Long Time No See

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"

You Know You're Gay When...

So, I came across this interesting article on Christwire.org that lists ways to tell whether your husband is secretly gay or not.

"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"

Two Men, One God, and Zero Compassion to be Found

"This is sick, and it is therefore deviant. We do not want it."

These are the words spoken by a Ugandan pastor at an anti-gay rally held recently in Kampala. Martin Ssempa, the pastor of the evangelical Makerere Community Church in Uganda, has become the leading anti-homosexuality organizer in Uganda. Not only does he preach that gay people are pedophiles but he vows to ensure that "sodomy and homosexuality never sees the light of legality in this land of the people of Africa"! Strong and spiteful words coming from a man of God, wouldn't you say? But the horror doesn't end there...

Ssempa travels to churches across Africa preaching this filth and even uses homosexual pornography to further inspire disgust in people. And guess where he gets funding from? Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas!!!

Kevin Odor, the senior pastor there, says Ssempa has been "misrepresented." He says "His heart is not to kill people. He is a pastor of the Gospel that believes in redemption and his heart is to redeem people." Oh really?

Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill — which criminalizes homosexual practice — is working its way through the legislature. This bill, if passed, imposes the death penalty for gay sex with a minor, or having sex with your gay partner if you are HIV-positive. Two consenting adults can get life in prison. A straight person who knows someone is gay, and doesn't report it, could get prison time as well. Sound familiar? **cough cough** WWII** cough**

Watch the video below for a taste of what this guy is all about... FYI... it gets graphic...Ssempa discusses "gay sex" with terms like "poo-poo" and "licking the anus like ice cream". Clearly, this man is insane.



Odor goes on to say that they just want to help the AIDS problem in Africa and " we found somebody who is making a difference, so we support him" Puh-lease! Gay people are not the sole cause of the AIDS epidemic in Africa... just as they are not the sole cause of it here in the States!
To add insult to injury, Odor says his church has "a heart" for homosexuals. Canyon Ridge participates every year in the AIDS march.

"We love everybody, including people with AIDS. There are two things: how you got AIDS and that you have AIDS. That you have AIDS is a matter of compassion. The church should be compassionate for people with AIDS."

Hmmm... interesting distinction there Odor.

Well, I for one am disgusted by Ssempa and everything he stands for. And shame on Kevin Odor for supporting such an obviously one -sided view of the AIDS problem in Africa. I would like to quote here my favorite definition of what religion actually is:

something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience

To me, this is what religion is. Not some witch hunt, not some close minded perspective, and certainly not the persecution and unethical preaching against a group of people that Martin Ssempa has displayed of late.

-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"

Cause This Has Never Happened Before....

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Words of Wisdom from A Whole Lotta Woman...

A week or two ago we had a big DVD Release party for Fish Out of Water. It was a big success! Tons of people came out to support this amazing film! It was truly inspiring to see how much this project meant to everyone who had seen it.


I found one portion of the evening particularly poignant. Taj Mahal, the fiercest female impersonator in show business, was the opening act and she performed Gospel like I have never seen it performed! If I did not know she was lip syncing, I would not have doubted in a million years that it was her true voice! Here is a clip of what she had to say about FOOW:





Well said.

If you'd like to see more pictures of this event, please check out the website and the facebook page!! And if you still haven't bought your copy of this incredible film, CLICK HERE!!!

-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"

FOOW DVD Officially For SALE!!!

Sooooo exciting!!!

The DVD is finally out! Check it out here and pick up your copy today!

And if you're in Chicago tonight, head over to the DVD Release Party at Lincoln Hall w/ JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound w/ host Cameron Esposito! You can pick up a copy of the DVD for just $20!!

Also, as a bonus, the DVD included never-been-seen LGBTQ interviews!

-FOOW CREW-

"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"

Go Costa Rica, Go!!

Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, expressed on Wednesday that he feels it is archaic for the Roman Catholic Church to continue demanding celibacy form its priests. He also went on to voice his support of same sex marriage stating:

"We are made as we are. A young boy (or girl) does not ask if he or she will grow up gay or straight. Sexual orientation is given by God or by nature"

Gay marriage will, of course, still need to go through the proper legislative channels to be approved...but... I think THIS is great! Way to think progressively and most importantly... humanely.

-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"

Out of the Water and On the Road!

Fish Out of Water fans unite!! Fish Out of Water is hitting the road this July on a tour we're calling The Great American Outing! The tour is a three-week, 14 city road trip aimed at eradicating misconceptions about the Bible’s stance on homosexuality by offering free screenings of Fish Out of Water

As most of you know, Fish out of Water was crafted to be a toolbox to help the LGBTQ community and our allies combat Bible-based discrimination. Whether someone is gay or straight, religious or nonreligious, very few people are able to articulate what the Bible really says about homosexuality. Fish out of Water is a useful, entertaining tool that helps people breach the conversation of the Bible, in an inclusive, non-hostile, accessible way.

If Fish out of Water has helped to educate, inspire or heal you, we ask you to make it possible for our film to reach others. Please visit our Great American Outing website and consider donating to our efforts. In order to make this tour a possibility, we need to raise $10,000 per city.

Donate and check it out here: www.greatamericanouting.com

Any amount will help us! $25 will help us pay for gas. $100 will provide one lunch for our entire crew! $1000 will provide lodging for our entire crew for one night.

If you'd like to sponsor an entire city for $10,000. If you or your organization acts as city sponsor, your name will be attached to that city on our website, on our van and in all press releases.

Please help us turn our movie into a movement.

Our best,

The Great American Outing Team

Ky Dickens (Tour Creator)

Elizabeth Chase (Tour Producer)

Kate Baldridge (Tour Producer)

Kristen Kaza (Publicity)

"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"

Guess Where Lauren Ashley's Foot Is....

Looks like the gay-bashing beauty queen, Lauren Ashley, was at it again in this latest interview with NBC...

Honestly- there's not much to say with regard to this that I've not already said. But I just couldn't resist posting this clip so we could all appreciate Miss Ashley's staggering intellect and theological savvy.



-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"

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"

Change Is Good

So, this weekend the "Gay & Lesbian Creating Change Conference" is being held in Dallas, Texas! Two of our "tour producers" from the Great American Outing will be going to the conference, hunting for local organizers to help us plan our tour stops in their own cities!



YOUR CITY COULD BE NEXT!!!

For information on our tour, please check out : http://greatamericanouting.com/

And if you'd like more information on this amazing conference, check it out here!

Stay tuned for more FOOW news and pictures from the conference!!


"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 marragie 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"