So it ain't Sunday - but it sure is funny. Betty Butterfield runs down the list of presidential hopefuls in the way that only she can.
Labels: betty butterfield, sunday funnies, video
Queerty reports:
Oklahoma lawmaker Sally Kern simply can't quit her anti-gay ways. After coming out last week against gay discrimination, Kern took pen to paper and published an op-ed in which she again rails against the so-called "gay agenda".Anyone who thinks there is no homosexual agenda need only look here in Oklahoma to the newly formed Equal Rights Project created to help elect candidates by bridging the gay/straight community. The Equal Rights Project states "We felt we were uniquely qualified to help those running in the South and the Bible Belt. Running in these communities is much different than in California and New York. Our idea was to train, educate and support all candidates who support equal rights for all."
Homosexuals are already citizens who have equal rights. They want "special rights" for the acceptance of their deviant lifestyle. I'm thankful that Oklahoma is different than California and New York. I pray it stays that way.
Kern's vile politics doesn't stop with the gays. Homo-journo Michael Heaton attended Kern's University of Central Oklahoma appearance last night and reports that she refers to non-Christians as "infidels" and that Christianity stands as the only path to salvation. It seems to us that despite Kern's claims that we gays are worse than terrorists, it's she who hold more in common with Islamic fundamentalists than any homo we know.
Labels: oklahoma, sally kern
The American Civil Liberties Union has asked the State of Oregon to reject the draft ballot initiative (IP 145) to repeal the Oregon Equality Act - an anti-discrimination law for sexual minorities - based on the initiative's "unconstitutionality and incomprehensibility," according to initiaitive comments filed this week with the Oregon Secretary of State.
Additional letters of comment came both from the ACLU and Basic Rights Oregon, addressing a range of concerns regarding the initiative's language, the contentious draft ballot title, and the very comprehensibility of the initiative.
According to the Secretary of State Elections office, any letters seeking dismissal of a proposed ballot initiative are passed onto Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers, who ultimately decides on the certification fate of ballot initiatives.
The response from Myers - including a certified ballot title, if so approved - is expected April 8 for IP 144, and April 9 for IP 145.
Via Just Out.
Labels: aclu, basic rights oregon, domestic partnership, oregon
Today Basic Rights Oregon endorsed Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams for the upcoming '08 Portland Mayor race, while green lighting Sho Dozono.
Via BRO:
On behalf of the Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC, we are pleased to announce our endorsement of Sam Adams for Mayor of Portland. We have also issued a Green Light for Sho Dozono. When Portland Commissioner Sam Adams and longtime ally Sho Dozono each came seeking the endorsement of our Equality PAC in their campaigns to become the next Mayor of Portland, we knew it would be a competitive process.
Commissioner Sam Adams is a smart and effective elected leader and a well-respected champion of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Oregonians. Business owner Sho Dozono has an admirable history of advocacy for our community, and plays a significant role in encouraging all Oregon businesses to stand up for equality.
But after carefully weighing our options in this race, our choice was clear. Basic Rights Oregon's Equality PAC is proud to issue a full endorsement of Sam Adams. We have also issued a Green Light for Sho Dozono.
Labels: 2008 elections, portland, sam adams
'Sho' nuff. 'Sho' not. Our vote is with Sam.
Labels: 2008 elections, portland, sam adams
Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), encumbered by a scandal since last summer, did not file for reelection by his state's deadline Friday, keeping a promise he made and officially marking the end of his congressional career.
Boo hoo. At least he was honest about something though.
Read the rest over here.
Labels: federal, idaho, larry craig
Amazing video. He inspires with every word - so eloquent. For those you in Portland and surrounding areas, Barack will be here this Friday!
Details:
STAND FOR CHANGE RALLY WITH BARACK OBAMA
Memorial Coliseum
500 North Winning Way
Portland, OR 97227
Doors Open: 7:30 AM
Program Begins: 9:30 AM
This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For your free ticket, please visit http://or.barackobama.com/portland
Labels: 2008 Presidential Election, barack obama, video
Via BBC:
The word "gay" is now the most frequently used term of abuse in schools, says a report. How did it get to be so prevalent and why do children use homophobic insults to get at each other?
Every generation of schoolchildren has them, the playground put-downs that can leave a pupil's reputation in tatters among their peers. For the current generation, "gay", "bitch" and "slag" are the most frequently used terms of abuse, according to a survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).
They are used by children of all ages, from nursery school upwards. But the worst offenders are secondary school pupils, says the teaching union.
The most popular by far is "gay". Of the teachers interviewed, 83% said they heard it being used regularly and much more than its nearest rivals, bitch (59%) and slag (45%). So how did it achieve this dubious honour?
Labels: homophobic
In an email from the Victory Fund today, the organization who released the tape of OK Rep Sally Kern's amazingly anti-gay comments, had "Sally is Right..." as the subject line.
From their email:
"Gays are infiltrating city councils... They're winning elections!" -- Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern
I hate to say it, but Sally's right.
She makes it sound sort of sinister, but the truth is we ARE fighting to make sure our voices are heard on city councils, in state legislatures and even in Congress.
It's called democracy, Sally, and if people like you can sit in a state legislature and spew your brand of hatred, then we can darn sure try to help more sane, fair and compassionate people grab the seats next to you. Who knows, maybe some of it will rub off.
Labels: sally kern, victory fund
Could it be? The amazing, over-the-top street party I would attend as a teen growing up in the Bay Area might be cancelled forever?
Following two years of violence, the Halloween party in the Castro was cancelled this past year, even though city supervisors had said that it would return this year.
Over at SFist they're reporting a different story.
Read about it over there.
Labels: san francisco
On Saturday, March 29th, the Portland Q Center will feature Our Stories: A Quarter Century of AIDS.
Via the Portland Q Center:
Join us for another in Q Center's ongoing series of roundtable storytelling events featuring in-person testimonials, Q&A, and community discussion. This month we will feature some amazing leaders and activists from Portland's LGBTQ community who have been involved in the fight against AIDS through the years. The work, visibility and efforts of these people have shaped and continue to guide our community's ongoing response to HIV/AIDS.
Come join us for an incredible evening of living history, reconnecting, hearing the stories of Portland’s LGBTQ community and what it has been like for LGBTQ Oregonians through the decades of living with AIDS-and share your own stories as well.
It is important to know where we have come from and to think about where we are going.
Hosted by Q Center, the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest, and Cascade AIDS Project.
In response to Oklahoma's Representative Sally Kern, Ellen responds on her show. It's quite funny and honestly interesting to see the audience reaction to the Representative's bigotry. Then... Ellen calls Rep. Sally Kern.
Labels: video
Tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2pm, Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire will sign the Domestic Partnership expansion bill.
Way to go Washington! Another step toward full equality.
Related posts:
Labels: domestic partnership, washington
That's right. Nearly 900 posts, half a million visitors and plenty of drama and controversy - alas we've turned three years old.
Found a site that is site interesting and who was down at SXSW this week. www.FarewellMrPresident.com.
From their site:
Farewell Mr. President is a mashup—the ultimate multi-platform media project created to allow anyone and everyone to say farewell to President Bush before he leaves office in 2009. Whether you love him, dislike him or have strongly undecided feelings, Farwell Mr. President is your chance to bid adieu to Dubya.
Labels: bush
From their press release:
Logo, a division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks, today announced it is launching a public service announcement in response to the brutal murder of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old Oxnard, California boy who was shot at point blank range February 12th. King was allegedly shot by 14-year-old fellow student Brandon McInerney, who is being charged with a hate crime.
King, who died days after the shooting, had previously revealed to other students that he was gay and had worn makeup and feminine clothing just days before he was shot. The epidemic of hate crimes against the LGBT community continues, as evidenced by the murder of 17-year-old Simmie Williams in Florida just days after the King murder.
The 60-second PSA, which premiered this morning at LOGOonline.com, features community activist, writer and actress Calpernia Addams (Logo's Transamerican Love Story), Andre 3000 (OutKast), R&B artist Ashanti, singer/songwriter Sarah Bareilles, actress Portia de Rossi (Arrested Development, Nip/Tuck), international performer Estelle, singer/actress Janet Jackson, actor T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), R&B artist Little Sister, actor Darryl Stephens (Logo’s Noah’s Arc) and singer/songwriter Taylor Swift.
"One more murder, one more life lost, one more attempt to provoke fear and one more reason hate crimes must end. We hope this PSA will help inspire more people to join the fight against hate crimes," said Brian Graden, President, MTV Networks Music Group Entertainment; and President, Logo.
Logo will make the spot available – as well as a shortened 30-second version – to Logo's sister brands across MTV Networks as well as other networks that wish to air the spot. MTV Networks has a long history of educating about hate crimes including the production and airing of numerous PSAs as well as an event on January 10, 2001, when MTV replaced 18 hours of programming with nothing but the names and stories of hate crime victims.
Labels: hate crimes, video
A team of Canadian researchers led by molecular virologist Stephen Barr has discovered a gene, TRIM22, that prevents the HIV virus from assembling in a cell culture:
Barr said, "When we put this gene in cells, it prevents the assembly of the HIV virus. This means the virus cannot get out of the cells to infect other cells, thereby blocking the spread of the virus... There are always newly emerging drug-resistant strains of HIV so the push has been to develop more natural means of blocking the virus. The discovery of this gene, which is natural in our cells, might provide a different avenue. The gene prevents the assembly of the virus so in the future the idea would be to develop drugs or vaccines that can mimic the effects of this gene. We are currently trying to figure out why this gene does not work in people infected with HIV and if there is a way to turn this gene on in those individuals . We hope that our research will lead to the design of new drugs, or vaccines that can halt the person-to-person transmission of HIV and the spread of the virus in the body, thereby blocking the onset of AIDS."
Link to story.
And sadly they are letting all of Oregon down by attempting to crush the Oregon dream for the minority. These four desperate Oregon Republican lawmakers are trying to repeal Oregon's Domestic Partnership and Anti-Discrimination laws.
Here are their pretty little faces.
Signed on to attempt to repeal Oregon's Anti-Discrimination law:
Oregon Senator Gary George
Oregon State Representative Kim Thatcher
Signed on to repeal Oregon's Domestic Partnership law:
Oregon State Senator Sal Esquivel
Oregon State Senator Fred Girod
Oregon's already decrepit Republican Party who owes over $265,000 in debts including the IRS for back taxes - stoops to another low. With their sad IRS news hitting newspapers within recent weeks - maybe they saw this as a good time to shift the focus on the gays again. Those damn gays.
More details coming soon.
Labels: anti-discrimination, domestic partnership, oregon
For some reason I'm a bit surprised with the results of tonight's primaries. I sort of expected Brack to take these states considering his momentum. Quite exciting though. A true two candidate race.
Here are the latest results:
Texas (Primary) Reporting: 84% | Clinton 51% / Obama 47%
Texas (Caucus) Reporting: 13% | Obama 54% / Clinton 46%
Ohio Reporting: 92% | Clinton 55% / Obama 43%
Rhode Island 98% Reporting: Clinton 58% / Obama 40%
Vermont Reporting: 86% | Obama 60% / Clinton 38%
P.S. Huckabee dropped out. Who knew he was still in?
Labels: 2008 Presidential Election, barack obama, hilary clinton
After already passing the Washington State House 62-32 back in February, the Senate today voted to 29-20 to pass a bill that would add roughly 160 rights, responsibilities and protection to same-sex couples and their families.
Washington's existing Domestic Partnership bill currently consists of about a dozen rights and responsibilities.
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed the previous Domestic Partnership bill (2007) in addition to an Anti-Discrimination bill back in 2006. She has consistently supported pro-equality legislation and has already indicated her support for this legislation - meaning it should be signed very soon.
Congrats Washington!
Labels: domestic partnership, washington
"If you're looking for the straight scoop on gay rights, this is the site for you. With grace and compassion, this relentlessly up-to-date blog examines the gay rights news of the day and looks at how it impacts the real lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans--with minimal fluff, minimal frills, and no apologies." - About.com
"With determined young men and women like the ones of Gay Rights Watch working hard to inform themselves and others, the future of our community looks bright, particularly in their home state of Oregon."
-The Human Rights Campaign
