2007's World HIV/AIDS Day!!!

I know I'm late talking about World Aids Day 2007, but I wanted to write something before the weekend of World AIDS day is over. This disease is a world crisis that affects everyone from straight to gay, young to old, babies to children, and many races.


The HIV/AIDS epidemic began early in 1981. The month July of that year, the New York Times reported an outbreak of a rare form of cancer among gay men in New York and California. This "gay cancer" as it was called at the time was later identified as Kaposi's Sarcoma, a disease that later became the face of AIDS. But as you will see everything is not as it seems.

When the Centers for Disease Control reported the new outbreak they called it "GRID" (gay-related immune deficiency), stigmatizing the gay community as carriers of this deadly disease. Then there were cases that started to be seen in heterosexuals, drug addicts, and people who received blood transfusions, proving the virus/disease knew no boundaries. Now, it's no longer a so=called "GRID", the disease doesn't have any boundaries, or favorite group of people it attacks with illness.

HIV/AIDS here longer than 25 years???

HIV/AIDS is being said to be 25 years old, but it has been reported to be here longer than that.It is believed that the syndrome[AIDS] has been around far longer. In 1959, a man residing in Africa died of a mysterious illness. Only decades later, after examining some blood samples taken from that man, was it confirmed that he actually died from complications related to an HIV infection.

Now the question is how it enter in America? The fact is gays have already been here in America, so that base-less assumption is ridiculous and bizarre! Some researchers say a immigrant from another country may have brought it into the country?

So where did HIV/AIDS come from and it's origins? Experts have concluded that HIV has it origins in the jungles of Africa among wild chimps. Experts go on to report that evidence suggests that the simian form of HIV (SIV) entered the human species and became HIV by way of monkey bites or ingesting monkey meat and brains. While the origins of HIV are more clear,the thing is pointing fingers at the gay community, and saying that community is the source, has no research or evidence to back that hypothesis up. It is NO theory! Which brings me to address a certain blogger: The Captain

He says:WHY WOULD ANYONE EMBRACE A LIFESTYLE THAT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HAND YOU A DEATH SENTENCE IN BEING INFECTED WITH HIV/AIDS?

Justice MH: Well, why would anyone embrace the lifestyle of a heterosexual, drug addict, or get a blood transfusion that can give HIV/AIDS? You see, your ignorance is no longer amusing, but pathetic , and just plain sad. Do you ask heterosexual this question? Oh yeah, you keep pointing fingers at the gay community. Well its thinking like that which enables the disease to spread if everyone is NOT making sure their behaviors are safe. Since putting the information in the early eighties that it was a white gay male disease: heterosexuals both black and white, also black gays believe this, and didn't take caution in their own behaviors. Like Queer kid of Color says: Responsibility is prevention of HIV/AIDS.

He gave another comment without a comment forum, what a coward:

It is amazing how homosexuals glamorize the gay lifestyle as something wonderful and grand when in reality, HIV/AIDS is the core of the gay community. I hear various gay activists trying to shift the focus of HIV/AIDS away from the gay community so they won't look like the culprits, but unfortunately people know the real truth. Now, the epidemic have spreaded in our heterosexual community, all to the thanks of the gay community.

If God really created and blessed homosexuality as an orientation that is acceptable and worthwhile then we wouldn't have sorrow and death. I don't care how many ways you try to slice and dice to justify homosexuality is right, if it was, then HIV/AIDS would not be killing our men and women off due to an filthy and perverse sexual choice, which is the largest driver of this infection growth. If sorrow comes with it, God never blessed it!

Justice MH: This whole comment is simply bias, ignorant, and full of mean-spirited as usual! No one that I know of is trying to shift the focus of HIV/AIDS, but it's not a gay thing. Culprits??? We have nothing to hide, and we're blame-less, so say what you want. What real truth is this? A bull-shitted truth. The heterosexual community started their own infection rate, unless their sleeping with gay males. It takes two to tangle, not a population of people with a different sexual orientation. God created homosexuality and it's blessed, no-matter how much you and other use narrow bible interpretations, a book that known to have errors, contradictions, and inconsistencies. Homosexuality has always been right, it's just those like you and sects of religions that try to prove it's wrong, and trying to use a imperfect holy books as a mouth piece for God. It's your only tool to make your opinions and views as facts. Which their not. Heterosexuals already have high rate base around the world, so is that a perverse sexual choice? Using HIV/AIDS as your argument is very poor in reason. It's your view that God never bless it, and it's bless regardless of what you say. So in the word of my friend and a woman I admire: Kiss off!

Remember everyone be responsible, and safe in this epidemic.

Note: For more on The Captain's gay self-loathing, and commentary on gay-related issues, click here

[ News and posting updates will be on Monday!!!-Justice MH]

"CHRISTIAN" RHETORIC, ACTION, AND SILENCE ARE KILLING PEOPLE!

By: Jerry Manker

[I hope everyone enjoy Jerry's commentary on bigotry and hate from self-professed christians, and how silence of speaking truth and living in one's truth is killing others! News and story updates from me later today-Justice MH]


"'Whether their sexual preference is to be a homosexual or being gay, that's their problem,' Da' Priest says. 'I'm the street, I'm the street priest, and I have real good Christian values on what I believe in, and I am against homosexuality.'" from Npr.org

I never heard of Dooney Da Priest, a songwriter! However, his above statement is crucial for every single decent person, and for everyone who considers him/herself to be a Christian, to read and understand.

Christianity has become defined in the minds of most people as being not only a judgmental religion, but the rhetoric, actions and/or silence and inaction on the part of all too many professing Christians and clergy has had the effect of equating being "Gay" with being "immoral" in the minds of others, including many, if not most, LGBT people.

The mantra that being Gay is equivalent to being immoral, and is against the will of God, has been spewed so often in and from most churches, and is believed by most clergy and church-goers within the institutional Church, that one can not only believe that lie, but one can feel free to hawk his/her "Christian" credentials by affirming his/her disdain for homosexuality; so many professing Christians can justify to others their homophobia by appealing to the fact that they are "Bible-believing Christians."

As you well know, I lay the lion's share of the blame for homophobia and its destructive consequences at the feet of the institutional Church! It has been responsible for untold suicides, bashings, and murders; it has been responsible for lives lived in quiet and not so quiet desperation; it has been responsible for fracturing families as well as fracturing human beings within their families.

As I've written:

"Make no mistake, every drop of blood shed by GLBT people either through suicide, bashing, or murder, are on the hands of all those religious leaders, their followers, and their allies who spew forth their ignorance, prejudice, and hate against GLBT people and their relationships! These wolves in sheep’s clothing take the Bible, God’s love letter to His children, and selectively and perversely use it as a club to condemn others, and deny GLBT people full inclusion in the Church and in society.

"The tradition-bound parts of the Church have so indoctrinated people, many of whom have never even set foot in a house of worship, that many people even disown their own children when they 'come out' and divulge their sexual orientation to those whom they thought unconditionally loved and cherished them. There are many children living on the streets because their own parents trusted ignorant clergy and their followers over their God-given duty and privilege to nurture and embrace their own children!

The Church should concentrate on the real sins that deserve our attention and that cry out to God for redress, such as invading another country on false pretenses; the working poor who can't afford medical insurance; the Supreme Court ruling that people can't sue their insurance company in state court for denying needed medical services; many elderly people having to decide whether to buy food or medicine; the gigantic rip off perpetrated by drug companies, hospitals, and the medical establishment on sick and vulnerable people. Why not focus on and address issues such as these, instead of obsessing on who loves who and who sleeps with whom? Such obsession tells us much more about the pathetic and moribund state of much of the Church than it does about the reality of the lives of GLBT people".

To the degree that any professing Christian can keep silent in the face of the grinding oppression and destruction of others, it is to that degree that he/she had better examine his/her claim to being a "Christian!"

Rev. Dr. Jerry S. Maneker is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at California State University, Chico.He is an ordained priest in the Congregational Catholic Church, a division of the Independent Catholic Churches International (ICCI}

Visit his site christianlgbtrights.org/

U.S Senate passes Hate Crime Bill!!

The Democratic-Control Senate passed the hate crimes bill as an amendment to the Defense bill for the Iraq War. In a 60-39 vote to proceed to adoption, the Senate approved Senator Kennedy's amendment which adds sexual orientation, gender identity and disability to the existing hate crimes legislation.

Democrats in their 51 majority supported the bill. Only 9 Republicans move across the line to support the amendment.

John Warner
Richard Lugar
Susan Collins
Olympia Snowe
George Voinovich
Arlen Specter
Judd Gregg
Norm Coleman
Gordon Smith (co-sponsor)

Also the two hypocritical GOP who didn't vote are:Toe Tapping Sen. Larry Craig, and Adulter Sen. Dave Vitter.

HRC's President Joe Solmonese said the following:

For over a decade our community has worked tirelessly to ensure protections to combat violence motivated by hate and today we are the closest we have ever been to seeing that become a reality. Congress has taken an historic step forward and moved our country closer to the realization that all Americans, including the GLBT community, are part of the fabric of our nation. The new leadership in Congress fully understands that for too long our community has been terrorized by hate violence. And today, the US Senate has sent a clear message to every corner of our country that we will no longer turn a blind eye to anti-gay violence in America.

Justice MH: Bush may veto this bill. However, we'll just keeping trying again, again, and again. Eventually it will become law! You have lose some to win some!

U.S Senate expected to vote on Hate Crimes Bill this Thursday!!!

The time is here. The slim Democratic-control Senate is expected to vote on S. 1105-Matthew Shepard Act. Chris Johnson at HRC Back Story reports that Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) filed a cloture motion to force a vote on S. 1105.We need 60 votes in order to override the objection filed by Sen.John MCcain.The hate crimes bill was tacked onto the defense authorization bill to get it pass our misguided controlled President Bush.

Lead sponsor of the Senate bill, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) released a statement of his floor speech urging passage of S. 1105. I would like to note here that there are Republicans supporting this bill, not just Democrats.

As we prepare for a showdown over this bill, expect the scare tactics and nonsense from the so-called oppress Christians, who fear their rights are being taken aways.
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is at it again with the nonsense (where was he and his black bigoted Friends at on free Jena 6 march?). Read his latest quotes on the hate crimes bill in a bearing false witness tone/words:

A black conservative leader is calling on Christians to contact their U.S. senators and ask them to vote against a bill that would give special rights to homosexuals and take away the rights of Christians.

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is founder and president of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND). Peterson was recently in Washington, DC, to lobby senators to vote against Senate Bill 1105 -- a bill that would provide federal assistance for the prosecution of any crime that is "motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim." The legislation is sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts).

According to Peterson, if S.B. 1105 ultimately passes, it would greatly affect Christians' free-speech rights. For example, Peterson contends that under the new provisions, Christian pastors could be forced to perform same-sex "marriages" -- and if they refuse, Petersen is convinced they will be criminalized and fined.

Now he know he sound like a drama queen, and a lieing one at that. There many racist christian groups and white supremacist groups that still have their free speech and rights. They march in parades, and register their groups. So where is he getting this from? He has presented no where in the bill where their rights's of speech is objected.

Justice MH: These are the type of blacks, white Evangelical conservative Christians love to use for their agenda. Sylvia Rhue of the National Black Justice Coalition and Cornel West have a piece in the Boston Globe that shows how hate can be disguise in a religious sheet of hypocrisy and lies:

Unfortunately, some clergy across the nation have joined together to oppose this bill in an aggressive and divisive manner. For instance, conservative African-American leaders - most notably Bishop Harry Jackson of Maryland's Hope Christian Church - have been inundating the media and faith communities with the message that this legislation will allow police to storm into worship services and arrest clergy if they speak against being gay. They make the incendiary allegation that the bill will create "thought crimes" by punishing people for thinking ill of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

The truth is that the Matthew Shepard Act protects all First Amendment rights. And, although that is a given, this bill goes out of its way to protect the free speech of ministers. Those pastors who wish to continue condemning and dehumanizing the gay community will be free to do so.

The hate crimes bill provides resources for the investigation of violent actions - not beliefs, thoughts, or words. The proposed federal statute does not punish nor prohibit free expression of one's religious beliefs. As University of Chicago law professor Geoffrey R. Stone recently concluded, "The argument of the pastors that the proposed legislation in any way threatens their right to preach their version of the Gospel is, to be frank, ridiculous."

...These preachers don't care to hear the thousands of stories of lives and communities scarred by antigay violence. And, conveniently, those who bring up the reality that the Matthew Shepard Act is a constitutional and important means to prevent antigay violence are labeled by these clergy as "anti-Christian." The good intentions of this legislation have been greeted by malice by these manipulators of fact.
The efforts of antigay preachers and their supporters is not the way to create the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a "Beloved Community" - where we all strive to treat each other with respect and compassion.

Justice MH: If they can e-mail, and fax their Senators up to the nose, then so can we.Call the Capital switchboard at (202) 224-3121, and tell your Senator to help pass this important bill. Final Note: If we don't get the bill pass in the Senate, then we'll just keep trying again, again, and again. Eventually it will pass, most likely this time or next time. We have all the cards, let's just hope they play out correctly!

Has the NAACP lost their Mission?

Well, Mr.Broward thinks the NAACP should stick to racial injustice, and have nothing to do with the gays' struggle. The NAACP is quite aware of black gays and lesbians. The organization is a black one, so why not include gays who are black? This man misses the mark like so many black religious leaders. Here's his bigoted quote:


'The NAACP is getting away from their mission . . . the organization never got involved with sex sins. Homosexuals have masterfully redefined words to suit their cause . . . theirs is not a civil rights issue. It's the first time the branch has taken a public stand on behalf of gay rights."
--Mathes Guice, the paramilitary-clad director of the men's ministry at Koinonia Worship Center and former vice president of the Broward NAACP. He is miffed at the Broward NAACP's condemnation of his new best friend -- anti-gay, homosex-obsessed Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. Guice is also calling for a ''spiritual revival'' to "transform Fort Lauderdale and Broward County into the Bible Belt of South Florida.''

Justice MH: This man obviously thinks homosexuals don't have brown or dark skin. The Civil rights movements included black straights and gays. Now he can deny it if he wants, but the gays' struggle in the 21st century is a civil rights issue. Some will argue, but their arguments are weak, bias, and desperate. The definition of Civil rights is: Rights guaranteed to citizens; the rights provided by the 13th and 14th amendments of the United States Constitution. Homosexuals just happen to be tax-paying American citizens. It's like I said on this site many times: " you have the right to speak freely on any issue, but you do NOT have the right to deny any American the citizen their rights guaranteed by the U.S Constitution. Mrs. Coretta Scott King always refer to her husband's famous quote "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere".

Anti-Gay Myth Debunked???

It always seems that when someone is HIV+ someone accuses them of being promiscuous. Well, in this latest research from Washington Post clickhere, it gives a different view:


The HIV epidemic among gay men can’t be explained by their number of sexual partners, U.S. researchers report.
…
But the sexual behaviors of gay and heterosexual men in the United States may not be as different as most people think, the researchers said. In fact, two surveys found that most gay men have a similar rate of sex with unprotected partners compared to straight men or women.

Justice MH: Now like many studies, this one may have flaws, and it's not conclusive. However, too many people quick to judge people who HIV+. Blaming and judging others will not lower the HIV/AIDS rates. Responsibility and knowledge are the keys to helping this epidemic.

Ja Rule: MTV's Promotion of homosexuality is ruining America

Hip-Hop Rapper Ja Rule gives us the latest on what's ruining America: homosexuality[NOT]! Instead of the Iraq war, racism, or sexism ruining America, Ja Rule criticizes the group who most likely to get criticize for illogical reasons. In Ja Rule's mind it's depictions of gay and lesbian couples on MTV's reality tv shows.

Ja Rule recently did a interview with Complex,the formerly popular rapper blasted upcoming congressional hearings that "will probe 'stereotypes and degradation' of black women in hip-hop and the entertainment industry and he says "calling a woman a bitch or a hoe on my rap songs" is not problematic.

Ok, so calling a woman especially a black woman a hoe or bitch is NOT problematic? Damn, I'm thankful i don't have his logic thinking. Ja, if it wasn't for a woman, you wouldn't be talking this bullsh*t right here:

they got my man Doug Morris under fire and shit, they got him going down to go speak to Congress about hip-hop lyrics, are you fucking serious? There's a fucking black kid right now about to get 25 years for having a fight with some white kids over hanging the nooses over the white tree, lets get to that. Let's get into shit like that, because that's what's tearing up America, not me calling a woman a bitch or a hoe on my rap songs. And if it is, then we need to go step to Paramount, and fucking MGM, and all of these other motherfuckers that's making all of these movies and we need to go step to MTV and Viacom, and lets talk about all these fucking shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this shit. Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid afternoon. Let's talk about shit like that! If that's not fucking up America, I don't know what is. There's a lot of issues we can address besides hip-hop, but they want to put everything on us like we're the problem. But see, and this is going to be a shameless fucking plug, but I said, "when everyone wants to point the finger, and ask why there's so much corruption, they only need to look in the mirror." It starts with themselves."

Justice MH: You want to know what's ruining America? It's people like this. Ja Rule doesn't respect women who was the cause of him being carried safely for 9 months, and being born healthy. Bashing MTV for expanding it's tv shows for other viewers like gay people who want to be represented on tv too, will not help Ja out the mess he put himself in. Blaming the gays won't get the attention off of Ja Rule's offensive lyrics towards women. Note to Ja Rule: Make sure your own back yard is clean before you start telling others to clean their own back yard up! Ja Rule's sexist lyrics is NOT being tolerated, it's unacceptable, and offensive. Women deserve much better, this lack of respect goes back to the depictions/interpretation of the story of Adam and Eve. Women are our mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, and nieces. They deserve our appreciation and respect!

Homophobes just keep Coming!!!

Louisiana State University student Michael Denton gives his cent-less on Montgomery County’s decision to include gays in sex ed. Same old recipe from older right-wingers:

America needs to grow in self-confidence on this debate. The homosexual argument is illogical; sexuality is obviously meant for reproduction. Any sexual activity that is opposed to life is intrinsically disordered. Yet we continue to refuse to stand up for ourselves, allowing courts, school boards and speech codes to dictate political correctness to us.


Justice: "The sex is for "procreation" argument is so old and tiresome. The majority of human being will admit sex is for pleasure. We are NOT the children of Israel tribe trying to reproduce to out number the enemy, and gain land. Denton wants to have his dogmatic correctness for his older right-wing mentors.Also, right-winger talk about us recruiting, it seems they love to recruit young people to advocate a right-wing agenda. Note: Everyone does NOT have to procreate, quoting Genesis is a same old recipe, and humans have more purpose than procreating! The Religious argument is never logical in it's dogmatic form. AS I said humans have a much more a purpose than procreating, you still can, but a person's purpose in life is so much bigger.

Majority of Americans Support Legislation for LGBT Job Protection!!!

Here's some not so surprising news. Nearly two-thirds of all American adults believe it is unfair that federal law currently allows for an employer to fire someone because they are gay or lesbian according to a new poll. Read it and weep it:

This survey continues to demonstrate that clear majorities of American adults agree that discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is wrong," says Out & Equal Executive Director Selisse Berry. "It is apparent that heterosexual co-workers are realizing that sexual orientation is not relevant to job performance."

In addition, more heterosexuals (88%) say they would feel indifferent or feel positively upon learning that a co-worker is gay or lesbian. About one-in-ten (12%) say they would feel negatively.

This positive response from co-workers is likely a contributing factor to the increase in the numbers of gays and lesbians who feel comfortable(2) about being open in the workplace about their sexual orientation.(3)

* In 2007, 54 percent of GLBT adults are comfortable having a photo of their spouse, partner or significant other on their desk, compared to only 34 percent in 2002 who felt this way.
* In 2007, 64 percent of GLBT adults are comfortable introducing their spouse, partner or significant other to their co-workers, compared to 50 percent in 2002 who said they would be comfortable doing this.

* 64% believe it is unfair that federal law currently allows for an employer to fire someone because they are gay or lesbian.

* 60% of heterosexual adults were not even aware that federal law does not provide protections for employees on the basis of sexual orientation.

* 79% of heterosexuals also feel that how an employee does his or her job, and not their sexual orientation, should be the standard for judging an employee.

* 67% also agree that employee performance should be the standard by which they are judged and not whether they are transgender.

Justice MH: Eat it all up homo-haters. The polls are no surprise here. The American people have always supported this legislation. The EDNA bill will come for a vote in the U.S House in early October i presumed. Traditional Values Coalition's Lou Sheldon 's scare tactics are not working at all, and not those silly cartoons about transgender people. It's mostly likely to pass the U.S House this fall! The homo-haters are getting left-behind in this battle for equality!

GOP White House Hopeful received the "straight talk"!!!

GOP white house hopeful John MCcain was guest speaker at New Hampshire's Concord High School today, and a student named William Sleaster who identify as bi-sexual gave Sen. John MCcain some real 'straight talk":

Another student then asked McCain a question about what he would do for “LGBT” rights – the initials stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bi Sexual, and Transgender people. McCain was confused by the question and admitted to the audience that he did not know what the initials meant. Once it was clarified, McCain told sophomore William Sleaster that he was opposed to any form of discrimination, but he supported the military’s current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and that he opposed gay marriage.

“I believe that the sanctity of marriage between man and woman is unique and should be preserved, and I understand the controversy that swirls around that issue, and that debate needs to be continued to be held, but I support that position,” McCain said.

“You want to take away someone’s rights because you believe it’s wrong,” Sleaster followed up.

“I don’t put that interpretation on my position, but I understand yours,” McCain responded, seeming to enjoy the back and forth.

“I came here looking to see a good leader, I don’t,” Sleaster said before leaving the microphone to some boos and gasps from the audience and an eventual scolding by a school administrator.

“Listen, I understand,” McCain told the buzzing crowd. “I thank you, that’s what America is all about, and I appreciate your views.”

When asked later at a news conference, McCain admitted he had never heard the initials “LGBT” before, but knew the phrase.

Justice MH; What is with this Sanctity of marriage stuff? When we have an over 50% divorce rate and high levels of domestic violence and adultery out of control. Sen. McCain is divorce, but he dares to NOT allow same-sex couples access to marriage, leaving marriage a special club for heterosexual couples. The so-called "Traditional" Marriage is not so cut and dry as Christan conservatives would have everyone to believe. Sen. McCain says he opposes discrimination. McCain does support the discriminatory policy "Don't ask Don't tell. A policy that has discharge many proud gay Americans who want to defend their country. The country they fight for doesn't grant their every right privilege that guaranteed in the U.S Constitution.

Back to the whole Traditional Marriage argument from Sen. McCain. He says it must be preserved? How is opposite sex marriage being affect in states like Massachusetts with same-sex couples having access to marriage? I haven't received an answer on that, but some will find some silly reason to show how it affects it. Now the state Iowa allows same-sex couples to marriage, but we still need a step further on Marriage Equality from the Iowa Supreme Court. Sen. McCain should listen to this judge about it is unconstitutional, and violate the due process of law and equality for all Americans. Sen. McCain is full of contradictions on this social issue. He's trying to cater to the Religious right, but they don't trust him anyway. I really don't know why the GOP party chose to get into bed with the Religious. The only reason could be to play on the American people's fear, votes, and for power! William was right, he was looking for a leading, but he didn't find one. Oh, William sure found a flip-flopper, and an inconsistent man.

Young men like William, myself, and our generation is going to change America for the better. Conservative Christan groups and leaders see my generation is moving to the left on social issues, and other issues as well. To the left, to the left, everything you own, and your theocratic[fallible] bible to the left! I respect the bible, but our nation is govern by our U.S Constitution NOT the bible or any other holy book. This is a democracy, NOT a theocracy!

Washington Post on Mike Rogers: The Most feared man on Capitol Hill?

The Washingtion Post has written a interesting article on Mike Rogers. Click here for to view it. Mike Rogers is known for outing hypocritical public offficals [more likely Republicans] who oppose gay rights, but engage in same-sex activity on the low. I hope those GOPs are shaking in their closets, because their hypocritical ways will not be tolerated. They should be very afraid, because Mike's going to expose them!

Rogers, sitting on a club chair in his Northwest Washington apartment, is basking in the attention. For three years now, he's been a feared one-man machine, "outing," he says, nearly three dozen senior political and congressional staffers, White House aides and, most damagingly, Congress members on his blog. On Capitol Hill, a typical phone call from Rogers -- "Are you gay?" he'd ask -- is "a call from Satan himself," says a former high-ranking congressional staffer whose name is on the list.
...In the coming months, he plans to post the names of "a few more" closeted Congress members on his blog, he says, all of them Republicans. There are 33 names on his published list, most of them men, 30 from the GOP. That fact reveals more about the Republicans, he says, than about him. Although a registered Democrat, he says he is bipartisan.

"I write about closeted people whose records are anti-gay," he says. "If you're a closeted Democrat or Republican and you don't bash gays or vote against gay rights to gain political points, I won't out you."

Justice MH: I say out them all! Don't fu*k with the gays!

The Trouble with Harry!!!

[This is a couple days old, but this really sums up my thoughts about homo-bigots like Bishop Harry Jackson! Enjoy-Justice MH]

By:Dr. Sylvia Rhue

Barak Obama appeared on LOGO and HRC’s presidential debate Thursday August 9. All of the candidates were asked about marriage equality for LGBT people. Although he is for full civil union rights, Obama feels he cannot open the door of equality all the way with full marriage rights for LGBT people. But even his moderate stance gets a berating from Bishop Jackson.

When speaking to a group of black ministers at a forum in Tennessee, Barak stated:

“I specifically pointed out that if there’s any pastor here who can point out a marriage that has been broken up as a consequence of seeing two men or two women holding hands, then we—you should tell me, because I haven’t seen any evidence of it…And there are some folks who, coming out of the church, have, you know, elevated one line in Romans above the Sermon on the Mount.”


Jackson’s response: “He’s dead wrong concerning what the scriptures say, and more importantly, he’s dead wrong in terms of the Scriptures, and in terms of reading culture. The culture has gone in a different direction, and the devaluation of marriage is a major problem, and I believe that he’s a very dangerous man because he sounds reasonable, he sounds engaging, but he’s misinformed.” Jackson goes on to call Obama a “junior or infant Christian.”

He states that “I think what most African- Americans buy is that there should be justice for all, in terms of the outworking of civil law. What they do not buy is that we should not rename sin as something righteous and holy.”

Bishop Jackson is dead wrong. It is Jackson who has an infantile understanding of human sexuality and a wrong headed theology regarding Christ’s message of inclusion. Jackson does not understand, or refuses to understand the concept of sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is morally neutral.

One of the definitions of the word “sin” is “to miss the mark”. Jackson misses the mark of the Love ethic for his gay and lesbian neighbors, which is central to Christian theology. When Bishop Jackson came to NBJC’s Black Church Summit this past Spring, he had the opportunity to look LGBT people in the eye and hear their stories of love, commitment, devotion, honor and duty. He nodded his head acting as if he understood. He acted as if he had learned something. Unfortunately, from his behavior and statements since that day, it was all just an act.

We should defer to an authentic Biblical scholar, Rev. Peter Gomes the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard University, who writes: “No credible case against homosexuality or homosexuals can be made from the Bible unless one chooses to read scripture in a way that simply sustains the existing prejudice against homosexuality and homosexuals. The combination of ignorance and prejudice under the guise of morality makes the religious community, and its abuse of scripture in this regard, itself morally culpable.”

If Bishop Jackson ever thought he might be a drum major for justice, he has missed he mark.

Dr. Sylvia Rhue is Director of NBJC Religious Affairs. She can be reached directly at shrue@nbjc.org

"You And I Both Know": America's Black Homophobia Problem

[ A intelligent post about the double-standard of homophobia in regards to the black community, and the question towards Barack Obama! Enjoy. Justice MH]

By:Charlton Copeland

"You and I both know that there is a homophobia problem in the black community." So began Washington Post editor Jonathan Capehart's question to Barack Obama during the HRC/Logo gay-issues debate last night. This question of Obama appears to both assume the universality of homophobia within the black community, and require Obama to situate himself in relation to it. Capehart's question continued with a discussion of Obama's willingness to speak difficult truths to the black community regarding other sensitive topics that might, from another mouth, look like a claim of black dysfunction. Capehart's "you and I both know"-- an attempt to play on their shared blackness, I guess -- easily morphs into "we all know"/"everybody knows" that the black community is homophobic; "we all know" that black ministers (all black ministers) are homophobic. More than the problem of Capehart's question, however, was the way in which Obama's answer simply accepted the premise. His answer never challenged the assumption behind what "we" have come to so easily accept about "black homophobia". Obama gave examples of the courage that he has shown by speaking to presumably hostile straight audiences at Howard University and in black churches in the South, without ever acknowledging the fact that these communities are not uniform on issues of same-sex equality. Capehart's and Obama's statements were made without regard to the consistent record of support that the Congressional Black Caucus has given to equality issues within the LGBT community. Such statements also fail to recognize the diversity of thought within black religious communities, including Jeremiah Wright, Obama's own pastor, who has been a leading light on issues of same-sex inclusion.

Perhaps more problematic (and heartening) was a question by the event's host, who asked Obama -- and only Obama -- to compare the black struggle for civil rights with the gay struggle for civil rights. Obama, I think, answered this question with as much honesty and intelligence as it could be answered, and then challenged the questioner to ask the question of the other candidates, not simply the black candidate. Unfortunately, no other candidate was asked the question. Again, this leads to the conclusion that Obama is being handled differently because we have concluded that there is such a species of dysfunction known as "black homophobia," wholly separate from, and more pernicious than, ordinary homophobia. It would be foolish and insensitive to deny that the black community's response to homosexuality does not have culturally particularized elements. Yet to listen to Capehart, one would think that homophobia is a uniquely black dysfunction, against which Obama had better be prepared to situate himself. Do we speak of Methodist homophobia with Hillary Clinton? Or Catholic homophobia with Biden? Do we force any other candidate, even Bill Richardson, to situate himself in relation to homophobia in the Hispanic community? Not that I have seen.

Finally, the obsession with this characterization of black homophobia, I suspect, is rooted in a desire to locate for the record the limits of the black community's commitment to an egalitarian social-political order. Evidence of the qualified nature of the black community's commitment to equality allows others to justify their equivocation on the issue of equality, not simply the equality of gays and lesbians, but about other marginalized communities as well. Like so much in this presidential campaign, Obama serves as a convenient canvas upon which to further depict the dysfunctions of black folk. There is a homophobia problem in the black community, but there is a homophobia problem in the Congress, and on the Supreme Court, and in the White House. Indeed, America has a homophobia problem. It is against this homophobia problem that any candidate deserving of the LGBT community's support should aim his or her attention.

Justice MH: What was said above i agree with most of it. Homophobia exists in every community, and society. The world is homophobic. After full equality for LGBT people is achieved, like racism, homophobia will still be there, just NOT out in the open as much. A Presidential Hopeful should focus on homophobia as a American problem, not as a one section of our country's problem! I like many right-thinking Americans should question homophobia, racism, sexism, and religious intolerance. Change is possible!

[More-updates-5pm-Justice MH]

NBJC Debuts "The Power of Us"

This Sunday July 22, 2007, The National Black Justice Coalition will debut it's new national media campaign called "The Power Of Us"!

The Power of Us is a bold, daring, and savvy nationwide campaign to highlight Black LGBT couples, families, high profile activists, religious and spiritual leaders, organizers, artists, designers and more. The new national campaign the Power of Us designed to display positive and uplifting messages and images that embrace, celebrate, and promote the talent, brilliance, and contributions, that Black SGL/LGBT people are making in America. This is a much-needed national campaign to show positive images of black gay men, especially as couples, that are show in the general media or gay media.


Also being honored is a woman I have so much respect for, and that woman is Jasmyne Cannick. Jasmyne's final duty as a board member will come to an end at the debut of the new media campaign "The Power Of Us"!

The event is planned to take place at a private home on Sunday, July 22 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Breaking News: U.S Senate to vote on Hate crimes Bill Tonight?

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) offered the Senate hate crimes bill, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, as an amendment to the Department of Defense Reauthorization bill currently being debated on the Senate floor. The House of Representatives version of the bill passed with strong bipartisan support on May 3. The Senate bill, S. 1105, could be voted on as early as today.

The right wing is in high gear on Capitol Hill today to fight the bill's passage and Senate leaders need to hear strong - and repeated - messages of support for the hate crimes bill from our side.

My question is: Is this about free speech or about denying those on basis of sexual orientation, gender identity/disability to be protected on the federal hate crimes level?

The Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act clearly says it uphold the first amendment to protect and strengthen free speech including religious speech.
So I'm hoping the U.S Senators vote with strong bi-partisan, and send the bill to be sign by Bush. I'll have more updates on this as they become available.

Call your senators ASAP at 202/224-3121 and urge them to vote in favor of the Matthew Shepard Act, S. 1105.

Former Ex-gay Leaders issue Public Apologies!!!

It was yesterday in Los Angeles,Ca,former Exodus leaders publicly apologized for their involvement in the ex-gay movement. Darlene Bogle, Michael Bussee and Jeremy Marks each shared their own personal statements and then Michael read out the shared statement. They all signed the apology and presented it to ex-gay survivors who were present at the press conference.

Jeremy Marks, former head of Exodus Europe stated,

Perhaps I should take this opportunity first to say how sorry I am, and to ask forgiveness from all my fellow Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Trans-gendered people who might be listening to this—for my part in colluding with the religious right in the Western world. Though at the time we did not see it this way, our collusion involved setting up and maintaining an oppressive anti-gay, and I must also say equally anti-Christian view of homosexuality, that profoundly dishonors Jesus Christ and has betrayed the Gospel.

Michael Busse, one of the original founders of Exodus shared some of the realities he witnessed during his time at Exodus recounting the good and the bad.

I need to say that some had a positive, life-changing experience attending our Bible studies and support groups. They experienced God’s love and the welcoming fellowship of others who knew the struggle. There were some real “changes”—but not one of the hundreds of people we counseled became straight.

Instead, many of our clients began to fall apart – sinking deeper into patterns of guilt, anxiety and self-loathing. Why weren’t they “changing”? The answers from church leaders made the pain even worse: “You might not be a real Christian.” “You don’t have enough faith.” “You aren’t praying and reading the Bible enough.” “Maybe you have a demon.” The message always seemed to be: “You’re not enough. You’re not trying hard enough. You don’t have enough faith.”

Justice MH: I think that is just a shame to tell some people! You're not praying enough? You're not a real Christian? Who says all Christians are straight? You're not reading the bible enough? To be honest, reading a contradictory book will NOT change a person's sexual orientation, and you certainly can't pray the gay away! It's a demon? Good LAWRD! What year is it? 2007, yeah i know, but someone needs to remind these people what year and century it is! When you can't figure out the causes of something, all kinds of insane stuff come out of people's mouth!

Next Apology:

Darlene Bogle gave a moving apology that got a number of people in the audience crying during the press conference. CNN showed some of the footage on the Paula Zahn Show last night.

My heart was in the right place, but my message was not. I apologize to those individuals and families who believed my message that change was necessary to be acceptable to God. In recent years I have seen the resulting damage from rejection, shame, and conditional love. I apologize for my part in presenting a God of conditional love, and ask forgiveness for the message of broken truth I spoke on behalf of Exodus.

Justice MH: This is long overdue, but it's good hear these founder and former leader apologize for the damage that were cause by the Exdous and other ex-gay ministries.
The Ex-gay Survivor Conference is tomorrow, and i will more that in the upcoming posts!

CNN Poll: Majority Believes Sexual Orientation cannot change!!!

This is no surprise, it's 2007! In a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, a majority of respondents (68%) have indicated a belief that gays cannot change their sexual orientation. Americans are now starting to see gays and lesbians cannot change their sexual orientation, no more than they can! Being gay is NOT something you click off, or on.It's also not like shoes or underwear that you can change. Every Major Mainstream Health,medical, and scientific organization has said being gay is NOT chosen, and has strong biological influences! The ex-gay ministries are failing to prove what they stand for. So duh! Sexual orientation cannot change, everyone should have known that! I will have post ex-gay ministries in the upcoming posts, more news, and etc!

BET's Meet the Faith: Black Homosexuality and Homophobia Debate!!!

BET's Meet the Faith is hosted by the hot Ian Smith. I was really happy to see Keith Boykin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and former NBA player John Amaech. Keith was very vocal in challenging Bishop E. Bernard Jordon on how homosexuality is somehow NOT a "sin". Bishop Jordon say it's a sin if it's outside of marriage. All this with a belief that sex is exclusive to marriage is just silly, but like fellow blogger Larry Lyons, I'm kindy sex-positive myself. But you gotta love religion, if it can control some things, how about sexual issues/morality as well! Anyway, let's use that logic, so when gays get married, then people like the Bishop won't label it a so-called "sin". My girl Sheryl was passionate about this subject, and was telling it. The debate was a good start, and it has made quite a stir on BET's message Boards, community, blogs, and possibly many people now.


I will discuss more on this in another post! Time for the BET AWARDS 2007 Tonight!

[Updates resume morning AM-Justice MH]

High School Year Book:Gay Kiss too "illicit" and "provocative"???

Now, i really don't see what's so illicit or provocative about two people showing love and affection through a kiss.

Newark Superintendent of Schools Marion Bolden called the photograph "illicit" and ordered it blacked out of the $85 yearbook before it was distributed to students at a banquet for graduating seniors Thursday.
"It looked provocative," she said. "If it was either heterosexual or gay, it should have been blacked out. It's how they posed for the picture."

Russell Garris, the assistant superintendent who oversees the city's high schools, brought the photograph to Bolden's attention Thursday afternoon. He was concerned the picture would be controversial and upsetting to parents, Bolden said.

There are gay parents too, this is about all students both gay and straight being fairly represented in their own high school year book.

There are several photos of heterosexual couples kissing in the yearbook, but the superintendent said she didn't review the entire yearbook and was presented only with Jackson's page.

I'm not really surprise, but she made sure to review Andre and his boyfriend's kiss photo. In the state of New Jersey, it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, but the Newark, NJ school superintendent felt it necessary to protect parents on their "standards".

"I don't understand. There is no rule about no gay pictures, no guys kissing. Guys and girls kissing made it in."
-- East Side High School student Andre Jackson, whose photo of a kiss with his boyfriend David Escobales had a black marker taken to it in every copy of the yearbook.

Of course there is NO rule, they felt it was necessary, whatever that means. Andre is a inspiration to all young gay people. Andre Jackson says he came out when he was 16 and that he and David Escobales have been together since October. I wish them the best and many more. Also, it's strange a state like New Jersey would do some something like this, it recently legalized Civil Unions, and I predict in the near future, marriage will be extended to gay couples, because the new law is having problems. More on that in another post!

Ex-gay Civil War:Ex-gay Alan Chambers VS. Ex-gay Stephen Bennett!!!

The reclosted gay movement is getting very interesting.

Exodus International's Alan Chambers recently made what many see as a public shift on the ex-gay ministry stance that homosexuality can be cured

With years of therapy, Chambers says, he has mostly conquered his own attraction to men; he's a husband and a father, and he identifies as straight. But lately, he's come to resent the term "ex-gay": It's too neat, implying a clean break with the past, when he still struggles at times with homosexual temptation. "By no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete," Chambers said., he told the Orange County Register, "Today, I am a far different person. Not that I don't struggle, but my life has changed. I certainly don't have the desire to be involved in homosexuality. It has no power over me."

What exactly does that mean? If Chambers is struggling, then he obviously has the desire to be with a man. What else is he struggling over, whether to drink caffeinated or decaf coffee in the morning? And the larger question is, why not just come out and end a worthless struggle that modern biology increasingly proves is fruitless.

There has been an eruption of anger and outrage from recloseted homosexual "cured" professional heterosexual Stephen Bennett, who takes issue with Chambers' reassessment of the situation:



Stephen Bennett, President of Stephen Bennett Ministries, a pro-family organization advocating for the traditional family, the protection of children and proclaiming the truth about homosexuality, condemned the irresponsible and disturbing remarks attributed to and made by Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, an organization claiming to be "The largest information and referral ministry in the world on homosexual issues."
Bennett, along with many others pro-family leaders, were shaken Monday by Chamber's remarks and are eagerly awaiting Exodus International's official response to their President's misguided statements.On CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer", the interviewer positioned Chambers as concurring there may be a "biological" basis for homosexuality.
There is ZERO biological, scientific "evidence" for homosexuality to this date. The biblical evidence for homosexuality is very clear: it's sin.[I beg to differ, that evidence is poor.]
...Stephen Bennett, an ex-gay himself now for 15 years, happily married for 14 years to his wife Irene and the father of their two children, stated, "Frankly, I am shocked that the President of the largest information and referral ministry in the world on homosexual issues, would ever make such irresponsible and false public statements. If Mr. Chambers, a married man and father who once engaged in homosexuality himself, says he's never met 'a former ex-gay' or one who has 'changed completely', he's personally invited to our home in Connecticut to meet one. I'd also be happy to introduce him to numerous other individuals - all former homosexual men and women."
Bennett once engaged in the homosexual lifestyle for 11 years with over 100 men - losing partners and friends to HIV/AIDS, until everything changed in 1990 - when he was confronted with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He dealt with his root issues and in 1992 completely changed. Stephen no longer struggles whatsoever with homosexual temptation.
"Homosexuality is an outward expression of an inward conflict. When I completely dealt with my inward conflict, my alcoholism, cocaine addiction, bulimia AND homosexual struggle were completely gone," said Bennett.

Joe Brummer says this about Bennett:
I sometimes, actually most of the time, feel bad for Bennett. I feel Stephen needs to believe, as well as many other ex-gays, the things he does. He needs to believe that gays and lesbians can just change and that all they need to do is find god. The fact remains that dozens of men and women, including Alan Chambers, are still homosexual regardless what they call themselves. The dictionary and science define homosexual as someone attracted to the same sex and Alan has stated more than once that even though he calls himself a heterosexual, he is still "tempted" by his same sex attractions. In other words, he is still a homosexual. I too, hope that Alan will clarify his statements as I see this as a very important step towards finding the truth.

Justice MH: Indeed. Truth always sets free. Bennett plays a almost convincing hetersexual, but he's still gay, but reclosted. I wonder how long it will take for these two QUEENS to come to blows. My money is on Alan Chamber. I want a clean fight, no hair pulling, and no low blows [even though that's still y'all thing]. lol. Keep it clean!

h/t pam and wayne besen. Thanks.

[more updates to come-Justice MH]