Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
This was sent out by the HRC
This week the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act will be re-introduced in the House of Representatives. This crucial legislation seeks to give local law enforcement agencies extra tools and resources they need to prevent and combat hate violence.
Despite the progress that our community has made in combating anti-gay bigotry and discrimination, today one in six reported hate crimes are motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation. It’s even more startling to realize that today’s federal laws don’t include any protections for people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
We've waited too long for comprehensive hate crimes legislation. It has been almost a decade since Matthew Shepard was brutally attacked and killed in Laramie, Wyoming for being gay.
Just weeks ago, Andrew Athos, a 72-year old Detroit resident, was riding home on a city bus when another male passenger asked him if he was gay. The man subsequently followed Andrew to his apartment, attacked him and beat him with a pipe so severely that his injuries left him paralyzed from the neck down and unable to speak above a whisper. Anthony ultimately passed away on February 25 as the result of this attack.
In New York City , a few months before Anthos's murder, 29-year old Michael Sandy was also killed in an antigay assault where he was beaten, chased into traffic on a busy highway, hit by a car, and then dragged off the road and attacked a second time by his assailants.
Hate crimes legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity must be put into law this year.
Here are the steps we need you to take today:
We've waited too long for comprehensive hate crimes legislation. It has been almost a decade since Matthew Shepard was brutally attacked and killed in Laramie, Wyoming for being gay.
Just weeks ago, Andrew Athos, a 72-year old Detroit resident, was riding home on a city bus when another male passenger asked him if he was gay. The man subsequently followed Andrew to his apartment, attacked him and beat him with a pipe so severely that his injuries left him paralyzed from the neck down and unable to speak above a whisper. Anthony ultimately passed away on February 25 as the result of this attack.
In New York City , a few months before Anthos's murder, 29-year old Michael Sandy was also killed in an antigay assault where he was beaten, chased into traffic on a busy highway, hit by a car, and then dragged off the road and attacked a second time by his assailants.
Hate crimes legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity must be put into law this year.
Here are the steps we need you to take today:
If your Representative or Senators are co-sponsors, use the link above to go to a page where you can send them a Thank You message for their support.
If your Representative or Senators are are not currently co-sponsors, use the link to send a message urging them to immediately become a co-sponsor of this vital legislation.
After more than a decade of having updated hate crimes legislation derailed by the anti-gay leaders in Congress, we now have an unprecedented opportunity to put in place this and other key federal protections and rights for our community. Let's work together to make this happen.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Joe Solmonese
Friday, March 16, 2007
EEEEK!!! What if your baby was gay?
I came across this article in the NY Times. I find it fascinating that this man can state that he thinks there are some biological links to the 'causation' of homosexuality and then suggests that doing something prenatally to the unborn child would be the right thing to do because we all know that being a homosexual is a fate worse than death. I think I am gonna barf.
'The president of the leading Southern Baptist seminary has suggested that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven, and that prenatal treatment to reverse gay orientation would be biblically justified.
The Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and one of the country’s evangelical leaders, posted the article on his personal Web site earlier this month.
Mr. Mohler said in the article that scientific research “points to some level of biological causation” for homosexuality.
That suggestion offended fellow conservatives, Mr. Mohler said. Proof of a biological basis would challenge the belief of many conservative Christians that homosexuality, which they view as sinful, is a matter of choice that can be overcome through prayer and counseling.
But Mr. Mohler said he was criticized even more strongly by supporters of gay rights, who were upset by his assertion that homosexuality would remain a sin even if it were biologically based, and by his support for possible medical treatment that could change an unborn child’s sexual orientation.
“He’s willing to play God,” said Harry Knox, a spokesman on religious issues for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group. “He’s more than willing to let homophobia take over and be the determinant of how he responds to this issue, in spite of everything else he believes about not tinkering with the unborn.”
The article, published on March 2, carried a long but intriguing title: “Is Your Baby Gay? What If You Could Know? What If You Could Do Something About It?”
Mr. Mohler began by summarizing some recent research into sexual orientation and advising his Christian readership that they should brace for the possibility that a biological basis for homosexuality might be proven.
He wrote that such proof would not alter the Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality, but said the discovery would be “of great pastoral significance, allowing for a greater understanding of why certain persons struggle with these particular sexual temptations.”
'The president of the leading Southern Baptist seminary has suggested that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven, and that prenatal treatment to reverse gay orientation would be biblically justified.
The Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and one of the country’s evangelical leaders, posted the article on his personal Web site earlier this month.
Mr. Mohler said in the article that scientific research “points to some level of biological causation” for homosexuality.
That suggestion offended fellow conservatives, Mr. Mohler said. Proof of a biological basis would challenge the belief of many conservative Christians that homosexuality, which they view as sinful, is a matter of choice that can be overcome through prayer and counseling.
But Mr. Mohler said he was criticized even more strongly by supporters of gay rights, who were upset by his assertion that homosexuality would remain a sin even if it were biologically based, and by his support for possible medical treatment that could change an unborn child’s sexual orientation.
“He’s willing to play God,” said Harry Knox, a spokesman on religious issues for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group. “He’s more than willing to let homophobia take over and be the determinant of how he responds to this issue, in spite of everything else he believes about not tinkering with the unborn.”
The article, published on March 2, carried a long but intriguing title: “Is Your Baby Gay? What If You Could Know? What If You Could Do Something About It?”
Mr. Mohler began by summarizing some recent research into sexual orientation and advising his Christian readership that they should brace for the possibility that a biological basis for homosexuality might be proven.
He wrote that such proof would not alter the Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality, but said the discovery would be “of great pastoral significance, allowing for a greater understanding of why certain persons struggle with these particular sexual temptations.”
Thursday, March 15, 2007
I soo love this!
A Translation of “Our Father” directly from the Aramaic into English (rather than from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to English) provided by: The Women’s Spiritual Network
O cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration!
Soften the ground of our being and carve out a space within us where your Presence abides.
Fill us with your creativity and empower us to bear the fruit of your mission.
Each of our actions bears fruit in accordance with our desire.
Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to grow and flourish.
Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us, as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes.
Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose, rather illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.
For you are the ground and the fruitful vision, the birth-power and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole once again.
***********
Ooooh. I so love this.
O cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration!
Soften the ground of our being and carve out a space within us where your Presence abides.
Fill us with your creativity and empower us to bear the fruit of your mission.
Each of our actions bears fruit in accordance with our desire.
Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to grow and flourish.
Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us, as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes.
Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose, rather illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.
For you are the ground and the fruitful vision, the birth-power and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole once again.
***********
Ooooh. I so love this.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
My heroes
These lesbian Muslims are my heroes! How very brave of them to stand up and be counted as what and who they are in an environment where this means certain death. You go girls!
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Try harder, I'm worth it.
As a cutter and as a woman I see this photo and think that I can try harder because I AM WORTH IT.
Thank you Mark Velasquez Photography for producing such an amazing photo.
Thank you Mark Velasquez Photography for producing such an amazing photo.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
It was a blurr
Well, yesterday was a complete blurr. I did as my doctor directed and doubled my dose of one of my meds and it caused me to sleep all day long. Whoa.
I missed so much by sleeping so much but I didn't really have too much of a choice.
I did miss a call from my girl last night so in a few minutes I am going to call her to surprise her.
I do not have a whole lot on my mind right now but I know I will as the day goes on. I hope every one's Sunday is a good one and that it is filled with happiness and contentment.
Take care.
I missed so much by sleeping so much but I didn't really have too much of a choice.
I did miss a call from my girl last night so in a few minutes I am going to call her to surprise her.
I do not have a whole lot on my mind right now but I know I will as the day goes on. I hope every one's Sunday is a good one and that it is filled with happiness and contentment.
Take care.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
One problem at a time
It's not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in line.
---- Ashleigh Brilliant
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