For three consecutive sessions, wingnuts in the Pennsylvania Senate have tried to pass a so-called “Marriage Protection” amendment to the State Constitution.  They were harrowingly close in 2006, a little further away in 2008 but hoping three times the charm in 2010.
SB 707 was introduced by Senator “We alllow gays to exist” Eichelberger and is currently sitting in the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Four key members of the committee are from Western PA - Senators Joan Orie- R, Mary Jo White - R, Wayne Fontana - D, and Jay Costa - D.  Also on the committee is Senator Daylin Leach who has introduced legislation to legalize same sex marriage. 
A vote is expected on Tuesday, March 16, 2010.  White is considered “persuadable” based on previous statements doubting adding discrimination to the state constitution. (I say state and mean Commonwealth.  You understand.)

Pittsburgh bloggers are planning to respond with the second Blog for Equality.  Our first event took place in March 2008 and included 14 blogs, from hardcore political blogs such as 2 Political Junkies to LGBT individuals blogging about their personal lives. 
We invite bloggers from all corners to join us.  Our goal is to focus attention on the Tuesday vote.  One objective is to generate phone calls to Senator White's office in particular. 
 
Our button is available at http://www.pghlesbian.com/B4E2010.jpg

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It seems that the Blend’s favorite mule fu*ker, Georgia gubernatorial has landed himself in a bit of a mess.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/…
An anti-abortion activist and gubernatorial candidate from Carrollton who was arrested for allegedly making threats against Elton John is still being held in the Fulton County jail.
Neal Horsley was taken into custody Wednesday in Carrollton by members of the Atlanta police fugitive squad and U.S. Marshal’s office, according to Carrollton police.
Horsley was booked into the Fulton County Jail, charged with terroristic threats, criminal defamation and using the Internet to disseminate threats. During a hearing Thursday morning at the jail, Magistrate Judge James Altman set bond for Horsley at $40,000 on all three charges.
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlant…
Surf over to Joe.My.God for video.
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2…
H/T Joe.My.God
 

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The words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance are an appeal to patriotism, not religion, and do not violate the separation of church and state, a federal appeals court ruled today - the same court that declared the pledge unconstitutional in 2002.
In a separate ruling, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in San Francisco upheld the placement of the national motto, “In God We Trust,” on coins and currency. The language is patriotic and ceremonial, not religious, the court said. (Emphasis added)
Full article from the San Francisco Chronicle
America’s Talibangelicals will, no doubt, be wetting their pants in delight over this, but think about the implications for a moment. What the Circuit Court has really said is that public expressions of religiosity have nothing to do with religion and are, in fact, secular expressions devoid of spiritual meaning.
Will the religious extremists of this country care that they have been severely demeaned by this ruling? I doubt it. In fact, I doubt very much that they are smart enough to realize that their deeply held beliefs have been denigraded to mere “ceremonial deism.”
The real irony is that most of the early Christian martyrs — the people that America’s Talibangelicals hold up as exemplars of true Christian fanaticism — chose to give up their lives rather than submit to the “ceremonial deism” of Emperor worship. Then again, knowledge of history is not exactly a Talibangelical strong suit.

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When New Yorker Cynthia Nixon says its time to fight back, we say hell yeah!  
Actress, advocate, and all-around awesome Cynthia Nixon recently produced a video supporting Fight Back New York.  We need your help getting the word out.  Can you repost this video, sign-up at fightbackpac.com and then let us know you’re fighting back by writing on our fan page?
http://www.fightbackpac.com/cynthianixon
 
Think we can get 100 people to do it today?
Yeah, that’s a lot of things we’re asking you to do, but the election to replace Monserrate is only 5 days away.
Fight Back New York has been working around the clock to make sure voters in criminal Hiram Monserrate’s special election know exactly how terrible he is.   Convicted of domestic abuse, expelled from the state senate, lingering questions about funneling money to his hand-picked charities, and of course, voting against marriage equality.
Had enough yet?  We have.  Fight Back.
http://www.fightbackpac.com/cynthianixon

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ABC Nightline News has a good piece up on the Ugandan “Kill the Gays” Bill and the direct connection to the rabid anti-gay movement in the US.  They focus on Scott Lively- professional gay-hater, holocaust revisionist, and recognized hate group leader from the US who has traveled to Uganda to whip up anti-gay animus in the country, leading to the “anti-homosexuality” bill.  
The report is worth a watch, since it not only shows Lively, but also LGBT Blog Reading Pastor Martin “Show Porn in Church” Ssempa (who we have talked about extensively here on the Blend), as well as crowds in Uganda chanting for death to “homos.”  Keep a listen out for Ssempa comparing being gay to being a terrorist, saying homosexuality is “sexual terrorism.”

Notice how that Leviticus verse that we've talked about pops up on signs?  Ugh.  Much more after the jump… Here's a shorter version with more footage from the ABC nightly News:

It's so heart-wrenching to see gays and lesbians living in Uganda and the danger they face.  It's telling that they can personally trace the surge of anti-gay hate to directly after the American Professional Gay-Haters came to their country.  Even Scott Lively himself describes his visit as:
dropping a nuclear bomb against the gay agenda in Uganda.
That nuclear bomb is the death penalty, life imprisonment, and other horrific punishments for not only being gay, but just knowing someone is gay and not “turning them in” and other barbaric practices.
It's also interesting how both Lively and Ssempa are quick to claim “racism” when people try to connect the dots between the American Extremist Movement and the Ugandan “Kill the Gays” Bill.  It basically boils down to arguing over whose idea it was to kill gays and promote mass murder first.
Ssempa and his supporters certainly existed and had these views prior to Lively, Rick Warren, and other American Anti-Gay Activists traveling to Uganda.  What can't be denied, however, is the amplifying effect and rallying cry that these US evangelicals gave them.  It has nothing to do with race to show the connections between the two groups- who share debunked anti-gay “research” and presentations.  Ssempa headlined  events with Lively and Warren in Uganda (as shown by those posters held up by the screaming crowds in the video), so the connection is well documented.
It is a symbiotic relationship of hate, which plenty of blame to go around to all of them.
Perhaps most telling is this tweet from ABC reporter Dan Harris:
Souvenir from the most homophobic place I've ever been.

We need more reports like this- many more reports, with more in-depth looks into the connections and consequences of stirring up such hate towards the LGBT community.  The “Kill the Gays” Bill isn't going away- and it's not the only one being considered or in effect around the globe.  We need to continue to shine a light on these extreme pushes for mass murder against our community.
Let's hope this report is just the beginning.
(h/t Good As You for the video)

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There has been a lot of complaint over the weekend about Immigration Minister Jason Kenney specifically editing out references to gay rights the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969, protection on the grounds of sexual orientation, and legalization of same-sex marriage in the recently-updated study guide for new immigrants applying for citizenship in Canada.
“But Mr. Kenney, who fought same-sex marriage when it was debated in Parliament, ordered those key sections removed when his office sent its comments to the department last June.
“Senior department officials duly cut out the material - but made a last-ditch plea with Mr. Kenney in early August to have it reinstated. “

Of course, this is a government that appeared to have demoted a minister for announcing a stimulus package grant to the Toronto Gay Pride Festival (for which it had validly qualified).  So there appears to be some negative track history already, but it is still reprehensible to whitewash this factoid about Canada, and it demonstrates that some of our MPs continue to harbour prejudice, despite attempts to keep the more extreme elements hidden.
There is a subtext to this story.
This appears to be mostly an assumption of the media, but I'm seeing it stated in some articles that the government is glossing over the fact that LGBT people are protected from discrimination in Canada, and nobody is correcting them on it. The fact of the matter is that gay, lesbian and bisexual people are protected, but for trans folks, our protections are still subject to interpretation. Gender identity and gender expression are still not included in the Criminal Code of Canada or the Canadian Human Rights Act.
There may be an opportunity coming soon to fix that. A private member's bill that will add protections to both is still coming up for discussion in Parliament.  There is no date given for second reading as yet, but Bill C-389 did not perish when Parliament was prorogued, as many seem to believe, and is still pending.  There has been support pledged from people in all parties thus far.
This will be an excellent way for the governing Conservatives to turn around their reputation on the subject.  To Canadians: have you talked to your Member of Parliament, yet?
Crossposted to DentedBlueMercedes

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A few weeks ago, I covered the transphobic and homophobic scare tactics being used in the Gainesville, Florida Mayor's race. Craig Lowe was Chair of the successful campaign to stop the repeal of the Gainesville Human Rights Ordinance, which included sexual orientation and gender identity & expression.  He's now running another successful campaign to become the first gay mayor of Gainesville and the only openly gay elected official in North Florida.
A group called the “Concerned Citizens of Gainesville” already started a nasty and outrageous smear campaign, complete with trans panic bathroom scare flyers.
Well, the smears have continued as the race has heated up.  As early voting began in Gainesville and supporters like Equality Florida were phone banking for Lowe, a conservative talk show took homophobic shots at Lowe and the LGBT community.  One of the male hosts had received a call and said he didn't know why because he was not a “sexual deviant.”
Because anyone who gets a call about equality or cares about LGBT rights must be a “sexual deviant”?  Right?
Equality Florida has a little background on the show:
This same show has a history of radical, right-wing rhetoric and has made homophobic slurs in the past.
While their comments may not be surprising, it is clear the anti-equality forces are up in arms and still stinging after their defeat over the Human Rights Ordinance.  This a huge opportunity to gain a foothold in an area of the state that desperately needs it.
As the husband of an openly gay elected official and having gone through this kind of thing during our campaign, I know how important and reaffirming our community's support can be when you are under attack from anti-LGBT forces.
Craig Lowe needs our community's help to keep the forward momentum of Equality moving in Gainesville and all of north Florida.  Donate what you can to his campaign, follow him on twitter, and support him on Facebook.  He can accept donations through tomorrow (Thursday), so any little bit you can give would not only help the campaign, but show your support for an activist that has been there for the community.
Just in case you need any reminding about the battle that Lowe is in for, watch the horrific trans-panic commercial the opposition used during the HRO Campaign that Craig helped lead to victory:

We talk a lot as a community about holding elected officials accountable and targeted donation boycotts towards political parties that don't keep their promises to us.  The other side of that coin is supporting the people from our community, who have proven themselves as effective leaders and advocates for real political change for the LGBT community.
We defeated these anti-equality, fear-mongering forces before by rallying together and we can do it again!

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We've discovered three more Beenie Man concerts in March 2010. Beenie Man is the infamous reggae dancehall performer who sings about hanging lesbians and slitting the throats of all gay men.  See “Dancehall Dossier” at http://tinyurl.com/2xax3b and  http://tinyurl.com/yg496r3
 
Here are the performances:
 
03/11/10 At The Imperial, 17 West 19TH St., New York, NY, (212) 352-2001 http://www.theimperialnyc.com/http://tinyurl.com/yka8coo
03/13/10 At Cotton Club, 112 N. 5TH ST, Richmond, VA,804-644-5777http://beenieman.eventbrite.com/
03/14/10 At Club Blakely's,414 Battlefield Boulevard South,Chesapeake, VA,(757) 546-7749http://www.blakelysva.com/
 
Polite phone calls would help. Contact your local LGBT group to let them know. Thanks!

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In response to the D.C. marriages, CWFA's Janice Shaw Crouse has an item up entitled:
Five Myths about Same Sex 'Marriage'
The following actually isn't one of the enumerated purported myths - but it should give you an idea of what CWFA is (still) up to:
Let’s begin with the basic argument that people are “born gay.” Apparently, activists are operating under the assumption that if they say this long enough, people will believe it. Yet the science is not there to substantiate their oft-stated premise that homosexuality is genetic and is immutable. The studies that purport to support the idea have not been replicated; instead, they have been repudiated or considered inconclusive. The generally accepted theory is that some people may be predisposed to emotional vulnerabilities that can be exacerbated by external factors, such as parental approval, social acceptance, and gender affirmation. Indeed, a growing number of individuals have chosen to reject the homosexual lifestyle. In addition, there is an acknowledgement, even among homosexuals, that persons can “choose” their sexuality (be bisexual or not).
Well Janice, your crowd is made up of people who have continually repeated these doozies:

Term limits.
Compassionate conservatism.
George W. Bush was elected president in 2000.
Bush and his people had no clue that 9/11 or anything like it was in the offing.
There were WMDs.
There was a close tie between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.
There was no pro-Bush vote fraud in Ohio in 2004.
Ray Nagin could have gotten everyone out of New Orleans if he'd really wanted to.
Republicans give a damn about the well being of America.
Republicans give a damn about the well being of Americans.
Voter photo ID laws are not intended to prevent non-whites and the non-rich from voting.
Death panels.
The health insurance industry is legitimate.
Sarah Palin.

And, for the most part, your crowd has proven Goebbels' theories of mass manipulation via lie-repetition to be infallible truth.
Now - what are the 'myths' that Crouse is crooning about?
Myth #1: Having same-sex couples celebrate their love does nothing to harm anybody else’s marriage or damage the institution of marriage.
Myth #2: Same-sex “marriage” is an “equal rights” issue.
Myth #3: Any group of people — including homosexual couples — can contribute to the well-being of children and form a productive unit of society.
Myth #4: Same-sex “marriage” is a matter of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion.
Myth #5: “Same-Sex Marriages” are just like heterosexual marriages.

She, of course, makes up crap in order to elaborate on each.  I'll leave it to all of you to check out the specifics - though I do want to tease everyone with this gem:
[T]he health risks associated with homosexual practice are very real and very much in evidence in the emergency rooms of hospitals. There is no denying: Homosexual sex is dangerous and destructive to the human body.
Wow - she does have her Cameron freak on, doesn't she?
I'll make Janice a deal: If she and CWFA immediately begin attacking - and advocating for the criminalization of - the following “practice[s]” which unquestionably are “health risks”:

Tobacco
Alcohol
Guns
Coal mining
Football
Boxing
MMA
Pro wrestling
Automobile racing
Military service

and actually direct an amount of time, energy and money on such attacking/advocating equal to or greater than that which they spend on anti-LGBT issues, then I'll sign up with them.

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New Hampshire citizen-activist Doris Haddock (”Granny D”) has died, aged 100 according to New Hampshire state representative [Jim Splaine http://www.bluehampshire.com/diary/9492/the-passing-of-granny-d] - who was scheduled to speak with her later this month in Portsmouth. More after the jump …. She has been a colorful figure here in the Granite State ever since she walked across the United States (at age 89) to champion the cause of campaign finance reform. Sadly, she died [at home http://www.wmur.com/news/22792574/detail.html] earlier today, only two months after having celebrated her 100th birthday. And although she garnered only 34% of the vote - when Judd Gregg was in a much different stage of his career - she did take him on:
She was the Democratic nominee for Senate in 2004, when she lost to incumbent Republican Sen. Judd Gregg. Born in Laconia, NH in a time where there was no electricity and only two cars on the street, Haddock said that she wanted to be an actress but was asked to leave college when she got married ….. in 1930.
And there is a great [DVD http://www.grannyd.com/] of her efforts. According to Ruth T. Meyer (a longtime assistant) [to her friends http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/03/09/news/local/free/doc4b97114f71aab844867754.txt] in an e-mail:
“Please do know too how grateful for each and all of you she was,” Meyer wrote. “At this time I know we not only share feelings of great loss in losing her, great joy in having known her, and also of a deep obligation to continue the good work that she inspired in us and so many others.”
Finally, how apropos that she died on the 2nd Tuesday in March - the traditional [Town Meeting Day http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100308/GJCOMMUNITY_01/703089964/-1/FOSNEWS] in New Hampshire - and in towns that are too large to conduct that anymore, elections were held for such offices as school board and the like today (which I was able to do). Vaya con Dios, Granny!

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