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Anyone who has been paying attention has seen the ugliness and outright hatred that has been displayed towards Lesbian and Gays wanting equal rights. From hate crimes that have led to the beatings and deaths of Lesbian, Gay, and Transgendered people, to the creation of laws that TAKE AWAY the RIGHTS of Lesbian, Gay and Transgendered people, to blaming us for natural disasters, the hate has been overt and nasty. And the use of the bible as an excuse and the reason behind the actions of some people is disgusting. What is most disturbing is the statement from these people that “following the teachings of the church is not bigotry” is laughable. Because the “teachings” they are following is being twisted to teach hate.
Nom, the National Organization for Marriage, led by Brian Brown and Maggie Gallagher, and FRC, the Family Research Council, led by Tony Perkins, have been at the forefront of the “stop the Lesbians and Gays” movement. And the sad part about this is that they are using the same rhetoric that was used in the 1950′s against African Americans. Nom and FRC have spent MILLIONS of dollars to fund Prop 8 in California and Prop 1 in Maine., They have gone to great lengths to hide their finances from government agencies looking into their deeds. All under the guise of “christianity.” Some of their deeds have been comical, some have been shameful, but many have been scary.
Nom has had two “bus tours” driving around the country to spread their hate. But to their chagrin, their spectacles have been complete and utter flops. Their “stops” have had more people protesting against what they are saying than has been there to support them. Oh but there is a reason for that. Ready? It’s because the protesters, i.e. Lesbians and Gays … DON’T HAVE JOBS! Yes, that was actually a comment that was made by Brian Brown when one of his stops had less than 20 supporters and hundreds of protesters. As if being unemployed, in this economy, is funny.
Both NOM and the FRC are under investigation by the states of California and Maine, among others, for failing to provide financial records of their campaign contributions. Not only have they failed to provide those records, they have gone out of their way to ignore legal orders to do so. They have lost every appeal but refuse to follow the law and file the required campaign papers with these states. Sounds awful “christian” to me. What about you?
Continue reading “Bigots” »
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The African American community has”waved the bible in the air and waved it like we just don’t care” when it comes to Lesbians and Gays. And most of the Black churches have been on the front lines of this battle. Bishop Eddie Long runs the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and a school called the New Birth Christian Academy. He routinely preaches against the “evils of homosexuality” and has even called for violence against us. But as we all know, those who yell the loudest usually have a front seat in the closet. And the newest member is Long. He is being sued by TWO MEN who claim he forced and coerced them into having sex with him. Can the congregation say “AMEN!”
The good “bishop” has been one of the most vocal “anti-gay” so called “men of god” going so far as to say that “God says you, Lesbians and Gays (emphasis mine) deserve death!” In 2004, he and his congregation strongly supported the amending of the Georgia state constitution banning Same Couple Marriage. Long has made no secret of his complete HATE of Lesbians and Gays. This self loathing GAY MAN has now been exposed for being the exact thing that he preaches against!
Long is being charged by two men, Anthony Flagg and Maurice Robinson of sexual abuse. In Flagg’s suit Long is being accused of “sexual acts and relationships for his own personal gratification.” In Robinson’s suit he claims that Eddie “selected certain young men and employees for sexual acts and relationships for his own personal gratification.” Robinson also claims that “jewelry, cars, clothes, and electronics” were used to entice these boys into doing what Long wanted them to do. These young men were well known in the church as the “Spiritual Sons” of Longs. These are the same young men who he was “mentoring on their masculine journey!” I guess we now have a new term for GAY MALE SEXUAL ACTS!
Reports say that Longs’ church is what is called a “mega church” and has over 30,000 members. So to say that he was “god like” would be an understatement. Robinson’s suit says that Eddie used “pastoral sessions” where he read bible passages that reinforced his control over the boys. As to why he thought this kind of activity would continue is beyond me.
At some point, no matter what the situation, the abused person will realize that what is being done to them is wrong. Some people will internalize what happened to them by using drugs and alcohol to self medicate. Others will begin to burn, cut, or mutilate themselves to ease the pain. Still others will externalize their anger and become violent to anyone or anything that comes across their paths. How many boys, now grown men, came across the path of an accused PREDATOR named Eddie L Long, who went on to abuse other people? Only time will tell. Because just like the catholic church, once the first few cases of abuse came to light and lawsuits were filed, there was soon an onslaught. I can’t wait to see how many other men come forward and take the first steps into healing their souls!
Eddie, I must say that I am LOVING what is happening to you know. Because your sermons have been MEAN SPIRITED and certainly not something that the god in the bibles condones. Your lack of “christian love” has been heard loud and clear. And as you said in one of your videos, “And if they don’t change, they’re going straight to hell. Homosexuality and lesbianism are spiritual abortions,” …. “Homosexuality is a manifestation of the fallen man.” I guess YOU must have fallen too Mr. Long. Right out of the closet!
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Back in February of 2008, Michelle Obama, the new first lady of the United States of America, made a comment that she hadn’t been proud to be an American for some 26 years. She was vilified in the press for that comment and many people questioned whether America should elect someone whose wife is ashamed of the country he wants to lead. What many white people failed to realize it that the sentiment that Michelle stated spoke for millions of African Americans in this country. And for 25 years of my adult life, that included me!
Any African American of “Generation X” is old enough to know what happened in the 40′s, 50′s, and 60′s, and young enough to know that while some things have changed, many have just been hidden under the rug. When I heard the comment and the ensuing brouhaha, my first reaction was “yeah and.” The real problem is that many white people, even those who say they have “Black friends” have never sat down and had a REAL CONVERSATION, about each other’s true feelings about race in this country. A conversation that doesn’t point fingers, that doesn’t accuse, but just lays it/racism as we see it. If and when that conversation ever occurs, race relations will take another giant leap forward.
The thought that a Black man would be elected to be president in my lifetime was unfathomable. Yet on November 4, 2008, history was made. Barack Obama was elected president. And his message of inclusion obviously struck a cord that transcended race, age, occupation, sex, and sexual preference. While Obama’s “message of inclusion” created history, not only for America, but for the world, his message was certainly lost for 52 percent of californians.
Continue reading “Proud to me an American and ashamed to be a californian” »