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"

A Night to Remember?

Ah- prom... a night of dancing, cavorting with classmates, teen romance and flashy fashion... oh yeah... and did I mention bigotry?

You've probably heard all about Constance McMillen by now, but if you haven't - allow me to tell you her story. Constance lives in Mississippi and she, like every other girl in her class, had been looking forward to senior prom. 18 year old Constance was looking forward to donning a fabulous tux and bringing her girlfriend to the dance... *record scratch*

Back in December of 09, McMillen asked that the school board allow her to bring a same-sex date to her prom. In February, she asked AGAIN after a school memo was sent out, detailing date "restrictions". What did the school board do? They cancelled the prom rather than allowing ONE girl to bring the date of her choice. Constance fought back with the ACLU on her side and made headlines when a judge ruled that she was "allowed" to bring a girl as her date. However, the judge did not order the school to reinstate the prom because it was understood that McMillen would be invited to a prom which was being sponsored by parents of her Itawamba classmates.

Well... as if this story couldn't get anymore disgusting... it is now being reported that Constance McMillen, her date and a few other classmates, including two with learning disabilities, attended what they were told was a parent sponsored prom in Fulton, Mississippi while most of her other classmates from Itawamba Agricultural High School danced the night away at a separate prom that McMillen was not invited to.

McMillen had this to say in response to the fake prom fiasco:

"Two students with learning difficulties were among the seven people at the country club event. They had the time of their lives. That's the one good thing that come out of this, [these kids] didn't have to worry about people making fun of them [at their prom]."

Stay strong Constance.

If any of our readers would like to show their support in condemning the actions of the Itawamba County School Board, check out this petition by The Human Rights Campaign.

-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"

Animal Instinct

A few days ago, The New York Times ran an article about "gay animals".

While this topic has been used before by the likes of radio personality Thom Hartmann and others to support the notion that homosexuality occurs "naturally", I have never read an account of homosexual animals quite like this one!

One example they offer is the work of biologist Lindsay C. Young, who studies albatrosses at the Kaena Point colony, which is a breeding ground for the famously monogamous birds. She discovered over a period of time that "one third of the pairs at Kaena Point actually consisted of two female birds, not one male and one female" , also citing that some of these birds had been a couple for "4,8 or even 19 years"!

"A discovery like Young’s can disorient a wildlife biologist in the most thrilling way — if he or she takes it seriously, which has traditionally not been the case. Various forms of same-sex sexual activity have been recorded in more than 450 different species of animals by now, from flamingos to bison to beetles to guppies to warthogs."

The article goes on to say that while study into this phenomenon has been sporadic and met with some resistance in the scientific community, more biologists are "looking objectively at same-sex sexuality in animals- approaching it as a real science". It would be nice to see human sexuality approached with such enthusiasm and open-mindedness.

However, like every insightful study that is done with the hopes of proving through science that homosexuality is not an abnormality or a "choice", there is always backlash. While some use examples of homosexuality in nature as a platform for equality, there are many who consider this "an effort to humanize animals or devolve humans to the level of animals".

"Many pointed out that animals also rape or eat their young; was America going to tolerate that too, just because it’s natural?"

Puh-lease! That's like the old notion that all gay men are pedophiles or that all lesbians are.... I don't know...a cat loving people... well, that last one may be true. ;)

The article covers every speculation from an evolutionary advantage to pure and simple attraction. Definitely a must read for anyone even remotely interested in the subject. Whether or not you feel it is research that will help further the rights of gays and lesbians, you cannot deny the impact this research will have in the long run on how we experience our evolving world as a whole.

-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"

Food for Comedic Thought

Lately there have been a lot of comedy television shows and movies portraying strong gay characters, and I'm certainly not hearkening back to the days of Will & Grace or even the string of drag queen flavored films which spawned from Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Has anyone seen Modern Family? True- the show is full of stereotypes but the pilot episode also tackled a big issue... gays adopting a baby. Pretty forward thinking for American TV. Or how about Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist? The main character, a straight teen, plays bass for a Queercore band with his best friends who are gay. They play it off as almost a side note- their sexual preference is not drawn into focus as a comedic diversion but rather used as a way to show the main character's "open mindedness" and dependability. Both positive qualities to see in a teenage boy- wouldn't you say?

Well, I came across this clip of Jane Lynch playing her Glee character Sue Sylvester... and hilarity ensued... but it also made me think....

What do you think? Are there too many "sneaky gays" out there? LOL.

While I do think that in the past homosexuality was sometimes used in film and television as a comedic device for men to appear in women's clothes or to show how "eccentric" a character was, I am happy to see more homosexual characters and themes used in a nonchalant way....

Now then... "swish it up gays!"

-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"

Shock Rock

So- everyone's favorite outspoken artist of the moment, Lady Gaga, is upset by the backlash she is receiving for her new music video for "Telephone", which features Beyonce. The video has been pulled from several outlets for being too racy and is being slammed by conservatives left and right for homosexual themes.

Sandy Rios, the President of the Culture Campaign, says that the suggestion of Beyonce and Lady Gaga as "lesbian lovers" in the video is "disgusting" and goes on to say that it should be "outlawed and banned" and that the themes of sexuality and gender bending are "poison for the minds of our kids". Watch a clip from Fox News below:

Now- say what you will about her music, but whether or not you are a "little monster" or you change the station when she comes on, you cannot deny the fact that the woman has "balls".... and no, I'm not referring to the whole "hermaphrodite controversy". I am referring to the fact that she says what is on her mind and this video is no exception.

Lady Gaga responded to all this "outrage", stating:

"Hearing people say the video is sadomasochistic or that the video promotes murder for young people, it's my personal belief that the video is getting so much attention, not because of those themes because I've done those themes before, haven't I? I've done those themes in many of my videos but it's because it's with Beyonce and it's because there are so many homosexual themes."

"There are transsexual women and transgender women and suddenly it becomes poisonous and something else because there are some people in this world that believe being gay is a choice. It's not a choice, we're born this way. That's why for me this video is groundbreaking because it has one foot in the art community and one foot in the commercial world."

As a mother, and as a woman born out of the Madonna generation, I am not offended by this video in the least. I'd much rather have my daughter exposed to overt sexuality and put it into context for her than repressed sexuality. What these people need to be more worried about is Miley Cyrus perpetuating the over-sexualization of young teens and glamorizing sexting or young girls reading far too much Twilight. Growing up with anthems like "Express Yourself" did not harm me in the least, nor did it turn me into some kind of sexual deviant. This whole controversy reeks of the same kind of censorship that has continually been thrust upon so many artists - from The Beatles to Black Sabbath, from Oscar Wilde to Virginia Woolf...I say, if you have such a problem with the video... don't watch it.

Thoughts? How do YOU feel about the censorship of this video for homosexual themes?

-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"

Of Human RIGHTS Bondage

This morning the Human Rights Campaign marched on Washington DC to protest the DADT policy. And everybody's favorite Lieutenant took a final stand against the military.

Lt. Dan Choi stood next to Kathy Griffin and stated:

“Hello. My name is Lt. Dan Choi. I am being discharged from the US Army because I am gay and dared to say it out loud. Today, I am here on a mission with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, and we are asking you all to join us. We’re calling you to action because we are at a turning point — a moment in time where talk is no longer enough, and action is required.

Equality is not going to happen by itself.

You have been told that the President has a plan. But Congressman Barney Frank confirmed to us this week that the President still is not fully committed to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year. And if we don’t seize this moment it may not happen for a very long time. Some may tell you that I am one of the lucky ones. I have been welcomed back by my unit with open arms. And it would be easy for me to stay quiet and hope that change will happen. But what I was taught at West Point and learned in war is — hope is not a strategy. As officers, James and I both find it a dereliction of our moral duty to remain silent while thousands of our brothers and sister are not allowed to serve openly and honestly. Capt. Pietrangelo was honorably discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2004 and I will be subject to the same shortly. As officers we are here today fighting for those in the ranks, and we need our Commander in Chief to do the same.

Our fight is not here at Freedom Plaza, it is at the White House. We are walking to the White House right now to send the President a message. So…take out your cell phones and your cameras. Document this moment. Join us as together — we make history."

Directly after this awesome call to arms, Choi and several other supporters handcuffed themselves to a fence outside of the White House!!! Robin McGeehee, cofounder of GetEqual.org and co-organizer of the gay march on Washington last fall, organized this protest today. She along with Choi have been arrested.

What a powerful speech and an even more powerful demonstration. Not since the Vietnam war have the American people showed such commitment to a cause! I am impressed by Choi's composure and conviction during this trying time in human rights. He really couldn't have said it better... let's make some history!! (And let's hope Obama can make some more as well)

-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"