Morehouse College faces its own bias -- against gays

By Richard Fausset, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

ATLANTA -- Michael Brewer, a senior at Morehouse College, was strolling purposefully around this storied campus on a hot spring day, his heavy frame dripping sweat, his hands clutching a small stack of fliers.

"No more hate," the fliers read, in a stylish typeface. "No more discrimination. No more."

"What's up, brother?" Brewer said in a lilting, cheerful voice as he approached a fellow student in a dark business suit. "Take one of these, if you will."

The young man gave the flier a glance. It was promoting what was perhaps the most ambitious week of gay rights events in the history of Morehouse, the only historically black all-male school in America.

"What the hell is this?" he said under his breath. He laughed and threw it in the trash.

full article

African-American Minister Calls for Equality

Below you’ll find an article written by former AME Minster, Dr. Bennie Colclough. Dr. Colclough has been at the forefront of the civil rights movement in SC for most of his life, and he continues the fight for LGBT equality today. Over the past three years, Dr. Colclough has sacrificed friendships, a high position in the church, and his own comfort to take a stand for what he knows is right. We would all do well to heed his call.

Can we hear the call for change?

The African-American community should pay close attention to what Sen. Barack Obama has said about equality for gay and lesbian Americans and the correlation of religion-based bigotry and discrimination against African-Americans.

The struggle for justice, equality, and dignity for gay and lesbian Americans continues and Sen. Obama and other leaders have engaged the African-American faith community on this issue.

Are we listening?

As an African-American minister, I many years ago heard the call for change on this issue and it is still my resolve today to be a missionary for justice and equality, to be courageous, true to my faith, and challenge the African-American faith community, to love God with our whole heart and our neighbors as ourselves.

The African-American faith community must defend the human dignity of all people as distinguished leaders in our community are calling us to this task.

Consider Coretta Scott King’s remarks in a 1998 address in which she said that “Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood.”

Just last week it was announced that Julian Bond, an icon in the civil rights movement for nearly 50 years and longtime national chairman of the NAACP, has stepped into a leadership role with the Fairness for All Families Campaign in Florida, a statewide coalition effort working to prevent an effort to write discrimination against gays and lesbians into that state’s constitution.

These leaders recognize the history of religion-based bigotry and discrimination toward our own community. We know that religion was once misused to justify slavery.

Today it is being misused to deny members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community full and equal rights.

The African-American faith community must recognize the perpetrators and injustice, and bring about an end to the hurt that has been caused to so many.

Discrimination is morally wrong and un-Christian. Let me repeat this: Discrimination is morally wrong and un-Christian.

Sen. Barack Obama has said that he strongly disagrees with the views of people like gospel singer Donnie McKlurkin and others who use religion to attack members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. Those of us who are missionaries for justice and equality are hopeful that Senator Barack Obama will be true to his platform for change, and speak out against religious bigotry coming from a select group of African-American evangelical leaders.

His appearance Monday night at a presidential debate in Myrtle Beach would be a good opportunity for him to do just that.

While Senator Obama’s candidacy for president of the United States offers hope, let us not forget a facet of society that has had little hope for change the last 20 years. The purpose of our government, first and foremost, is equality under the law, respect for human rights, and protection of all our citizens, whether they are white, black, male, female, disabled, Christian, or gay. We must be about the business of building a beloved community with a foundation of compassion and justice for all.

The Declaration of Independence says: “All people are created equal and endowed with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The Bible says, “love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30-31 There are no exceptions about who our neighbors are.

We must be courageous enough on our watch to change our society for the better.

So let us hear the call for change from our leaders and join them in challenging those people who misuse religious teachings to justify attitudes of condemnation and discrimination toward our gay and lesbian friends and neighbors.

Bedfellows: NARTH and FOTF

For the first time in a decade, the American Psychological Association is reviewing its procedures on working with clients who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. NARTH is attempting to bully the APA into allowing the disreputable, pseudo-scientific practice of “ex-gay” therapy.NARTH is known for its bizarre theories, such as “non-homosexual men who experience defeat and failure may also experience homosexual fantasies or dreams.”

Last year, NARTH was embroiled in two major controversies that lead to its President, Joseph Nicolosi, stepping down from his post. In the first, a NARTH doctor wrote an essay supporting gender variant children being "ridiculed" in school so they would conform. In the second, another NARTH doctor wrote an article justifying slavery.

Upon co-founding the group, the late Dr. Charles Socarides said, “Homosexuality is a psychological and psychiatric disorder, there is no question about it.”

NARTH’s leader, Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, has said factors in the causation of homosexuality include “fear of tall bridges” a “phobia of the phone” and once claimed that gay men are more likely to be “pee shy.”? He has encouraged his clients to become more masculine by drinking Gatorade and calling friends “dude.”

The organization’s methods are so peculiar and bizarre that the American Psychological Association specifically condemned NARTH by name at the APA’s annual convention in August 2006. According to the APA:

“For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA’s concern about the position espoused by the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and so-called conversion therapy is that they are not supported by the science. There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish.”

Massachusetts petition fraud

Right Wing Activists Attempt to Repeal LGBT Youth Protections

SACRAMENTO - Conservative, anti-LGBT activists have taken the first step to ask California voters to repeal youth protections recently signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Student Civil Rights Act, which becomes law on January 1 of next year, protects students from harassment and bullying in public schools by making sure teachers and school administrators understand their responsibilities to protect youth. Students are protected based on gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.

"It is ironic that an organization that alleges to promote 'family values' has chosen to fight a law that will protect all California youth based on religion, race, nationality and gender, not just sexual orientation," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "In a desperate attempt to deny full equality to people - and in this case, youth - who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, right wing extremists continue to wage a misguided attack on the Student Civil Rights Act. They are using fear-based tactics and deceptive propaganda to repeal legislation that has already received the approval of the Legislature and Gov. Schwarzenegger."

MLK Family and friends gather to support GLBT rights

(Austin, TX) -- On October 7, 2007, Isaac Farris Jr. -- nephew of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- addressed a vigil organized by straight Atlantans who support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans.

Malikah Berry, former assistant to Coretta Scott King, will also speak at the vigil. Berry is the Director of Community and Civic Engagement for Hands On Atlanta, which is a sponsor of the Atlanta vigil.

Prior to her death, Mrs. King spoke publicly in support of gay civil rights: "Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protections, whether by marriage or civil union," she said in a March 2004 speech.

VIDEO: The Bible is Repulsive

HISTORY: Hijra, India's "third sex" individuals

Recently I referenced the North American Indian Berdache (GLBTQIA - "third sex").

So I found it very interesting when I read about similarites in other societies. Societies such as India, Pakistan, Polynesia and the Balkans.

Of course the gifted "third sex" individuals had no more respect once religion forcfully took over.

Currently, homosexuality is illegal in India.

Click here for more information about India's Hijra/Tritiya-Prakriti.

A third sex is also discussed in ancient Hindu law, medicine, linguistics and astrology. The foundational work of Hindu law, the Manu Smriti (c. 200 BC - 200 AD) explains the biological origins of the three sexes: "A male child is produced by a greater quantity of male seed, a female child by the prevalence of the female; if both are equal, a third-sex child or boy and girl twins are produced; if either are weak or deficient in quantity, a failure of conception results."

Positive points for National Coming Out Day

More than half of straight Americans back equal treatment for gays, and seven out of 10 said they have spoken out for the homosexual community in the face of verbal attacks, a poll said Thursday.

So much uproar today about Dear Abby at the PFLAG conference. I think it's great! Kudos for the new PFLAG concept of Straight For Equality.








But I'm a bit more excited about the "GAY? FINE BY ME" T-Shirt movement.

Not so long ago a Ithaca High School sophomore was sent home for wearing the "GAY? FINE BY ME" T-Shirt. Since then the T-Shirt has gained phenomenal popularity.

Religious Right Wrong (again)

Back in 2001 there was a court case. The religious right, in attempt to stop abortion, published the names of all Doctors who performed abortions. Their right to do so is part of our First Amendment right to free speech which was upheld by a San Francisco federal appeals court.

Of course the backlash of such did occur when "Jesus" killed two and injured seven in an abortion clinic attack.

One of their most recent "articles" claims freedom of speech is under attackin the USA. Claiming Europe is passing legislation which will criminalize speech against homosexuals and the USA is one step away! Of course the "article" doesn't link to proof of this claim.

So I looked around a bit. Indeed a French politician did get fined for an outburst in court, stating that “homosexual behaviour endangers the survival of humanity” and that “heterosexuality is morally superior to homosexuality”. This was a court case where he was being sued by 3 gay organizations.

France has a very strong hate crimes code. Nothing near what we have, or are proposing, in the USA.

I doubt France cares much about the religious rights' opinion. But it is nice to see the religious right reach out to the International Community in such a loving and giving way.

October 11: National Coming Out day and Cyndi Lauper

PFLAG Launches 'Straight for Equality' on October 11

Cyndi Lauper will be urging straight America to speak out for Gay friends.

From October 11-14, hundreds of families and allies of GLBT people will be in Washington D.C., for the PFLAG National Convention, presented by IBM.

The national event marks the official launch of Straight for Equality, an entirely new project that aims to motivate the vast audience of fair-minded Americans who wish to more actively support equality in their daily lives.

Straight for Equality empowers people who may not have GLBT family members but who nonetheless want to curb homophobia in their daily lives. From speaking up when hearing an anti-gay joke, openly supporting equality in your work place to taking action to change anti-GLBT policies.

The PFLAG National Convention also will feature special guests such as the world's most widely syndicated columnist, Dear Abby, and the first-ever openly gay Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson.

Australian gay rights

Another small victory for LGBT equality in Australia has been won with the announcement that same-sex partners in the state of New South Wales will have the right to decline to give evidence against their partner in court.

The change from "de facto spouse" to "de facto partner" is intended to be gender neutral, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

"(Attorney General) Philip Ruddock is refusing to incorporate this definition into the Commonwealth version of the Uniform Evidence Act," said spokesman Justin Kelly.

The change to the law will come into effect in NSW in early 2008.

Mr Ruddock and Prime Minister John Howard are facing re-election later this year. Their government has proved hostile to recognition for same-sex couples and passed federal legislation in 2004 banning same-sex marriage.

Difficult questions on ENDA

A new debate opens old wounds over transgender inclusion.

Our organizations are usually quick to praise any measure in Congress that could remotely be construed as pro-gay. Except for this week, when the measure in question was a hastily submitted bill by Congressman Barney Frank that recast the Employment Non-Discrimination Act with a version that kept the LGB and dropped the T.

ENDA has lingered for more than a decade, seeing its most significant action in 1996, when it failed to pass the U.S. Senate by only one vote.

Frank’s statement, meanwhile, says only that there is majority support for a gay-only ENDA in the House. The exact count of the whip vote hasn’t been released.

In a telephone news conference held Tuesday by the coalition, H. Alexander Robinson, director of the National Black Justice Coalition, cited the example of the fight for full equality for African Americans. He said that those rights often came incrementally, but argued that, “the rights that were extended … were extended to everyone.”

In reality, however, voting rights weren’t extended to “everyone.” The Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, gave voting rights to black men — a move that outraged suffragettes, including Susan B. Anthony, who had also been ardent abolitionists and refused to support the male-only amendment. The resulting controversy split the movement for women’s suffrage and perhaps contributed to the decades of delay before women — white and black — finally gained the right to vote in 1920.

Should black men have had to wait another 50 years to get their right to vote, until the country was ready to pass suffrage for women, too? Or would women’s suffrage have come sooner if it remained linked to votes for black men?

Is it more selfish for gay people to abandon trans people, or for trans people to demand that gay, lesbian and bisexual people wait for job protections — maybe for decades — until they can be included too?

Republican waffling and pandering

Pandering to the interests of specific voting blocs is a common tactic for candidates seeking the presidential nomination of either party. During the 1992 Democratic primaries, Sen. Paul Tsongas famously pulled out a stuffed animal and accused Gov. Bill Clinton of being a "pander bear."

But in the race for the 2008 nominations, pandering has sunk to new lows--especially on the Republican side.

Mitt Romney has unabashedly reinvented himself in his bid for the GOP nomination. In Massachusetts, he ran as a Northeastern liberal Republican. In his failed bid to unseat Ted Kennedy in 1994, Romney declared that the gay and lesbian community "needs more support from the Republican Party," and said that the question of same-sex marriage should be left to the states to decide.

In his successful 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney supported domestic partnership status for gay as well as straight couples in Massachusetts, supported the federal assault weapons ban, and said that "the choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government's."

At least, up to a point. Rudy tempers his pro-choice record by bizarrely promising to appoint judges who disagree with his own position on abortion. And last week he went before the National Rifle Association and declared his newfound belief in the Second Amendment's individual right to bear arms.

But even McCain hasn't been immune to the pander bug. After getting trounced in the 2000 South Carolina primary, where Bush supporters used a variety of underhanded smear tactics, McCain took on Christian conservative leaders with a strong dose of his "straight talk."

"Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance," McCain said in a seminal speech in February 2000, "whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right."

Fast forward to the 2008 campaign, and McCain seems to have eaten his words as he seeks the Christian conservative vote. He telegraphed this new approach in May 2006, when he gave the commencement address at Liberty University--the institution founded by the late Jerry Falwell, one of McCain's "agents of intolerance."

Of course the Democratic candidates pander to their own special interest groups on the left. But not even Hillary Clinton, with her changing positions on the war, has needed to perform the ideological contortions of some of her Republican counterparts.

Republican primary voters may be thinking more about "electability" than whether a candidate is sincerely and authentically "conservative." But regardless of one's views on gay rights, abortion, or gun control, blatant and perhaps cynical repositioning by major candidates should make voters pause.

Chicago police abuse

Three women claimed Thursday in a federal lawsuit that an off-duty Chicago police officer roughed them up and called them names because of their sexual orientation after this year's gay pride parade.

The lawsuit could become the latest black eye for the Chicago Police Department, which has faced tough questions lately about the actions of off-duty officers, among other problems.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit filed on behalf of Kelly Fuery, 36, Debra Sciortino, 32, and Nicole Tomaskovic, 25, were the police department, officer William Szura and two state troopers.

According to the lawsuit, a vehicle driven by Fuery came upon a car moving at 30 mph on Interstate 55 after the June 24 parade. Fuery beeped her horn, and Szura responded by slamming on his brakes, speeding up and switching lanes, making it impossible for Fuery to pass, the lawsuit said.

Fuery was forced to the shoulder, where Szura screamed words such as "dyke" and spit at her, according to the lawsuit. The women claim he stuck a gun in Fuery's abdomen, "causing her to fear for her life."

When Sciortino tried to step in, Szura shoved her, and she fell, the lawsuit said. When Tomaskovic drove up in another car and tried to help, Szura placed her in a chokehold, according to the suit.

In other Chicago police troubles, six members of an elite unit are accused of using their badges to shake down residents and intimidate people. One of those six was accused Wednesday of considering hiring gang members to kill a former colleague and potential witness against him.

In July, three off-duty officers pleaded not guilty to beating four businessmen in a bar in one of two videotaped confrontations that helped ramp up criticism of the department.

In the other case, an off-duty officer was caught on tape apparently beating a female bartender. The officer has pleaded not guilty.

Civil Unions are not the same as marriage

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey's civil unions law has failed to provide all the benefits of marriage to at least one in five same-sex couples, a gay rights group told a panel Wednesday that will report its findings to the governor and state Legislature.

More than 300 of the 1,514 same-sex couples who have joined in civil unions have complained to Garden State Equality, the state's leading gay rights group, about employers denying them benefits under the law, said David M. Smith, the group's deputy director.

Craig Ross said that when he lost his white-collar job and tried to get benefits on his partner's plan, the couple were denied despite their civil union because they aren't "married.''

"Calling our relationship and our legal status a civil union, I believe, gives my company an easy out,'' Ross said. "Calling it what it is - a marriage - makes denial of those benefits obvious for what it is: discrimination.''

Hypocrit: Maryland governor O'Malley

As Maryland gays mourned a high court ruling upholding a ban on same-sex marriage, some said they were equally stunned and upset by the remarks of Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, who in private, had repeatedly assured plaintiffs in the case that he supports gay unions.

"I look forward to reading the Court's full opinion, but as we move forward, those of us with the responsibility of passing and enforcing laws have an obligation to protect the rights of all individuals equally, without telling any faith how to define its sacraments,” O’Malley said in a statement following a request from the Blade for comment. “I respect the Court's decision."

The remarks were assailed by plaintiffs in the case, some of whom worked for O’Malley’s gubernatorial campaign and claim O’Malley told them he backed their cause. Lisa Polyak, one of the plaintiffs, shared with the Blade her private e-mail exchanges with O’Malley during the course of the court fight.

In one message, O’Malley responds to an e-mail from Polyak thanking the then-mayor of Baltimore for his support of same-sex marriage. O’Malley writes, “You are most welcome, Lisa. However, I'm just supporting something I strongly believe in. I wish you and your family nothing but the best.” That message is dated Oct. 22, 2004.

She was referring to an interview O’Malley gave to the CBS affiliate in Baltimore at that time, which is available online at www.wjz.com. During the interview, O’Malley stated, "I'm certainly not opposed to it. I don't see how we can deny governmental protection to those sorts of contracts. I know that churches will certainly have different views. And that certainly is their right and no one should infringe on that. But ... I'm not opposed to civil marriages."

After a Baltimore Circuit Court judge ruled in January 2006 that it is unconstitutional to ban gay couples from marrying, he said publicly, "I was raised to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. This is a fundamental issue of the state’s public policy, and a decision that ultimately should not be made by a single trial court judge. The Court of Appeals should review this matter and any legislative action would be premature until the court acts."

That statement angered gay rights activists, who demanded a private meeting with O’Malley shortly afterward, according to sources who attended.

During the meeting, held at the home of Vic Basile, a longtime activist and member of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s board, O’Malley disavowed his previous statements in support of marriage, multiple sources at the meeting told the Blade this week.

“I’m sorry you thought that I supported civil marriage,” O’Malley reportedly said in response to Polyak’s questions during the meeting.

Florida State Univ lawyer request removal of gay anti discrimination protection

The Florida State University Student Union Board rejected a proposal from FSU’s general counsel, D. Michael Cramer, to remove protection for sexual orientation from the Student Union Board’s anti-discrimination policy.

The big school down the street (University of Florida at Gainesville) has much stronger anti-discriminatory policies. Not noted in the story is that UF also offers its faculty domestic partner health benefits.

State institutions that want to compete outside of Florida (you know… like with other ARL institutions) need to work around painfully backward state laws and policies — and these institutions are often attempting to provide equal rights and benefits in an environment that enables the D. Michael Cramers of the world to feel free to get up in front of students and propose removing protections from a nebbishly little student government policy. Doesn’t spell well for future reforms.

Provincetown: Travel Warning update

Most of us think of Provincetown and "Gay Friendly" as coupled terms (like bread and butter). Maybe that's changing?

Richard (pictured) was visiting Provincetown this last weekend.

Richard decided to buy a pizza at Spiritus on Commercial Street. He left this well-known pizza parlor around 12:30 AM and as he walked down the street, came face to face with three men, one of whom calls him "faggot." Richard, as many of us would, replied with a "smart" comeback.

Richard continued his walk and within seconds felt a blow to his head. The last thing Richard thought to himself before he blacked out was "this is it, it's over..."

About an hour later he was awaken, on the beach, by Provincetown Police (they received an anonymous call). Officer Joudrey made the police report and sent Richard (distraught and confussed) on his way. Richard drove his vehicle back to his home town of New Bedford.

Around 12 noon the next day, Richard went to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford. At immediate sight, the orderly puts him in a wheelchair, administers an IV, and puts on a neck collar (due to obvious head trauma). Richard was asked when this happened. He responded, "around 12 hours ago." He is told by the doctor "that is when you should have gone to the hospital, 12 hours ago."

Richard phoned the Provincetown Police and asked "what are the police going to do about this" and was allegedly told, "there is nothing we can do because you told us that you couldn't identify the three men that did this, so it is best to leave it alone."

Up until yesterday at around 2pm, the brother of the owner of Spiritus Pizza, Carl Yingling, was unaware of any incident near his establishment. So it seems that the police did not contact Spiritus or check out its webcam to see if any of this was recorded that evening.

Folks, this is a federal hate crime! Why would the police dismiss it so casually? Are the Provincetown Police lazy or bigots?

http://knowthyneighbor.blogs.com/home/2007/09/is-provincetown.html

click here to view followup article

Canada: "Guerilla Gays" take over straight bars

Over 100 queer people and supporters took over a straight bar in Ottawa on Sep 14 as part of a new activist group, Guerilla Gay Fare.

At a Capital Pride event in August, Tim Campbell witnessed some hostility towards gays at a queer party hosted in a non-queer venue.

Campbell read about the guerilla gay group concept in a Capital Xtra editorial, and he decided to create a Facebook group called Guerilla Gay Fare. The group quickly grew to over 600 members in just over two weeks.

"All of them were really happy to have us, they said 'you guys are welcome to party here, this is a great thing,'" says Campbell. While the concept is new to Ottawa, guerilla gay bar groups have existed for the past few years in several cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Washington DC.

http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx?AFF_TYPE=2&STORY_ID=3617&PUB_TEMPLATE_ID=1

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