Summer of Hate

So, most of you have probably heard of the National Organization for Marriage and their crusade to keep marriage between and man and woman sacred... if you haven't check out this link. I assure you, it is quite disgusting.

You may have also heard of their Summer bus tour, which in their own words, is meant to "encourage supporters to stand up for marriage". I am a straight, married mother of one and I will NEVER "stand up for marriage" under NOM's policies and ideology. The "faith based" seminars and Republican backing aside, what they have been doing recently is less promotion of "traditional" marriage values and more promotion of how "disruptive" and "violent" counter protestors can be.

Recently, NOM released this video of marriage equality supporters "intimidating young children" and being unruly...




Jim Morrison once said "Whoever controls the media, controls the mind." Well, I certainly think that is true of the above video. It's clear things were edited and taken out of context to better serve their agenda... but what else is new? Speaking as a new mom, if I felt that people were "intimidating" my family or getting too close to my kids, you know what I would do? I would move and get my kids out of "harm's way".

Here's my response to the above video:



They look pretty peaceful to me....

NOM has also claimed to have had their bus tires slashed by marriage equality supporters... without any proof at all. I wouldn't be surprised if they vandalized their own bus just to propagate more hate towards the gay community.

The HRC calls the bus tour "a sham". And HRC Vice President for Communications & Marketing Fred Sainz said today:

“Let’s add it all up: NOM and its allies are making a last-ditch legal stand in Washington and Maine that they should be specially entitled to hide their political activities, and they’re saying that harassment and intimidation should provide them this cover. At the same time, Brian Brown schedules a series of virtually unattended weekday afternoon events hoping for counter-protests that they can then use as evidence of harassment and intimidation. Why else would NOM execute such half-hearted non-events and then completely subjugate its so-called ‘pro-marriage’ message in favor of devoting its energies almost exclusively to condemning lawful protesters?”

Well said Mr. Sainz, well said indeed. In fact, NOM's public statements on the bus tour have scarcely mentioned the content of the programs or the substance of its anti-LGBT message. Instead, they really do seem to be focusing attention on the decidedly larger counter-protests and calling their right to stand in opposition, "harassment".

And one other point... if NOM views itself as this benevolent organization that would never promote violence or intimidation to get their point across.... what is this?

I would think that proposing lynching as a way of "dealing with" this issue could be considered... oh , I don't know... a hate crime in the making?!

Shameful.

-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page at www.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"

TELL Congress What YOU Think About DADT!!

It's been a big week for this issue.

On May 20th Servicemembers United uncovered a staggering 630 new DADT discharges, which had previously been discounted Department of Defense’s official “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” discharge numbers! They obtained the documents through a Freedom of Information Act request. These newly released numbers now bring the 17-year total number of discharges to at least 14,055!!! That's 14,055 capable US soldiers who won't be standing up for a country they love because of who they love!

Also this week, Nancy Pelosi made quite a powerful statement during an interview with The Hill.

"I don’t have any doubt that ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ will be a memory by the end of this year"

Well, for those of you who haven't heard, Congress is scheduled to vote THIS WEEK on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". If we're going to win this, we need as many Illinois residents as possible to speak out against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" within the next 24 hours.

Click the link below to find out what you can do to help take a stand for human rights.

REPEAL DADT NOW

This could really happen, gang!! But it's up to all of us to make this change possible. Gandhi once said "You must be the change you wish to see in the world"... let's be a part of the change we all want to see! Let's end this ridiculous policy!



-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -


"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page at www.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"

Every Heart Matters

Our friends at Foundation Content, who cut the trailer for FOOW, created a PSA for F.A.I.R. in support of abolishing Prop 8 called "Every Heart Matters". (In case you haven't heard of them, F.A.I.R. is a group that was formed to fight for marriage equality in California.)

Well, their PSA has been selected as one of three finalists by the E-Hero Awards selection committee for the 2010 Human Rights Campaign Gala in Los Angeles! The Gala is being held on March 13th at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel and will feature U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. Portia DeRossi will be presented with the HRC Visibility Award and Kathy Griffin will be receiving the Ally for Equality Award.

The PSA uses the Shepard Fairey "Love Unites" ) poster image for which they secured the rights to use (FYI - he also designed the Obama HOPE poster). Foundation's crew traveled to San Francisco and Los Angeles to work with real families and couples to shoot candid moments of them in their homes or playing with their children. The footage was edited by Tom Pastorelle and cut together with graphic images and additional photography shot on the Foundation stage.

Foundation's L.A. Producer, Stacy Paris says, "We are so proud to have been given the opportunity to contribute to the cause and thrilled that our piece has been selected for this prestigious event."

Marriage Equality is not just a California issue, but an issue the whole country is facing. And every heart SHOULD matter.

VOTE FOR THEIR PSA, "EVERY HEART MATTERS" HERE: http://hrcladinner.com/ehero/index.php

-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page atwww.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"

Skating on Thin Ice

Last week two French Canadian broadcasters for the Winter Olympics criticized American figure skater Johnny Weir, saying his costumes and "body language" set a "bad example" for male skaters. See what they said below:

"This may not be politically correct, but do you think he lost points due to his costume and his body language?" "They'll think all the boys who skate will end up like him. It sets a bad example." "We should make him pass a gender test at this point.”

The announcers then compared Weir to female South African runner Caster Semenya, who was forced to take a gender test after there was speculation that she might be a man. One of them even suggested that Weir should be competing against women. In fact, all across the world, it seems Johnny Weir has been hit hard with a myriad of homophobic slurs and derogatory statements! Dallas radio personality for KRLD-FM, Gregg Henson referred to Weir as a "queen" not too long ago, also saying "It's your choice to live that lifestyle"! Australia's Channel Nine is also under fire for homophobic remarks made while broadcasting - even going as far as to say "They don't leave anything in the locker room with these blokes, do they?" and referring to some of his costumes as "a bit of Brokeback"!

As you can imagine, these comments have made their way around the internet and a lot of people are very offended and calling these people homophobic and sexist. A Quebec gay rights group promptly filed a complaint against the two French Canadian broadcasters, who later issued an apology.

Guess who is the one person keeping their cool in the midst of all this hate?

Johnny Weir.

Weir, who was interviewed in lieu of the commentators' jabs, was poised and positive as he held his head high and said, very plainly:

“I want that to be public because I don’t want more boys and girls to have have their whole lives questioned for no reason other than to make people watch a program. I hope more kids can grow up the same way I did, and can feel the freedom to be themselves and express themselves. There’s a whole generation of people who aren’t defined by their sex or their race, or who they sleep with. You know what your values are and what you believe in, and I think that’s the most important thing."

Check out the rest of the interview below:

Well played, Johnny.

And to the two broadcaster bigots, I have one thing to say; let’s see YOU guys do a triple axle followed by a triple lutz... and then maybe we’ll listen to your homophobic slurs.

-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page atwww.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"

Because What We Really Need is Another Beauty Queen Bigot....

Well, yet another beauty pageant contestant is under fire after speaking out against gay marriage... and let me tell you, the self-titled "Miss Beverly Hills" AKA Lauren Ashley, makes Carrie Prejean look...oh, I don't know...like LESS of a bigot...

Anyway, if you've not heard- the Miss California contender blasted equal rights marriage stating:

"In Leviticus it says if man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them. The Bible is pretty black and white."

Suffice it to say, people are outraged... particularly the very tolerant people of Beverly Hills! The city released this statement yesterday in response to the beauty queen's slam:

"The City of Beverly Hills today denounced statements made by Miss California USA contestant Lauren Ashley, the self-described Miss Beverly Hills. Ms. Ashley resides in Pasadena and is currently a contestant for the Miss California USA title. She does not represent Beverly Hills in any capacity," the city said in a news release issued Wednesday. "The City of Beverly Hills strongly condemns Ms. Ashley's recent statements and has contacted pageant officials to determine ways to formally prevent any beauty contestants claiming the title of Miss Beverly Hills in the future."

Let me just say as someone who spent a good portion of my childhood in the city of Beverly Hills and as a Los Angeles native, this is the LAST person on Earth I want representing the state of California. And I am not at all surprised that a city which houses the Museum of Tolerance is deeply upset by Ashley's horrific insinuation that gay people should be killed. I'd like to remind Miss Ashley that during WWII homosexuals were in fact put to death alongside 5 million Jews and whoever else Hitler thought was an "abomination".

Ashley went on to tell her friends at Fox News "If he (God) says that having sex with someone of your same gender is going to bring death upon you, that's a pretty stern warning, and he knows more than we do about life." I pose this question to the beauty queen, "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LIFE?" More to the point- what do YOU know about living as a gay man or woman? What do YOU know about being subjected to hate crimes and verbal abuse? What do YOU know about feeling so isolated that you cannot even continue attending your church because you know you'll never be accepted?

Another question Ashley's disgusting comments brings to light is this: Is the Bible as "black and white" as she seems to think it is? Well, Dan Savage took to his blog to tackle this one!

Here is an excerpt :

The same God that allegedly scribbled out that stern warning for the gays—a God who wishes us only the best!—also condemned to death all young women who aren't virgins on their wedding nights. So a follow-up question for Miss Beverly Hills: Are you a virgin? If not, should you be put to death? And a former Miss California—Carrie Prejean—isn't a virgin. Should she be put to death? Would you like to cast the first stone?

Well done, Dan! Couldn't have said it better myself! Although I would like to know if Miss Ashley ever eats shrimp, minds polygamy, shakes a man's hand when on her period or is planning on stoning Tiger Woods anytime soon. (Look it up, Miss Ashley)

In closing this blog today, I'd like to make it perfectly plain that while I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, I also believe that opinions which ostracize a single group of people living within a community can make freedom of speech a dangerous right. Hate is a powerful thing and it should be censored before it spreads. I don't think I have to remind those of you reading this blog of the consequences when it does.

I'd also like to say that the only Miss Beverly Hills I will support is this one : http://www.freewebs.com/missbeverleyhills/



-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page at www.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"