Ebony Delights

Court Backs Russian Man Seeking Asylum in U.S. Over Anti-Gay Persecution

From The Towleroad:
Immigration officials have been ordered to review the asylum request of a Russian man, identified only as "John Doe", who said he suffered attacks in the country in 2002 and 2003 because he is gay, the AP reports:

The U.S. Department of Justice's Board of Immigration Appeals was wrong when it concluded that the man had failed to show that government officials in Russia were either unwilling or unable to control his attackers, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Wednesday.

 

"The government failed to present any evidence to rebut Doe's undisputed testimony that he suffered serious assaults at the hands of individuals on account of his homosexuality or to show that the Russian government was able and willing to control non-governmental actors who attack homosexuals," the court said.

The SF Chronicle adds:

The court told the immigration board to reconsider the case and grant asylum unless the U.S. government presented evidence that conditions have improved in Russia and that it would be safe for the man to relocate somewhere in the country.

Such evidence might be hard to square with recent developments in Russia that have been condemned by the U.S. government. Russia has passed a law against "gay propaganda" and, while promising not to harass gay athletes at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, has done little to protect gays from a surge in harassment and assaults.

Salvation Army Takes Down 'Ex-Gay' Links, Offers Apology

The Salvation Army has taken down links from its website to two “ex-gay” ministries.

The links, posted under resources for dealing with “sexual addictions,” ferried users to the websites of Harvest USA and Pure Life Ministries, which promote the idea that gay people can – and should – alter their sexuality.

The links were removed after Truth Wins Out, a group opposed to so-called “reparative therapy,” objected to their inclusion.

“We thank the Salvation Army for acting swiftly and decisively in addressing our concerns about links to 'ex-gay' organizations,” Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen said. “This is a step in the right direction and congruent with their anti-discrimination campaign. We hope this action leads to further progress in gaining the full confidence and trust of the LGBT community.”

The charity group explained in a letter to Truth Wins Out that the links were mistakenly published.

“We apologize for our oversight and any confusion this may have caused,” wrote Jennifer Byrd, the group's director of communications. “The Salvation Army does not consider homosexual orientation a sin. Please know that we serve anyone who comes to our doors without discrimination.”

Comments last year from Army Major George Hood, the group's chief spokesperson at the time, stirred controversy.

In remarks to the Chicago Tribune, Hood said that being gay was “a personal choice that people have the right to make. But from a church viewpoint, we see that going against the will of God.”

 

Even though Truth Wins Out is calling this a victory, I'm afraid it's merely a small one...the Salvation Army still contributes to anti gay groups and until they can prove to my satisfaction that they have stopped this practice, then they still won't get one cent of my money!

Peter LaBarbera Blames Gays For Ruining Thanksgiving

Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, has blamed the gays for ruining Thanksgiving.

In a blog post, LaBarbera chided gays who are grateful for increasing LGBT rights.

“As secularism and – dare I say – godlessness deepen in these United States, many are leaving God out of Thanksgiving Day,” LaBarbera wrote. “Language always follows the heart: have you noticed the habit that has crept in of being thankful for this and that – without being thankful to God?”

“Now homosexuality advocates (and others) have taken this regrettable phenomenon a step further: using Thanksgiving as an opportunity to be 'thankful for' developments that are decidedly ungodly – e.g., the advance of out-and-proud homosexualism, including 'same-sex marriage,' in the United States.”

“I came upon this homosexual website article timed for Thanksgiving about homosexuals being thankful for various 'gay rights' achievements, including more lesbians on TV. We know as Christians and Bible-respecting Jews that Our Heavenly Father is not smiling on that.”

LaBarbera, who is based in Chicago, loudly protested passage of a gay marriage law in Illinois.

“Last week, while AFTAH protested outside at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) – in addition to sullying Abe Lincoln’s good name – quoted the Bible (the 'love' passage in 1 Corinthians 13) to celebrate his signing of a homosexual 'marriage' bill into law. Folks, this [is] political profanity. To paraphrase another Democrat who sold his soul to the 'Gay' Lobby – Barack Obama – God is definitely NOT in the mix when it comes to recasting 'marriage' to accommodate sexual perversion.”

“So have a great Thanksgiving …,” LaBarbera concluded.

 

Mr. LaBarbera, there was someone else, in the not to distant past, who thought just like you do, here's a quote from him (sounding remarkably just like you, Tony Perkins and Vladimir Putin)

 

"The national government will maintain and defend the foundations on which the power of our nation rests. It will offer strong protection to Christianity as the very basis of our collective morality. Today Christians stand at the head of our country. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit. We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theater, and in the press - in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excesses during recent years." -  Adolf Hitler

 

Welcome to the world of fascism Mr. LaBarbera I'm betting Jesus is so proud!

 

Fun With Gifs

Fuzzy And Furry

In Remembrance Of Harvey Milk

November 27, 1978 - Conservative Dan White, after discovering that he would not be re-appointed to his seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, took a gun and extra ammunition and goes to City Hall. He entered through a lower level window to avoid the metal detectors and went to the office of Mayor George Moscone, who was supportive of the gay community, and fired four shots, two to the head. Those who heard the gunshots did not realize what they were hearing, giving him time to reload his gun and go to the office of Supervisor Harvey Milk (the first openly gay man to be elected in a major American city) and fire five shots. Both men were pronounced dead. Dan White would later be convicted of manslaughter and serve only about five years.

Texas National Guard Bases To Process Benefits For Gay Couples

The Texas National Guard on Tuesday announced that it would no longer bar gay and lesbian couples from registering for benefits at state-owned bases.

“We're going to go back to business as usual,” Lt. Col. Joanne MacGregor, a spokeswoman for the Texas National Guard, told the San Antonio Express-News.

In response to a Supreme Court ruling that gutted the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibited federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay couples, the Pentagon announced it would recognize such marriages for the purpose of benefits.

As of September 3, service members in a marriage with a member of the same sex could apply for spousal benefits.

But National Guard bases in nine states refused to process the requests and instead encouraged gay troops to enroll at bases operated by the Department of Defense.

Major General John Nichols, the commander of the Texas National Guard, argued that the Guard was bound by Texas law, which doesn't recognize the marriages of gay couples.

The Texas Military Forces, the umbrella command of all Texas National Guard units, said in a statement that the registrations would be handled by federal personnel.

“The Department of Defense has approved a new procedure for enrolling National Guard members and their dependents in benefit programs,” the statement read. “The new procedure essentially recognizes the conflict between the Texas Constitution and DOD policy mandating the enrollment of same-gender dependent spouses in benefits programs.”

Eat More Ass Tuesday

Catholic Leagues Bill Donohue Takes A Dump Out Of His Mouth...Again!

Wrote Donahue:

Maher commented on gay couples who adopt children, alleging that a Hawaiian bishop said these kids had a greater chance of committing suicide. Here is how Savage responded: “That’s total bullshit. He’s confusing children of gay parents with children who are raped by Catholic priests. Sorry, I am just done being lectured about children and their safety by Catholic-fucking bishops, priests, cardinals.” Shortly thereafter, Savage again remarked about “kiddie-fucking Catholic priests.”

We are sending to every member of Time Warner’s board of directors a copy of 54 anti-Catholic statements made by Bill Maher on TV [click here to read the report]. Friday’s show concluded the season. The time has come to close this show once and for all.

 

I have a better idea Bill, practice what you preach and go after the undesirable elements in the Catholic church and maybe, just maybe you'll achieve true enlightenment...I doubt it though. 

Daily Porn...Sex With Rednecks

How I Spent My Weekend

This weekend was spent gluttonously devouring and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.
Tip of the hat for BBC America for providing enough Who too satisfy even my ravenous appetite.