No Sarah, It Isn't A Choice

Sarah Palin is known as a right-wing ideologue with very narrow-minded views about those that differ from her in the eyes of (her) lord. In the on-going interview with Katie Couric, Palin tried to temper people's perception of her hateful views by using the now cliché "Some of my best friends are gay." Actually it is just one friend, but when you see what she said, there is a lot more to it than just her single, solitary friend.

From The NY Daily News:

Sarah Palin, the socially conservative GOP veep nominee, is not opposed to gay people. Heck, some of her best friends are gay.

"I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships," Palin told CBS' Katie Couric Tuesday night when asked about churches, including Palin's, that promote conferences to convert gays into heterosexuals through prayer.

"I have one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years who happens to be gay and I love her dearly," Palin said, without mentioning names. "And she is not my gay friend, she is one of my best friends who happens to have made a choice that isn't a choice that I have made."

Your friend made a choice? Was it a choice of hers to tell you that she was gay? It certainly isn't what you insinuate, because being gay isn't a choice Sarah. Maybe you are gay but haven't made the choice to say it outloud, because that would be the only way for you and your friend to make different choices on this particular issue.

Oh and what would a story about Sarah Palin be without a lie. Here she clearly admits she thinks that it is a choice to be gay, but when asked about the issue by Charlie Gibson just a few days ago, you feigned ignorance on the matter.

What we do know about Sarah Palin and gay rights is much more straight-forward (no pun intended). Palin is a member of a church that promotes conversion for gays to become straight (and for Jews to be converted to Christianity too). In the legislative arena, she was in favor of making sure that same-sex couples were denied the rights afforded to heterosexuals.

I know Sarah Palin is full of shit when it comes to GLBT issues, but I have to wonder, who is this friend of hers and how can you stand a woman that wants to strip your rights as an American and clearly sees you as inferior to herself?

Karma Visits Westboro Baptist Church

I am a believer in karma, meaning that good things come eventually to good people and vice-versa. Well there are some putrid excuses for life on our planet and one group in particular is the Westboro Baptist Church. If you do not know already, their mission in life is to go around to military funerals and protest, chanting that those that died fell because America "allows" homosexuality. So they hold signs that say "God Hates Fags," nice, eh? Well I hate to see tragedy strike anyone, but karma made me chuckle a bit when I saw this.

From PageOneQ:

Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, known for its vocal condemnations of homosexuality, website GodHatesFags.com and picketing of gay pride parades and funerals, has sustained thousands of dollars in damage after a fire early Saturday morning. Impromptu protest followed as firefighters carried out their response.

"None of what they do is going to stop us from delivering our message," said church counsel Shirley Phelps-Roper of any "cowards" that would have set the fire on purpose, also saying that it was the "most aggressive act" towards the Phelps family to date.

"There is evidence that hatred of our religion was the motivation, in part at least," states a "Civil Rights Hate Crime Complaint" written by pastor Fred Phelps Sr. to Attorney General Michael Mukasey. In a recently released YouTube presentation, Phelps also blames law enforcement, judges, and the "filthy, fag-riddled military" for what he considers an assault on his First Amendment rights.

Ah, the hypocrisy of it all. First amendment right, meh! As long as they get their rights and those they disagree with are denied theirs, Fred Phelps is a happy, hate-loving man. Then the story ends with a neighborly dispute over who's land is who's. One side claims the other burnt the church on purpose and in the end the environment loses with an additional few pounds of carbon in the atmosphere. Unfortunately though, this fire will not stop the hate pouring out from this particular loony bin.

On Gays In The Military: Larry Craig Still A Hypocrite In Denial

The Democratic majority in Congress, although pitifully weak in many ways is trying to do at least a few positive things. Take for example, the hearings that can rid our armed forces of the ridiculous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that demands outed troops be discharged. Thankfully the homophobes on Capitol Hill are becoming a small minority much like the general consensus around the country, where three out of four Americans believe we need to ditch the anti-gay policy. Though the haters are still there, including one who is still in serious denial about himself.

From ThinkProgress:

Today, the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel is holding the first congressional hearings on the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 15 years. To mark the occasion, the conservative news outlet CNSNews.com asked some members of Congress if they still support the discriminatory program. Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), who was busted last year for allegedly trying to pick up another male in an airport bathroom, said that he believes “we ought to sustain it“:

Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) told CNSNews.com, “Current policy has served us well. I think we ought to sustain it. I see no evidence that it should be repealed.”

Larry Craig wouldn't know if something served him well if it....eh, nevermind that. It really is sad that he hates himself and his sexuality that much that he has to take it out on thousands of our soldiers that do crucial work only to be discharged to the detriment of their fellow soldiers in the war zone. If people want to serve in the military, they should be able to do it while preserving their freedom of sexuality.

McCain Doesn't Believe Gays Can Be Parents

John McCain has a lot of nerve to espouse his extremist opinions on gays and their ability to be parents. Despite leaving his wife and three children to be with another woman (seeing her for nearly a year before getting divorced) he thinks he can claim the moral high ground because two people want to love each other that just so happen to be of the same sex. This bond, the creation of a loving home is what is essential to raise a child, not the sex of the parent. John McCain, in the most blunt of terms, disagrees and wants to deny this right to the GLBT community.

From ThinkProgress:

In a revealing interview with the New York Times, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) — an adoptive parent himself — declared that he opposed the right of gay couples to adopt children, even if it meant leaving children in orphanages:

Q: President Bush believes that gay couples should not be permitted to adopt children. Do you agree with that?

Mr. McCain: I think that we’ve proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no I don’t believe in gay adoption.

Q: Even if the alternative is the kid staying in an orphanage, or not having parents.

Mr. McCain: I encourage adoption and I encourage the opportunities for people to adopt children I encourage the process being less complicated so they can adopt as quickly as possible. And Cindy and I are proud of being adoptive parents.

Q: But your concern would be that the couple should a traditional couple —

Mr. McCain: Yes.

As ThinkProgress also notes, the ban would take 65,000 children out of their adopted homes and cost the government $87 to $130 million in order to take care of those kids. Not only is McCain's view heartless (and shameful considering he's an adoptive father), it makes bad economic sense as well. Jeez, I guess this would be compassionate conservatism at it's best...er, worst.

McCain On The Issues: GLBT Style

The general election is still five months away, but many Americans do not know his positions on many issues other than that he is 'pro-maverick,' whatever that means. Thankfully we have groups like HRC to highlight just what he stands for:

The Question The Republicans Will Never Answer

Okay, there are quite a few of them out there, but none as personal as this couple posted on YouTube. Their son was murdered by people with hate for those of who's sexual orientation happens to different from them. See, for the Republicans to answer a question dealing with the effects of the Christian Right's assault on gay people, it would be to detriment of their campaign to appeal to the base.

How would you answer this?

The video below has been submitted for the Republican CNN YouTube debates by a couple whose son was killed because he was gay.

We're Lynn and Pat Mulder of Auburndale, Florida. Our son Ryan was murdered in March because he was gay. We would like to ask the presidential candidates how will they work to promote the value of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families.

Read more about the Mulder's here.

What a shame to see this evidence of hate in our country. Why people commit these crimes is both explainable (social science stuff) yet unfathomable at the same time. Being different from each other is one of the greatest attributes of our nation. Yet it still makes people act out in terrible ways.

So will Rudy, Huckabee, Thompson or Romney take this question? Nah, I doubt it. We wouldn't want to show the world how bigoted they are.

Craig Votes For Hate Crimes

Believing Larry Craig's assertion that he isn't gay is like talking to a cow that says she doesn't have udders. He can say whatever he wants, but you know, actions speak louder than words. In his delusional state he still clings to hating himself and other homosexuals that deserve equal rights and legislation that protects every minority from hate crimes. Today he proved that self-hate by voting against the Matthew Shepard Act.

From Pride Depot:

In a 60-39 vote the Senate today passed the Matthew Shepard Act as part of the appropriations bill to fund the Iraq war. Bush has threatened to veto the bill but now that it is tied to funding the Iraq war that remains to be seen. Sen. Lindsey Graham says, “The president is not going to agree to this social legislation on the defense authorization bill."

As predicted our toe-tapping senator carried a huge bucket load for the GOP and voted against the measure. Idaho Senator Larry Craig, who is using the ACLU to defend his right to free speech to withdraw is guilty plea for soliciting anonymous sex from an undercover police officer in a Minneapolis airport last June, apparently feels that he can say and do what he wants but LGBT people, according to Craig, apparently do not deserve to be protected by law from violence. This guy just gets slimier by the day.

Craig has been slime since the beginning. When a Republican makes a stand against equal rights and protection from violent forms of bigotry, they are too thick headed to step out of the hole they are digging for themselves. Bush may veto it anyway, but sometimes, no, you must vote for your principles all of the time.

Instead, Craig, Bush and thirty-eight other Republicans are going to vote for fear, hate and bigotry. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

Craig Keeps Chugging

You would have thought that a guilty plea, condemnation from fellow Republican Senators and a public intention to resign from government would have sealed the fate of Larry Craig. One of the most virulent anti-gay crusaders was caught being gay (not a crime of course) and showed yet another example of hypocrisy in Republica-land. He obviously hated himself so much, he had to bash people who's sexual orientation was different from most Americans, but the same as his. Yet to this day, he claims he is not gay....though he is less believable than a muppet. Well now he is reconsidering his resignation, and the story goes on.

From RawStory:

Sen. Larry Craig, who originally resigned from his Senate post after his arrest in a Minnesota airport sex sting, is reconsidering his decision, his spokesman said Tuesday evening.

"We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight - and stay in the Senate," said Sidney Smith, Craig's Idaho spokesman.

Dan Whiting, Craig's spokesmen in Washington, said that the senator was expected to spend the week in Idaho as the Senate votes on spending bills for veterans and other programs this week. Whiting "did not rule out Craig's returning to Washington before the end of the month."

I know there is a large horse community in Idaho...you would think a life-long resident would know when to stop beating one and give up.

Calling Out Mitt Romney: Its Just Too Easy

This one is done "swift-scout" style, ah too easy, just too easy:

Rachel Maddow Discusses The "Gay" Debate

A Cold And Callous Church

Cecil Howard Sinclair was a kind and generous soul who died too young. At 46, he was an navy vet who passed away from an infection while waiting for a heart transplant. The High Point Church in Arlington, TX offered to provide a funeral service for him because his brother worked as a janitor there, a very nice gesture for the bereaved family. But the service was not to happen because the Church canceled on them because the obituary mentioned he was survived by his life partner, basically being gay does not allow for compassion from High Point and Rev. Gary Simons.

From The Huffington Post:

Simons said the decision had nothing to do with the obituary. He said the church offered to pay for another site for the service, made the video and provided food for more than 100 relatives and friends.

"Even though we could not condone that lifestyle, we went above and beyond for the family through many acts of love and kindness," Simons said.

Wright (Sinclair's sister) called the church's claim about the pictures "a bold-faced lie." She said she provided numerous family pictures of Sinclair, including some with his partner, but said none showed men kissing or hugging.

Not only did Simons and the church lie to Sinclair's family, their hatred towards people who's sexual orientation is different than them stretches into the afterlife. Now Simons claims he had no idea that Sinclair was gay, even though it was made known almost immediately by the family. The church ended up paying for a service at another location, but not under their name. Wright called it a slap in the face, it seems like they also punched them in the gut, spit on them and began kicking when the family had fallen.

The church claims that they did not want to be seen condoning homosexuality, a sin in their eyes. It is more like they do not allow for compassion for another human being, just because of a different lifestyle that harms no one.

Richardson Came Out Blue, But Stumbling Over Rainbows

This past Saturday I got Governor Richardson to take a picture with me at YearlyKos with my thermal camera on this MacBook. We both came out blue which was nice to see. Unfortunately he had some problems with the the color spectrum yesterday when some of the candidates got together to talk about GLBT rights in America.

From RawStory:

Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson declared homosexuality a "choice" after a question from lesbian signer Melissa Etheridge during the Democrats' "gay debate" Thursday night.

Etheridge, one of the panelists, asked the governor whether he considered homosexuality "innate" or a choice.

“It’s a choice,” he replied.

"Suggesting Richardson might have misunderstood," remarked the gay paper Southern Voice, Etheridge "then rephrased her question to ask him whether he thinks 'a homosexual is born that way, or do you think that around seventh grade, we go, 'Ooo, I want to be gay.'"

Richardson stumbled.

“It’s, it’s, it, you know, I don’t see this as an issue of science or definition,” he said. “I see gays and lesbians as people, as a matter of human decency. I see it as a matter of love and companionship and people loving each other. You know, I don’t like to categorize people. I don’t like to answer definitions like that, that you know perhaps are grounded in science or something else that I don’t understand.”

The comeback was ok, human decency should be applied to all humans, regardless of our differences. But Governor, the science is in, our sexual orientation is not a choice. The only choice is to either express who you are or hide in a society that has so much discrimination against people being different, especially when it comes to this issue.

Richardson's further 'clarifications' didn't do much in the way of damage control. He couldn't just come out and say that sexual orientation isn't a choice. Why he refuses to do so is beyond me.

Mary Cheney Is Worth Seven Cents

Of course you can't put a price on a human being (even Dick Cheney's flesh and blood) but if they want to sell their memoirs you need to negotiate an amount. Well Mary Cheney's autobiography is only selling for a meager $0.07 on Amazon for a used copy. Obviously no one gives a damn about the controversial figure.

From Michael Petrelis:

It has been about a year since Mary Cheney, lesbian daughter of Vice President Cheney and his wife Lynne, and a tedious apologist for the Bush administration, published a boring book.

She was rumored to have received a large advance from the publisher, close to $1 million, but Cheney's book never found an audience either among the GOP base or in gay circles. Her memoir never hit any best-seller lists and it will probably be best remembered as her shameless grab for a fat check.

Unfortunately, many trees were felled for Cheney's book and you can now purchased the damn thing for a mere $0.07. That's seven cents, folks, for a used copy. A new one could set you back $1.89. Heck, it's going to cost more for shipping charges than the price of the book.

So a new copy will set you back for about the price of a medium coffee at Starbucks, my apologies. I agree with Michael, that book was a waste of paper and time, not to mention the huge hit her publisher took on her six figure advance. Can we finally forget the hunter's daughter now?