''The Proposition 8 campaign has had a record of shameful lies and trying to trick voters. This is yet another example of that.'' Fred Sainz, a spokesperson for the effort to fight against Proposition 8 in California, reacting to a new flyer targeting black voters that could easily give them the impression that Obama endorses the anti-gay marriage voter initiative. ... [Read]
October 2008 Archives
''I haven't seen the other side condemn the attack, which speaks volumes about the kind of campaign they have run and who they are as people.'' Geoff Kors, a spokesperson for the ''No on Proposition 8" campaign which seeks to stop the anti-gay marriage voter initiative from passing. His group's gay-supportive website was hit with a Distributed Denial of Service ... [Read]
''The idea that we would be forced as clergy to perform a marriage that was against our conscience, or that a church would lose its tax-exempt status, is ridiculous.... I have not heard of a single Catholic church forced to marry someone who has been divorced, or a rabbi forced to perform an interfaith marriage or an evangelical church forced ... [Read]
''We think that these genetic differences might reduce testosterone action and under masculinise the brain during foetal development.... There is a social stigma that transsexualism is simply a lifestyle choice, however our findings support a biological basis of how gender identity develops.'' Lauren Hare, a researcher associated with an Australian genetics study of 112 male-to-female transgender volunteers that concludes that ... [Read]
''There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population.'' Pastor Rick Warren, a mega-church pastor who's most famous for a best-selling religious book called "A Purpose-Driven Life." (Baptist Press) ... [Read]
''Maybe people don't want to talk about it, but it is definitely a major issue. They feel [gay marriage] takes away from the image of the strong, black family. I think it's a shame that those of us who are gay or bisexual and want to be responsible for our families are not even allowed to because family members ... [Read]
''Until we make laws that make it clear these attacks are not OK, the nation will continue to be scarred.'' Neil Giuliano of GLAAD responding to an FBI report on hate crimes for 2007. The statistics showed that of 7624 reported, 1,265 were for a result of sexual orientation. That was a 6% increase over the previous year. The overall ... [Read]
Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens, 84, who was convicted of receiving and not reporting $250,000 in gifts from a disgraced executive in the oil services industry, had voted against the interests of gay and lesbian people in his decades-long Congressional service. He received a 0% favorable rating from Human Rights Campaign, and according to On The Issues had a mostly anti-gay ... [Read]
''She has been telling everyone over and over that she's still into guys. She keeps saying if anything went wrong with Sam she would date a guy next. She even flirts with guys when they go out.'' An unnamed friend talking to the New York Daily News about Lindsay Lohan. The actress has been somewhat coy about her relationship with ... [Read]
''We did invite Bill [Shatner to our wedding], and we didn't hear from him.... What's really important to us right now is this Proposition 8, this very discriminatory law that's trying to take away our beautiful marriage. And I have another invitation for Bill. I invite him to join us in voting "No" and campaigning "No" on Proposition 8.... Actually, ... [Read]
''Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees' same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person's fundamental rights -- including the right to marry -- should not be affected by their sexual ... [Read]
''Oh, cricket? It's a fag game. What are you, nuts?'' Entertainer Jerry Lewis, 82, at a press conference in Australia, responding to a question on what he thought of that nation's national sport. (Philly.com) ... [Read]
''Everyone uses fear in the last part of a campaign, but evangelicals are especially theologically prone to those sorts of arguments. There's a long tradition of predicting doom and gloom.'' Clyde Wilcox, a Georgetown University political scientist, in response to Focus on the Family's imagined "Letter from 2012" that tells of a near future where Barack Obama has won ... [Read]
''Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error. Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. ... The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given ... [Read]
'''You have to look at whether or not you isolate and segregate children. A holistic approach has always been to have children of all different backgrounds in schools. When you start isolating children and you say, 'Only 50 percent here, 40 percent here' -- same thing we went through with the disabled -- then you want to do that when ... [Read]
''I don't know if you saw this, but vice presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin says that she's in favor of a Federal ban on gay marriage. Basically, she wants to change the Constitution. So, if you're wondering -- I'm sure you are -- how I feel about this, I don't like it. I don't like it. I don't agree.... And ... [Read]
''This is a public library. We are here to be welcoming of all families of all kinds.'' Laura Holbrook, one of several Calvert County library trustees who voted unanimously to back the Director's decision to keep an illustrated children's book (about two male penguins hatching an adopted egg together) in the book section dedicated to kids. (Washington Post) ''It is ... [Read]
''For the Jewish clergy, the issues were different. They loved the gay thing; the interfaith thing was an issue. That was a surprise. Reason #37 on the list of "Why I love Jews" is that when it comes to fighting for civil rights, the Jews are always right there at the forefront. The synagogues in our area have always been ... [Read]
''I learned how a prince married a prince, and I can marry a princess!'' Quote from a child actor's lines used in a Proposition 8 commercial that is designed to scare California voters into thinking that their kids will be made gay at school and that there's nothing they can do about it. The two commercials point at Massachusetts and ... [Read]
Obviously, [George Takei] hiding his homosexuality -- talk about festering and not living the truth of your life, and feeling badly about yourself, and being fearful that somebody might find out this terrible, terrible secret, so he thought. Finally, at the age of 70, he decides to come out of the closet and say, "I'm gay." Like, who cares? Be ... [Read]
''I am. In my own, state, I have voted along with the vast majority of Alaskans who had the opportunity to vote to amend our Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I wish on a federal level that that's where we would go because I don't support gay marriage. I'm not going to be out there ... [Read]
''They just started calling us haters. Our children were around us. They started calling us haters. And all they really know of us is, they drove up to the street, we live across the street from a school. I have a big sign on my house. And that qualifies as bigotry.'' Bob Sunstrom speaking on camera to a CBS5 reporter. ... [Read]
''There seems to be a wedge put between African American Christians and the LGBT community. I think that's not cool. I pray regularly. I think Jesus would have hung out with gay people. He hung out with all kinds of people. I don't think he would have wanted the state to tell people who they could love and who they ... [Read]
''I hit the wall. I began to develop breasts, and when my periods came, it was the most horrible time of my life.... I was nervous about the surgery. But excited beyond belief. I counted down every day on my calendar. All I could think about was getting the best male body I could.'' Ty Clark, a 18-year-old FTM ... [Read]
''I think it's so important. We are just not kind enough to each other, you know. And there's no reason why kids should go to school and it not be a safe place for them, and they should not be accepted.... I have plenty of gay friends that I love to death, and I would never want to do or ... [Read]
''For us, it's a civil rights issue. We don't believe people should be treated differently.'' President David Sanchez, President of the California Teachers Association, a teachers union that has just given an additional $1 million to fight against the Proposition 8 campaign that seeks to overturn gay marriage by a voter initiative in that state. Sanchez also added that the ... [Read]
''We were in class on Monday and started talking about how all you see are the 'Yes on Prop 8' signs and we noticed how wrong that was and organized this. We just thought eight students were going to show up but almost 90 people are here.... I'm a Republican and I'm straight but I still think we shouldn't ... [Read]
"I do not believe in the message and agenda that this club advocates for. I do not believe this event is beneficial to our campus ... and I believe our student fees could be put to better use. ... I am by no means a bigot or discriminatory toward anyone. I have, for my entire life, been guided by a ... [Read]
Series of new Public Service Announcements from ThinkBeforeYouSpeak trying to get people to stop using the insulting expression, ''That's so gay.'' The slang term, if you didn't know, is something many young people tend to say when they think that something is stupid or worth ridicule. Actress and comedian Wanda Sykes appears in one of the shorts that attempt to ... [Read]
''It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald's remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any 'homosexual agenda' as defined by the American Family Association.'' Portion of an alleged memo from McDonald's headquarters sent out to franchisees regarding the end of the company's support for the NGLCC, a promotional organization for gay business owners. ... [Read]
''We say marriage is ordained by God. If it's ordained by God, then it's not something that you or I or anybody else -- the state, a judge -- can affect and change the definition.... The church must be a voice about moral issues, social issues that affect the lives of pepole. If the church is quiet in that, then ... [Read]
''I keep in touch with everyone but Eve [Plum]. I have great relationships with all of them.... [Eve and I] were very close. We were best friends. And, um -- yeah. I find it really sad that we don't see each other anymore. I miss her a lot.... I was on a show once, a late night show five years ... [Read]
''It is not going to be a 'gay high school,' but yes, in a way, it is meant to target kids who feel they have been victims of bullying for their sexual orientation or perceived orientation.... It's about creating another option for kids. When it comes down to it, though, it is all about having a choice and providing high-quality ... [Read]
''How is marriage protected by intimidating gay and lesbian people into loveless and lonely lives? I am morally compelled to vote no on Proposition 8.... I know these words of truth will cost me dearly. But to withhold them . . . I would become an accomplice to a moral evil that strips gay and lesbian people not only of ... [Read]
''This is a great victory for me and anyone who believes in equality. It gives me hope that the Georgia Supreme Court did what was right and did not buy into hate-based politics. I still have a dream to server my community and I'm not giving up.''Michelle Bruce, a transgender candidate who ran for the Riverdale City Council in ... [Read]
''Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice. To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others'' Justice Richard N. Palmer, writing ... [Read]
''We wanted something with a little pop to it, and we wanted to neutralize an epithet, like a lot of groups have done with the word 'queer.' ... They said we were in violation of several regulations. We didn't have to change the name, but we couldn't put any emphasis on the acronym. We couldn't put it in bold.'' ... [Read]
Governor Palin called for 'tolerance', and we hoped she'd show that type of leadership as Governor with this proclamation. Coming out is a difficult and deserves recognition. We were asking for the Governor to acknowledge and recognize the dignity of openly-gay Alaskans. We weren't asking for a policy position, beyond simple acknowledgement.'' Marsha Buck of Alaskans Together, a gay rights ... [Read]
''We found that many senior citizens who choose to stay unmarried, have the potential to loose their pension benefits, 401(k) benefits, hospital visitation rights, and a lot of other benefits they rely on.'' Carlos Carbonell of Florida Red & Blue which seeks to prevent Amendment 2 from being passed in Florida. (Central Florida News 13) ... [Read]
''We've actually tried to address issues that haven't changed. It's been ten years. Why haven't things progressed further than they have?... The level of ignorance is just -- it's amazing that people just don't know more about the civil rights that are being denied the gay community, and we're moving forward and working at the grassroots level now trying ... [Read]
''As a result of not being able to match dollar for dollar, we have seen a change.'' Geoff Kors, of Equality California, pleading for more funding for the fight against Proposition 8, a bill to be decided by voters on adding a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages again in that state. Anti-gay groups (mostly funded by Mormon, Catholic and ... [Read]
''After Nov. 4, it's possible the door to having that experience of a legally recognized marriage will be closed. And faced with that, many couples have, to some degree, rushed to get married in order to assure that they are legally recognized.'' Kate Kendell of the National Center for Lesbian Rights remarking on a UCLA Williams Institute study that finds ... [Read]
''I don't have a problem discussing the topic of somebody being gay, but I do have a problem discussing my personal life. You don't get that part of me. Sorry. We're not discussing it in our meetings, we're not discussing it at Cover Girl. They don't get it... nobody gets that. I don't feel like I need to share ... [Read]
''We thank Barack Obama, even if he's not supporting it, for helping us. We think it's going to push us over the top .'' Sonja Eddings Brown of ''Protect Marriage,'' an organization that seeks to overturn gay marriage in California through Proposition 8. She's relying on religious black voters to turn up to vote for Obama and then to also ... [Read]
''How many of you are in need of some hope here tonight? How many of you are at the end of your rope? How many are ready for an encounter with the Lord?'' ''I live a life of denial and I love it. I didn't choose my same-sex feelings but I do choose how I'm going to steward them. ... [Read]
During the text exchange, Morley told Mr Oldfield he had "never been properly happy being gay". Mr Oldfield, who was openly gay and sold ads for a gay lifestyle magazine, replied: "Try me ... I'm not your average poof," the Daily Mail said. The pair exchanged increasingly affectionate messages and arranged to meet at a bar in Leeds, with ... [Read]
"[A] complete and total victory for our fire department.... That's what this was about. This was about greed. This was about getting money in their pockets.'' San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre who was defending the decision by Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, who is a lesbian, to require firefighters to participate in the city's Gay Pride Parade by driving ... [Read]
A majority of young white evangelical Christians support legal recognition of civil unions or marriage for same-sex couples. Fifty-eight percent of young white evangelicals support some form of legal recognition of civil unions or marriage for same-sex couples; a quarter (26 percent) support the full right for same-sex couples to marry. White evangelicals over age 30 are less supportive: ... [Read]
''There are very particular areas that make us a more vulnerable constituency of old people. We tend to age alone, with no one to call on in times of need," she said. "We don't have a daughter to move in with us -- we don't have a kid to call when we're admitted to the hospital because we fall and ... [Read]
''The campaign has cancelled Sen. Biden's schedule today and tomorrow because of a serious illness in Jill Biden's family. Hospice has advised the Bidens to remain close by, and we appreciate everyone's respect for the family's privacy.'' David Wade, a spokesperson for Senator Joe Biden who was scheduled to appear at tonight's annual Human Rights Campaign Dinner at the Convention ... [Read]
Newsweek has found in their own archives an interview where Sarah Palin of 2007 seems to be at odds with Sarah Palin in last week's debate on the subject of same-sex benefits. Sarah Palin as U.S. Vice Presidential Candidate in Ocotober 2, 2008 debate: PALIN: But in that tolerance, also, no one would ever propose -- not in a McCain-Palin ... [Read]
''It's absolutely a conflict. He was voting on Fannie Mae at a time when he was involved with a Fannie Mae executive. How is that not germane?.... If this had been his ex-wife and he was Republican, I would bet every penny I have - or at least what's not in the stock market - that this would be ... [Read]
''The state of moral health in our nation is challenging and we are concerned about the mushrooming of lesbianism and homosexuality. Ten years ago, this phenomena was not there, but the disease has penetrated everywhere.... It is true that the law on homosexuality is not comprehensive and that the criminals ju st walk away and police find it difficult ... [Read]
Debate Moderator Gwen Ifil: Do you support, as they do in Alaska, granting same-sex benefits to couples? Sen Joe Biden: Absolutely. Do I support granting same-sex benefits? Absolutely, positively. Look, in an Obama-Biden administration, there will be absolutely no distinction from a Constitutional stand-point or a legal stand-point between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple. The fact of the ... [Read]
''Donations should not be at the expense of minority populations or make the reader feel inferior.... These books were not research based. There were not facts to back it up.'' Susan Thornley, coordinator of library information services for Fairfax County, VA speaking by phone with WAMU radio news. A group of Christian student protesters are claiming censorship and a ... [Read]
''One of the reasons I'm strongly for Palin is because the Democrats in Alaska are assholes. And half of the stuff that the media has reported about Palin that's negative was perpetrated by that small group of assholes.... Palin keeps her politics separate from her beliefs--her personal values, her religion, all of that.... I blame [her endorsement for a constitutional ... [Read]
''Gov. Palin didn't ramble uncomfortably about a 'lifestyle' or use the opportunity to reiterate her opposition to marriage for gay couples. She didn't use the opportunity to express opposition to any gay rights legislation. Gay Democrats are pouncing on her use of the word 'choice' in talking about gay people. But, when asked the direct question by Charlie Gibson in ... [Read]
''I'm a liberal Democrat. And I do not favor same-sex marriage. Do those positions sound contradictory? To me, they fit together.... Every child being raised by gay or lesbian couples will be denied his birthright to both parents who made him. Every single one. Moreover, losing that right will not be a consequence of something that at least most of ... [Read]
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