Away! Away! Away!

Off to Charleston -- maybe for the last time ever -- pray we stay in the air!

PS Check out the ad that I saw on QueerCincinnati.com, weird, huh? Especially considering the Scientologists are threatening (we think) to out John Travolta, at least his personal secrets, if he leaves the0 church cult religion practice.

Guest Blog: Gays vs. Media

I am ever open to guest bloggers, and Jason of Out-With-it-Already has appeared regularly here at QueerCincinnati.com. He forwards this on to post here with our happy little nest of queer Cincinnati bloggers :-).

Let's talk this all out, shall we?

Yesterday, NPR.org published an article titled, "Black Ministers In D.C. Divided Over Gay Marriage," detailing the vocal opposition from predominantly African-American churches in D.C. to the recently approved bill that recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other states.

We've got some good stuff in here:

"Like many evangelicals, Walker reads the Bible as the literal word of God. And he sees in those pages a blueprint for a healthy family. It's not the only blueprint. Walker himself was raised by a single mother, and he appreciates the grandparents in his church who raise their grandkids.

"I'm not taking away from that," he says. "But I think God's perfect order for family is mom and dad.""

News flash: The world ain't perfect and it never will be. But thanks for playin', buddy!

"In 2007, Wiley and his co-pastor — his wife, Christine — held two same-sex blessings, prompting two-thirds of their congregation to leave. Since then, they've attracted new members who were looking for a gay-friendly black church."

OK. I'll take acceptance wherever I can get it but I have serious reservations when religious folk--well-intentioned as they usually are--begin meddling in same-sex marriage. I appreciate the Wileys' commitment to the inclusion of same-sex couples in the institution of marriage but when they give blessings to these marriages they are misleading the general public into believing that same-sex marriage advocates aim to require religious entities to recognize and perform same-sex marriages. As I've always understood it, at least, same-sex couples are seeking civil marriage. Civil. As in not religious. Of course, many people--including LGBT people--are religious, so I can understand that some same-sex couples should desire any form of affirmation of their union from their respective religion. But this is dangerous territory we are entering, folks. When the general public believes same-sex marriages are happening in places of worship, then they are likely to vote against legislation allowing same-sex marriage because they overwhelmingly wish to preserve the tradition of their faith community.

"Wiley acknowledges that there are a handful of biblical passages condemning homosexuality. But he says blacks don't take the Bible literally when it comes to racial issues.

"The Bible says, 'Slaves, be obedient to your master,' etc. Well, we don't hear black people saying, 'OK, we got to stick with that,' " Wiley says. "Yet when it comes to the issue of homosexuality, then people are running to the Bible.""

You speak great truth, Reverend Wiley.

"For Wiley, who studied under liberation theologian James Cone, gay rights are simply the next step in the civil rights movement. Like blacks, he says, homosexuals did not choose this life.

But Walker calls the comparison "ludicrous."

"When I talk to most people of African descent, many of them are absolutely appalled by any comparison to the civil rights movement, simply because we cannot take off our blackness," Walker says."

Just as you, Reverend Walker, cannot "take off [your] blackness," I cannot opt out of a feeling; I do not control attraction. Sure, I could make the CHOICE not to live openly and to deny my identity but I cannot CHOOSE to whom I am attracted. You, on the other hand, can CHOOSE to refrain from rhetoric that persecutes and marginalizes people seeking civil rights and protections completely outside of the religious realm in which you operate.

Here is an additional thought I have:

The media might also be holding us back. I'll explain.

When reporting on marriages of same-sex couples, the language is almost always "gay marriage." We need to move away from this notion of "gay marriage" and here's why: Gay marriage sounds like "other marriage." What I mean by this is that it sounds exactly like same-sex couples are in fact redefining marriage.

A marriage is a marriage, and we know that. You know who doesn't know that?: A lot of people in the majority. If we can somehow strike "gay" from "gay marriage" and still find ways to accurately report on same-sex marriages, that'd be fantastic because, let's face it, marriage cannot be gay. Marriage is not an orientation, or an identity, for that matter.

What also doesn't help is that we still live in a world where the word "gay" continues to be used by people when they mean to say something is stupid, silly, or dumb. Translation: bad. So, when people here "gay marriage" is it not too difficult to see how they might be processing same-sex marriage as "bad marriage"?

Now, I recognize the difficulty reporters will have in creating concise headlines and news beats addressing same-sex marriage. Take NPR's headline, "Black Ministers In D.C. Divided Over Gay Marriage." Why do members of the media use the phrase "gay marriage"? Probably because it's short and to the point and also because "same-sex marriage" includes the word "sex" which still shocks a lot of people. Never mind we're talking about someone's actual biological sex and not the act of sexual intercourse. Whose wise idea was it to use this same word--sex--for both? I can say I'm not happy with them.

However, herein lies the problem: Am I expecting that NPR's headline might have read "Black Ministers In D.C. Divided Over Civil Marriages Between Same-Sex Couples"? Yeah, I'm not holding my breath on that one. But in my ideal world it would go something like that because if we allow media to continue using "gay marriage" to define our loving unions, we'll be gettin' wherever we're goin' real slow.

Gay Exorcism Response

In response to this seeming gay exorcism...

The preacher admits that yes, it is a gay exorcism.

And comes off sounding like a crazy, bigoted, blathering idiot. I like the question: "How do you know anything has changed?"

Zack Ford blogs has a great running commentary of the transcript.

Pat Robertson on the Homo's

The transcript, thanks to Towleroad, after Pat Robertson was asked on The 700 Club what to do if your child tells you he's gay:

"I am not at all persuaded that so-called homosexuals are homosexuals because of biological problems. There may be a very few, but there are so many that have been made homosexuals because of a coach or a guidance counselor or some other male figure who has abused them and they think there's something wrong with their sexuality. So you need to get deep into why he is what he is, instead of just saying, 'Well, he's a homosexual so how do I handle him, and how do I be Christian?' Well, I think you ought to tell him, 'Listen, son, you know, here's what the Bible says about this, and it's called an abomination before God, so I've got to tell you the truth because I love you'...I mean, if somebody's on their way to hell, they'll -- I mean, you've got to love them to rescue them."

Love wins out, huh, Patty?

Fred Phelps' Clan in Cincinnati Tomorrow?

Thanks to Ryan M. over at Slouching Towards Manhattan for the phone call about this one.

From the "Upcoming Picket Schedule" on Fred Phelps' and the Westboro Baptist Church's GodHatesFags website, there's a plan to be in Cincinnati... tomorrow morning. Shut up!!!

This is what it says about a possible picket tomorrow morning at 8:15am:

Plum Street Temple - Jews Killed Jesus female rabbi is curse 720 Plum Street We will be at your little celebration to remind you all of a few things which you have forgotten. Here is the face of God's curses, and manifest evidence that God Hates You - you are going to have the first black female rabbi. Like as if that is an accomplishment. The opposite is the truth, and the prophet Isaiah had the same thing happening around him in his day, check it out: Isaiah 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. 10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. 12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. 13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. 14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. 15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts. Also, if you believe that by having the face of this evil woman as your representative before the Beast Obama, he will spare you from his soon-to-be-announced attack on all things Jew and Israel - think again. He is the one who will destroy your people, and will be happy about it. Satan is still angry over the fact that God made a covenant with your ancestors - just like you are angry that God has made a new covenant with the Gentiles. Difference is, God is going to let Obama have his way with you as proper punishment for never having repented for killing Jesus. Wow, you all are in big trouble on every side! AMEN!

Jesus (no pun intended) -- does this mean we have to put up with them tomorrow morning? Gr. Ryan says he's tried to follow up, but cannot confirm their attendance here in the Queen City.

If you aren't aware, Hebrew Union College will ordain (is that the word) the first ever black female rabbi -- and she's convert! It's like a great bit of progressive action for Reform Judaism. It's an amazing story to read about. But, apparently, Fred and friends have a serious problem with this... which is funny because I don't understand how they have anything to do with Judaism except some not-so-subtle anti-Semitism. Why would this matter to them? 

Brother Micah Protest

I had the opportunity to run up the street this afternoon and check out the UC protest of Brother Micah, the incendiary fire-and-brimstone preacher that visits college campuses to stir up trouble preach.

The event was well attended. Brother Micah (abbreviated "BM" from here on out) was cordoned off for his own safety and for his own free speech, as was the group of activists that organized the counter protest. According to Lt. Ken Lewis, the reason for the physical separation was because technically they were two events. Because of the nature of the two events, they thought it was best to provide some physical separation, but only enough so that they could shout back and forth to each other. However, if you were not on the "counter protest" side, you had to mostly stay quiet unless you were engaging BM in meaningful dialogue.

The protestors, with rainbow flags and signs, were not there for meaningful dialogue.

No single group on campus organized the event, but was, instead, organized from the ground up by local activists. The UC groups assisted in promotion but it was no one person's baby. The crowd grew and shrunk as college students passed by between classes, and I would say that there was probably, at the largest point while I was there, a good 250-300 total individuals listening, and probably a good 100-150 counter protestors. There were some in the listening group that were there against BM, but they had to keep quiet.

I had a chance to speak to Kevin Wallen, a freshman at UC who is a devout Methodist and a reformed atheist, who was against BM. Why? "Because he preaches out of context to make it sound like Jesus is not accepting."

"It's blasphemous," freshman Mike Butler, freshman and Catholic, added. It was Butler's cross necklace that drove me to ask them their thoughts. They are, for the record, very much against the work of BM simply because of his judgmental nature and his blanket statements telling people they are going to hell. "You cannot say you are without sin," Butler added, moments before BM started quoting Matthew 7 -- "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Ironic, perhaps.

For their part, the "homoclub," as BM called them, were loud and raucous. They shouted jokes and taunts to the streetside preacher. I wonder, though, how helpful some of their ongoing commentary was -- asking BM when the last time he "fucked his wife in her ass" probably doesn't sit well with a loving and open movement. Nor do jokes about Jesus, for the record. The crowd did cheer everytime he said the word "homosexual," and they began chanting "No more hate" near the end of my time. BM responded, "BOOOOORING!"

Oh, Brother Micah? 

It was an interesting experience, there on the campus, and I left feeling uncertain and unsure. The attendance was strong, the crowd was engaged, it seemed like a lot of fun, and there were some great signs and protestors... but, I wonder if there wasn't a better way to handle it. I bristled when the obscenities flew because I felt like it wasn't the best method. However, for their part, the UC students rocked it out today and I have to give 'em credit...

...they sure did give BM the hell he deserved. 

For the full flickr set, click here.

2010: Year of the Bible?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) has introduced a bill to declare 2010 "The Year of the Bible" in the US in the hopes of "calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture." In responses:

"Does that mean 2009 is not the year of the Bible?" asked Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who is Jewish. Referring to the Islamic holy book, he added, "What is 2012 the year of, the Quran?"

HA! Well done, Barney, even though I'm not happy with you most days, right on!

You know, back in my American Government class in high school, we had a discussion about the House versus the Senate. One of the purposes of the House, with its huge membership and short term lengths, was to allow the crazies a place at the table. Sure, a few nutjob ideas and bills would come out of the larger (or "lesser") house, but it would be chopped off first by the "elder statesmen" (the Senate) and, of course, the President (though we've discovered in recent years a nutjob can get in there, as well). Anyways, we'll chalk this up to one of those and hope for the best.

The bill has 15 (!!!) co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Westboro Goes After the Jews

Why would Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church go after the Jews after all these years of just attacking LGBT folks... oh, and dead soldiers. Fred's daughter explains:

While picketing outside the Washington office of the Anti-Defamation League last Friday, Phelps' daughter Margie told JTA that the group is now focusing on the Jewish community because church members have been “testifying” to gentiles for 19 years that “America is doomed” and they haven't gotten the message.

“Now it's too late," she said. "We're done with them.”

Margie Phelps added, “one of the loudest voices” in favor of homosexuality and abortion is “the Jews, especially the rabbis.”

“They claim to be God's chosen people,” she said. “Do you think that God is going to wink at that forever?”

I'm sure God has a lot to say on the subject, Maggie, but I don't think you're going to like it one bit. And since when do you get to decide who's in and out? "We're done with them?" Oh, ok, very scary.

I was really hoping there would be a GodHatesRabbis.com site up... there's not :-(. I'm looking forward to some good old fashion anti-Semitic propaganda to fill my day.

Biblicial UFOlogy

At July's Roswell UFO Festival, a Christian group known as "Alien Resistance" will outline its new Biblical interpretation of UFO phenomenon: that unidentified flying objects are, in fact, evil spirits from the Bible. Seriously, folks.

From a Biblical Christian perspective it becomes clear that 'aliens' are actually the evil spirits of the Bible," contend the group, which will also use the symposium to deliver its message on counter-cult evangelism, creationism, and spiritual warfare.

"This idea is backed up experientially with the evidence of numerous testimonies of 'abductees', which show that 'alien abduction' experiences stop in the name and authority of Jesus Christ," the statement continued.

"Also the sinful behaviors of the 'aliens' behind abductions, the false gospels and new age messages they proclaim, and their supernatural powers so very reminiscent of those described in the Bible as being had by angels, all adds up to make clear that 'aliens' are in fact the evil spirits of the Bible," it said.

I am without words. There are some things you just cannot make up.

Joe the Obnoxious Plumber

Sam Wurzelbacher -- the idealized image of America's heartland as told by the McCain campaign -- just won't shut up. Sam takes a brave and uninformed stance in Christianity Today, amidst musings about wehter John McCain was a good choice and whether Sarah Palin should really be President:

At a state level, it's up to them. I don't want it to be a federal thing. I personally still think it's wrong. People don't understand the dictionary—it's called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It's not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we're supposed to do—what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we're supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I've had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn't have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they're people, and they're going to do their thing.

Between him and Carrie Prejean, our opposition should really start looking for better spokepeople. Or people that, at least, make sense when they talk.

Nate Phelps Speaks!

Nate Phelps, Fred's estranged son, spoke on April 11th to the American Atheist Convention in Georgia. He speaks about his life growing up as a Phelps, as well as his own personal struggle with god and spirituality due to the harshness of Fred's theology. It is an amazing testimony and worth the time it takes to peruse through it:

We learned that every thought and deed was laced with moral implications, that every decision was a decision for or against god’s will. If a judge ruled against one of my father’s clients, his raging eventually and inevitably became a righteous rant about the judge defying god, and attacking his people. Our father explained to us over and over about how our hearts were deceitful and desperately wicked. Our education about the world was profoundly colored by this fundamental assumption. One of my earliest doubts about our faith rose from the question that if, in fact, the Adamic race is so thoroughly cursed with this moral corruption, how is it that we so willingly turn to the writings of corrupt men to find our salvation?

Many Sunday sermons were spent poring over the nuances of Old Testament stories where Yahweh had brought his people to the point of despair then delivered their enemies into their hands with some violent, miraculous intervention. While it was clear that god was unyielding toward his enemies, it was equally clear that he seemed quite willing and even eager to violently strike down his appointed ones at the slightest provocation...

[After coming home to find his mother crying and her hair crudely cut...]
In my father’s world, obscure standards and requirements that he dug out of the Bible were far more important than improving one’s character, or demonstrating kindness towards others. When he took those blades to my mother’s head, he was making a powerful assertion that he had absolute control over her very salvation. So ingrained were these beliefs that I remember fearing that, by cutting her hair, my father had condemned her to eternal damnation.

Thanks to JereKeys for the heads up on this one.

And for people that are following, make sure you keep up to date on Belly of the Beast -- Gossip-Boy.com's expose of the growing movement surrounding, of all people, Anita-freakin-Bryant. The newest section is late is due out any day now.

Religious Exemptions

In an otherwise cool article entitled "Faith Groups Increasingly Losing Legal Battles Over Gay Rights," an interesting line popped out at me:

Gay rights groups said they do not object to making faith groups' religious jobs exempt from the discrimination laws but that offering services to the public is different.

Hrm. Religious exemptions are lines that exempt religious institutions/organizations/etc. from honoring anti-discrimination or marriage laws based on their religious traditions.

Well, hrm, I think, hrm...* I mean, I don't know. I guess I need to learn more about how important and how true these religious arguments can be, in the face of generations of 100% true feelings towards minorities.

*Note: Literally the first things that popped up on Google when I searched.

When will your state VOTE FOR gay marriage?

From the brilliant mind of Nate Silver over at FiveThirtyEight.com, we have a regression model predicting the likelihood of a state voting to legalize (or to not illegalize, rather) gay marriage. Good news? By 2012, almost have the states in the union, based on polling trends, would vote in favor of equality. Bad news? By 2012, Iowa would lose that fight 50.6 to 49.4.

2012 is the very earliest a constitutional amendment could go to the voters in Iowa to overturn the Supreme Court's decision to legalize marriage.

From his post, here is the breakdown:

2009 (now)
Vermont
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Maine
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Nevada*
Washington
Alaska*
New York
Oregon*

2010
California*
Hawaii
Montana*
New Jersey
Colorado*

2011
Wyoming
Delaware
Idaho*
Arizona*

2012
Wisconsin*
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Illinois

2013
Michigan*
Minnesota
Iowa
Ohio*
Utah*
Florida*

2014
New Mexico
North Dakota*
Nebraska*
South Dakota*

2015
Indiana
Virginia*
West Virginia
Kansas*

2016
Missouri*

2018
Texas*

2019
North Carolina
Louisiana*
Georgia*

2020
Kentucky*

2021
South Carolina*
Oklahoma*

2022
Tennessee*
Arkansas*

2023
Alabama*

2024
Mississippi*

As a note, Ohio's equal marriage ban -- Issue 1 in 2004 -- only passed by 55-45 or something similar. That's really close for Ohio.

Of equal importance, perhaps more, he makes this comment about the data:

All of the other variables that I looked at -- race, education levels, party registration, etc. -- either did not appear to matter at all, or became redundant once we accounted for religiosity. Nor does it appear to make a significant difference whether the ban affected marriage only, or both marriage and civil unions.

Did you hear that? The only major variable that matters is religion. I'm sure there's a point there somewhere.

From Church of Our Savior

...one of the LGBT community's strongest faith-based activists in the community. It apparently was a big hit yesterday at the protest -- the image, that is. I got the chance to meet the Rev. Mother Paula Jackson and didn't realize whom I was speaking to. I should have been on one knee.

Thought I'd share the image.

Visit Church of our Savior here.

Catholics Hate Gay Connecticut

The Catholics have lost their freaking minds, out of Connecticut:

The Connecticut Catholic Conference is asking lawmakers to expand the category of those who don't have to comply with the state's new same-sex marriage law if their religion holds that such unions are wrong.

People such as florists, wedding photographers and justices of the peace.

"Same-sex couples have their liberties protected fully. Religious people are wondering, 'How is this going to affect me?'" said David Reynolds, lobbyist for the Catholic Church.

Reynolds raised his concerns Friday as the legislature's judiciary committee considered a bill to ensure that existing statutes comport with the landmark state Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.

"A situation has been created ... where state policy seriously conflicts with the religious beliefs of a large number of the citizens of the state," Reynolds said. He cited examples in other states where businesspeople have faced legal action because they declined, on religious grounds, to provide goods or services to same-sex couples.

Don't the Catholics have some souls to save? Some counseling to do? Some sermons to preach? Something else to do besides encourage discrimination against LGBT people in the state?

I mean really. It's been a weird week for gay people.

Don't forget the shady shit done by the Kentucky Senate in advancing the anti-gay adoption bill. Apparently, when you're losing, just play dirty politics and everything will be OK.

COMMUNITY EVENT: What was the sin of sodomy?

Thanks be to Mother Chanak for all her infinite connectedness. I think, actually, Kevin Bleyle (of Integrity Cincinnati, the sponsoring organization) sent me this, too, but I have been in a strange state of affairs these last few days so I apologize.

INTEGRITY CINCINNATI

Sunday 22 March, 3-6 p.m. at COS

What Was the Sin of Sodom?

While legal codes and anti-gay preachers have connected "sodomy" and "sodomites" with certain sexual behaviors, a close reading of the biblical texts about Sodom reveals that sexuality was not the concern of this judgment story. On the other hand, the recent drivennness of some sectors to punish LGBT persons is covering up the real issues which the story addresses, for which we should be morally concerned today. Presenter: The Rev. Paula M. Jackson, PhD

Church of Our Saviour is located at 65 East Hollister, Cincinnati, OH

Mother Paula Jackson, btw, is an amazing woman who has influenced this city for the better for a short generation. She promises to give great information, while being the caring, dignified, and respectful pastor that her reputation deems her to be.

If you have a free moment, it should be worth the trip down.

Biblical Marriage

Marriage laws, if they were created in light of Biblical mandates, via the Daily Kos (from December, I know... it's old):

A. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. (Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5)

B. Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21)

C. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed. (Deut 22:13-21)

D. Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden. (Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30)

E. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any State, nor any state or federal law, shall be construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9)

F. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother's widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law. (Gen 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10)

G. In lieu of marriage, if there are no acceptable men in your town, it is required that you get your dad drunk and have sex with him (even if he had previously offered you up as a sex toy to men young and old), tag-teaming with any sisters you may have. Of course, this rule applies only if you are female. (Gen 19:31-36)

It's for a good giggle today.

Discrimination against the haters

Don't be a hater, apparently you will get discriminated against, as well.

From Kentucky.com:

"We're disappointed because Christian students and other students who do not approve of homosexual behavior (are not) second-class citizens simply because of their viewpoint," Oster said.

This is in reaction to the Supreme Court refusing to hear a whiney lawsuit where a Christian boy in rural Kentucky (actually, not that far from here -- Boyd County) said that allowing a GSA and non-discrimination policies for gays and lesbians was discriminatory against him.

Uh-huh.

In other news, apparently fundies in Australia think that gays and lesbians want children as trophies and North Carolina prepares for another bout with a DOMA (review: NC is the only state without a DOMA in the South). Oh, and even in a bluer state, it's okay to call homosexuality an abomination on the state legislative floor.

I mean, really, folks... so much hate for the religious. Why can't we just be a Christian nation to accomodate them?

WV Sniper Ad

This anti-gay ad from West Virginia is drawing some national attention and criticism.

Hrm. I wonder why. Snipers? Really? Inciting violence, what?

Idiots.

(This on the back of the creation of the WV4Marriage.com site.)

Oh, and here's the full five-and-a-half minute video:

It's really funny to watch unreferenced propaganda.

Catholics are sexy

From @WLWT (the full story here):

The most powerful Catholic in Cincinnati is outraged over sex education at the University of Cincinnati.

Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk publicly criticized UC for a week-long program known as Sexploration.

The program features speakers and events, as well as condom giveaways and a “Pizza and Porn” night.

Sponsors include the university's Wellness Center and Pure Pleasure Inc., which sells lotions and sex toys.

People connected with the program say it’s a great educational experience for students and can help them make healthy decisions about sex.

Pilarczyk called the week of activities "profoundly disturbing." He issued a statement Wednesday criticizing the university for allowing what he calls "the gross disregard of the moral sensibilities of many in the university community."

A university spokesman said the program responds to student interest in sexual wellness and health. He said the Wellness Center is supported by student fees, not tuition, and that programs focus on issues of interest to students.

A public relations director for Pure Romance released a statement saying that a major component of the event “is to help students understand all the aspects that are important in maintaining healthy relationships.”

UC students have sex? I would never have guessed. 

[meanspirited]To the Archbishop of Cincinnati: get a clue.[/meanspirited]

When Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come on to unto me" he didn't mean that... Sorry, that was really really really anti-Catholic. But, seriously, fresh out of their child abuse scandal, I'm amazed that the Catholic church has much street cred left on the issue of sex. Let them eat cock, IMHO. 

The UC students, that is, not the abused children or the priests...