Earlier, last week a lesbian couple in North Carolina were ushered out of a public mall when they were chastised for public displays of affection! Now- let's get one thing straight- it's not as if they were snogging each other senseless like half the teenagers I see everyday outside of the high school. They were "embracing" and "kissed each other on the cheek" and were asked to leave by a security guard who admitted that the circumstances would be different if the pair had been a heterosexual couple.
Well, Caitlin Breedlove, (one of the women in this duo and a co-director of the social justice group Southerners on New Ground, I might add) planned a protest this past Sunday at the shopping mall. The owner of the mall issued a formal apology to the women and released this very positive statement, which I personally hope becomes a standard which all public shopping centers across the country will strive to achieve:
We apologized that the women were offended, and we affirmed that Cameron Village and York Properties have no tolerance for discrimination of any kind and believe all people deserve the right to be treated fairly in their work, homes and daily lives.
I must say, I was surprised and delighted to see the owner take this so seriously. It made my day, actually. Just as I was happy to see Target issue their apology to the gay community, I am happy to see people taking responsibility for the intolerance that is perpetuated across the country, and actively taking a stand against it. Good work, Cameron Village Mall and good going on the community out there in N.C. - you made a difference.
-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"
You may have heard of the controversial and excessively popular New Birth Missionary Baptist Church which is run by Bishop Eddie Long... but if you haven't, allow me to fill you in on their "mission". The suburban Atlanta church is notoriously anti gay and boasts an "ex-gay" ministry. Their Bishop is also notoriously homophobic and a major star in the Evangelical world. In fact, Long's church is one of the largest in the country.
Well...Bishop Eddie Long has been slapped with two allegations that he used his spiritual position to coerce two different men into sexual relations with him. Is it bad to say I'm not at all surprised? Long, a married man, preaches constantly about the sanctity of the union between a man and a woman and has perpetuated more hate against the gay community than can be covered in one single blog post. He may have to eat his words now...
Anthony Flaag and Maurice Robinson have stepped forward to expose Long for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. Both young men said Long "seduced" them with money, expensive gifts and even college tuition in one case in exchange for sexual favors.
Now.... I could care less what Long's true sexual preference is, but what disappoints me about this story is the fact that the massive counterattack has already begun. If he is in fact gay, why not use the fact that he also has his faith and a huge following to promote awareness and acceptance of homosexuality? Why deny who you are?
-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 marriage 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"
Today, the Senate will vote on whether or not to debate the issue of "don't ask, don't tell". Moderate GOP Sen Susan Collins of Maine just said she would not lend her vote later today if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid does not allow a full and open debate on amendments, including one she would oppose that would strike language from the bill that repeals the military's policy against homosexuals serving openly in the armed forces.
Collins admitted to feeling frustrated by the situation she finds herself in... yeah... so do we.
She says:
"It's not not fair. I am a strong supporter of repealing DADT. It's not fair to block out amendments from people who disagree with my position. For the life of me, I don't understand why the majority leader doesn't bring this to the floor and allow free and open debate from both sides. That would be fair."
Well, one thing's for sure... the pressure is on today, so everyone... keep those fingers crossed for equality.... and speaking of equality...
Lady Gaga lent her efforts to the cause in Collins' home state yesterday and I have to say her speech was quite stirring. She calls equality the "prime rib of America" and I tend to agree.
Let's all hope that our Senate can make us all proud to be Americans today and stand in support of repealing this highly unjust law. If Reid gets the votes, the Senate will likely have to put the bill aside during its pre-election recess and take it up again after November.
Here's what you can do: You can use Twitter hashtag #4the14k (“For the 14,000–a reference to the serivce members who have left the military under DADT) to follow along. And while you’re at it, give your senator a call at (202) 224-3121.
-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"
"Right now in America there are over 2 million couples secretly struggling with homosexuality in their marriages."
If these people are "secretly struggling" ... how is this an accurate statistic?
The site lists tons of ways to be a clever wifey and "out" your closeted hubby. It also states that if you answer yes to the questions they pose, you may want to ask yourself "whether you’re honestly looking for a man or just a shopping companion. Is sharing gossip more important to you than raising children?"
Here are my top five favorite ways to tell if your husband is gay:
1.Feigning attention in church and prayer groups 2.Overly fastidious about his appearance and the home 3.Gym membership but no interest in sports 4.Sassy, sarcastic and ironic around his friends 5.Travels frequently to big cities or Asia
Hmmm... I may have married a gay man... aside from the traveling to Asia thing, my man fits this list to a T... So... what else could possibly be assumed?!
Ridiculous! I cannot believe people actually believe this crap!
-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 marriage 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"
It was announced just a few minutes ago that a federal judge in San Francisco decided today that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry!! Prop 8 was struck down!
"U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker said Proposition 8, passed by voters in November 2008, violated the federal constitutional rights of gays and lesbians to marry the partners of their choice. His ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and then up to the U.S. Supreme Court."
(From the Los Angeles Times)
As a Los Angeles native, I can say that I am finally glad to see my home state doing something right! This is a huge win for gay rights and I believe a true win for humanity. Love is love and how can anyone in their right mind argue with giving all people the right to express their love through marriage?!
Good going Judge Walker! Hard to believe this guy was appointed by Mr. G.W. Bush!
-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"
Listen up, particularly all you local Mid-westerners, Target and Best Buy, both based in Minneapolis, have recently donated $250,00 to a political committee that supports Tom Emmer for Governor of MInnesota. Emmer is in fierce support of vetoing marriage equality legislation and has ties to a Christian rock band that advocates violence and even death to gay people. Um... quick question... since when is violence a "Christian" value?
Emmer is also pro-life and is in support of making it illegal for pharmacists to distribute contraceptives!
Well, I say shame on Target and Best Buy! It is odd, considering both companies have strived over the years to be a fair and equitable businesses. According to the HRC, Target and Best Buy have both consistently received 100 percent ratings on the HRC Foundation's Corporate Equality Index.
As a new mom, I feel like I live at Target sometimes... well, I can tell you one mama that will be taking her business elsewhere unless they can make this right. Babies R' Us, here I come.
-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"
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.
“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"
Posts
