Archive for the ‘same sex marriage’ Category
23
One of the world renowned African American scholars, Henry Louis Gates Jr., was arrested IN HIS HOUSE because someone in the neighborhood called the police saying “two black males with backpacks on the porch,” one of whom was “wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry.” The fact that Gates lived in the house and had been there for quite some time didn’t matter. It was the fact that a “white women” could call the police and have the “owner” arrested is what matters. Gates was charged with being “disorderly.” I guess not being able to get into your house and then when you do, you are confronted by police accusing you of breaking the law might make me “disorderly” too!
The police version of the events are that they received a call about two Black men, attempted to force open a door. Upon arrival, they found Gates was already in the house, on the phone with the property managers. Police are saying that Henry refused to provide ID and got “loud and was agitated.” Certainly a reason to arrest someone no doubt! Gates contents that not only did he give the officer his driver’s license, but he also gave him is HARVARD ID too! Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a professor at Harvard University!!!!
We may never know the true story. But from personal experience, I certainly don’t believe the police version of events. Gates had just came off of a plane trip from China. His ID was readily available. I find it hard to believe that he didn’t show his ID!
The Cambridge police have termed this event as “regrettable and unfortunate” and have dropped the charges. REALLY! Wow! Thanks for not charging me for breaking into my own home! And thank you for saying that “disorderly” is just a BULLSHIT law on the books that police use when you haven’t really broken ANY LAWS, but they want to harass you anyways.
I would love to hear from “Gladys Kravitz“, the person who set this ball in motion. Does she not know her neighbors? Or was this more of the “Obama backlash” that is occurring all over country. I guess she showed that “uppity” NIGro something?
14
SCLC, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, has decided that the reason for their very existence, Tolerance and Equality for All, doesn’t extend to Same Couple Relationships. The amnesia of the leaders of that organization as to what they stand for, is being played out by their threats to fire a straight, African American Reverend, Eric Lee, who was public in his opposition to Prop 8. And his very public opposition just might cost him his job!
I find it amazing that the one group of people, African Americans, who have and continue to experience hate like no other group, thinks nothing of doing that to Lesbians and Gays. I understand your feelings that the Black Civil Rights movement is being overshadowed by the Gay Rights movement. And I understand that the comparison can be offensive. But the bottom line is this. Because our Black elders have failed to teach the younger generations our collective history, far too many youngsters don’t know anything more about the Civil Rights movement other than what we learned in school. And as we all know, that is minimal at best and a complete JOKE AT WORSE. And whether you like it or not, the comparisons are EXACTLY THE SAME! The same arguments that were used to try and justify not giving African Americans Civil Rights and stopping Interracial Marriage 50 years ago have been dusted off and are being used to discriminate against Same Couple Relationships. In a post I wrote on May 21, 2009, titled “Is Gay the New Black?” I listed eight different reasons why the struggles are the same. And these reasons include: education, religion, employment, housing, violence, health care, government, and marriage. Anyone with an open mind can’t deny the comparisons, PERIOD!
Slowly but surely, African Americans are alienated the very people who helped, fought, stood, and died for us to be in the position that we are in now. And our failure to say “thanks” and to return the failure won’t be forgotten nor should it be. So when the next atrocity occurs, like Hurricane Katrina, and we are shown and told EXACTLY where we stand in this country, and we run for help, we should be surprised when the Lesbian and Gay neighbors lock the door, close the curtains, and turn off the lights! Nor should we be surprised when African American Lesbian and Gays who have plenty of discretionary income to spend, stop spending it with you!
Time is going to show that opposing Same Couple Marriage was wrong. And when our children and grandchildren as us why we did it, what are you going to say that makes sense? That the bible, the same bible that STILL SAYS WE SHOULD BE SLAVES AND BE CONTENT WITH OUR LOTS IN LIFE, told us to do it? Or that an organization that fought for EQUALITY is now against it. The SCLC should be ashamed of themselves.
02
I read with humor the recent article that retold the events that occurred when President Obama invited select Lesbian and Gay activists to the White house. From all reports, attendees laughed and squealed with glee at everything that “Mr. Obama” said. Even his call for the Lesbian and Gay community to be “patient” was met with a nod. And while I understand that the economy is probably a bigger concern, forty years after the Stonewall Riots, haven’t we been patient enough?
On June 28, 1969, a Gay club in New York, the Stonewall Inn, was raided by the police, a common occurrence at that time. Often patrons were beaten before being thrown in the back of the paddy wagon. But on this occasions, the patrons decided enough was enough and fought back. This act led to a riot that went on for days. And this event is said to be one of the “flash points” of the Gay Civil Rights movement.
That event occurred forty years ago. And to me, the fact that we are still fighting this same fight is an injustice of untold proportions. We are still getting beaten up by the police, we are still being fired from jobs, we are still not allowed to be with our partners in hospitals, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is still being on the books, DOMA is still on the books, the Hate crimes bill still is not a national law, and certain members of the public still think they should be able to use violence against us. And the violence part has become personal to me.
While answering some email, I was sent a link to a youtube video of a young kid, who was assaulted because she was seen hugging and kissing her girlfriend in public. I call her a young kid because I knew her when she was a kid. At twenty-five, she is a grown woman. The assault was so bad, that she needs to have reconstructive surgery. That some idiot felt it necessary to assault someone isn’t new. It happens all of the time. That Gay people are assaulted isn’t new either. That event OCCURS ALL THE TIME TOO! The FACT that I have known Rhythm and her family since the early 2000′s makes this personal to me.
Continue reading “It’s personal now!” »
25
Governor Mark Sanford – REPUBLICAN – from South Carolina, tearfully admitted to having traveled half way across the world to have an affair. He was missing for the last 7 days and NO ONE, not even his FAMILY, knew where he was. Sanford was “surprised” with all of the hoopla that surrounded his absence and couldn’t understand what the fuss was about. Never mind the FACT that he is a public official and that he is answerable to the people of South Carolina 24/7/365, but he failed to tell anyone where he was or what he was doing. When the story first broke, the governor went on a “hike”, I guess that is the new REPUBLICAN word for affair. As more people began to talk and whisper, he finally came clean about the affair. That he had an affair is not news. Affairs happen all of the time. What is galling is that this REPUBLICAN has consistently voted NO to allowing Lesbians and Gays both Civil Unions or Same Couple Marriages. Is this the “sanctity of marriage” that he has vowed to protect?
Mark initially told his staff that he was going “hiking in the Appalachian Mountains” and never told them that he was headed for Argentina. The year long affair with a woman he termed as a “dear dear friend” is allegedly over. Over about 72 hours ago. Thank goodness he rushed into ending the affair. Once he was caught in the lie, it was over before the light switch could be turned off! But I wonder. If no one had questioned where he was for the past seven days, would he have ended the affair? Or would he have even made the affair public knowledge?
Listening to him speak, I was waiting for the words “I have sinned against you” to come forth from his mouth. He talked for more than 8 minutes, many times in tears, puzzles, riddles, and tongue-twisters, before saying the word “affair.” This is a man who has claimed to be a “family man” and a “god fearing christian” was willing to travel almost 5000 miles to break his marriage vows.
Continue reading “Is this the “sanctity of marriage” you are protecting?” »
17
President Obama has decided to allow the partners of Lesblan and Gay federal employees the same benefits as their straight co-workers. WOW! That’s awful damn WHITE of him!
And not nearly good enough!
He has refused to step in and end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He has refused to end, what he promised to do before the elections, DOMA – Defense of Marriage Act – which he as the ability to do. Yet he thinks this is supposed to placate us! No, not even close!
Lesbians and Gays supported Obama in large numbers and if he thinks he would have gotten elected without our MONEY, organizing skills, and support, I can guarantee you, he is sadly mistaken. While he certainly brought together a large and diverse coalition of people, we were at the forefront of this group. And we are growing tired of waiting on him to do what he promised to do.
I pay taxes, FEDERAL TAXES, and don’t appreciate my tax dollars being used to discriminate against me. If the Federal Government has laws on the books that make discrimination legal, why should we be surprised that states are doing the same thing?
Major props to Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine who are either already performing Same Couple Marriages, or are scheduled to begin in 2009 or 2010.
Hey california. How is the budget melt down working out for ya!!!! According to the prestigious Williams Institute, they estimate that the passage of Proposition 8 will cost the state more than $800 million in the next three years, due to a loss of revenue for weddings and various auxiliary services. Not to mention the “trickle down theory” that applies to more money in people’s hands.
I guess that old saying is right. Bigotry, Hate, and Racism affects EVERYONE! Not just the people it is aimed at!!!!
12
BYE BITCH!!!!
Now you can continue your “Same Couple Marriage, Not in my Country” bigotry tour full time!
27
california supreme court:
23
In last Tuesday’s california election, every proposition that the Governor Schwarzenegger backed was RESOUNDINGLY DEFEATED. Even with his threats to cut health care, education, and fire and police protection, the california citizens didn’t bite. So we will see if the threats made by the governor come to pass. But that is not the real question. Because with one vote, california already signed its fate. californians voted for Prop 8, which made marriage between Same Gendered Couples illegal.
Before the election and discussion might now be accelerated, there was talk of maybe legalizing Marijuana. This drug is called a “Schedule 1″ drug as far as the Federal Government is concerned, meaning it is one of the worse drugs in the world. Other Schedule 1 drugs include: Heroin, GHB, and Meth Amphetamine. And to show just how silly this really is, COCAINE is NOT a Schedule 1 drug but Marijuana is! Yet there is serious talk about legalizing a drug that is supposed to be one of the worse drugs in the world. californians would rather have a bunch of potheads instead of law abiding Same Couple Marriages.
An article came out on May 17, 2009, a few days before the california elections, which stated that the state of Massachusetts has gotten a 111 million dollar windfall since it legalized Same Couple Marriage. NOW, 111 million dollars is a drop in the bucket compared to the money that is needed to shore up the california budget, but the fact remains that Same Couple Marriage brings money and JOBS into the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts’ unemployment rate is at 8% and california’s is around 11%. The “trickle down theory” of the money being spent in Massachusetts and not in california should be lost here. Iowa, another state that has legalized Same Couple Marriage, has an unemployment rate of 5.1%. And their tourism industry is on the rise with Lesbian and Gay couples from surrounding states taking buses to Iowa to get married. Since there is a 3 day waiting period to get a marriage license, I wonder how much money is being spent in Iowa for hotels, Limos, food, lounging, and catering services, just to name a few. AGAIN, money that could be flowing into the coffers of california. Because the bottom line, and no offense to Massachusetts or Iowa, california is a better place to be and get married! Not only can you go from the beach, to the snow, and then to the desert in hours, but you are right near an international border in Mexico where you can have a whole other experience! People came from not just other states, but OTHER COUNTRIES to get married in california when it was legal! Don’t you get it!!!
Continue reading “I’d rather pay more in taxes than allow Gay Marriage!” »
21
Black folks, what the hell is your problem? For a race of people who have faced the worse bigotry, discrimination, and racism, in HISTORY, to turn around and do that to another group of people UNFATHOMABLE. And to hear Black people says that they resent the implication that the fight for Same Couple Marriage is a civil rights issue, makes it even worse. And to top it off, the Black church seems to be at the forefront of this “Campaign of Nonsense.” Oppression is Oppression! How hard is that to understand!
In a recent article, some Black clergymen stated their opposition to this struggle being “co-opted” by Gays and Lesbians. Yet here are some of the reasons that they used to justify their arguments. We know what we have gone through as an ethnic group, said Rev. William Gillison, pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church. Bishop Michael A. Badger, pastor of Bethesda World Harvest International Church, said that he doesn’t doubt there is discrimination against gay people but that it is hardly on the order of what African-Americans have encountered and still face. If you know what discrimination feels like, how can you in good conscious turn around and do the exact same thing? Do they think their are no Lesbian and Gay parishioners in their church? Ignoring the situation is not going to go away. And just like the Civil Rights Struggle that Black folks went through, Lesbians and Gays are not going to quit. We aren’t going back in the closet, and we are not going to let you marginalize us. Hell, that sounds like a Civil Rights struggle to me. Do you really think the struggle is different? Let us count the ways.
Continue reading “Is Gay the new Black?” »
09
Doug Manchester, owner of the Manchester Hyatt Hotels, donated $125,000.00 to the “Yes on Prop 8” campaign and got INDIGNANT when the Lesbian and Gay community organized and have supported a financial boycott of his hotels. And nearly a year later, Doug has had a change of heart, or is it wallet? and NOW wants to give an Olive Branch to our community. He is pledging to donate the same amount of money, $25,000.00 to Lesbian and Gay charities and give another $100,000.00 as credit towards staying at his hotels and holding parties and fundraisers there. Is Ashton Kutcher around anywhere? Because I feel like I am getting PUNK’D!
This BRIBE does nothing to undo the hurt that has been caused by the passing of Prop 8. The FACT that a group of people decided to take a BIGOTED stance and play GOD can’t be undone for $125,000.00. And the FACT that Manchester showed no compassion and said our complaints were “personal attacks on him and his family” hasn’t been forgotten. What happened to the “personal attack?” Is the fact that his companies wallets are getting lighter and lighter and emptier and emptier the real reason for the change in opinion? What about the personal attacks on OUR FAMILIES?
To our community’s credit, we have not wavered in honoring the boycott. And when former President Bill Clinton spoke at the Hyatt Hotel, he was met with protesters letting him know exactly how we felt. Many other organizations, including the American Trial Lawyers Association, have moved, canceled, or refused to hold their conventions at his hotels. It seems that with a recession, and people being more conscious about where they spent their money, Doug is feeling the pinch. This has nothing to do with a change of heart. It has to do with cobwebs and dust in the company vault!
Continue reading “UNCLE!!!” »