Yeah, I know that sounds like a LOLCATS caption (it also sounds like one of those news-that’s-not-news items like “World’s Oldest Person Dies”), but apparently it’s true. California State Senator Roy Ashburn is the latest anti-homosexual crusader who is himself a homosexual. What is it with these people? What’s worse than his political bigotry is the explanation he offers for his voting record: that that’s how he thought his constituents would want him to vote. Now, I’m all for democracy, but not just undiluted mob rule. Representative democracy means the people get a voice, but it also means that elected representatives have an obligation to do the right thing based on their own best judgment, not by putting a wet finger to the wind. How sick do you have to be to repeatedly vote against the very thing that defines you?
Archive for the ‘gay rights’ Category
Anti-gay Senator is gay
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Podcast #79 – E-meters for Haiti?
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Earthquake-devastated Haiti has become a magnet for kooky, misguided (but perhaps well-intentioned) religious groups. Scientologist John Travolta (disguised, apparently, as L. Ron Hubbard–see photo at right) has personally flown his private 707 to Haiti, delivering food, medical supplies, and “volunteer ministers” who claim the ability to heal through therapeutic touch. Meanwhile, a Christian group called Faith Comes By Hearing has sent 600 solar-powered audiobook Bibles. Finally, a group of Idaho Baptists were arrested trying to transport Haitian orphans (some of whom weren’t actually orphans) across the border into the Dominican Republic.
Podcast #75 – Can Atheists Hold Office in NC?
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Cecil Bothwell has just been elected to the city council of Asheville, North Carolina. He happens to be an atheist. The North Carolina state constitution bars atheists from holding elected office. (For what it’s worth, seven other states still have constitutional provisions that discriminate against non-believers.) Is this a case of continuing institutionalized bigotry, or just an amusingly unenforceable “quirk” left over from the 19th century? (For more on Mr. Bothwell visit cecilbothwell.wordpress.com)
Hey Maine: WTF?
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009Voters in Maine have repealed a state law legalizing same-sex marriage. With 87% of precincts counted, 53% of Mainers want to keep marriage between one man and one woman. This comes as Republicans won handily in gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, proving that conservative forces are not in as much disarray as many have claimed.
Penn & Teller do the Vatican
Monday, August 31st, 2009I don’t know how long this video will be up, so watch it sooner rather than later. It’s the latest episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, in which they take on the Vatican, holding nothing back:
Penn & Teller: Bullshit – The Vatican from Stian Solberg on Vimeo.
Finally, some good news in this bad economy
Thursday, August 13th, 2009Associated Press reports that James Dobson’s Focus Crosshairs on the Family is “facing a serious budget shortfall.” Unfortunately, the hapless schlubs who give Dobson money will probably get talked into throwing more cash his way to bail him out. <sigh>
Apparently they’ve lost a load of dough on an ill-conceived program to “fix” homosexuals, and they’ve run up on the reality that human sexuality is natural, congenital, multivariate and not easily manipulated. The people I’m really sorry for are the gays and lesbians who live in misery trying–unsuccessfully–to reconcile their deep-seated sexual desires with the ignorant, outdated Biblical baloney that tells them they’re in league with Satan.
Apparently semi-coherent anti-gay bigotry does pay off!
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean may have lost her crown, but she’s still Conservatism’s #2 Sweetheart (#1, of course, is soon-to-be former Alaska governor Sarah “I’m Quitting because I’m not a Quitter” Palin). Prejean has signed a book deal in which she’ll exhaust 100,000 words summarizing her long and storied 22-year existence on this planet. And doubtless explain–yet again–how she lost the Miss USA title because of anti-anti-gay bigotry. That and her near-incoherence in answering a relatively simple–albeit, let’s face it, intentionally entrapping–question from pagaent judge Perez “15 Minutes of Fame” Hilton.
Mass. sues US over gay marriage
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009This is an interesting development. Massachusetts (one of the few states thus far to legalize same-sex marriage) has sued the federal government over the Defense of Marriage Act, in which Congress defines marriage as only between a man and a woman.
Gay bias killings on the rise
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009I’m not sure what to make of this story. If you’d told me there were ONLY 29 killings last year in which anti-gay bias played a part, I would have said that’s a gross underestimation. Sure, one killing is one too many, but if the numbers are even in the ballpark, it means that anti-gay killings, while still abhorrent, are relatively rare.
Q1 threatens gay marriage in Maine
Wednesday, October 21st, 20092009 is an off year for most voters, but citizens across the nation are keeping an eye on the November 3rd election in Maine, in which Mainers will decide whether or not to overturn a law passed last spring by the legislature and signed by the governor that legalized gay marriage. A “No” vote on “Question 1″ on the upcoming ballot will uphold the legality of gay marriage.
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Tags: gay marriage, maine, question 1
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