it is shameful that House Republicans are now tripling the spending of tax dollars - including those of gay and lesbian Americans - to defend a discriminatory anti-gay law that makes it even harder for committed gay and lesbian couples to take care of and protect their loved ones. The so-called Defense of Marriage Act is indefensible, and wasting tax dollars on perpetuating discrimination is unconscionable.”

Anonymous is Going to Shut Down The New York Stock Exchange - GOOD!

Anonymous is an anonymous bunch of hackers that have shut down many sites for what they believe is an injustice to the nation and/or minorities.

Several months ago they shut down the Nation Org. for Marriage for hate crimes against the LGBT population. It took 12 or 13 days for NOM to get  back up and running.

While some do not think shutting down the NYSE website will do much damage, I want to believe that it will interrupt something.

Also we need to consider if they can erase a website, what else can they do? It takes some knowledge to take down pages of Internet so why can't they do something far worse?

All I can say is I am sure glad they are on my side. :)

 

Greetings, institutions of the media.

We are Anonymous.

The events transpiring within Wall Street have caught our eye.

It seems that the government and federal agencies enjoy enforcing the law a little bit too much. They instate unjust laws as mindless automatons, blindly following orders with soulless precision.

We witness the government enforcing the laws that punish the 99 percent while allowing the 1 percent to escape justice, unharmed, for their crimes against the people.

We have observed this same government failing to enforce even the minimal legal restraints of Wall Street’s abuses. This government who has willingly ignored the greed at Wall Street has even bailed out the perpetrators that have caused our crisis.

We will not stand by and watch the system take over our way of life.

We the people shall stand against the government’s inaction.

We the people will not be witnesses to your corruption and ill-gotten profits.

We will not labor for your leisure.

We will not assist you in any way.

This is why we choose to declare our war against the New York Stock Exchange. We can no longer stay silent as the population is being exploited and forced to make sacrifices in the name of profit.

We will show the world that we are true to our word. On Oct. 10, NYSE shall be erased from the Internet. On Oct. 10, expect a day that will never, ever be forgotten.

Vox Populi, Vox Anon.

The Voice of The People is The Voice of Anonymous.

We are Legion. We are the 99 percent.

We do not forgive. We do not forget.

Wall Street: Expect Us

Marriage According to the Bible _ NIce Chart

Students Vs. Prisoners

Matt Baume with this weeks Marriage News Watch

Weekly Art 5

The World Through The Eyes Of Children

Illustrator Pierrette Diaz , combines the innocence and imagination of children in these delightful illustrations. (via friqt.com)

   A little slow start but very worth the time. This was a great project.

Check out Mental Floss.com for cool pictures of worlds in a bubble.

NY Times Show Their True Colors

Found at Buzzfeed.com this morning was this picture. Check out the time each was posted and how the text is changed to inflate the issue. How reliable can a paper be if they just "edit" their online paper to reflect the their bias? So NY Times, what happened to accurate reporting? Which one is true? Who pressured who to make the change?

I Just Sign into "We Are The 99%"

 I Just Sign into "We Are The 99%" with this picture.

Update on Wall Street - My Thoughts

The crowds are growing and there are gatherings in other major cities. I want to go to DC.
 Michael Moore spoke in NY and because no one can have amplifiers, every sentence was repeated by the crowd so the message was not missed.
In the last 30 years, only 1% of our population has made a profit.
We are the 99%

It has become a movement. Unlike most movements where they are in the minority and have a long battle ahead, this movement is in the majority.   99%

Yes there are some real stupid people out there but they are there to support something they believe in. There are some very smart people out there too and they are organizing this protest of Wall Street.
People of all kinds are coming together and something will happen.

Watch both videos and tell me what you think.
Lawrence O'Donnell Vs. Bill O'Reilly On #OccupyWallStreet

Thank You Mr. President

My wife and I are registered Democrats and did what we could to campaign for Obama for President.
While progress is slow, slower due to the constant road blocks and childish behavior of the GOP, he managed to do more for the LGBT population of this country than ANY OTHER PRESIDENT.
In 2.5 years he righted wrongs against fellow Americans and is continuing to fight for the equality of ALL Americans.

I no longer have to worry about being sick or dying alone while my wife is treated like a stranger with no information or visitation. Obama made it a federal law.
There is a law with Matthew Shepard's name on it that makes it a Hate Crime to mess with ANY minority including LGBT folks. Obama made that happen.
My friends in service of this great country can now stand tall and show off their families and loved ones. They don't have to hide or deny themselves the same life and love that every other soldier has.
Obama got rid of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
He is working on getting rid of the Defence of Marriage Act that denys LGBT couples the rights and responsibilities of marriage. He does not support it and will continue to push to make it history.

When it comes to values, his response to the GOPers that stood by and said nothing while an American soldier was booed.....
"You want to be commander in chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it's not politically convenient." AMEN TO THAT!

This is a President that would NEVER boo a soldier, NEVER cheer when a man is dying with no insurance, NEVER write discrimination IN TO law. That is what the GOP candidates did and want to do.
It scares the hell out of me that EVERY GOPer will be attending the Values Voters Summit hosted by religious zealots and Hate Groups. Religion and hate have no part in governing our nation.

Yes, he did not do all this on his own. He had help just like every President.
 He also had to deal with the GOP's abuse of the filibuster which was historic. ( More in the last 2 years than all others combined)
He had to deal with the GOP's fear of change and their stubbornness. (They refused to pass the Defence Budget until the bill for equality was stripped away)

Things take time and I am just as bad as the rest when it comes to waiting for equality to happen. I have not always agreed with what my party or President wants or how they are going about it. I am impatient and fearful that my LEGAL marriage is not recognized by the federal government and that it could be taken away by a party and President that thinks discrimination is OK.

Obama's words inspired me and at some points, made me cry. To have a President that would stand up for me and mine, that understands discrimination and hate, and will fight to make my country the true land of the free and home of the brave no matter who you are, makes me proud.

Thank you Mr. President

Schrodinger’s Cat Explained

I have heard Schrodinger’s Cat used as a reference many times and it is on my list of terms I want to look up but havent got to it yet. This did the job and I get it. I always say, the more you know, the funnier life gets! Thanks to the folks at Buzzfeed.com