GLBT News

[FineyMcFine]

I'm pretty ticked off about what Howard Dean said on the 700 Club earlier this week. Clarifications notwithstanding, how on earth could he get the party's position so grievously wrong about same-sex relationships? It was either a calculated ploy to reach out to evangelicals, or that's what he really believes. Either way, it sucks.

Here's an article from the Washington Blade that outlines the situation:

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thel ... og_id=6713

I'm not sure what I can do as an individual to influence the Democratic Party, since I'm not a donor, and not wealthy. Unfortunately for the DNC, money talks. But I decided a while ago that this cycle I was only contributing to candidates who support marriage equality, and that's a decision I'm glad I made early on.

I also decided that I would do what I could in my own corner of the world with the resources I do have. So I wrote a post in my livejournal about a candidate running for state senate in my district in Maryland who is fabulous, and the link is below. If you don't click I won't be offended, but if the spirit moves you to support a state legislative candidate for office in a district and state that most kittens probably don't live in, then you could find no better candidate than this guy. Okay, commercial over.

http://jillycoppercorn.livejournal.com/47008.html

[Gatito Grande]

God, Sally, that's depressing: I hadn't heard any of the stuff in the article.

GG Dean seems to have drunk the "Gays---with their Bloody Gay Marriage Sh*t---Cost Us the '04 Election!" Kool-Aid. F*ck him: he won't get my vote again! Out

[COMMA]

The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that the State's ban on same sex marriage is not counstitutional under Georgia Law!

COMMA

[Cup]

Hello Kittens! I thought this would be good to post here. I am the president of the GALIA association at the University of Lethbridge and get interesting new through a queer canadian university group. I hope you all look through this and give some merit for some letter writting.

cheers,
trish

Hello Fellow Queer Canadian University Group!

I hope your summers are all getting off to a great start and that you
have accomplished a great deal since we last met at the CUQSC. Those of you
who are new recruits, welcome!


I'm contacting you today in hope for some letters of solidarity. In a
few weeks time, our university will be awarding an honorary Doctorate of
Laws to Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka. For some background, Rabbi Bulka sits on
the Scientific Advisory Committee to NARTH, the National Association for the
Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (http://www.narth.com). This association was
formed after the APA delisted homosexuality as a mental disorder and their
mission is to "defend the right to pursue change of sexual orientation"...
in plain English they support the ex-gay movement and encourage it as option
to homosexuality. They also have many members who think that homosexuality
should be relisted as a disorder (though the group does not outwardly
condone this).

Our university is awarding this degree to Rabbi Bulka since they say he
is a "leading figure in humanitarian affairs". It is true that he fights
for various causes including the most recent Save Darfur campaign. However
he does not condone homosexuality or homosexual behaviour and agrees that it
may appear controversial that he is a public member of this association. It
is our opinion that a Doctorate shows the highest degree of education and
knowledge in a particular area, that such a person sets an example for
others, and that they should educate others in their area of specialty.
It is for such a reason that we do not support this honorary degree.
Though Rabbi Bulka may be a humanitarian in a number of areas, we believe
that a true humanitarian is opposed to oppression and discrimination of all
individuals. Conferring this degree would also show that Carleton supports
NARTH by association, since this association believes that they are
humanitarians by allowing reparative therapy as an option for questioning
youth. Carleton also has a well-worded human rights policy that bans
heterosexism and homophobia (including supporting the view that sexual
orientation can be changed) http://www.carleton.ca/equity .

We are not pursuing any action against Rabbi Bulka, since he has freedom
of association and expression and he is entitled to his opinions, however
much we disagree with them. Our issue is solely with the university.


We are therefore asking anyone who can, to write a letter directed to
our President, David Atkinson asking that this degree nomination be
rescinded. Our deadline is June 7th before we pursue any other action so if
you could send them before that date we would be greatful. Here's some
letter writing tips:
a.. Address the email (or letter) to Dr. David Atkinson, President,
Carleton University (1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6)
b.. Send it to david_atkinson@carleton.ca and cc: glbt@carleton.ca
c.. State your organization and what it does (or if you are an individual,
who you are, what you study (or where you work if relevant))
d.. Let the President know what you think about awarding this honorary
degree to Rabbi Bulka and what it means to you as a queer person or ally
e.. Use policies, factual information, research and whatever you can to
prove your point
f.. Please do not place the focus on Rabbi Bulka or counter-act his right
to association and free speech, but instead the university's decision to
support his humanitarian efforts
g.. Let him know that you support the GLBTQ's Centre's campaign
h.. Invite the President's office to contact you should they need any
clarification of your points (they are actually pretty good about replying,
however political the reply may be)
i.. Thank them for taking time to review your points and hopefully
supporting queer/GLBTQ rights
I have also attached a sample letter of solidarity that I wrote for GLOW
(Waterloo) a couple of months ago.

Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated. We are also happy to
look over a letter before you send it if you like. Should you require any
more information you can contact me, my co-coordinator Joanna Paddock or
Katy McIntyre from our Students' Association (vpss@cusaonline.com,
613-520-6688).


In Solidarity and Pride!


Shaun Vollick
Administrative Coordinator


****
Carleton GLBTQ Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity
Carleton University Students' Association
Canadian Federation of Students - Local 1
401 Unicentre Building
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6
Tel: (613) 520-3723 TTY: (613) 520-2600 x8203
Fax: (613) 520-3704


"Education, Advocacy & Support: Working Together Towards Sexual and Gender
Equality"

[Gatito Grande]

Done and done, trish: thanks for bringing this to our attention.

GG "Selective humanitarianism": Blech! Out

[mariacomet]

For those of us in the states, I encourage you to contact your congressman/woman ASAP:

From an e-mail update from GLAAD.

Next Tuesday, June 6, the U.S. Senate will vote on the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, which would write a discriminatory definition of marriage into the United States Constitution.

There's very little possibility it will pass this time around. But it is part of a long-term campaign in which the right hopes to make gains every year and build toward eventual success. We need to keep them from gaining momentum.

In addition, the right wing is using the opportunity to generate phone calls and letters to members of Congress, spreading mean-spirited misinformation about our families and us. President Bush will amplify the rhetoric in a Rose Garden press conference on Monday, the eve of the vote.

We must continue to stand up and fight back. We can't let our opponents dominate the conversation in Congress about our lives. The Human Rights Campaign is urging supporters of marriage equality to call the White House at (202) 456-1111, and let the administration know that you oppose writing discrimination into the constitution.
You can also call your Senators at (202) 224-3121 or find your Senator's email at [url]http://www.senate.gov.[/url] Talking points about the amendment can be found at HRC's website.

Perhaps most importantly, please write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, call in to radio shows, take part in on-line surveys, and let neighbors and friends know where you stand on this issue.
All the New England states have non-discrimination laws, and three New England states are the first in the nation to provide state-wide legal recognition to same-sex relationships. We have a special role to play in safeguarding our liberty and freedom. The Senate votes next Tuesday, June 6. Make sure your Senator, your President, and your community know how many Americans support equality for lesbian and gay citizens.
Sincerely,

Lee Swislow
Executive Director

gladlaw@glad.org

[FineyMcFine]

Boot the Bigot

Get Rick Santorum out of office...out of Washington...and out of your bedroom in 2006!

[billy]

Gay snub firefighters disciplined

Nine firefighters who refused to offer safety advice to people attending a gay pride march have been disciplined.

A watch manager in Glasgow has been demoted to crew manager with a £5,000 salary cut. The remaining firefighters were given a written warning.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said all nine would undergo diversity training.

A spokesman said: "The nine now accept that they should have performed their duties. Their refusal was a fundamental breach of their core responsibilities."

The nine firefighters are based at Cowcaddens and were asked to distribute community safety advice to people attending the Pride Scotia festival in George Square on 24 June.

The fire service spokesman said: "Firefighters cannot, and will not, pick and choose to whom they offer fire safety advice.

"Strathclyde Fire and Rescue has a responsibility to protect every one of the 2.3m people it serves, irrespective of race, religion or sexuality."

The Fire Brigades Union in Scotland said it would be waiting until the individual members had been contacted before commenting.

Chairman Roddy Robertson said one option for the men would be to appeal against the verdict.

'Highly controversial'

Mr Robertson said: "With any disciplinary outcome, it could be subject to an appeal.

"But we have to wait until the members have been contacted.

"We would be unable to comment until the disciplinary process has been exhausted.

"If the members don't wish to proceed, then we can make a comment."

Before the hearings started last month, Mr Robertson said the issue had been "highly controversial".

Some of the firefighters involved had argued it would be embarrassing for them to turn up in uniform to the Pride Scotia event, while others claimed it would contradict their moral beliefs.

The decision to discipline the firefighters was described by the Roman Catholic Church as "dismaying".

Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow said: "We have followed this case with concern.

"They were asked, while in uniform, to hand out leaflets during a demonstration where they had legitimate concerns about being the subject of taunts and jokes, and in which in some cases, their religious sensibilities would have been grossly offended by people dressed as priests and nuns lampooning the Church."

He added: "That the officers concerned are being forced to undergo diversity training is alarming. The duty to obey one's conscience is a higher duty than that of obeying orders."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5301334.stm

Gay march snub crew's 'mistake'

The chief officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue has said nine disciplined officers "made a mistake" and should be allowed get on with their careers.

The firefighters were disciplined for refusing to hand out safety advice during a gay pride march in Glasgow.

Brian Sweeney told BBC Scotland: "They made a mistake, everyone is entitled to do that."

Mr Sweeney said dismissal was not appropriate and denied the crew had been slapped on the wrists.

The firefighters, based at Cowcaddens, refused to distribute community safety advice to people attending the Pride Scotia festival in George Square on 24 June.

A senior officer was demoted and the others received warning letters.

All are to attend a course in diversity training.

Mr Sweeney said: "This is a strong disciplinary action that is very serious, that's placed on their personal record file that puts them in a very difficult employment position, so this is not a mild slap on the wrists.

"In the tribunal if dismissal was the appropriate remedy for the offence that had been committed then they would have been dismissed.

"Clearly the tribunal didn't take that view and I support them on that.

"I think the important feature is that all nine firefighters have now said that given the same circumstances they would go out and would have done that work - a concession on their part that they should have done that job."

He added: "They need to be allowed to get on and protect those communities across Scotland that they do so well."

The chief officer vowed to provide public protection irrespective of background.

He said: "We won't permit and we won't promote any racism, any sectarianism, any bias to any gender, any sexual preference."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5302376.stm

What a surprise to see the leaders of the Catholic Church being as open-minded and tolerant as they usually are. Don't these people even realise how ridiculous they sound? At least Strathclyde Fire Brigade were able to show some simple common sense.

[Candleshoe]

The duty to obey one's conscience is a higher duty than that of obeying orders.

What's next? Refusal to save people in a fire?

And, out of interest, I wonder what would happen if someone pointed out to Archbishop Mario Conti that we are "ordered" (by someone far, far more important to the Catholic church than he) to love your neighbour as yourself? That's Jesus in Mark chapter 12 verse 31, Archbishop - you clearly haven't read that far yet.

[xita]

After reading that South of Nowhere had let go of a homophobic actor, I read the NBA takes action against a homophobe:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070216/ap_ ... _remarks_8

If only Grey's Anatomy would act accordingly.

Anyway, it gives me hope when a sport like the NBA recognizes that homophobia should not be tolerated.

[Ben Varkentine]

Reportedly, a couple of gay-rights bills are considered very likely to be passed by the new Congess this year. These would be the first major federal such bills ever passed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070224/ap_ ... gay_rights

If you read that item, notice that one of the conservatives they quote in opposition is Tony "named after a famously closeted gay actor" Perkins.

Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, contended that gay-rights groups exaggerated the extent of anti-gay bias as part of a broader push to achieve their political goals.

"I'm sure there's probably a case here and there," Perkins said. "But I've seen more discrimination of people of religious faith than I've seen of gay people in the work force."

Right.

(Sometimes a man has to resort to sarcasm)

Another cited opponent is from "Concerned Women For America."

Matt Barber of Concerned Women for America held out hope that Bush would block the measures. "Hopefully," Barber said, "the president will show that the veto pen is mightier than the politically correct sword."

You may remember the CWFA. This is the organization that warned parents against allowing their children to watch Buffy because of Willow & Tara's relationship.

They even found something to object to on the coffee cups at Starbucks.

http://varkentine.blogspot.com/2005/08/ ... offee.html

Also notice that the spokesperson for "Concerned Women For America"...is a man.

ETA: On another topic, a woman named Suze Orman, who is a financial counselor and TV host, has come out as a lesbian.

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... /702250637

Which is great, right? Yeah, but some things about her reported statements strike me as kind of weird.

Check this out.

Orman says she wishes she could marry her partner Kathy Travis, partly because it would save them both a lot of money.

"Both of us have millions of dollars in our name," she told The New York Times Magazine in its Feb. 25 edition. "It's killing me that upon death, K.T. is going to lose 50 percent of everything I have to estate taxes.

Yes, I love all that romantic talk too. Of course, I have to admit that never having heard of Orman, when I saw this item I went looking for news and images of her. And far be it from me to stereotype...but...

Suze Orman

I can't imagine how this could have come as a shock.

It also seems kind of odd to me that she says

I have never been with a man in my whole life. I'm still a 55-year-old virgin.' ''

So a woman being with another woman is not "real" sex, then?

[maudmac]

I didn't know who Suze Orman was, either. Perhaps because I haven't got enough money to need any financial advice. Anyway, yes, that statement about being a virgin is just stupid. What she is, is a Gold Star lesbian, not a virgin.

In other news, there's a woman from Uganda who may get asylum here in the states because she's a lesbian.

From cnn.com:

Lesbian's asylum case opens immigration door

Olivia Nabulwala says her family in Uganda was so angry and ashamed to learn she was a lesbian that her relatives hurled insults at her, pummeled her and, finally, stripped her and held her down while a stranger raped her.

"I hated myself from that day," she said in a sworn statement. "I disliked my family for subjecting me to such torture, and yet they felt this was a good punishment for me."

Now, in a case that illuminates a relatively unexplored area of U.S. immigration law, the African immigrant is asking for asylum in the U.S. on the grounds she was persecuted over her sexual orientation. A federal appeals court ruling last week has raised her hopes of success.

Click here for the rest.

Interesting that the police spokesperson defended Uganda's treatment of gay people, saying that asylum-seekers exaggerate. Perhaps, if that's the case, Uganda could do away with its laws against homosexuality.

[Ben Varkentine]

What she is, is a Gold Star lesbian

Never heard that term...a quick check of the Urban Dictionary...love it.

[tarawhipped]

Anyway, yes, that statement about being a virgin is just stupid. What she is, is a Gold Star lesbian, not a virgin.

That irked me too, Holley. Maybe it's a generational thing, I dunno, but in my opinion it perpetuates the myth that it's not real sex unless a penis is involved. WhatEVER!

-Cam

[vix84]

Here is an article from today's newspaper about lesbian parenting:

click

[Ben Varkentine]

Lesbian couple in Wyo. denied Communion:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070405/ap_ ... g.Q8BH2ocA

There's a lot I could say about this, but I feel like letting a few Emoticons do the talking...

[JustSkipIt]

Out Magazine has listed the 50 most influencial Gay and Lesbians(in America).

[Ben Varkentine]

You can't imagine how happy I am that none of the writers of The L Word made the list.

I mean it. You really can't.

[JustSkipIt]

This is amazingly awesome:

http://www.nhne.org/news/NewsArticlesAr ... fault.aspx

[maudmac]

Oh, yay, more controversy. Look who Bush has nominated to be Surgeon General:

Gay Groups Decry Surgeon General Nominee

NGLTF, HRC Denounce Holsinger For US Surgeon General

Gay group attacks Holsinger paper: 1991 Church Report Argued Male Sex Unhealthy, Unnatural

Some excerpts:

In his role on the United Methodist Judicial Council, Holsinger opposed a decision to allow a lesbian to be an associate pastor, and he supported a pastor who would not permit an openly gay man to join the church. As a member of the Committee to Study Homosexuality in the United Methodist Church, Holsinger authored a 1991 paper titled “Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality,” which essentially equates homosexuality with disease in lurid terms.

Like male and female pipe fittings, certain male and female body parts are designed for each other, Holsinger wrote in a paper prepared for a United Methodist Church committee studying homosexuality. "When the complementarity of the sexes is breached, injuries and diseases may occur," Holsinger wrote in the paper, titled Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality.

However...

They pointed to a 2002 incident in which Holsinger, then chancellor of the UK Medical Center, defended a session on lesbian health issues at a women's health conference over the objection of two state senators. The senators threatened to withhold funding because of the 90-minute session.

Phyllis Nash, who organized the conference, said Holsinger did not have to be persuaded to defend the session. "He basically said we are obligated as individuals to meet the needs of everyone, regardless of orientation."

At the time, Holsinger defended the session in a Herald-Leader article. "It's important to educate health care professionals on the issues that surround lesbians," he said. "It's important professionals have the knowledge base to do care for these patients in a quality manner."

It all raises the question of whether we should believe he can separate his personal beliefs from his official responsibilites. While I'm inclined to think that, yes, in general people are capable of doing that, I wouldn't think it too hard to find a qualified physician somewhere in this country for whom this wouldn't be such an important question.

I'm also thrown by the fact that he looks grandfatherly to me, and a bit like Santa Claus in a business suit. If I saw him on the street, I would want to like him, I think.

[love_2003]

I found this at:
http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_159222541.html



Pentagon Confirms It Sought To Build A 'Gay Bomb'

A Berkeley, California, watchdog organization that tracks military spending said it uncovered a strange U.S. military proposal to create a hormone bomb that could purportedly turn enemy soldiers into homosexuals and make them more interested in sex than fighting.

Pentagon officials on Friday confirmed to CBS 5 that military leaders had considered, and then subsquently rejected, building the so-called "Gay Bomb."


Edward Hammond, of Berkeley's Sunshine Project, had used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a copy of the proposal from the Air Force's Wright Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio.

As part of a military effort to develop non-lethal weapons, the proposal suggested, "One distasteful but completely non-lethal example would be strong aphrodisiacs, especially if the chemical also caused homosexual behavior."

The documents show the Air Force lab asked for $7.5 million to develop such a chemical weapon.

"The Ohio Air Force lab proposed that a bomb be developed that contained a chemical that would cause enemy soliders to become gay, and to have their units break down because all their soldiers became irresistably attractive to one another," Hammond said after reviwing the documents.

"The notion was that a chemical that would probably be pleasant in the human body in low quantities could be identified, and by virtue of either breathing or having their skin exposed to this chemical, the notion was that soliders would become gay," explained Hammond.

The Pentagon told CBS 5 that the proposal was made by the Air Force in 1994.

"The Department of Defense is committed to identifying, researching and developing non-lethal weapons that will support our men and women in uniform," said a DOD spokesperson, who indicated that the "gay bomb" idea was quickly dismissed.

However, Hammond said the government records he obtained suggest the military gave the plan much stronger consideration than it has acknowledged.

"The truth of the matter is it would have never come to my attention if it was dismissed at the time it was proposed," he said. "In fact, the Pentagon has used it repeatedly and subsequently in an effort to promote non-lethal weapons, and in fact they submitted it to the highest scientific review body in the country for them to consider."

Military officials insisted Friday to CBS 5 that they are not currently working on any such idea and that the past plan was abandoned.

Gay community leaders in California said Friday that they found the notion of a "gay bomb" both offensive and almost laughable at the same time.

"Throughout history we have had so many brave men and women who are gay and lesbian serving the military with distinction," said Geoff Kors of Equality California. "So, it's just offensive that they think by turning people gay that the other military would be incapable of doing their job. And its absurd because there's so much medical data that shows that sexual orientation is immutable and cannot be changed."

[Ben Varkentine]

Gay community leaders in California said Friday that they found the notion of a "gay bomb" both offensive and almost laughable at the same time.

I vote for laughable. Though, I did almost make it through the entire story with a straight face until I got to this sentence:

"The Ohio Air Force lab proposed that a bomb be developed that contained a chemical that would cause enemy soliders to become gay, and to have their units break down ...

[kisstheviolets]

great news from my adopted homestate of massachusetts!

from the ny times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/15/us/15gay.html :

Massachusetts Gay Marriage to Remain Legal
BOSTON, June 14 — Same-sex marriage will continue to be legal in Massachusetts, after proponents in both houses won a pitched months-long battle on Thursday to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

“In Massachusetts today, the freedom to marry is secure,” Gov. Deval Patrick said after the legislature voted 151 to 45 against the amendment, which needed 50 favorable votes to come before voters in a referendum in November 2008.

The vote means that opponents would have to start from Square 1 to sponsor a new amendment, which could not get on the ballot before 2012. Massachusetts is the only state where same-sex marriage is legal, although five states allow civil unions or the equivalent.

Thursday’s victory for same-sex marriage was not a foregone conclusion, especially after the amendment won first-round approval from the previous legislature in January, with 62 lawmakers supporting it.

As late as a couple of hours before the 1 p.m. vote on Thursday, advocates on both sides of the issue said they were not sure of the outcome. The eleventh-hour decisions of several legislators to vote against the amendment followed intensive lobbying by the leaders of the House and Senate and Governor Patrick, who, like most members of the legislature, is a Democrat.

“I think I am going to be doing a certain number of fund-raisers for districts, and I am happy to do that,” said Mr. Patrick, who said he had tried to persuade lawmakers not only that same-sex marriage should be allowed but also that a 2008 referendum would be divisive and distract from other important state issues.

About 8,500 same-sex couples have married in Massachusetts since the unions became legal in May 2004. In December 2005, opponents, led by the Massachusetts Family Institute, gathered a record 170,000 signatures for an amendment banning same-sex marriage, a measure that was supported by Mr. Patrick’s predecessor, Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican who is now running for president.

Kris Mineau, president of the institute, did not indicate on Thursday whether opponents would start a new petition drive, but said, “We’re not going away.”

“We want to find out why votes switched and see what avenues are available to challenge those votes, perhaps in court,” Mr. Mineau said.

The vote reflected changes in the legislature, the election of Mr. Patrick, and lobbying by national and local gay rights groups.

“This was the focus of our national community,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “Frankly, a loss today would have been very demoralizing.”

It is difficult to know how support for same-sex marriage has changed since legalization because polls taken before and after have asked different questions. The most recent Massachusetts poll, in April 2007, found that 56 percent of those surveyed would oppose the amendment.

One legislator who switched his vote was Representative Paul Kujawski, Democrat of Uxbridge, saying meetings with gay and lesbian constituents convinced him that “I couldn’t take away the happiness those people have been able to enjoy.”

Mr. Kujawski, who said he grew up in a conservative Roman Catholic neighborhood and had not understood gay relationships, said, “So many people said, ‘I didn’t ask to be gay; I was born this way.’ ”

He added, “Our job is to help people who need help, and I feel the gay side of the issue needed more help than the other side.”

Senator Gale D. Candaras, a Democrat, voted against the amendment Thursday, although she had supported it as a state representative in January. Ms. Candaras said her vote reflected constituent views in her larger, more progressive Senate district and her fear of a vicious referendum campaign.

Most moving, she said, were older constituents who had changed their views after meeting gay men and lesbians. One woman had “asked me to put it on the ballot for a vote, but since then a lovely couple moved in,” Ms. Candaras said. “She said, ‘They help me with my lawn, and if there can’t be marriage in Massachusetts, they’ll leave and they can’t help me with my lawn.”

Unlike several previous constitutional conventions on same-sex marriage with impassioned soliloquies, Thursday’s session took barely 10 minutes. Afterward, supporters of same-sex marriage, many in tears, erupted in standing ovations.

[ellbogen]

Like male and female pipe fittings, certain male and female body parts are designed for each other, Holsinger wrote in a paper prepared for a United Methodist Church committee studying homosexuality.

"certain body parts?

...Yes, fingers, for instance... where were they designed to fit??

[Ben Varkentine]

fingers, for instance... where were they designed to fit??

I'm glad you asked. You see...

Oh, sorry, you weren't really asking, were you?

[maudmac]

lol, yeah, fingers. Oh, and the tongue. It's just the right shape and size to...you know...

Anyway, his whole "When the complementarity of the sexes is breached, injuries and diseases may occur" thing is quite crap, if you examine its logic for five seconds. Obviously, he is talking about penis + anus = injury or disease. Okay. But it's also true that penis + vagina can lead to injury or disease for either party. And of course, vagina + fingers (a violation of the "complementarity of the sexes") leads to pretty much nothing undesirable. If he's going to suggest that "unnatural" acts are bad because they can lead to injury and/or disease, and that whatever happens "naturally" is good and safe, I would point him to childbirth, among other things.

It's embarrassing to have a stupid Surgeon General, but I expect no better from Bush.

Oh, and yay for Massachusetts! It's interesting to see that the minds of some of those legislators changed after meeting with gays and lesbians. It really lends support to the idea that it's hard to hate us when you know us personally, and all the more reason for us to be as out as we can be. It really does change minds. (Not that I'm having a whole lot of luck changing minds here in Alabama, but we did manage to elect an out lesbian to the state House of Representatives for the first time ever. It gives me hope.)

[ellbogen]

Yeh, we have an out lesbian in our state legislature in Random Southern State, and the fact that she is there and such a competent, all-around good person has made other legislators have to rethink some of their ideas. We had an adoption bill come up and didn't make it out of committee. I'm sure they'll try to introduce it again, but it's dead in the water for now, and I have a feeling her presence was part of it.

[maudmac]

Wow! This is huge.

From ABC News:

Prince's Secret Tears Royal Family Apart, Shocks His Nation
Prince of Rajpipla Could Become First Openly Gay Indian Royal

By ELIZABETH JOSEPH and MICHELLE SMAWLEY

July 2, 2007 —

Manvendra Singh Gohil grew up in a bubble of prestige and privilege, surrounded by hangers-on who treated him so reverentially that he was 15 years old before he crossed a street by himself.

"I was born with a golden spoon," Singh Gohil, who is now 41 years old, said. "A very luxurious lifestyle&at one point we had almost 22 servants for us. Even for a sip from a glass of water, it was the servants who got it for me."

Singh Gohil was leading a life of luxury, but he was also living a lie -- hiding a secret so taboo that it caused riots in the streets of India.

Singh Gohil is a prince, the son of the maharajah -- Indian royalty from a dynasty that is more than 600 years old. Today, though India is a democracy, the Singh Gohils are still honored as if they ruled the land. In fact, the day ABC News met with the king and the prince, they were attending a town ceremony honoring their family.

'Falling Apart'

Singh Gohil's path in life was typical of the Indian elite: A good student, he was sent to boarding schools, took lavish vacations with his family, and went to college to study business and law. He eventually entered an arranged marriage with a beautiful Indian princess, one that marked the union of two prominent royal Indian families.

When asked to describe his marriage, Singh Gohil said, "[It was] the worst decision of my life. It was a total disaster, total failure. I never had any sexual or physical attraction towards her. Nothing worked. The marriage never got consummated. I realized that I had done something very wrong."

After 15 disastrous months of matrimony, Singh Gohil divorced his wife and took her parting words to heart.

"The last time when she met me, she told me, 'I'm giving you a piece of advice. Please don't spoil another girl's life,'" he recalled. "That short and sweet thing hit me directly at my heart and I decided I'm not going to get married again."

But in keeping with Indian tradition, the king and queen of Rajpipla decided it was time to find their only son another wife. Singh Gohil was reluctant to remarry, but had no one to share his feelings with, and said, "I was suddenly feeling as if I [was] falling apart."

It was the beginning of a complete nervous breakdown. Singh Gohil wound up in the hospital, where he began opening up to a therapist about a lifelong secret he had been harboring since childhood.

"[When] I was growing up, I would always get attracted towards males," he said.

Sharing His Secret

"My grandmother had actually sponsored this young boy, who was orphaned at an early age to educate him and be as a companion to me," Singh Gohil said. "We started experimenting with each other. I liked playing with him, playing [with] his body. He also used to play with my body."

Singh Gohil was eventually introduced to Ashok Row Kavi, a former reporter who made waves in 1986 by becoming the first openly gay man in India. For many years, he was the only person in the entire country to speak openly about homosexuality.

After becoming close friends, Row Kavi convinced Singh Gohil that his sexual orientation was nothing to be ashamed of.

"I told him just live your life as honestly as possible without hurting too many people," he said. "You just live quietly and honestly and do what you think is right."

Singh Gohil took his friend's advice and last March, gave an interview to a local Gujarati newspaper, outing himself as a homosexual.

"I knew I was ready to face the worst situation," he said. "They cut out pictures from the newspaper where my interview was published and they put it in the bonfire. They declared me dead."

'Even a Prince Can Be Gay'

Homosexuality is against the law in India, and can be penalized with ten years to life in jail. Singh Gohil has become both the voice and face of those persecuted for their sexual orientation. Not only has the Prince publicly fallen from grace, but his mother has publicly disowned him, and his place as the next King of Rajpipla was in jeopardy.

As the only son of the current King and Queen, Singh Gohil is the only heir to the throne. His father, King Ragubir Gohil Singh said that, "It's not natural. Anything which is not natural, is not something which you can't procreate, you can't have children because it is not something which one is meant for. Otherwise there'll be no life on this earth."

Though his coming out was met with disappointment and outrage, Singh Gohil has adopted a noble cause, educating people about homosexuality and HIV/AIDS prevention.

"I came out in the newspapers openly that I'm gay and basically [because] I wanted to show to the world that even a prince can be gay," he said. "I wanted people to discuss homosexuality, which was always considered a taboo and a stigma& it's been existing in India but no one talked about it."

Raising Awareness

Gay activists estimate that 80 percent of gay Indian men are married to women, and argue that the widespread denial of homosexuality inhibits education of safe sex practices, resulting in a rise in HIV and AIDS in the gay population.

"This is high time we talk about HIV [and] homosexuality," said Singh Gohil. "Unless we talk, there will be no awareness and it will start spreading and it will be too late&it will [get] out control."

Singh Gohil created Lakshya, a grassroots gay-outreach organization centered around counseling gay men and teaching safe sex practices. The organization is still in the early stages of development.

"There is a lack of awareness," Manvendra explained. "The purpose of my coming out openly is for a cause, for a good cause, for the control of HIV/AIDS."

The prince who would be king is now dedicating all of his time and energy into gay activism. His future is uncertain, but Singh Gohil said that if he ever does take his place on the throne, it would be on his own terms, as the first openly gay Indian royal of the 21st century.

Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures

It's hard for me to imagine how difficult things will be for him. As hard as things are for us here sometimes, usually most of us can find a supportive community. I really hope this will help the situation in India.

[JustSkipIt]

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[Ben Varkentine]

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