God and Gays. with update

I went to the gay rights rally in Los Angeles. I will post and write about it soon.
(preview: proving the blindness of so many Obama Pods - The GOP Governor of this state, a brave, no B.S. supporter of No on 8 was attacked while Obama, clearly a coward on Gay Rights got the usual "real change has come to D.C." treatment for some speakers. And "Yes We Can" has now officially Jumped The Shark.)

For now I want to the address the issue of Gay Marriage rights.

I don't know or care if marriage is a"fundamental right". The Left has polluted the word "rights" beyond recognition. Sadly, what it means now is "let me do whatever I want".

We should be saying same sex couples must be granted the responsibility of marriage. The scare tactics by those opposed to Gay marriage are based in fear. This is obvious. Even the cultural resistance is fear based. Some of which was based in reality. No more. Agrarian societies needed land inheritance to be clear. It was a matter of survival for men to procreate and know their kids were their kids. Cultural bias toward heterosexuality was necessary - and codified. Too much spilling of seed with the boys for love or fun wasn't going the grow the next generation's dinners. This FEAR was so intense that it was codified to the degree that GOD HIMSELF(allegedly) condemned adultery and homosexuality.

I am a Christian and believe in a God that knows ME personally.
(Unlike many on the Left-which does not bother me one bit. Nor does it harm a free and open society in the least. In fact, masses believing in a God who is personal may be harmful to society on the whole. But an impersonal God and/or atheism are not in my make up.)

This God I worship is in many ways a product of Abraham. Still, what was perceived as a needed set of rules 3000 years ago is no longer humane, decent, realistic, economically wise, necessary, or Godly. Jesus knew this 2000 years ago. He talked about EVERYTHING for 3 years - but somehow never got around to homosexuality. Did the Son of God forget? And why aren't we fighting about divorce? Jesus was clear as a bell about divorce. It is not allowed. Period.

The bible "literalists" conveniently forget Jesus's divorce decree. Let's be clear: THERE ARE NO BIBLE LITERALISTS. Fundamentalists pick and choose from the Bible. This, too, is fear. Gay rights advocates are not up against the a few passages in the Bible as much as they are up against a thousand little terrors that rattle the world view of bigoted straights.

These fears are idiotic. Legally codifying gays on the same level as straights harms nothing except the fantasies of some constipated heterosexuals. No one is demanding that any particular religion change. The demands are being made on the STATE. The abolitionists, women's rights movement and civil rights movement made them as well. Dr. King did not force Mormons to change their stance on admitting blacks - which they finally did in the 70s. He demanded that 12% of the population be treated as equals by the state.

If religious fundamentalists are uncomfortable with gays - they are free to carry on being uncomfortable. But making 10% of the population second class citizens is not a "right".

Don't like blacks in leadership positions?
Don't like women rising to the top?

Tough shit.

You live in the wrong country. Iran might be better suited to your predilections.

There is a final answer when it comes to God. God is or God isn't. I am certain God is. I hold that faith deeply, but being human, imperfectly. There is NOT, however, a final answer yet for human beings. Our approach toward God evolves. 2000 years ago Jesus was not worshipping the same God Adam was 5000 years ago. Don't believe it? Read Leviticus and then read Mark.

As for all the strawmen the fundamentalists prop up - I am past being offended. When an idiot says Prop 8 going down would force schools to teach "gay marriage" (huh?) or perpetuate the myth of some devious gay "agenda" or imply that gayness is an illness or perversion all I can see is the liar's terror.

We've been here before. Blacks and Mexicans are lazy. Women are too emotional. Asians are sneaky. The fear mongers spews the crap every time we strive to become a more perfect union and -so far - they always lose.

The final law in the USA is not the Bible. (Don't like THAT truth? Tough shit. Move.) It is the founder's documents we are so blessed to have. Documents the writers knew were not finished - because they knew we were not finished.

Allowing gays a place at the table - with all the same rights and responsibilities is - and this I am sure of - morally and ethically right.


As always - please feel free to comment.

Easy Targets - Gays avoid confronting the black church

Currently - a group is protesting/ picketing at West Hollywood eatery called El Coyote whose manager gave 100 dollars to the Yes on 8 campaign. El Coyote is a watering hole/mediocre Mexican place - when I worked on film crews we would go there and make jokes about which neighborhood cats were missing to make the meal we were eating.

But the drinks are cheap and the place has lasted in a town that is unkind to restaurant longevity.

El Coyote is a good place to protest as it is in a nice part of town and convenient. We do want our protests to be convenient, after all....

Gay protesters are also going after the Mormon church - not exactly difficult in Los Angeles. Mormons are pretty kickable - what with the magic underwear and outer space based theology. Frankly, the Mormons deserve it. And I have no issue with masses of normal people picketing that religion. Focusing on a restaurant where one manager gave 100 dollars is just bad form, potentially ugly and a P.R. coup for the assholes with the Right Wing Christian Political Agenda.

I do not get it. They are making a victim out a ding bat restaurant manager. Spread the word that people should boycott the place and then let it go. Aren't there bigger fish to fry?

Where are gay rights activists NOT protesting?

Black Churches. The fact is, gays aren't picketing black churches because that would be hard and scary.
Picketing Black Churches would address a REAL problem in the gay rights movement.

Mormons BAD for supporting prop 8.
White Protestants BAD for supporting Prop 8.
Republicans BAD. (except Arnold)
McCain BAD for supporting prop 8
Palin EVIL for supporting prop 8. Hang her in effigy!!
Obama ___ for opposing gay marriage rights... (wait! Obama is against Gay marriage???who knew???)
Black Protestants: OFF THE HOOK FOR SUPPORTING PROP 8 by a 70-30% margin.

Why?

Guess we'll keep attacking some easy targets instead.

I am off to a sign making party for the prop 8 protest at L.A. City hall on Saturday - they conveniently planned it around my USC football schedule...(however, let's be clear, if someone schedules civil disobedience training at the same time as my beloved Trojans play - I'll skip the game... it is time to MOVE ON to non-violent civil disobedience in order to gain equal rights for Gay Americans.)

Here's a music pick for the night: I Will Wait For You.
Some days I just can't The Umbrellas of Cherbourg out of my head. A near perfect film.

Lunch Break - should Sundance move? Help! We need some Shakespeare!

Yikes! Ya gotta do what ya gotta do - and today I am referencing, in a good light, Obama whore John Avarosis. He is right on gay rights. In a discussion with a friend earlier today the Sundance Film Festival's stance toward Utah came up. I not only think Sundance should be boycotted this year - I think Sundance should MOVE the festival this year. The idea that an industry driven by and with populated with hugely talented gay people -should show up to the fortnight of partying and movie shopping in Utah is disgusting. Sundance needs to move this year. It needs 8 movie screens in reasonable proximity. And a place to hold press conferences, parties, and photo shoots, and hotels - that'll cover the 2 weeks. There is NO reason the festival cannot be in Los Angeles this year. None.
Sundance must move.

Should the Sundance Film Festival be held in Utah this year.
	No. Move it. A huge portion of cash used to pass discrimination against gays in CA came from Utah
	Yes. But it should be boycotted.
	Sundance? What is Sundance?
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Today's Shakespeare - The Rude Mechanicals play with the play in Midsummer, performed by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

If this was an argument between blacks and hispanics...

Some Obama Pod emailed me yesterday regarding my link to the Sacramento Bee article about Prop 8 and the black vote. He/She said I was "telling lies to stoke racism."

I just want to state for the record I am telling the truth to stoke racism, dammit!

being sarcastic... relax...

Actually I linked the article to make the point that:

A. I am not the only person seeing a 70% "yes" vote on 8 from AAs (which is 28% higher than any other ethnic group.) as a disheartening reality for Gay people.
B. To make the point that hiding from the truth - however uncomfortable - is unworthy of liberals, and dangerous in the public sphere. This is, in fact, the focus of this blog all year.
If this was an argument between blacks and hispanics in Watts all sorts of do gooders would have moved to set up commissions and outreach programs to address it.
But, somehow, bigotry against gays from one ethnic group is off limits for discussion, since gays don't really matter and blacks must retain their ultimate victim title in Left wing circles. This crap is promoted by rich white "intellectuals" and black "leaders" (Sharpton, Jackson) AA's first place victim status must be renewed forever regardless of the progress of black Americans and the attitude changes of white Americans - and most damaging - regardless of the harm it does to black youth. Don't think the murder rate in south central has anything to do with having victimhood forever reinforced and encouraged? You are wrong.

Gays who have swallowed this nonsense whole are now blaming the Mormons - they are a safe scapegoat since they are overwhelmingly white and seen as overwhelmingly odd...though Mormons comprise a tiny portion of California's population they did supply a lot of cash to Yes on 8. Still, in this case, blaming the money and not the voters is like cops arriving at a crime in progress and arresting the gun and not the criminal. No on 8 had plenty of cash. They clearly did not understand the attitudes of one large voting block.

At any rate, here's another piece on this issue. This one is from the Miami Herald.
When, for instance, they use an obscure passage from the Bible to claim God has ordained the mistreatment of gays, don't they hear an echo of white people using that Bible to claim God ordained the mistreatment of blacks?

notes on the gay/black divide, thoughts on biology/choice, and pics from a no on 8 protest

Dr. King, we have a problem. I REPEAT AGAIN: we cannot flinch from the gay/black fissure.

We've got to pray for grace. (Yes, I have been - if you must know.) But we can't shove it under the carpet.

A note on something that bothers me about this fight: A person in the piece linked above says:
"I was born black. I can't change that," said Culver City resident Bilson Davis, 57, who voted for Proposition 8. "They weren't born gay; they chose it," he added, reflecting a commonly held belief that many researchers dispute.

Thinking out of the box a weeeeee, little, tiny bit- regarding this choice/biology argument:

1. It is important and I am glad it is being researched. Homosexual behaviour among some members of a species is apparently quite normal in most vertebrates. Good for the giraffes!

2. It does not matter. So what if one "chooses" it? Why can't one choose "it"? There is nothing wrong with "it". There is subtle homophobia at play when gay rights advocates yell too hard about orientation and lack of choice. I have no doubt that some people are hardwired gay and some straight - but that is beside most of the point. Is there something less worthy about an adult who freely CHOOSES a same sex partner, for whatever reason, than there is with a gay man or lesbian hardwired for homosexuality?

Nope. People are fascinating and complicated. Thanks be to God - and/or Darwin!

The subtext is "Well, of course, I'd be heterosexual - if I could." The sub subtext of that being "straight is normal, therefore better. I am not normal, therefore worse." When if fact being gay or straight or bi - whether chosen freely or not - are all apparently very normal expressions of sexuality.

Some Photos, mostly from a large rally in Los Angeles last night, sent in by a reader.

Finally: The President-elect needs to speak up on this now.

Gay of the Day - Jeff Key

Ah - here is the second Gay of the Day I actually know! Jeff Key. And the third I've actually met! Am I cool or what?!!! (You have to guess who the other 2 are. One hint: I have never met Alexander the Great.)

Onward:

Jeff Key is an Iraq War Vet who married his partner 2 years ago - before it was legal. (I might add - it was the most beautiful wedding I've ever seen.) Jeff signed up, went to Iraq and served with distinction and yet he came back to discrimination and bigotry because of his sexual orientation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we've been here before. 1945. Blacks fought and died in Europe and the Pacific. Blacks came home to second class status, hatred and discrimination.

Here is Jeff Key, U.S.M.C.'s simple, direct, plea for people to do what is right and Vote No on 8.



Previous Gays of the Day:

Kate Hutton
John Amaechi
Martina Navratilova
Richard the Lionhearted
Alexander the Great
Lily Tomlin.
Bessie Smith
Daniel Tammet
Marlene Dietrich
Ellen Degeneres
Chad Allen
James Dean

Gays of the Day - James Dean and Kate Hutton

No one Prop 8! Visit the site here to see what you a can do.

Two today because I got distracted yesterday and did not post a GOTD.

Gay today: James Dean
Here is the Rebel Without a Cause scene at Griffith Observatory - one of my favorite places in town.


Keeping with the So Cal theme:

Lesbian today: Kate Hutton
Ms. Hutton is a Cal Tech Scientist who, along with Lucy Jones, calms all our nerves in Southern California after an earthquake. If the earth shakes in LA Kate Hutton's presence and professionalism on television ALWAYS makes things better.
This lady does not deserve full marriage rights? The yes on 8 folks are bigots, pure and simple. No better than those who insisted blacks go to the back of the bus.


Previous Gays of the Day:

John Amaechi
Martina Navratilova
Richard the Lionhearted
Alexander the Great
Lily Tomlin.
Bessie Smith
Daniel Tammet
Marlene Dietrich
Chad Allen

Falling in love again, gay of the day, No on Prop 8

The reason I am doing the Gay of the Day is to make the simple point that Gay folks are an essential part of our lives and always have been. Not allowing them to legally codify their relationships just like straight couples is bigotry.

Actually, given the appalling record of failure, violence and child abuse among heterosexual couples - the best solution might be to ban all marriage for 30 years and see what happens.
If you live in California vote no on prop 8.

The Gay of the Day!!! Actually Bisexual of the day...Marlene Dietrich.

The U.S. Government awarded Marlene Dietrich the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her war work. Dietrich has been quoted as saying this was the honor of which she was most proud in her life. She was also made a chevalier (later commandeur) of the Legion d'honneur by the French government.

Previous Gays of the Day:
Richard the Lionhearted
Alexander the Great
Lily Tomlin.
Bessie Smith
Daniel Tammet

Good morning! Here is your "gay of the day"

If you are in Cali remember to vote no on Prop 8. Here be your interesting gay of the day: Bessie Smith.





Previous Gays of the Day:

Richard the Lionhearted
Alexander the Great
Lily Tomlin.

check 'em out.