Vermont and UN

Two quick follow ups to former blogs:

• On Vermont's gay marriage bill: The Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee may vote today on sending an equal marriage bill to the full State Senate. Four of the officials were in office in 2000 when the civil unions law was put through, thus making Vermont the first state (I believe) to recognize same-sex couples, thanks to Howard Dean. New Hampshire, though, cast a deadlocked vote, effectively freezing it. 
• On the UN Statement to Decriminalize Homosexuality: The United States has officially signed it. Thanks be to jeebus.

Just in case you wanted more information. 

Gainesville (FL) Goes Through Article XII

From Pam's House Blend...

Gainesville, FL is getting a brand spanking new law to fight. Guess what it reads?

Amendment to City Charter Prohibiting the City from Providing Certain Civil Rights

Shall the City Charter Be Amended to prohibit the adoption or enforcement of ordinances, regulations, rules, or policies that provide protected status, preferences, or discrimination claims based on classification, characteristics, or orientations not recognized by the Florida Civil Rights Act. The act recognizes, race, color, creed, religion, gender, national origin, age, handicap, marital and familial status. Additionally, this amendment voids existing ordinances concerning sexual orientation, gender identity, and other ordinances inconsistent with this amendment.

The reason this caught my eye? Because Cincinnati fought this off -- and won -- in 2004. In fact, it looks suspiciously like the old law in Cin-Town. Which law? Famous Article XII:

“The City of Cincinnati …may not enact, adopt, enforce or administer any ordinance, regulation, rule or policy which provides that homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientation, status, conduct, or relationship constitutes, entitles or otherwise provides a person with the basis to have any claim of minority or protected status, quota preference or other preferential treatment.”

It didn't take the commentators long -- the first comment, actually -- to make the connection. And, of course, there's always Romer v. Evans, but does it apply, this time? But, apparently, that only applies to states, even though the SCOTUS tried to send the message to Cinci that this applies here, too.

But, we'll see.

No more Mrs. Nice Guy

I think it's funny that they are blaming the "radical feminists" on this, and not, you know, the growing presence of women in male-dominated arenas, and perhaps the need to respect them.

From LifeSiteNews:

Officials of the European Union have issued a booklet for EU Parliamentary staff, saying that the use of "Miss" and "Mrs" for women, as well as such terms as "statesman" and "fireman," are to be banned on the grounds that they are "sexist."

Any honorifics that distinguish between a married and an unmarried woman in any language are to be banned as well, including "Madame" and "Mademoiselle," "Frau" and "Fraulein," "Senora" and "Senorita." Instead, staff are asked not to use any form of honorific and merely to address women by their names.

"Gender-specific" terms, such as "statesman," are to be replaced with gender-free alternatives, such as "political leader."

What is the possibility of a website just making up information and running with it? Can we do that?

Media Round Up

Picture from the Enquirer Story
So far, I've only hunted down a few bits, but I'll add to this as more become available. Tell me if you see anything else:

• Pre Protest: WCPO Video and Story
• Pre Protest: Enquirer
• Post Protest: Enquirer

Also, check out Bilerico.com -- JereKeys and I guest blogged the build up and the event. Thanks much to Bil for letting us write!!!!

The whole point was to draw attention to the crime, so let's see how far we got with this!!! I'm glad to see that both WCPO and the Enquirer are talking it for what it was -- a hate crime. Media was our goal, and, by golly, I think the Cincinnati organizers did a damn good job.

Pictures from Today's Protest

Our own, Cody, aka "The Seeker."










These guys were lined up on the UC sign, and they all had signs that said "I'm straight" (or shirts). There were there as supporters :-).

Don't have my pictures from my camera up and running yet, but I promise I will in the next 24 hours and I'll post them. But I wanted to share these from my TwitPic Feed real quick.

Fantastic turnout, 250 or so, and great local media there. I haven't had a chance to really assess the media coverage, but I'll be sure to update you as it comes along. Other points of note, keep an eye on StuffQueerPeopleNeedtoKnow, Guerilla Queer Bar, Montgomery Maxton, and Dancing in Public Spaces for more updates.

In case you missed it...

...we have finally confirmed planning stages for NKY Pride 2010 in the comments of this post. 

:-) YEA! I'll keep you updated, of course.

WCPO Coverage of Hate Crime

This is a continuation of the ongoing coverage of the UC Hate Crime that, apparently, was going to be swept quietly under the rug in the city. Let's keep this going shall we. (Protest Post 3/18, Follow Up 3/17, Original Post 3/16). And we will have a twitter feed of the event as it happens including TwitPics as we can get them going from various people -- follow me on Twitter for tomorrow's protest live coverage.

Finally! A news source has picked up the story, here on WCPO:

Police at the University of Cincinnati believe a recent attack near the campus happened because one of the victims is gay.

Police say two people were attacked on March 6 along Clifton Avenue.

Police say one of the victims knew one of the suspects, who attacked both of them when he found out one of them is gay.

Police are still looking for three suspects.

...which is strange, because we don't know who these three suspects are. Anyways, here's the (brief) news story on video, I hope it works this time :-):

As yet, no other news.

My bad, this is the text from WLWT that appeared on the news on 3/11 on the 5:30pm news that never had any online follow up:

A 19 YEAR OLD MAN...
IN COURT TODAY...
ACCUSED OF ATTACKING A MAN BECAUSE HE'S GAY.
ETHAN
KIRKWOOD...
IS FACING TWO COUNTS OF FELONY ASSAULT FOR THE BEATING THAT HAPPENED ON CLIFTON AVENUE LAST WEEK.
POLICE SAY
KIRKWOOD ALSO BEAT UP A FRIEND OF THE VICTIM WHO TRIED TO DEFEND HIM.

So two news stories so far? I'll be curious to see if we hear anything today about the protests.

Alan Keyes on Hate Crimes

Yea. Yea. Yea.

It's almost priceless, blame-the-liberals for the problems of the world that we have come to know and expect from Alan Keyes but... you know what, I'm not going to even do the typical "he brings up a good point here" thing I usually try to pull.

It's just a funny read:

Liberals nowadays are disposed to blather condescendingly about the separation of church and state when it comes to defending the natural family or legally established standards of decency for sexual behavior. Ironically, their penchant for hate crimes legislation seems intent on revisiting the mentality of the medieval statutes that enabled the Inquisition- laws that insisted on states of mind that satisfied a standard of purity in the understanding and observance of sacred ideas, people and things. Much like the special penalties imposed by some religions for mistreatment of sacred groups of people or animals, the proponents of "hate crimes" legislation deal in special classes of people against whom criminal acts are somehow more grievous and offensive.

Pity benighted individuals like me, who actually thought it an advance in jurisprudence when people concluded that actions, rather than thoughts and attitudes, are the proper objects of legal regulation and punishment. How absurd were those philosophers of human liberty who saw efforts to impose purity of thought and attitude as thin excuses for sectarian persecution or vengefulness. Of course, today's benevolent liberals aren't looking for excuses to arrest and try those who disagree with their promotion of homosexuality. They aren't seeking a legal excuse to censor the language of preachers who reject their worship of hedonistic sexuality. They are liberals, whose sole aim is to free the world from every semblance of thought that might produce an evil consequence, provided only that everyone is made to think of good and evil exactly as they do.

Sarcasm aside, hate crimes legislation is the statutory framework for the forceful imposition of a political and social religion. The so-called liberals mean to institutionalize intolerance, even as they loudly proclaim Holy Tolerance as their all in all. Because we seek to protect a form of human life that they despise, they defame as bigots or religious fanatics people working to re-establish respect for the law against abortion. Meanwhile they move boldly to use the force of law to punish the thoughts and attitudes of any who move against the sacred untouchables of their new cult of sexual pleasure and self-indulgence. Behind their phony slogans of hope and progress comes the return of Dark Age zealotry, dressed up in the fleshy tones of New Age vanity and glamour.

You know, I have to say this: I read it a few times, and one thing struck me -- Alan Keyes runs a blog? And it's hosted on Blogger?

Didn't he run for President once? Oh, and for Senator of a state he didn't live in? Oh, and has he made up with his lesbian daughter, or is he still the pinnacle of Christian family policy, having cast her out?

Sorry. My point is the same: Alan Keyes has a blog? Does anyone care?

Oh, and apparently you can follow him on Twitter. Weird. I think most of the world just wished he disappeared into the "also ran" category of history and gone home to (Maryland? Illinois? where is he from? where is he running for office?) and been quiet. I wonder if, at some point, the GOP looked at their African-American national players (Keyes, Blackwell, and Steele) and went, "Seriously? This is the best we can do?" There are better ones, I promise you. I'm just making fun.

When E-mails Get Out

From the Hayword...

An anonymous parent sent this letter out to parents at Castro Valley High School in response to an ordained lesbian speaking to their class about coming out of the closet. The speech was part of a two day celebration known as Diversity Day which, as the newsstory notes, also included information one what it's like to be Japanese American, a foster kid, and a cowboy (which, in California, you can be all four in one!!! Foster gay, Japanese cowboys unite!)

Unfortunately, this parent missed the point and shot of their mouth and, instead, decided to come out as a complete asshole, instead.

CVHS Parent Alert

Concerned Parents, Thursday, March 12, 2009

Time to WAKE UP!

After yet another day of devastation in today’s society that is me trying to preserve my job, house and family, tonight at dinner my CVHS student tells me that his math class was interrupted by a guest speaker for the first time this year. This speaker starts out describing herself as a pastor at Eden Church of Hayward. Then she immediately goes into some tirade about being gay and transgender and coming out of the closet.

I am thinking didn’t I just sign like 5 permission slips from Health Class on just how much brainwashing I am willing to accept being inflicted on my impressionable child at this young age. How much control I am willing to give up so that I can focus on surviving the enormity of events that occur daily that can sink the best of us into giving up.

Now I find out that the influence of the gay agenda at CVHS is much worse than I had been led to believe. I already knew that most of my child’s teachers were gay. So what else is new? The hysteria over Proposition 8 has gone so far past tolerance now that outright brainwashing is the new new plan to influence future voters. As a lifelong bay area resident I have become accustomed to the constant barrage in all media about gay parade this and gay everything that. I have got a news flash for you. Some people are more concerned about keeping their jobs, homes and families together than worrying about whether every gay person in the bay area is treated perfectly every minute of every day.

Guess what we are all mistreated everyday! My parents mistreated me. The last cop that gave me a ticket mistreated me. The punk rocker with his IPod in his ear that gave me my coffee at Starbucks this morning mistreated me. The Governor, Legislature, County Board of Supervisors, School Board, Sanitary Board and even the Neighborhood Watch guy mistreated me ten times in the last five minutes and I don’t even know it yet.

So I am asking why is math class interrupted for the gay mantra, because the pendulum has swung too far yet again. On one side we are never allowed to have an abortion even if it kills you and on the other we are constantly pressured to think politically correct or we are labeled as some type of intolerant ogre.

I am really getting sick of all this. Can’t I just raise my family the best way I know how? Can’t I teach my child that the middle of the road is OK. That you do not have to sacrifice your life for some extremist cause because that is what the establishment is pressuring me and my child to do.

This slide show presentation in math class today was over the top. The kids were given step by step instructions on how to become gay and transsexual. They were given a list of websites to visit some of which were so disgusting that they should be labeled porn sites. How many other classes has this occurred in? How long has this been going on? Where is the oversight? Did CVHS Principal Pete Alverez sanction this or is the situation beyond his control and sanctioned by the CV School Board. Call and ask himat 510-537-5910 ext. 3801

I do not know about all of you parents but this is not the Continued Excellence as we were promised in the last election just four months ago.

Something needs to be changed!

Signed,
Concerned CVHS Parent

You know, I wish, as a kid, someone had put a PowerPoint up with step-by-step instructions on how to be gay. It would have made my 12th-17th years of life a tad easier ... well, definitely my 12th-14th years of life.

I wonder how the kids felt about it; I mean, before their parents told them how they felt about it.
I can't wait for Day of Silence when these nutjobs and half-wits come out of the woodwork and scream about gay people forcing their agenda down their throats. Sweetheart, when I participated in Day of Silence and gay things in High School (rarely), I can promise you it was not an agenda I was thinking about shoving down anyone's throats.

And yes, you will note, it is the Castro Valley High School Trojans. What is it with California and their condom names? HA! I once thought USC (Cali) and USC (Carolina) should play each other and shirts should be made that said: "Your Trojans can't hold our Cocks."

Get it? It's a sex joke. Ha. Right. Um. That's all.

Marriage Redefined -- Literally!

Thanks to Wonkette...

Merriam-Webster has added a second definition to their entry on "marriage." Check it out from their website:

If you can't read that for whatever reason (for some reason, it's really blurry on my screen, but that's happened before) -- it reads: "the state of being married to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage ." See, even in the dictionary we're separate and secondary.

And, of course, the right-wing nut jobs over at World Net Daily are having a shit fit about this, so far as to produce a fun little YouTube clip:


I'm sure the English language has no room for additions, modifications, or updates. It's the same language it's been since the vernacular became standard political communication in the 1400s.

Hate Crime Update and PROTEST

For background, here's our most recent post, and here's our first post.

So, so, so much has happened and I have exactly 12 minutes before my shift to get all the information I can possible get together on one post.

I'll start with the most pressing.

The founders of Guerilla Queer Bar, all UC students, have called a protest tomorrow (3/19) at 5:30pm. I'll let them tell you the full story:

Dear Members of the Cincinnati LGBTQ and Allied Community,

As you may or may not know, there was a serious hate crime on UC's campus the night of March 6th. If you have not yet read the message that was sent to the UC community, it's at the bottom of this email. We need to take a stand for our community and show the beauty and validity of our identities and sexualities!

In response to this incident, we will hold a demonstration TOMORROW (Thursday, the 19th) starting at 5:30 pm at the corner of CLIFTON and CALHOUN. We will congregate on the UC Law School side of the street and then walk as a group down to the corner of MLK and CLIFTON.

Bring a hand made sign that states your identity-- "I am Gay" or "I am a Lesbian" or "I am Queer" or "I am Bisexual" or "I am Trans" or "I am an Ally". Be proud! There will also be a big communal sign that states the reason for the demonstration.

Cancel whatever you had planned, make a sign, get all your friends to come, and get your butt to CLIFTON and CALHOUN at 5:30 tomorrow evening! This is important. Stand up for our community and make our voices heard!

With love,
Ethan Philbrick, Jane Meek, and many more - Please Forward!!!!!!!

That came over the Facebook and is now making the rounds in your email inboxes. This is in response to the note to the UC Community from the UC Police Captain, Karen Patterson:

To: UC Community
From: Karen Patterson, Captain UC Police Department

Cincinnati Police have reported two felonious assaults that occurred on March 6, 2009 at 4:20am in the 2500 block of Clifton Avenue.
The victims were walking home when one of the victims stopped to talk to the suspects, who were friends from high school. Upon hearing that the other victim was a homosexual, the suspects became aggressive and attacked both individuals.
The victims were able to provide the police with the names of several of the suspects in the case. All three suspects were white males with two being described as 18 to 20 years old, 5'10", between 150 and 160 lbs, with brown hair and green eyes.

Karen K. Patterson MEd
Office phone: (513)-556-4906
Email address: karen.patterson@uc.edu

But I really wanted to call attention to the very excellent and extensive information provided to us by Stuff Queer People Need to Know, who did a lot of great research on the hate crime statutes and is intimately involved with the UC LGBT community... and therefore she speaks from a very personal position. God knows, when shit happened at Miami, we were all affected. Much love to the UC LGBTQ community. I know how you're all feeling.

JereKeys said it best:

Barry is hoping to draw attention to a little reported crime at the University of Cincinnati which may have been a hate crime had Ohio passed a law to recognize felony assault as a hate crime (or if the Cincinnati bias crime penalty for misdemeanor assault were applicable) or something. The news organizations who are claiming “neither have been charged with a hate crime, and, therefore, reporting it as such would be illegal” are full of shit. No one had a problem reporting on Matthew Shepard’s murder as a hate crime even though Wyoming had no such provisions in state law. It’s very simple, “Police are investigating an assault on two local college students, an assault that some say should qualify as a hate crime… [begin discussion of the incident, follow-up with information about how Ohio state law (not to mention federal law) doesn't recognize hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity].” It’s a time-honored formula for the media and an opportunity for them to create more false balance by placing a random board member from Equality Cincinnati on the air next to a raving lunatic from CCV for a “debate.” It’s controversial and ratings gold!

IMPACT Cincinnati has put the information out there, and I believe individual members are offering logistical help as best they can.

The grand jury report of the alleged attacker -- Ethan Kirkland -- is on Friday.

I have more stuff, but it will have to wait, for now.

GAY STUFF/PROTEST!!! Protest UC Hate Crime Tomorrow!!!

(Thanks to Ethan Philbrick, the organizer of the Cincinnati Queer Guerrilla Bar for this information)

Note: Impact Cincinnati did not organize this event, we are assisting in the promotion of it.

As many of you may know, there was a serious hate crime against fellow queers near UC's campus the night of March 6th. Tomorrow, queer, straight, whatever; come support equality by speaking out against this hateful crime that has occurred.

There will be a demonstration TOMORROW (Thursday, the 19th) starting at 5:30 pm at the corner of CLIFTON and CALHOUN. We will congregate at the UC Law School side of the street and then walk as a group down to the corner of MLK and CLIFTON.

Bring a hand made sign that states your identity-- "I am Gay" or "I am a Lesbian" or "I am Queer" or "I am Trans" or "I am an Ally". Be proud! There will also be a big communal sign that states the reason for the demonstration.

Cancel whatever you had planned, make a sign, get all your friends to come to the corner of CLIFTON and CALHOUN at 5:30 tomorrow evening! This is important, stand up for our community, and make our voices heard!

if you haven't heard details of the hate crime, please read below:

To: UC Community
From: Karen Patterson
Captain
UC Police Department
Cincinnati Police have reported two felonious assaults that occurred on March 6, 2009 at 4:20am in the 2500 block of Clifton Avenue.
The victims were walking home when one of the victims stopped to talk to the suspects, who were friends from high school. Upon hearing that the other victim was a homosexual, the suspects became aggressive and attacked both individuals.
The victims were able to provide the police with the names of several of the suspects in the case. All three suspects were white males with two being described as 18 to 20 years old, 5'10", between 150 and 160 lbs, with brown hair and green eyes.
Karen K. Patterson MEd
Captain
University of Cincinnati Police Department
51 West Corry ML# 0215
Cincinnati, OH 45221
Office phone: (513)-556-4906
Email address: karen.patterson@uc.edu

Much love to you all!!!
-Cody

Gay Couples Better than Straight Couples?

It's an oldie, from June 2008, but my friend BadEvan brought it up in relationship to the Committee hearings in Vermont about the equal marriage bill.

From the NYT:

The stereotype for same-sex relationships is that they do not last. But that may be due, in large part, to the lack of legal and social recognition given to same-sex couples. Studies of dissolution rates vary widely.

After Vermont legalized same-sex civil unions in 2000, researchers surveyed nearly 1,000 couples, including same-sex couples and their heterosexual married siblings. The focus was on how the relationships were affected by common causes of marital strife like housework, sex and money.

Notably, same-sex relationships, whether between men or women, were far more egalitarian than heterosexual ones. In heterosexual couples, women did far more of the housework; men were more likely to have the financial responsibility; and men were more likely to initiate sex, while women were more likely to refuse it or to start a conversation about problems in the relationship. With same-sex couples, of course, none of these dichotomies were possible, and the partners tended to share the burdens far more equally.

While the gay and lesbian couples had about the same rate of conflict as the heterosexual ones, they appeared to have more relationship satisfaction, suggesting that the inequality of opposite-sex relationships can take a toll.

“Heterosexual married women live with a lot of anger about having to do the tasks not only in the house but in the relationship,” said Esther D. Rothblum, a professor of women’s studies at San Diego State University. “That’s very different than what same-sex couples and heterosexual men live with.”

The results of the Vermont hearings are as "on the edge of your seat" worthy, I think, as any of the court cases have been. We may pass an equal marriage bill through our elected representatives.

That's a beautiful thing.

And next, Maine. Rhode Island and New Hampshire seem to be stalled in committee... Though we're all still waiting on the Iowa Supreme Court to make a ruling.

Virginity by Major

An interesting study out of Wellesley College that charts virginity by major... Some of the more interesting findings:

1. 0% of students with 'studio arts' major are virgins

2. Virginity rates for Spanish major (43%) is much lower than virginity rates for English and French majors (50%)

3. There is evidence that geeks get laid the least in college. Check out the rates for Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics.

I was closest to a "Political Science" major -- about a 73% virginity rate. So, not exactly true.

Gay Pride News!

I am so thrilled and excited and pumped to announce this...

Oxford Gay Pride Parade

This Parade is for all members of the LGBTQ community and others who support not only our rights, but the civil rights of all human beings--better known as "Allies". This is an opportunity for us to display our Pride through a loving and peaceful march across campus.

Bring your fiercest pumps, beat your mugs (wear make-up), snatch your wigs, bring signs/posters, and get ready stomp like Naomi down the runway!

That's right, folks, Oxford is having their first ever gay pride parade!!! I couldn't be happier if I had planned it myself. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th between 4:30pm to 5:30pm. The parade will go through the Phi Delta gates at the corner of High and Campus, continue down the slant walk, and end at MacMillan Hall. It's a short route, but I have no doubt they have lots of stuff planned.

It's being organized by Spectrum and the gay grad group -- HAVEN. Check out the Facebook event page.

In other gay pride news, I might point this little bit out: I am officially killing the NKY Pride 2010 rumors until further notice. I just don't think it's happening, kids. This is how I imagine it went:

Person 1 at a meeting (P1): You know, we should do this in NKY.

Person 2 at a meeting (P2): Yea, that'd be great!

P1: But not this year.

P2: Nah... but we could start planning for 2010.

P1: YEA! What do you think about... (random details)

Later, at a bar:

P1 (or 2): Guess what we're doing?

Person three, a friend or acquaintance or potential trick
(P3): What?

P1/2: We're planning gay pride for NKY in 2010.

P3: OMG! What a great idea! I should tell people about this!

And so it goes. Usually my snoops have been able to dig up some dirt here and there, but nothing has come up, not even the most minor biscuit of information.

I am, thus, killing this as nothing unless you can prove otherwise.

Oh, and the new GLCC website launched. It's a lot easier to remember, this time around, rather than the five word address they used to have.

WEARING WHAT WEDNESDAY: Paul Donahue and Kenny Jordan (NSFW?)

On the back (haha) of the recent coverage of Paul Donahue's return to premiere status as one of the best collegiate wrestlers in the country (after being kicked of the U. Nebraska team for posing nude for a gay website), I thought it's be nice to look back and see what the big hubbub was all about for our two naked muscle boys.









Would I pay to see those pictures? Nah. I get them for free after the huge, national hubbub about hot guys posing nude, and then they're all over the web regardless!!!!

And now I brought them to you :-).

I think Paul -- the one at the very top and the one whose butt-shot I had to cut because it was TOO NSFW -- is the cuter of the two.

Obama to UN: Decriminalize Sodomy!!!!

In the long list of things Pres. Obama is doing to bring the country into the 21st century, supporting international. universal decriminalization of homosexuality is one of them. (This is on top of ending the global gag rule on abortion and re-allowing the cultivation of stem cells for research.)

From the Associated Press:

The Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign, The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. officials said Tuesday they had notified the declaration's French sponsors that the administration wants to be added as a supporter. The Bush administration was criticized in December when it was the only western government that refused to sign on.

The move was made after an interagency review of the Bush administration's position on the nonbinding document, which was signed by all 27 European Union members as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries, the officials said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Congress was still being notified of the decision. They said the administration had decided to sign the declaration to demonstrate that the United States supports human rights for all.

"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," said one official.

"As such, we join with the other supporters of this statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora," the official said.

Little steps at a time. I think it's fantastic we are starting to see movement on progressive issues. And, hopefully, the economy will continue to improve ever so slightly...

...in short, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, how about you?

Thank you, President Obama.

$1.2M for Gay Rumor Discrimination

See, LGBT rights protections protect straight people, too.

Out of Seattle:

A Newport Beach police sergeant was awarded $1.2 million on Tuesday after a jury agreed with his claims that he was discriminated against based on false rumors that he was gay.

Sgt. Neil Harvey, a 27-year veteran, alleged in his lawsuit that the city retaliated against him because of the gossip and denied him a lieutenant position despite having more experience and formal education than other candidates. Harvey claimed former Police Chief Bob McDonell never promoted anyone perceived to be gay.

Harvey acknowledged after the jury's decision that he feels some apprehension about returning to work Wednesday after taking three weeks off for the court proceedings.

"I know that I came here and I told the truth," he said. "With that in mind, I return to work."

And can rake you in a cool million!!!!!

The next big push for gay rights: protect us and you'll get a pay out!

Who's afraid of Anita Bryant?

According to Gossip-Boy.com, we all should be.

In a slowly unveiling expose, the site is documenting an undercover operation to look at the inner workings of a growing force within the anti-gay voices of the country...

...the resurgence of Anita Bryant.

On that bone-chilling December night in 2008 things had come full circle for Anita Bryant. She was born in Oklahoma 68 years earlier and had since traveled the country and the world as a pop singer, commercial pitchwoman, challenger to the concept that all men are created equal, and a deadbeat fleeing tax collectors and unpaid employees. She did not stand before that window regretting the deaths of her fellow man and the blood that marked her life and made her a pariah, but coldly calculated how she could revive a dead career by reclaiming her throne as homosexuality’s leading nemesis.

Blood on one’s hands is a thing that never completely washes away no matter how much you want it to disappear. Conversations with Bryant would later suggest that she never cared about the blood…only the glory. Her stage presence as a warm, caring, loveable person ends up being just a stage act. The person behind that façade is actually ruthless and cold, but lacking a serious enough degree of intelligence to succeed at her intrigues. What’s left is a broken woman pushing seventy with her beauty queen looks long behind her, who wants one more head liner and vindication for a sacrificed life.

Ironically, Bryant possesses all the criteria that makes for a beloved gay icon: larger-than-life physical features, belting voice, theatricality, show tunes, tacky costumes, man problems, professional ups and downs, unparalleled diva qualities, and sexy gay men high kicking behind her – one could say she’s a draq queen without the kick stand. But she came with hate and bigotry instead of alcohol and amphetamines.

Seriously, folks. It's disturbing to read. You know I'll be watching.

You know, I asked a friend a few weeks ago, "What became of Anita Bryant?" My friend shrugged his shoulder and said, "Probably dead of a drug overdose somewhere -- why does it matter?" Apparently, it does.

El Papa, "Condoms not good for AIDS."

I mean, he's not completely unreasonable, he's saying that abstinence is better and condoms promote sex. That's true, right? In much the same way eyeglasses promote poor eyesight.

From IndyStar.com:

In his four years as pope, Benedict had never directly addressed condom use, although his position is not new. His predecessor, Pope John Paul II, often said that sexual abstinence - not condoms - was the best way to prevent the spread of the disease.

Benedict also said the Roman Catholic Church was at the forefront of the battle against AIDS.

"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms," the pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane heading to Yaounde. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."

The pope said a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight the disease, as he answered questions submitted in advance by reporters traveling on the plane. His response was presumably also prepared in advance.

FOXNews is quick to bring up the issue that most sources are emphasizing the "no on condoms approach." Because, you know, FOXNews is the moral paragon of the country.

Meanwhile, people continue to have sex and people continue to get AIDS. You know, because years of abstinence-abstinence-abstinence worked for this country and everyone else...

...after all, just look at the Palin's.

Look: let's be honest. Abstinence is the best way to protect yourself from getting STD's and against unwanted pregnancies. It's the truth. No one is denying that. But the problem is not whether or not we go out and teach abstinence, it's whether or not we add the rejoinder "but if you choose to have sex, you should use..."

It's called comprehensive sex education, not "happy-fun-fuck-orgy-time" sex education. Responsible, complete, intelligent.