The 74-year-old Alamo, who believes that age of consent is puberty, homosexuality is caused by demon possession and "the Vatican, the one-world government and church are spiritually powered by that old serpent called the Devil," is now on trial facing a 10-count indictment alleging he took underaged girls across state lines for sex.
A 9-year-old girl was considered too young to answer the office phone at evangelist Tony Alamo's compound, but old enough for frequent sex with the ministry leader, she alleged at his federal trial on child-sex charges.This man shouldn't see the light of day again. The Southern Poverty Law Center did an extensive investigation into Alamo's "ministry."The woman, now 18, testified that she dodged security cameras and roving guards to escape the compound in 2006. Her testimony left jurors red-eyed and shaking their heads Thursday....Defense lawyers have largely left the sex and underage marriage claims unchallenged, though they have questioned witnesses' memories and whether they had been coached by authorities.
The teenage witness said Alamo "married" her when she was 8, and groped her after their wedding...She said at one point she asked the minister why he had selected her. "He said, `Because you were cute,'" she said on the witness stand. "It wasn't God's will that he married me. It's just because he thought I was cute.
As detailed in the Fall 2007 issue of the Report, Alamo in recent years has argued that girls should marry once they start menstruating, even if they are as young as 10. In a 2006 radio broadcast, he said: "God impregnated Mary when she was about 11 years old. So the government idiots, the people that don't know the Bible, what you're going to have to do is get a hold of God now, you're going to have to get up there and cuff him and send him to prison for statutory rape."Related:In early 2007, Alamo cited the alleged promiscuity of 1st-graders as grounds for marrying them before the age of legal consent. "I've found out from people's parents that their daughter started having sex when she was 6 years old and had sex every day of her life," he said in another broadcast. "So right there, by the time she's 15 years old, she's had sex thousands of times. I mean, this is just reality."
* Arkansas: Child porn, abuse bust at Tony Alamo Christian
"As a state that has often served as a political and cultural trendsetter for the rest of the country, what happens in California has national significance for the LGBT movement. That's why for well over five years the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has devoted significant human and financial resources to winning the freedom to marry in California. This commitment remains steadfast as we continue to work on the ground in California with the Vote for Equality Project of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and Equality California to build effective models of person-to-person voter persuasion about marriage equality.In its decision, the NGLTF stressed the importance of accomplishing key goals before getting a repeal effort on the ballot:"We support the soonest possible return to the ballot box to repeal Prop. 8 that gives the LGBT community a fighting chance to win. The priorities expressed in 'Prepare to Prevail' are about the hard work it will take at the grassroots to move towards a solid victory, and we look forward to continued work with our partners in California to build a strong, diverse and successful campaign for marriage equality."
? Build solid majority support for the freedom to marry before returning to the ballot. Multiple polls have shown that support for marriage equality has remained flat since November 2008. The LGBT community will be in a stronger position to win if we're defending, and not attempting to create in the midst of a campaign, majority support at the ballot box for the freedom to marry.The rest of the release, documenting the organization's commitment to the equality fight in California, is here. It will be interesting to see the response to this anno announcement by the 2010 proponents. While these conversations are difficult, I think it's healthy to think things through in clear view.? Demonstrate a proven ability to move former Yes on 8 voters to support marriage equality. Both polling and real-world testing door-to-door have shown that following the public debate over Prop 8, many voters' positions have hardened; consequently, few voters remain undecided about whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
? Develop persuasive messaging capable of moving former Yes voters that can also withstand vigorous campaigning from the opposition.
? Build a campaign infrastructure that's able to raise the significant amount of money and recruit the army of volunteers needed to prevail. The LGBT community could measure its readiness to return to the ballot by establishing a set of benchmarks to be met, over time starting from now, for fundraising, volunteer recruitment and other campaign infrastructure goals.
Related:
* CA: LGBT coalitions of color - forego 2010 Prop 8 repeal initiative; need more time to secure votes
Good morning, everyone. Really early morning, as in 5:15 AM. When this post goes live I will have been at work since 6:15 AM. ZZZzzzzzz. Need a hot cup of English Breakfast tea.
A few random headlines...
* Senate votes to expand federal hate crimes.. We heard that good news last night, but the open issue now is that Republicans will have the opportunity to changes to the hate crimes bill on Monday, though it will not affect its status as part of the must-pass defense bill. I'm sure we'll see ample fundie outcries today. If you find a few, post them in the comments.
* Blasts at Jakarta Ritz, Marriott kill 8, wound 50. Suicide bombers kiled eight and wounding at least 50 at the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta.
* Gov. Mark "AWOL" Sanford preaches fiscal frugality, but officials are finding out he shed his conser vative values when it came to traveling on the Palmetto State citizen's dime. What a surprise.
Sanford, who once criticized other state officials for costly travel, charged the state more than $37,600 for one first-class and four business-class flights overseas since November 2005, expense records show. Other state employees flew in the back of the plane at a fraction of the price, according to the documents...His spokesman defended the governor's state travel as "very judicious."* Speaking of straying politicians, in Mississippi, the wife of former U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering (need I mention he's a Republican at this point), has charged the social conservative pol with carrying on an affair with a former college friend while living in a building where several Christian lawmakers reside on C Street near the Uthe U.S. Capitol. Pickering doesn't deny it.
He cast himself as a defender of decency, particularly on television and the Internet, and was among House members urging then-President George W. Bush to declare 2008 "the National Year of the Bible."* Weirdo story of the day: Man tries to fix airbed, blows up apartment.
The 45-year-old man used tire repair solvent to plug a hole in his airbed and left it overnight. But it blew up when he went to inflate it the next day. "A spark from the electric air pump ignited it," a fire brigade spokesman said. The blast pushed his living room wall into the building's stairwell and caused extensive damage to walls, windows and furniture.
* Gay activist and former Clinton aide David Mixner rates the Blend as on of his Five Favorite LGBT Blogs (along with Towleroad.com: Joe.My.God:, PageOneQ: and Queerty:).You can find important news on Pam Spaulding's blog that you will not find in any of the other sites. I would love to be able to tap into her network and know where she gets her tips. She has uncovered many stories on the religious right, has excellent coverage of the Trangender Community and is the best on lesbian coverage of all the blogs. This well written blog, often with a cutting sense of humor, is crucial to read to be fully informed of what is happening in the LGBT community. Pam's House Blend is never boring and always informative. Pam has a take no prisoners approach to the enemies of the LGBT community and her powerful voice has broken new ground.
Big Fat Gay Wedding
Mawwiage. It's what brings some of us together and what keeps a lot of us apart. Despite years of pushin', teachin' and learnin', LBGTQ folks still can't get married in Oregon. Up until this year you had to go to Massachusets if you were a lady longing to marry a lass or a lad wanting to wed a feller. Bute a lady longing to marry a lass or a lad wanting to wed a feller. But then â€" like a big, rainbow-colored wave â€" six states offered marriage for same-sex couples. From Maine to Iowa, hitchin's are happ'nin'. So why is Oregon stuck in this Equal Rights dry spell? How can we break it and get busy gettin' wed? All your questions shall be answered. Fabulously. On Tuesday, July 21st, the Bus is (domestic) partnering with Basic Rights Oregon, the Portland Mercury, Lippman's Party Co., Saint Cupcake and New Deal Vodka for the most flamboyant BrewHaHa at least since the last one. My Big Fat Gay Wedding will serve up cold microbrew, delicious democracy cake, the past and future of marriage equity (where we've been and how we get to where we wanna be) and a possible appearance from a particularly visible member of the LGBTQ community in Portland politics. Where: Backspace at 115 NW 5th Ave. When: 7pm Who: All ages What is costs: Nothing! (And Bus Drivers get discounts on beer).When: Sunday August 16, 2009
12:30pm to 3:30pm
 Waterways Cruises and Events
2501 N. Northlake Way
Seattle, WA 98103
Price ***Free to Attend
For more Details visit www.SameLoveSameRights.com
Join us Sunday August 16, 2009 from 12:30pm to 3:30pm for an afternoon of elegance, fun, music ļ, 2009 from 12:30pm to 3:30pm for an afternoon of elegance, fun, music & more at the Waterways Cruises and Events. The Same Love, Same Rights Wedding & Family Expo will spotlight over 40 gay-friendly businesses, including wedding businesses, travel services, gifts and more.
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