10/5/10

Texas Breakaway Episcopal Groups newest ally against LGBT people "Exodus International"

The same people who are attempting to abscond with the one true Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth Texas property have a new ally in there misguided mission to "fix" or exclude LGBT people and women from priesthood. A link to Exodus International was recently added to the breakaway groups home page.

The link will bring you to a letter to Iker in which Exodus International spends much time defending itself and placing it's lot with Iker's breakaway congregation.

Exodus International conducts 'reparative therapy', a discredited proccess in which a counselor attempts to convert a LGBT person making her or him 'straight'. According to the American Psychiatric Association:
"The potential risks of “reparative therapy” are great and include depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient."
My question is this. Why would Iker and his misguided Christians align themselves in the name of god with a organization who's methods have been proven dangerous and even fatal to LGBT people. Why would Iker position his congregation with a radically dangerous group that believes only straight people are beloved of Christ and all others are the adversary of god.

10/3/10

GLN to PROTEST "BURN qUEERs" Performer Capleton

Breaking News!Kinetic Playground Nightclub announces Capleton is CANCELED
Source GLN: In an anti-gay social climate that has led several young LGBTs to commit suicide in recent weeks, Kinetic Playground Nightclub has persisted in going forward with its booking of notorious "Kill Gays" performer Capleton next Saturday night.

A few weeks ago the Gay Liberation Network (GLN) politely contacted Kinetic Playground owner Jim Gouskos to inform him about Capleton's history and attempt to persuade him to cancel the concert.... Gouskos claimed that he was locked into a contract which prevented him from canceling, to which we replied that many other venues, such as Chicago's House of Blues, have successfully canceled other "kill gays" performers.

In a follow-up conversation, GLN organizer Roger Fraser said that in the event that Kinetic Playground refused to cancel Capleton, there would be a protest. Gouskos replied, "Don't threaten me because I can get a bunch of goons outside to throw eggs at you guys."

Goons or not, the protest is now on --

10:30 PM, Saturday, Oct. 9
In front of Kinetic Playground
1113 W. Lawrence Avenue
Chicago

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Background --
WHO IS "CAPLETON"?

Capleton is a performer in the Jamaican "dancehall" tradition who promotes violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) communities in his lyrics. One of his songs is entitled "Bun out Di Chi Chi," which translates to "Burn the Queer," and an example of one of his lyrics is the noxious:

"Shoulda know seh Capleton bun battyman,
the same fire apply to di lesbian"
("[you] should know that Capleton burns queers,
[and] the same fire applies to lesbians").

In 2004, Capleton's scheduled concerts in three venues in California were canceled after LGBT pressure was applied because of his calls from the stage to kill gays.

Losing lots of U.S. dollars because of cancellations, Capleton and a few other anti-gay reggae singers finally in 2007 felt compelled to sign a document known as the Reggae Compassionate Act, which is a pledge no longer to sing or otherwise profit from songs that promote violence against LGBT people. However, Capleton quickly violated the terms of the agreement. As a result, his tours in Switzerland and France were canceled in 2008.

As recently as last Christmas in a Jamaican concert, Capleton again loudly proclaimed to his audience: "All who a bun battyman and sodomite, hand up!" ("All who have burned queers and sodomites, put your hands up!") This outrageous call to celebrate murder caused LGBT activists in Long Beach, California, to mobilize, and promoters cooperated by canceling Capleton's invitation to participate at the prestigious Reggae Muffins Festival last February.

Our current protest has already generated substantial coverage in the reggae music press, and one of Jamaica's most prominent newspapers, The Gleaner, has given the protest surprisingly favorable coverage:
This Saturday night, please help stand up to the hate that promotes violence against young and old in our LGBT community.

Facebook page PROTEST "Kill Gays" Performer in Uptown!

10/2/10

Take us OUT to the ballgame: Time for Rangers to join majority of MLB teams, sponsor a gay night




By Rafael McDonnell
RMcDonnell@rcdallas.org

I’ve always loved baseball. It takes me back to summer nights at my grandparents’ house, listening to games on a crackly AM radio, dreaming of the word pictures painted by the play-by-play announcers in faraway places.

Later, I was lucky enough to work at the flagship radio station for the Texas Rangers, and got to see in person the team’s first two playoff appearances. That’s why I was especially happy to see the Rangers make the playoffs again this year, after an 11-year break.

At the same time I was cheering on the Rangers, it made me think. Why hasn’t the team conducted its own outreach event directed to its LGBT fans? For that matter, why haven’t any of the other major sports teams in North Texas held such an outreach?

By my count, 16 of the 30 Major League Baseball teams had held LGBT-specific community days prior to this season. The Chicago Cubs — the only MLB team with an LGBT owner — have held their event since 2001. The Philadelphia Phillies started theirs a year later. Other teams, from Los Angeles to Denver and New York to Tampa Bay, have also conducted similar community days.

This year, two more teams held LGBT community days: the St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros. Both are significant because the teams themselves were the driving force behind the events.

The Astros called their event “Pride at the Park,” donated a portion of ticket sales to seven local LGBT nonprofits, and invited the Bayou City Chorale, a chorus made up of gay men and lesbians, to sing the national anthem.

According to the Houston Press, more than 1,000 members of the LGBT community attended the game. Other reports indicate there was no major opposition to “Pride at the Park.”

Earlier this month in St. Louis, about 200 members of that city’s LGBT community attended the Cardinals’ first-ever “OUT at the Ballpark” after the team reached out to Pride St. Louis.

In Minneapolis this past July, the fourth annual “Out in the Stands” event hosted by the Twins drew more than 1,200 fans to Target Field. For $25, attendees received a game ticket, admission to a pre- and after-party, and a T-shirt.

So, what about the Texas Rangers?

In 2003, roughly 200 tickets were sold to a community-generated, non-team-sponsored event. The event, spearheaded by then-employees of Resource Center Dallas, hoped to draw 1,000 members of the North Texas LGBT community.

It also drew protests from church groups. Since then, there have been no other similar events involving the local major sports teams and their LGBT fans.

The Rangers are under new ownership. With Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan in place, the team has reached out to fans by cutting prices on concessions, beer and parking. Have they considered an “LGBT Day at the Ballpark”? If so, would the community support it and attend? What should happen at such an event?

If the team hasn’t thought about holding such an event, we can encourage them to do so. Send them an e-mail, make a call or write a letter. Congratulate the Rangers on winning their division, and ask them to hold an outreach “day at the Ballpark” event for their LGBT fans in 2011. Show them that an event like this would be great for both the fans and the team.

The Rangers’ e-mail is fanfeedback@rangers.mlb.com. The team’s address is 1000 Ballpark Way #400, Arlington, Texas 76011, and their phone number is 817-273-5222.

And while were at it, Mavericks and Stars — some of your peer teams are having similar events. In the NBA, The Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors have held LGBT events, as has the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers.

This would be a tremendous opportunity to reach fans that may feel marginalized because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and build a lasting loyalty to the teams. As best I can tell, no NFL team has conducted an LGBT outreach event, including the Cowboys.

It’s no secret that homophobia is an issue in sports — two-thirds of sports reporters identified it as a problem, according to a study conducted last year by Penn State University.

But events like LGBT community days at sporting events are a step toward fighting it. 2010-2011 isn’t 2003, and if the Astros can reach out to welcome the community, so can the Rangers.

Rafael McDonnell is strategic communications and programs manager for Resource Center of Dallas.

9/30/10

Turn it up Thursday! Share your passion


Something new for planetransgender, a weekly feature of new groundbreaking exciting efforts by LGBT peeps and allies.

Featured Today! Psychology Degree. The site has among other things a page called "50 Brave Blog Posts About Coming Out"..

I love this. Someone who is promoting other peoples work asks me to introduce it to you! I will in turn ask you to share also! Yeah baby, lets share.

One of the 50 stories about coming out is from one of my very favorite bloggers "Card carrying Lesbian" by Sasha. Well, she's s hot, outrageous, funny muff diving outspoken lesbian. Whats not to love?

One more extraordinary story is about a Methodist Minister, the Rev. David Weekley who after accompanying for the first time his congregation on it's annual pilgrimage to Minidoka, a former internment camp in Idaho, got him thinking about sharing his transgender story with the Japanese-American congregation he serves at Epworth United Methodist Church.

Two of the incredible stories about coming out that will touch you and help those who wish to learn about us.

Got something to share? Send it to me at kellibusey@yahoo.com

9/28/10

Mona Shores Superintendent Babbitt's Abdication of Morality and Stolen Transman's Crown Protested by Students

The following press release is the sanitized terse legalistic statement issued by the Mona Shores superintendent who defended his actions that resulted in a stolen election, a homecoming king dethroned and a disenfranchised student body. The Statement did not comment on the moral issues not taken into account in this travesty of democracy.

According to the WoodTV article that accompanies the video (right top) the dethroned transman Oakleigh Marshall, was grateful that the School will allow him to dress in a tux. I think he shows incredible class in being thankful for being allowed to wear clothes!

# #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mona Shores Public Schools:
Statement To The Media:
Norton Shores, MI—September 27, 2010— Superintendent of Schools
Terry L. Babbitt shared today that Mona Shores High School has earned a
long-standing and well-deserved reputation for providing a safe, secure,
and nurturing environment for all students. Past and present students, staff,
and administrators all share in the credit for building this proud legacy.

Superintendent Babbitt pointed out High School Administrators were
guided by district legal counsel last week when conducting and carrying
out 2010 Homecoming activities. Superintendent Babbitt further shared
this is not the first time HS administrators have had to turn to legal counsel
for guidance this school year. The district respectfully obtained a formal
legal opinion from school district counsel early last month to guide
building and district actions this school year.

Superintendent Babbitt said the district will continue to follow district legal
counsel when dealing with additional questions that arise in the future.

Contact:
Questions can be directed to:
Mr. Terry L. Babbitt
Superintendent of Schools
231.780.4751, Ext. 8201
# #

Did the superintendent Babbitt consider how this action might influence the students as they integrate into society? After being victims of this stolen election will these students value the democratic electoral proccess? Or would now morality and ethic's become secondary to winning should one of these students become embroiled in a political race? Would now it become acceptable to win no matter what the means?

In the minds of these young people becoming the winner may now entail being the one who commits the most grievous underhanded tricks. It may now seem justifiable to steal votes or just plain over the top invalidation of electoral results even if that entailed violence and declaring themselves the winner?

The links on the facebook page and other media recommends contacting the school paper and the local media to voice a opinion. None of these have any mention of this incident.

I will contact Mr Babbitt by phone and email these two contacts in hopes of impressing on them the magnitude of this disservice.

Mr. Terry L. Babbitt
Superintendent of Schools
231.780.4751, Ext. 8201

Stuart Jones Board President
Contact Form
Phone: (231) 798-3104
2009-2010 President

Direct all other inquiries related to discrimination to:

Todd Geerlings
Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Mona Shores Public Schools
Contact Form
3374 McCracken Street Muskegon, MI 49441
(231) 780-4751, ext. 8210


Wiki Electoral_fraud

In national elections, successful electoral fraud can have the effect of a coup d'état or corruption of democracy. In a narrow election a small amount of fraud may be enough to change the result. If the result is not affected, fraud can still have a damaging effect if not punished, as it can reduce voters' confidence in democracy. Even the perception of fraud can be damaging as it makes people less inclined to accept election results. This can lead to the breakdown of democracy and the establishment of a dictatorship.
Electoral fraud is not limited to political polls and can happen in any election where the potential gain is worth the risk for the cheater; as in elections for labor union officials, student councils, sports judging, and the awarding of merit to books, films, music or television programmes.

The subsequent interview is with a empathetic well meaning student who's unintentional misgendering of Oak is indicative of the long way that West Michigan has to go to catchup in equality in this state where the assistant AG blogs intimidation and false accusations towards a gay university student body president.

TEXANS! Another child is bullied to death DEMAND ACTION!



Another Texas child has been bullied to death.
Thirteen-year old Asher Brown committed suicide on September 23, 2010. He shot himself in the head after enduring what his mother and stepfather say was constant harassment from four other students at Hamilton Middle School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. Brown's parents said they had complained about the bullying to Hamilton Middle School officials during the past 18 months, but claimed their concerns fell on deaf ears. [Houston Chronicle story]
This is the same school district in which Langham Creek High School freshman Jayron Martin was repeatedly beaten with a metal pipe last November. Martin said he had asked for help from two principals and a bus driver, but it took a neighbor with a shotgun to stop the beating. [KHOU story]
DEMAND ACTION!
There is simply no excuse for failing to protect school children. The State of Texas is obligated to provide a safe learning environment.
Under current law, students are not specifically protected from bullying and harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Current law does not establish a uniform state school conduct policy and does not provide for monitoring or enforcement of independent school district policies.
This coming January, for the third legislative session, Equality Texas will be working to pass safe schools legislation. It will not pass until lawmakers know it is a top priority for their constituents. During the 81st Legislative Session, Rep. Mark Strama filed a bill relating to safe schools for all youth. While it was voted favorably out of committee, it died on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives. Will this be the session to finally pass a safe schools bill?
Ask your state representative to take the issues of bullying and harassment seriously by supporting the passage of safe schools legislation - legislation that would protect all children, including children of lesbian or gay parents and teens who are gay.
DEMAND ACTION NOW!
Equality Texas advocates and lobbies for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.