Is the FDA Homophobic or realistic?

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Tuesday October 13, 2009 · 3:32 PM PDT

2009/10/13 · 15:32

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, yes, the FDA has an old policy that bans gay men from donating blood and it's kind of homophobic. It is no longer applicable and is based on fear. Once again I'm serving as an unofficial PR for my friend, Steven Thrasher, who has written an eye-opening article for the Advocate. More below the fold...

corkgirl

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Monday April 13, 2009 · 6:10 PM PDT

2009/04/13 · 18:10

Mr. Corkgirl and I have been engaging in a back and forth discussion about marriage equality with an old friend from my hometown (Glenwood, Iowa). It started when she called Iowa State Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D, Council Bluffs) a "Wolf in sheep's clothing" because of this statement:My marriage means just a little bit more....

Naturally I couldn't ignore her remarks because I would a) be failing my gay friends if I let that sit on my Facebook page without a response and b) the H8er's need to know their friends don't agree with them. I think if we call our relatives, friends and aquaintances to the carpet on this issue, respectfully, maybe it becomes less scary or it maybe it neutralizes their feelings.

I'm writing because I want some advice on persuasive techniques and because my friend made a few arguments that I find baffling.

Poll

89 votes Show Results

How do we talk to homophobic neighbors about marriage equality?

89 votes Vote Now!

How do we talk to homophobic neighbors about marriage equality?

Reassure them that their freedom of religion won't be violated and churches can discriminate all they want.

26 votes

Rhetorical remarks ala Mr. Corkgirl.

7 votes

Remind them that the history of the United States has always moved toward greater and greater freedoms for all our citizens.

21 votes

Introduce them to one of your gay friends and put a friendly face on the cause.

19 votes

Offer the homophobe a slice of pie.

16 votes

Marriage Equality in 1950's Iowa

corkgirl

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Thursday April 09, 2009 · 5:47 PM PDT

2009/04/09 · 17:47

This morning one of my dearest friends had an Op-Ed published in the New York Times. Steven W. Thrasher's parents were an interracial couple who could not marry in Nebraska and so they crossed the border to Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1958. You can guess where he's going with this...

corkgirl

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Sunday January 25, 2009 · 5:18 PM PST

2009/01/25 · 17:18

As "pro-life" demonstrators descended upon Washington to mark the anniversary of Roe V. Wade this past week, I wondered how did the religious right get to own the term "pro-life"? And where were all these people who believe in creating a "culture of life" when we were about to enter an unnecessary war (resulting in countless lost lives) in Iraq? Will these defenders of life support our new president as he pursues a health care policy that protects all Americans? What about the death penalty? Poverty? "Pro-life" somehow only refers to those who oppose abortion (and perhaps the right to die, i.e. Terry Schiavo). A more accurate definition of pro-life includes several other issues. An inclusive definition of "life" leaves an opening for progressives to claim the "pro-life" label for themselves.

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Is the FDA Homophobic or realistic?

Oh Noes! A Gay Iowa Conspiracy (w/Poll)

Marriage Equality in 1950's Iowa

Reclaiming and Redefining "Pro-Life" for the Left.