3/1/2005 LGBT News Roundup

How does it feel, Rick?

Man-on-Dog Santorum gets heat from the Right. Rick Santorum is getting beat up because he backed Arlen Specter. The Right is chewing on his leg like, hmmm... a mad dog. (Wingnut Agape Press):

...Pennsylvania pro-family Senator Rick Santorum is continuing to defend his decision last year to back pro-choice and pro-homosexual GOP Senator Arlen Specter for re-election. Santorum was challenged on that choice during a recent gathering of conservatives in Washington, DC. But Santorum did not back down as he answered the challenge. "I have one response to that: fifty-five -- that's my response," he said. "We had a plan in place to get as many Republican senators elected as possible, because the more Republican senators we have, the better chance we can pass legislation." The plan, the senator continued, was a simple one: "Minimize the problems we have in 'blue states' with open seats and tough races, and maximize the opportunities we have in 'red states' in November." The explanation did not seem to satisfy many of the conservative activists who are not happy with Senator Santorum.

More news, after the jump.

UNC junior attacked in hate crime; protest to be held on campus today. It's a sorry day when I have to report a hate crime like this in the Triangle. A UNC student was beaten by seven homo-bigots early Friday AM and a protest is being held today, along with a petition signing, to demand that sexual orientation be included in North Carolina's definition of what constitutes a hate crime. At this point and time, NC has an "ethnic intimidation law", but that of course, does not include anti-gay crimes. Folks in Chapel Hill are in shock. No arrests have yet been made. (Daily Tar Heel):

A University junior was assaulted while walking alone on Franklin Street on Friday morning in what Chapel Hill police are investigating as a hate crime.

And the University community, particularly members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender-Straight Alliance, is mobilizing its resources to show support. The 21-year-old student was walking near 100 E. Franklin Street at 2:04 a.m. when six to seven men began making derogatory remarks about the student's sexual orientation while walking behind him, police spokeswoman Jane Cousins said.

The group of men then began attacking the student, hitting and kicking him in the face, upper torso and all over, Cousins said. The individuals were calling him derogatory names throughout the incident, Cousins said.

Police arrived on the scene at 2:06 a.m. and found the student kneeling on the sidewalk, where he was treated for injuries. Those injuries were initially characterized as minor but have now been revised to include broken bones, Cousins said Friday. The student was not transported to UNC Hospitals.

To respond to the incident, GLBTSA executive board members decided Sunday to organize a rally in the Pit to take place Tuesday. Beginning at 6 p.m., students will gather to show support for the student and to speak out about the incident using an open microphone. Those assembled will then hold a candlelight speak-out and will march to Franklin Street where the student was found.

"People are obviously upset and shocked about it," GLBTSA executive board member David Ruskey said. "The biggest emotion I'm feeling is disgust. "Obviously ... there were people on Franklin Street who saw this and didn't call the police." [Franklin Street is the main drag in Chapel Hill, you can find people out and about at all hours.]

Ruskey said the organizers are asking that all in attendance wear white T-shirts to show unity.

Questions about the rally are being fielded by Anissa at [e-mail]

Mayor Pat McCrory must be afraid he's going to "catch" something from the homos of HRC if he positively acknowledged they were spending gay dollars in his city.

Charlotte mayor gives HRC convention the cold shoulder.
Though Charlotte is a business metropolis in the state, in many ways it is more conservative, than say, the Triangle area. It's not surprising that this sort of nonsense happened.

More than 1,300 HRC members turned out in Charlotte to promote LGBT rights, and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory wasn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat. Out of more than 20 HRC events of this type, this was the third largest, so to ignore a convention of this size is a purposeful political slap in the face. (News 14 Carolina):

More than 1,300 members of the Human Rights Campaign came to Charlotte to promote equal rights for gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals and transsexuals. The event marked the group's first trip to the area, but members say they did not receive the warm welcome they were looking for.

"You can welcome and embrace someone and you don't have to see eye to eye on all the issues," said HRC member Joni Madison. Charlotte lawyer Phil Wells says he requested a letter of welcome from the mayor's office - a common occurrence for convention attendees. Wells was hoping Mayor McCrory would write a couple welcoming sentiments. He was disappointed by the lack of response.
   
..."Here were a great number of people coming into this great city and spending money and wanting to see the best side of Charlotte, and all he had to do was say, 'Welcome to our great city and he missed that opportunity,'" Wells said.

Others attending the weekend festivities felt the same way. "I just think that it was a kind of a courtesy, a protocol, and the fact that he didn't extend a hand, it was a missed opportunity for him," Madison said.

"I think he's pandering to what he thinks his constituents believe and it's shameful," Mitchell Gold said.  Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon says the mayor's office gets approximately 200 requests for welcoming letters every year. McCrory did not comment on the issue.

Regular House Blend readers may recall that McCrory is embroiled in a tussle between gay rights advocates and the bible beaters of anti-choice, anti-gay Operation Save America, which I covered here. That organization wants to restrict the use of public parks, specifically targeting Charlotte Gay Pride. The fundamentalist group called for the police working the Pride event who wore rainbow pins to be reprimanded for this simple act of freedom of speech.

The Phelps machine, as they picket a John Edwards appearance in Kansas, and Phelps's granddaughter tries to unseat the only gay official in Kansas today.

Upcoming hate-mongering, courtesy of Fred Phelps: attacks on John Edwards, gay official in Kansas. This gay-baiting, rotting Cryptkeeper^TM and his tribe of hate will not stop their sh*t. For those of you not familiar with Phelps, he made a big name for himself and his church by picketing Matthew Shepard's funeral, gracing the event with placards such as "AIDS kills fags dead" and "Matthew Shepard rots in hell." (More on Phelps at the DKosopedia).

The latest in outreach by the Westboro Baptist Church "ministry" is that he and his hate mongers are going to picket former VP candidate and Senator John Edwards on March 4 at the Ramada Inn in Downtown Topeka, KS. Take a look at this flier (click to enlarge):



What patriots over there at Westboro. Here's the hate money quote: "God Almighty warned John Edwards by killing his son, but he hardened his heart & stiffened his neck, embracing the filthy fag agenda for political expediency."

Hmmm. Where do you go with something like this? You may think Phelps is on the fringe, but as a Kansas Repug said to Time mag: "A lot of people don't outwardly agree with what Phelps is doing, but behind the scenes they do," says Republican state representative Lana Gordon.

*

But wait, there's more...


Topeka councilperson Tiffany Muller is the only out official in the entire state of Kansas.  

The other bit of Phelps political pollution is actually being generated by his equally hateful granddaughter, Jael. She's running for city council specifically because the incumbent, Tiffany Muller, is openly gay. The election will be held today. (Washburn University Review):

While Topeka residents are getting ready for the March 1 election, the District 9 race has garnered national and local attention. Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday to limit down the candidates running for council seats in area districts. The incumbent, Tiffany Muller, the first openly-gay member of the Topeka city council, was appointed to the council and is now vying to be elected for the first time. She is being opposed by both Bob Percival and Richard Harmon. However, out of the three people running against her, Jael Phelps, a member of the Westboro Baptist Church and Washburn student, claims to be the most qualified candidate.

"I am running for city council because the incumbent is a one-issue, appointed candidate concerned for and representing only a small fraction of our district. I have been doing campaigning for various city, county and state campaigns for many years now," said Phelps.

Phelps, granddaughter of outspoken anti-gay pastor Fred Phelps, is known for her strong stance against rights for homosexuals. The primary clash between the two candidates is regarding the city ordinance on discrimination, which will also be voted on March 1. Muller was one of the council members who brought up the idea of making sexual orientation a protected status for Topeka. Phelps assisted in getting the repeal of the law on the ballot.

"I oppose the ordinance passed by the city council, which equivocated voluntary behavior with immutable characteristics, such as being female, African-American or disabled. There is a moral standard and this not only breaks that, but violates the Constitution," said Phelps.

You have to get a sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach when you think about the fact that he's passing on this level of bigotry to the young people in his family. They got it honestly. How do you stop this sickness?

More stupidity "machining on" from religious wingnuts. (The Conservative Voice):

Already seventeen states have stamped a constitutional homosexual-`marriage' NO in place. Eleven of these states have ratified the constitutional bans in elections last autumn.

That's the impact of "Onward Christian soldiers, machining as to war."

Interestingly enough, some of the so-called mainline Protestant churches have taken that long-standing, revered hymn out of their hymn books. Why? They say it's too militaristic. Oh yeah. All the while, these same denominations wage war on biblical morality by endorsing homosexual `marriages' and abortions. So go the devil's disciples in playing hypocrisy maximum as a part of the End Time insanity enveloping the global church.

However, those believers still holding to biblical convictions work their morality in the marketplace from state to state. Fearing that immoral court judges will cancel out legislation against homosexual twosomes, these states have put in place their own constitutional amendments wiping out any possibility of homosexuals tying the knot within their borders.

He also wants you to know that he is a "Graduate of accredited college (BA) and seminary (M Div) with graduate work at Harvard Divinity School." Check out where this guy's work has been published: MichNews.com, BushCountry.org, TheConservativeVoice.com, RaptureAlert.com, Republican and Proud, FaithFreedom.org, Conservative Posts, Common Conservative, Out2.com, MensNewsDaily.com, Magic City Morning Star, Right Wing Conservative, Mullenax News, Religious News Online, among others.

Kelli Davis, who is openly gay, was dressed in tuxedo top and bow-tie outfit for her HS photo and that made the principal go apesh*t.

Why can't this lesbian teen have this picture of her posted in her yearbook? This young woman is a senior at a Florida high school. She has a 4.0 grade point average at Fleming Island High, is known as a conscientious teen with a part-time job and no discipline issues at school. Her crime? Wanting to have the above picture posted in her high school yearbook. It was rejected, as you will see below, because her principal has issues. Unacceptable issues. (Lakeland Ledger):

The picture of a lesbian student dressed in a tuxedo will not be permitted in her school's yearbook, the Clay County school officials decided.

Principal Sam Ward of Fleming Island High School made the initial decision to pull Kelli Davis's picture from the yearbook, saying he did so because Davis, who is openly gay, was dressed in boy's clothes. The county school board and its superintendent backed the decision, which was debated at a School Board meeting attended by about 200 people.

Fifteen of the 24 people who spoke at the meeting were in favor of Davis and nine supported the principal's decision. Kelli's mother, Cindi Davis, asked the board to reverse Ward's decision. "This is not to be treated as a gay right's issue," her mother said. "Rather it's a human rights issue."

Some applauded Ward's decision, including Karen Gordon, who said, "When uniformity is compromised, then authority no longer holds." School officials have maintained that sexual preference is not the issue, it is gender. They said since Davis did not follow the rules on dress, she will not be in the yearbook.

Bruce Bickner, an attorney representing the School Board, said there is no written dress code for senior pictures, but also said the district gives principals the authority to set standards. The board took no action to reverse Ward's decision and Superintendent David Owens said the decision will stand.

Homophobe.

Mitt Romney is an ass -- gay marriage will destroy the international rep of the US. F*cktard Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is sounding more like the Am Taliban every day. He thinks gay marriage will cause some sort of damage to our reputation in the international community. Well, that should come as a surprise to Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands, which have gay marriage, and a host of other countries in Europe that have civil unions. (Boston.com):

Speaking before an adoring audience of Utah Republicans last night, Governor Mitt Romney drew a link between America's prestige around the world and the legalization of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts.

''America cannot continue to lead the family of nations around the world if we suffer the collapse of the family here at home," Romney said, calling the Supreme Judicial Court's legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts ''a blow to the family."

Hours after gay marriage supporters in Boston criticized him for his recent, strident criticism of same-sex marriage, Romney delivered a half-hour speech laced with references to religion, family values, and praise for Ronald Reagan's foreign policy. In the latest in his recent series of out-of-state political appearances, he smiled as Utah Republicans made fun of Massachusetts' liberal reputation in their introductory remarks.

Hasn't the world destruction excuse started to lose steam yet?

Presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Frank T. Griswold hope debate on issues around gay unions will continue. The ordination of openly gay and partnered Bishop Gene Robinson set off a firestorm in the church.

Anglican Church Asks U.S., Canada to Leave. Wow. They really did it. The schism is official. (AP):

The U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada withdrew Thursday from a key body of the global Anglican Communion under pressure from conservative church leaders distressed by the election of a gay bishop in the United States and the blessing of same-sex unions in the two countries.

Though the suspension of the two churches was said to be temporary, it marked the first formal split in the communion over the explosive issues of sexuality and biblical authority.

...The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Frank T. Griswold, said the debate would continue and that his fellow church leaders had made room "for a wide variety of perspectives."

The U.S. church precipitated the most serious rift in the communion's history when it affirmed the election of V. Gene Robinson, who openly lives with a male partner, as bishop of New Hampshire. Both churches have been criticized by conservatives for sanctioning blessings of gay unions.

The statement said the two churches were withdrawing from the Anglican Consultative Council, a key body for contact among the national churches, at least until 2008.

"In the meantime, we ask our fellow primates to use their best influence to persuade their brothers and sisters to exercise a moratorium on public rites of blessing for same-sex unions and on the consecration of any bishop living in a sexual relationship outside Christian marriage," the statement said.

...To some in the church, a break in the 77-million-member Anglican Communion is not unthinkable. "There do come times when the authority of the Bible is at stake -- and this is one of those times -- where to stay together becomes a great difficulty," Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney said in a British Broadcast Corp. radio interview on Thursday.

Rumsfeld has run our military into the ground. Representative Martin T. Meehan of Massachusetts (D-MA), is submitting legislation next week that to force "a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

Rummy -- stop discharging gays, save $200 million. While the British Navy is actively recruiting gays and lesbians, we have our dumbass Pentagon spending $200 million to sign up and train folks to replace the homos that are shoved out by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Remember, Arabic translators were given the boot recently under the policy, so we lost resources that cannot just be replaced overnight. If our government is serious about Homeland Security, then this policy needs to go. Now. (NYT):

The review by the Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, was requested by more than 20 lawmakers who were concerned about the costs of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy instituted in the Clinton administration, particularly for service members with "critical occupations" and "important foreign language skills."

The accountability office plans to release its review on Friday. The New York Times obtained it from a member of Congress who had requested the study.

In the last 10 years, more than 10,000 service members have been discharged because they did not keep their sexual orientation to themselves as required, according to the Service Members Legal Defense Network, a gay rights group that monitors the armed forces.

...The department [of Defense] does not track the specific costs of investigating or discharging gay service members, counseling and providing pastoral care for them or for handling legal challenges and reviews of dismissals, the report says. But the accounting office estimated that it cost the Pentagon nearly $100 million, $10,500 a person, to recruit replacements for enlisted service members who were discharged from 1994 to 2003 for being gay.

Investigators said that the cost to the Navy to train the replacements was $49 million, $18,000 a service member. The report said the Air Force estimated its training costs at $16.6 million, or $7,400 a service member, and the Army said its costs were $29.7 million, or $6,400 a service member. The investigators said the Marines declined to provide estimates

...The investigators also said they could not quantify the cost of losing personnel discharged after having been trained in certain areas of expertise like intelligence or languages like Arabic, Chinese, Farsi or Korean. "The principal limitation of our analysis is that for privacy reasons we did not review separated service members' personnel records, including training histories, which has implications for estimating training costs," the investigators wrote.

A lawmaker who sought the study, Representative Martin T. Meehan of Massachusetts, ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Conventional Threats and Capabilities, has drafted legislation that would repeal the policy on gays in an effort to enhance military readiness.

The measure, which Mr. Meehan said he would introduce next week, calls for the armed forces to enact "a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation," the first time Congress will consider such a proposal since "don't ask, don't tell" was approved on Nov. 30, 1993.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has said the Bush administration will not revisit the policy, but numerous pending suits are trying to overturn it.

Mr. Meehan called the policy "senseless and counterproductive," saying it undermined the strength of the military by "discharging competent service members at a time when our troops are already stretched thin."

What it's like to serve your country under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. To underscore this stupidity of DADT discussed in my "Rummy  wasting $200 million" post -- there is a book out, Major Conflict : One Gay Man's Life in the Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell Military, that is the first memoir by a soldier faced with the implementation of the regulation. This puts a human face on the toll this ridiculous policy, and it shows how our government, in desperate need of every warm body it can get, spits in the face of someone willing to sacrifice so much for their country. Granting soldiers the ability to be who they are will not destroy unit cohesion. Someone needs to send Rummy a copy of this book pronto. Its release date is March 8. (Rocky Mountain News):

What [Major Conflict] reveals is the devastating impact on Jeffrey McGowan's ability to fulfill his dream of serving his country in the U.S. military and to live his life with integrity as an openly gay man.

After college in the late 1980s, McGowan was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. McGowan made the transition with relative ease, largely because he had always looked forward to a military career: "I've always wanted to be a soldier. In fact, I can't remember a time when I could imagine being anything else. It was, I think, my destiny; my path was pre-ordained."

...What is most striking and poignant during McGowan's first few years in the military is how well he fits in: He's a perfect soldier, fully committed to the sacrifices he must make. Such loyalty is facilitated in part by his almost complete denial of his homosexuality. As he tentatively begins to admit to himself that he is attracted to other men, his faith in the military begins to waver, yet his commitment to his duty remains firm.

Stationed in Germany at this point, McGowan prepares for his deployment to Iraq and the first Gulf War. As he watches the married couples say their goodbyes, he yearns for someone to comfort him, but realizes that "the love I wanted was against the rules. I was, in fact, a criminal."

Writes the author: "I could meet the standard, I was popular, I was accepted by my peers; my blood would shed as red as easily as the straight soldier fighting next to me. Why was I forbidden to be the person I am?"

McGowan postpones such soul- searching. As he finds himself in the midst of war, like most soldiers, he worries more about protecting the lives of the men under his command than foregrounding his own differences from them.

As he returns stateside, he continues to struggle with the ever more powerful sense that he lacks meaning in his life. During this period, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" also becomes law, and McGowan offers an insider's perspective into what it was like to experience this shift inside the military. McGowan writes that contrary to its vision as a kindler, gentler treatment of gays in the military, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" resulted in an increase of gay discharges and an entrenchment of anti-gay sentiment.

This increasingly hostile environment ultimately forces McGowan to re-evaluate his military career. After a number of disturbing experiences that threaten his own well-being, he returns to civilian life.

MA courts to review law barring non-resident gay marriages. The current law (passed in 1913) is thought to have been enacted to prevent interracial marriages of couples from other states where it was illegal. Now the Massachusetts Supreme Court is going to rule is going to rule on whether this is discriminatory. If struck down, this will be a huge can of worms opened regarding the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution and gay civil marriage.

What is our military's problem? British Royal Navy starts campaign to recruit gays. More good news from across the pond, but as you will see below, the Freepers are not happy. (NYT):

Five years after Britain lifted its ban on gays in the military, the Royal Navy has begun actively encouraging them to enlist and has pledged to make life easier when they do.

The navy announced Monday that it had asked Stonewall, a group that lobbies for gay rights, to help it develop better strategies for recruiting and retaining gay men and lesbians. It said, too, that one strategy may be to advertise for recruits in gay magazines and newspapers.

Commodore Paul Docherty, director of naval life management, said the service wanted to change the atmosphere so that gays would feel comfortable working there.

...The new effort continues a pattern of changing official attitudes in the navy - once derided as running on rum, sodomy and the lash, in a phrase usually attributed to Winston Churchill. And while most European militaries have lifted bans on gays, none have been as active as the Royal Navy in encouraging their service.

Until a European court ruled in 1999 that Britain's ban on gays in the military violated European human-rights laws, the navy, along with the rest of the country's military, followed a no-exceptions policy of dismissing service men and women who were found to be gay, often after long and intrusive investigations. The military had agonized for years over the issue, in the way the United States has, and always concluded that allowing gays and lesbians to serve would prove prohibitively disruptive and would ruin discipline and cohesion.

But after the court ruling, it had no choice but to reverse its policy. Beginning in 2000, the military said gays would no longer be prohibited from serving. It also stopped monitoring its recruits' sex lives, saying that sexuality, as long as it did not intrude into the workplace, should not be an issue one way or another.

People were quite hot under the collar about it; the admirals, generals and air marshals were really concerned," he added. "I'm quite sure that these folks look now and think, 'What was all that fuss about?' "

Oh, no, there's a fuss in Freeperville.

Actual Freeper Quotes^TM:"Well, Winston Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty did describe the 'Traditions of the Royal Navy' as "Rum, Sodomy and the Lash"."

"Join the Gay-vy!"



"Woo Hoo Mr. Burns..I am going to Great Britain.."

"They could also retrofit the ships with bathhouses."

"Is this supposed to make their enemies fear or respect them???"

"I'm curious about what are their policies on HIV/AIDS and emergency blood transfusions."

"Let's all sing a rousing chorus of the Village People's "In the Navy!" (geez)"

"You can't go anywhere these days to escape these perverts."

"Buggery in the schools, in the streets, and on the high seas."

"Why can't they just shut up about it?"

"Thus the great Royal Navy morphs into the pink fleet. Osama and the gang must be laughing and tossing turbans in the air now. But hey - let's give three cheers for the great defender of "freedom" Tony Blair, the ruler of Cool Britannia! MTV special coming up!"

"I guess Britain's days of having perhaps the second or third best military in the world are numbered. And I don't mean that the presence of homosexual per say will do it, but rather this whole mindset that deems it necessary to actively recruit them and make them feel comfortable. You'd think the military would have other things on their mind."

"From reading the posts here, and elsewhere, the air seems to be slowly going out of "they will cause a lack of cohesion" balloon. It is gratifying that objective evidence seems to be absorbed even in the most impermeable quarters." [this must be a troll in their midst!]

"Well, it is the Queen's Navy."

"Actively recruiting perversion, they're toast."

"The real damage will be seen in the recruiting effort when mentally healthy men will forego enlisting so they won't have to put up with the pooftas. We are witnessing the ned of England's Navy. They'll never meet a recruitment goal again."

Brian Rushfeldt, co-founder and Executive Director of Canada Family Action Coalition, says gay marriage in the Great White North will mean the unimaginable destruction of society. Sound familiar?

Can the hysteria by the Right in Canada get any more out of control? Wingnut religious "news" site, AgapePress, says the end of world civilization is near if Canada approves same-sex marriage. Look at the breathless, homopocalyptic predictions. I swear, these folks must have gotten training by our wild-eyed fundamentalists.

A Canadian pro-family activist says if the homosexual movement succeeds in redefining marriage in his country, the destruction to society there will be unimaginable to most people

...Brian Rushfeldt is co-founder and president of the Canada Family Action Coalition. He says that thus far, the pro-homosexual marriage forces have not tried to fast track the legislation. And he says he does not buy the argument that the bill will go no farther than to redefine marriage as a union between any two persons.

"There can be no restriction, in our opinion, because once you've [removed] the basic of a man and a woman -- which is really the only form of relationship that is marriage -- then it can become anything," he contends.

According to Rushfeldt, polygamists are waiting in the wings, should the bill become law. "We also have a group of polygamists now here in Canada who are using the very same argument as the homosexuals did to get this 'any two persons' [into the legislation]," he says. "We believe the polygamists will be in court probably within a month after the change of the law, if it happens."

And the pro-family leader says what is going on in Canada reminds him of another regime from the not-so-distant past. "We are certainly not short of being run by a government that is every bit as bad as what old Russia used to be," Rushfeldt says. "Following that definitely is an attack on religious freedom [which] we're starting to see already.

"It's an attack on education where kids will be forced to learn about these other forms of marriage, which are sodomy-type relationships -- and the destruction that's going to come up on our society in Canada is probably unimaginable to most people."

While we are visiting our neighbor to the north this evening, I have to mention the latest cartoon to give a hard-on to the wingnuts there -- Shrek 2. It looks like this time it's "gender identity" and cross-dressing that is setting them off. (CTV.ca):

On its website the Traditional Values Coalition is warning parents about the cross-dressing and transgender themes contained in the hit DreamWorks feature, now on DVD. "Parents who are thinking about taking their children to see Shrek 2 may wish to consider the following.''

The article then proceeds to describe one of the characters, an "evil'' bartender (voiced by Larry King) who is a male-to-female transgender in transition and who expresses a sexual desire for Prince Charming.

In another identified scene, Shrek and Donkey need rescuing from a dungeon by Pinocchio and his nose, which is made to extend as an escape bridge by getting the wooden boy to lie about not wearing women's underwear.

The TVC report, A Gender Identity Disorder Goes Mainstream', raps DreamWorks for helping to promote crossdressing and transgenderism.

Montana House Dumps Bill to Protect Gays. While the Brits are ready to dole out Civil Partnerships to gays, back across the pond, we've got a U.S. state that won't even extend hate crimes laws to its gay citizens. And we have some novel, Am Taliban reasoning for the rejection too.  (AP):

The Montana House on Monday killed a bill that would have extended the state's hate crimes law to protect gays. The bill would have made it a crime to target people based such factors as age, economic condition, disability, gender or sexual orientation. It was rejected 54-46.  

State law already outlaws intimidating or harassing someone because of race, religion, color, creed or national origin. Offenses carry a minimum two-year prison term. Debate focused mainly on whether the law should cover crimes against gays and lesbians.

Republicans, who accounted for all but five of the opponents, warned the bill would stifle free speech and could prevent clergy from speaking out against homosexuality in their sermons. Supporters said the bill aimed to protect people who could be targeted because they belonged to a certain group.

Britain to Allow Same-Sex Civil Unions. Woohoo! More good news overseas, even as the American Taliban digs in its heels here. (AP):

Same-sex partners in Britain will be able to enter into civil unions from December, joining gays in parts of Europe and the United States in obtaining many of the rights enjoyed by married people, the government said Monday.

The Civil Partnerships Bill passed by Parliament last year gives same-sex couples the right to form legally binding partnerships and entitles them to some of the same tax and pension rights married couples have.

Starting Dec. 5, couples will be able to notify the register office at their local council that they intend to form civil partnerships. After a 15-day waiting period, they will sign an official partnership document in front of witnesses.

"This legislation is going to make a real difference to these couples and it demonstrates the government's commitment to equality and social justice," said Deputy Minister for Women and Equality Jacqui Smith.

"It opens the way to respect, recognition and justice for those who have been denied it for too long."

The government said some register offices have already started receiving inquiries from same-sex couples.  Separately Monday, the armed services said they will allow same-sex couples with registered partnerships to share family quarters.

"We will be complying with the law. We are obliged to give equal treatment to gay and lesbian partnerships" under the new act, said Royal Navy spokesman Anton Hanney, adding that same-sex couples in the armed services already enjoy equal pension rights.

The new act does not use the term "marriage," but among other benefits it grants same-sex couples rights to their partners' pensions; gives them next-of-kin status; and exempts them from paying inheritance tax on a partner's home. It also will require partners to provide maintenance for each other and any children in the case of a break-up.

"This is the moment we fought so hard for," said Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay rights group Stonewall. "At last, lesbian and gay couples can begin to plan their future lives together."  

Nine European Union members allow same-sex partnerships, beginning with Denmark, which legislated for the unions in 1989.

WorldNetDaily and Freepers rail on faux "outing" of Repugs.  Right wing rag WorldNetDaily has an article out, Homosexual press hot to 'out' Bush figures. It's a pretty straightforward recount of the basic Propagannon facts to date, with the spin, of course, that it's all about these poor closeted GOoPers being outed somehow.

"Outing" of reputedly closeted homosexuals, particularly those associated with the Republican Party or conservative politics, has become a favorite pastime of homosexual activists in recent years. Similarly, the "outing" of famous historical figures, from Abe Lincoln to Alexander the Great - whether or not the allegation of homosexuality is actually true - is a key activist tactic.

The unsubstantiated report in Raw Story has been picked up by numerous homosexual publications - online and off. McClellan has not commented on the reports now swirling around the Internet and in offline homosexual papers.

Boo-hoo-hoo, I'm playing the world's tiniest fiddle for them. "Jeff Gannon", we all remember, has pictures of himself buck naked up on the internet, selling his time as a rent boy. That hardly qualifies as "private" activity, let alone legal activity.

As regular readers of the Blend know, part of my job here is to bring you commentary from the peanut gallery of insanity known as Freeperland, home of the knuckle-dragging right wing. [They are so far over the edge that even wingnut Sean Hannity has abandoned them.] Here are some choice responses to the WND article.

Actual Freeper Quotes^TM:

"Gannon was a setup. I hope it backfires."

"Like most Christians, I think homosexuality is wrong. However, I do not advocate trying to meet out any punitive measures. That's up to God IMO. In His time, He will address it. I do have misgivings about certain roles, teaching, adoption, positions of authority over children... perhaps a few others.  I don't see Republicans outing homosexuals. I don't see them descriminating against them.
It is the left that exploits them at every opportunity, then pulls this type of tactic, outing them for sport. Sick."

"The Dems "outed" many prominent Republicans before the election. The "outing" didn't take. They were appointed or elected anyway.  What two adults do in private is not of interest to me.  What I resent is that a small minority of a tiny minority, maybe 3-4% of the population is trying to force their agenda on the country, to destabilize marriage and family values.  I am opposed to the political homosexual gay agenda for America, not to individual people who happen to be gay. "

"you're precisely right. Quit trying to 'sell' the concept to everyone else, and we'll get along fine. Cripe, HBO has practicly sold their sole to the homosexual lobby. They've played this Angels in America program over and over and over... goodness, give it a rest."

I am opposed to the political homosexual gay agenda for America, not to individual people who happen to be gay. You and I also see eye-to-eye on that. My personal, empirical estimate, based on 55 years of living, gay relatives, friends, neighbors, and employees, is about 3% of the population. My wife & I have lived next door to a couple of "women who prefer each other to men" for eighteen years, and we get along fine- they are no more like the weird and vainglorious creatures the TV promotes as "gay" than I am. I've always believed in Live and let Live- I just wish the "love that dare not speak its name" would pipe down a little, and leave the rest of us alone.  

What I do oppose is the relentless promotion of "gay is good, and no questions are allowed" by the media types. That, and the preaching to, and recruitment of, children. That is simply too far over the line of my tolerance. Oh, and gay marriage, too. Each one of these items is just one step over the line for me. They pushed the envelope too far for my liking, and have stepped into areas I can no longer voice "tolerance" for, or support."

"And as you described it so aptly-- We are seeing played out in our godless(secular) society precisely the wickedness that led to the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah-and to a bloody civil war in Israel that nearly destroyed the Tribe of Benjamin when that tribe refused justice to the Levite Priest and protected the Sons of Belial at Gibbeah. The Republicans in thi smodern replay are as the Benjamites knowing the judgement of God but protecting and promoting the wickedness within thie own faction."

"Have somewhere in my stacks of stuff an old Time Magazine from about 1992 that talked of very similar problems with the Republicans -and homosexuals-- wonder how much of it is the bad air of FoggyBottom--the corruption of that wicked city-where reprobate prostitutes were allowed to parade their shrivelled breasts around a Sacred Assembly in vain attempt to discredit/disrupt as the Park Police told rightious fathers and husbands "They have to do a lot more than that to get arrested here." I once told the FBI guys from Denver it would take destroying upwards of 2/3 of everyone who works that city to correct its problems."

"Personally, I wonder why this guy wasn't vetted. The Bush folks need to adopt the Reagan policy. As governor, Reagan purged when found. Don't hire them to begin with and there will be no problem?"

"The guy was vetted. He got a daypass which does a basic security check, not an in-depth background check. But you possibly give yourself away with saying he was "hired". He was not hired by the WH; he attended press briefings. He is no more an employee of the WH than Terry Moran of ABC.  And are you saying by "them" gays? That Reagan didn't hire "them" and actually fired "when found"? Well, aren't you precious, scattering disinfo in practically every word of your post."

"I just don't understand the "point" in doing this. It's SICK. There is no TOLERANCE involved no respect for PRIVACY of which the Left claims to be the paramount, even sole defender. It's clearly an act of callous political evil."

"That's up to God IMO. In His time, He will address it. That's a position I can respect. To be frank, however, that's true about all things we do, say, think, contemplate, act upon or fail to act regarding. Everything about your life, my life, anyone's life. It's all on the table."

"I get highly annoyed when "homosexuality" is somehow held up by certain very loud and very visible elements of Christian Fundamentalists or socially facist "Republicans" as somehow in need of their own righteous anger, oppression, vitriol, hatred, persecution, banning or worse. It's sickening. Persecution is not an American value. Persecution is not a Christian value."

"I don't see Republicans outing homosexuals. I don't see them descriminating against them. Funny you mention that. On those secret tapes made by Wead he says to GWB that it's being said GWB won't hire gays and GWB responds (paraphrasing): No, I won't fire gays. I won't discriminate against anybody. You just know the libs are chagrined that his private talk reflects his public presentation."

"I'm not sure about outing homosexuals, but Republicans will forward stories about other republicans about the possibility of out of marriage sex, ergo the McCain story in the South Carolina primaries about having a asian child out of wedlock. About the same as outing homosexuals to destroy them. The other tie to this is the view of many evangelicals that Republicans and President Bush in particular will stop the advance of any gay agenda and abortion. Matter of fact, in their mind President Bush's relection was key in doing that. That's why you're seeing this attempt to smear if false or out if true those close to the President. If the link between resolution of the culture war issues and Republicans in general and the President in particular can be tarnished, then evangelicals will either splinter to third parties or no longer vote."

"I don't agree with you. Not saying anything about it is promoting acceptance of it."

"Persecution is not a Christian value. Certainly it is. financial value. Christian talk radio couldn't survive without it. In many faiths, homosexuals and abortion are the ties that bind. Again it does have Christian value,........money in someones pockets."

"This is an interesting feature of the leftist mindset. They would meet your points with sanctimony as they "explain" that it is the hypocrisy of the right in holding positions "against" homosexuals, while at the same time having homosexual people wihtin their midst. This "explanation" of course, is mindless and is of the smarty pants set in the worst way. [I refused to use the noble term "elite" for them]. It is precisely that these letist "outers" wish to embarrrass the right wing people who are homosexual or associated with homosexuals in a witting or unwitting manner, that exposes their fundamental bad faith. They do not even grant to homosexuals the right to have their own mind and take non-leftist positions. They seek to punish the horrible transgression of not being a leftist by causing these individuals harm which they won't inflict on left wing closeted homosexuals. I have often felt that the left often appears to have the moral compass of your sterotypical labor union thug. The dirty tricks of the left and the democrat party always have that character. Look at how they argue on TV. That blatant attempt to talk over the right wing represenative and never concede a fact or answer a direct question. If you have ever met this spirit in your daily life, you will not forget it. It is foolish to deal with them with ordinary means."

I hope all the die hard gay Bushies get the drift here -- the base is teetering and fumbling between support of those gay administration officials because they hold the correct political opinions, and utter contempt for homosexuality. Keeping that balance with these cretins they call their "base" is going to mean casting the homos overboard if it gets in the way of the "values" agenda.

Some Related diaries this week...

Sullivan Breaks His Silence on Gannon by Wayne Mattson

NHL Hockey Cancelled, Gays to Blame by Curt Matlock

Shrek 2 Features Transgender Themes? by RevolutionReport

SCOTUS: Alabama Sales Ban on Sex Toys A-OK by pamindurham

GOP Gay Agenda Bait by virginia4kerry

Bush Cronies are Jew Haters, Gay Baiters and pure BIGOTS by roseeriter

Lesbian Kicked Out of Local Yearbook posted by blushresponse

Is Koko the gorilla a lesbian? W/poll by PLS

School Board to Senior: You must dress like a girl posted by FleetAdmiralJ

For Howie Kurtz: Gays facts and fantasy pt 2 by padraig pearse

tolerance/bullying: GLBT youth in school by juls

Headlines from:

South Carolina Anti-Gay Amendment To Gain Steam This Week. (Columbia, South Carolina) Debate will continue at the Alabama Statehouse this week on a proposal to change the state constitution to ban same-sex marriages -something state law already does.

New Paltz Gay Weddings Anniversary Passes Quietly (New Paltz, New York) The first anniversary of the first same-sex marriages in New York state passed with little fanfare over the weekend as gays and lesbians now look to the state's highest court to decide if they can marry.

Police Probe Murder Of Gay Prisoner. (Worcester, Massachusetts) Prosecutors have expanded their investigation into the death of an openly gay inmate at the Worcester County Jail.

California Considers Ban On Anti-Gay Political Campaigns.  (San Francisco, California) Legislation has been introduced in the California Assembly to prevent discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) individuals in political campaigns.

Next Move In Gay Battle Up To Episcopal Church Archbishop Warns. (London) Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams suggested Sunday that the North American churches that have elected a gay bishop and blessed same-sex relationships might have to back down if the worldwide Anglican communion is to hold together.

Gay Marriage Amendment Passes Virginia Legislature. (Richmond, Virginia)A proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Virginia easily won final approval Saturday by both chambers of the General Assembly.

India Lesbians Wed.  (New Delhi) Winter is India's wedding season, a time of gold jewelry, dancing and loud music.

AIDS In The Closet.  (Dakar) Tears trickle down Serigne's scarred face as he recounts what it's like to be gay in his Muslim west African homeland of Senegal.

Romney Brings Anti-Gay Attacks To Utah. (Boston, Massachusetts)Continuing to test the waters for a 2008 GOP presidential run Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney seems intent on using his opposition to gay marriage as a bargaining chip.

Legislation Would Protect Gay Fetuses. (Augusta, Maine) State Rep. Brian Duprey has filed a bill that would forbid women from ending a pregnancy based on the projected sexual orientation of a fetus.

New Details Released On HIV 'Super Strain'. (Boston, Massachusetts) Research on a recently discovered HIV strain shows it holds an array of disturbing traits that help it quickly progress to full-blown AIDS while resisting drug treatments, doctors have told the leading meeting on AIDS science.

Vermont Gays Support Marriage Or Nothing In Connecticut. (Hartford, Connecticut) Gay rights leaders in Vermont are praising a decision by their counterparts in Connecticut to hold out for full marriage rights rather sign on to a civil unions bill currently before the legislature.

Lesbian Teen Banned From High School Yearbook. (Green Cove Springs, Florida)The picture of a lesbian student dressed in a tuxedo will not be permitted in her school's yearbook, the Clay County school officials decided.

Virginia May Allow Gay Domestic Partner Benefits. (Richmond, Virginia) Less than three weeks after Virginia's legislature passed the first phase of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage it is now considering legislation that would allow private companies to offer health insurance to employees' domestic partners.

Ohio Gay Marriage Amendment Could Void Parent Rights. (Columbus, Ohio) Ohio's constitutional amendment which bars same-sex marriage is being used to prevent a lesbian mom from seeing her eight-year old son.

Talon Closes In Wake Of White House Gay Hustler Scandal. (Washington) Talon News, the rightwing online line publication whose White House correspondent somehow got official accreditation despite having no journalistic credentials and being a gay hustler, has shut down.Ontario Changes 73 Laws To Reflect Gay Marriage. (Toronto, Ontario) Ontario's Liberal government was spared a potentially embarrassing recorded vote Thursday as the legislature passed a bill changing the definition of marriage to accommodate same-sex marriage.

Can Dean Keep His Backbone On Gay Rights?. (Washington)A year ago, an activist group from the Seattle area gave Howard Dean a thin, golden statue of a backbone.

Deutsche Bank Accused Of Gay Bias. (London)One of the world's most powerful banking companies appears in a London court today accused of allowing homophobic and racist slurs against a senior employee.

Wisconsin Marriage Amendment Could Cancel City Partner Benefits. (Madison, Wisconsin) Hard won domestic partnership benefits could be wiped out if Wisconsin approves a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriagethe city attorney for Madison said Thursday.

No Evidence HIV 'Super Virus' Crossed Border Canada Says. (Toronto, Ontario)Canadian health officials have found no evidence the multi-drug resistant strain of HIV recently discovered in New York City has been spreading in this country, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada said Thursday.

Anglican Church Asks U.S., Canada to Leave.  (London)Leaders of the global Anglican Communion declared Thursday that they want the U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to withdraw from the communion's councils temporarily, and to explain their attitudes toward gays which have split the church.

HIV Discrimination Suit Heads To Trial. (Washington) The United States Department of State illegally prohibits anyone with HIV from being hired as a Foreign Service Officer, regardless of the applicant's qualifications or health status, Lambda Legal will argue in federal court Friday.

Couple 'Kicked Out' Of Health Center Because They Are Lesbian. (Syracuse, New York) The American Civil Liberties Union filed a discrimination lawsuit Thursday on behalf of a Utica, New York couple kicked out of a health care center because the women are lesbians - even though one of them desperately needs the center's services.

New York Judge Rules Against Gay Marriage.
(Ithaca, New York) A New York State judge has dismissed a challenge by 25 same-sex couples to the state's ban on gay marriage.

Move To End 'Don't Ask' As GAO Reveals Gay Ban Cost $200 Million. (Washington) On the heels of a new report by the Government Accounting Office showing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has cost taxpayers more than $200 million since its inception in 1993 a group of congressmembers has announced plans to introduce legislation to end the ban on gays in the military.

Transsexual Murdered In Namibia.  (Windhoek) A transsexual woman has been brutally beaten and murdered in the small store she ran in the town of Okahandja about 50 miles north of the capital, Windhoek.

New AIDS Shock In NYC. (New York City) New York City's health department Wednesday acknowledged that an estimated 45,000 residents are HIV-positive but do not know it.

Gay Protest Disrupts University Trustees Meeting.  (Toledo, Ohio) More than a dozen protestors with duct tape over their mouths staged a demonstration during a meeting of the University of Toledo's Board of Trustees on Wednesday.

NY Senator Cleared In Gay Bias Case. (Albany, New York) A New York state senator, accused by her former chief of staff of making racist remarks and firing him because he's gay, has been cleared of wrongdoing.Connecticut Gays Condemn Civil Union Move.  (Hartford, Connecticut) A bill to allow civil unions in Connecticut passed a key committee in the legislature Wednesday to the anger of LGBT civil rights organizations.

Bills To Ban Gay Marriage & Allow Partnerships Move Ahead In New Mexico. (Santa Fe, New Mexico) A Senate committee has approved two bills on same-sex relationships: One that would ban gay marriage and another that would allow domestic partnerships.

Move To Toughen California Civil Rights Law.  (Sacramento, California) Legislation has been introduced in the California Assembly to give more teeth to the state's civil rights law, called the Unruh Act.

Bagger: Don't Call Me The 'Transsexual Golfer'.  Gold Coast, Australia) When Mianne Bagger first heard accusations that she had undergone a sex-change operation so she could have an unfair advantage playing women's golf, she was incredulous.

Mass. Supreme Court To Hear Challenge To Non-Resident Gay Marriage Ban. (Boston, Massachusetts) The Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the Massachusetts law being used to prevent same-sex couples from outside the state from marrying.

Prison For Lesbian Who Torched Ex Lover.  (London) A woman who found her former partner in bed with another woman and set fire to them has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years behind bars.

Tennessee Mulls Gay Adoption Ban.  (Nashville, Tennessee) Tennessee is considering legislation barring gays and lesbians from adopting or becoming foster parents to the thousands of children in state custody awaiting a family.

Canadian Lawmakers Swamped With Anti-Gay Mail From US.  (Washing