Saturday, January 31, 2015
When The Student Becomes The Teacher
Kaela Wilton, a Grade 11 student in Onoway Canada, said she wanted to create a painting depicting a topic she’s passionate about.
“I wanted to do something controversial,” Wilton said. “I wanted to hit on a topic and gay rights is something I've always felt strongly about.”
Wilton, stated she felt shocked and betrayed after the school decided to cover her artwork up with a bulletin board, that she didn't understand why they would do that after she had submitted her idea to both her art teacher and the school principle and gotten approval.
The school’s principal, James Trodden, said the mural was covered for a
number of reasons, but the main one is it displays affection.
“We had looked at that and said ‘You know, kissing isn't allowed in school’,” Trodden said. “So the painting was covered for about half a day.”
The board came down Friday, but Trodden said that isn't final – further discussion about the mural with students, parents, and the community will take place before a decision is made.
For any artist, this is the very definition of what art is about... to convey emotion, or elicit thoughtful contemplation, one way or the other...seems Kaela Wilton has accomplished that task more than the people chosen to instruct her.
“We had looked at that and said ‘You know, kissing isn't allowed in school’,” Trodden said. “So the painting was covered for about half a day.”
The board came down Friday, but Trodden said that isn't final – further discussion about the mural with students, parents, and the community will take place before a decision is made.
For any artist, this is the very definition of what art is about... to convey emotion, or elicit thoughtful contemplation, one way or the other...seems Kaela Wilton has accomplished that task more than the people chosen to instruct her.
More Fake Christian Empathy
Idaho State Rep. Linden Bateman voted
against passage of an LGBT protections bill after giving an emotional
speech in which he vowed to be kinder and more compassionate.
After hearing more than 20 hours of
public testimony over three days, the Idaho House State Affairs
Committee on Thursday voted 13-4 along party lines, with Democrats
voting in the minority, to kill the so-called “Add the Words”
bill, which sought to prohibit discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, education and
public accommodations.
The hearing took place after 9 years of
intense lobbying by supporters, who far outnumbered opponents at the
hearing. Many supporters openly wept during a silent protest that
took place after the vote.
“My heart has been touched by this
hearing,” Bateman said, holding back tears. “I've gotten to know
you, and I know from this point on – forever – I will be kinder
and I will be more compassionate to those who bear a heavy burden.”
“Somewhere in Scripture it says that
if we are not kind to the needy, and to the lonely, and to the
afflicted, and to those who bear a heavy burden, our prayers will not
be answered.”
“I will be kinder, and I will be more
compassionate. While I will support the original motion [to block
the bill], I'd like to go on record that I will support a
compromise,” he
added without elaboration.
Compromise? Exactly how does one compromise on equality?
Your words and crocodile tears are as empty as your soul.
I've had Christians curse and swear at me for pointing out the falseness of their behavior and say I don't need special protections because we are all governed by the same laws...yet they insist on special laws and legislation protecting their religious beliefs on both the national and state level.
Not to mention, they already are guaranteed religious freedom under constitutional law.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Republican Chris Smith Doesn't Believe Homosexuals Have Human Rights
From Pink News:
Chris Smith, who represents New Jersey’s 4th district in the US House of Representatives, made the comments during Tuesday’s sitting of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, a day when 12 men were reportedly arrested for attending an alleged same-sex wedding in Nigeria.
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee blasted the comments, calling them “close-minded and “appalling”.
“It’s simple: LGBT rights are human rights. It’s shocking that Smith — or anyone in his position — would make such close-minded comments to the contrary,” said Chris Hillmann, LGBT Caucus Co-Chair.
“For a person in his position to dehumanize such a large segment of our society and to suggest that members of the LGBT community are creating hurdles for US diplomats is appalling on so many levels. Representative Smith should apologize for trying to pit some people’s human rights against those of others.”
The caucus said Mr Smith’s position is particularly offensive given that he serves as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organisations —a “position from which human rights should be defended, not attacked.”
Ty Cobb, Director of the Human Rights Campaign, said: “On a day when 12 men were reportedly arrested for simply attending an alleged LGBT wedding in Nigeria … it is unconscionable that Representative Smith would not only object to the basic human rights of LGBT people, but argue that their rights should not be part of the administration’s policy in Nigeria.”
New Jersey LGBT activist Jay Lassiter framed the anti-gay Congressman's comments, noting that in "Chris Smith’s world we don’t construe gays rights with human rights, but we do conflate supporting gays with somehow enabling terrorism."
It should be of interest that Rep. Smith received $10,000 from the anti-gay hate group Family Research Council in the 2014 election cycle.
The very notion that his man was appointed by the GOP to serve as the chairman for Global Human Rights, is a disgrace and representative to everything that is wrong with the Republican party.
The GOP is doing exactly as I expected, which is the systematic dismantling of ever LGBT gain over the last 6 years...make note, it's only been one month since they have assumed control of the Congress...imagine what damage they can do over the next 23 months before the elections in 2016.
Buckle up bois and girls, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
Chris Smith, who represents New Jersey’s 4th district in the US House of Representatives, made the comments during Tuesday’s sitting of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, a day when 12 men were reportedly arrested for attending an alleged same-sex wedding in Nigeria.
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee blasted the comments, calling them “close-minded and “appalling”.
“It’s simple: LGBT rights are human rights. It’s shocking that Smith — or anyone in his position — would make such close-minded comments to the contrary,” said Chris Hillmann, LGBT Caucus Co-Chair.
“For a person in his position to dehumanize such a large segment of our society and to suggest that members of the LGBT community are creating hurdles for US diplomats is appalling on so many levels. Representative Smith should apologize for trying to pit some people’s human rights against those of others.”
The caucus said Mr Smith’s position is particularly offensive given that he serves as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organisations —a “position from which human rights should be defended, not attacked.”
Ty Cobb, Director of the Human Rights Campaign, said: “On a day when 12 men were reportedly arrested for simply attending an alleged LGBT wedding in Nigeria … it is unconscionable that Representative Smith would not only object to the basic human rights of LGBT people, but argue that their rights should not be part of the administration’s policy in Nigeria.”
New Jersey LGBT activist Jay Lassiter framed the anti-gay Congressman's comments, noting that in "Chris Smith’s world we don’t construe gays rights with human rights, but we do conflate supporting gays with somehow enabling terrorism."
It should be of interest that Rep. Smith received $10,000 from the anti-gay hate group Family Research Council in the 2014 election cycle.
The very notion that his man was appointed by the GOP to serve as the chairman for Global Human Rights, is a disgrace and representative to everything that is wrong with the Republican party.
The GOP is doing exactly as I expected, which is the systematic dismantling of ever LGBT gain over the last 6 years...make note, it's only been one month since they have assumed control of the Congress...imagine what damage they can do over the next 23 months before the elections in 2016.
Buckle up bois and girls, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
What I'm Reading: "The Scandalous Gospel Of Jesus" By Peter J. Gomes
Here's just one pearl of wisdom (of many) from Gomes' book:
"I had hoped that, as has happened with women and racial minorities, our predominately Christian culture would recognize that God's children, the homosexuals in our midst, cry out for compassion and acceptance.
In this decade, alas, exactly the opposite has happened.
Positions have hardened and homosexuals have been demonized, condemned to a "lifestyle" rather than invited to a life in the household of faith.
It amazes me that any homosexuals would continue to want any part of a community, religious or otherwise. that in the name of God has behaved toward them with such contempt."
"I had hoped that, as has happened with women and racial minorities, our predominately Christian culture would recognize that God's children, the homosexuals in our midst, cry out for compassion and acceptance.
In this decade, alas, exactly the opposite has happened.
Positions have hardened and homosexuals have been demonized, condemned to a "lifestyle" rather than invited to a life in the household of faith.
It amazes me that any homosexuals would continue to want any part of a community, religious or otherwise. that in the name of God has behaved toward them with such contempt."
Anti-gay AL Judge Roy Moore Bitch Slapped With Ethics Complaint
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
on Wednesday filed a judicial ethics complaint against Alabama Chief
Justice Roy Moore over his public comments on a federal judge's
ruling striking down Alabama's ban on gay marriage.
In a letter addressed to Governor
Robert Bentley released to the media, Moore stated that with regard
to marriage Alabama's laws “have always recognized the Biblical
admonition stated by our Lord” and called on Bentley and Alabama
judges to defy the ruling, calling it “judicial tyranny.”
In comments with the media, Moore
declared “we will have a confrontation” if the order is enforced.
The SPLC filed its complaint with the
Judicial Inquiry Commission of Alabama, the same court that ousted
Moore from the bench in 2003 for refusing to remove from public
property a monument of the Ten Commandments which he had
commissioned.
“Moore is once again wrapping himself
in the Bible and thumbing his nose at the federal courts and federal
law,” SPLC President Richard Cohen said in a statement. “As a
private citizen, Moore is entitled to his views. But as the chief
justice of Alabama, he has a responsibility to recognize the
supremacy of federal law and to conform his conduct to the canons of
judicial ethics.”
The SPLC charges in its complaint that
Moore is encouraging lawlessness by “attempting to assemble a
virtual army of state officials and judges to oppose the federal
judiciary and its 'tyranny' – the opposite of what is expected from
the state's chief judge.” It also accuses Moore of improper public
comment on pending and impending proceedings.
Judge Moore has actually taken a stand against the judicial system that he works for, at the very least he should be removed from his position.
The mere fact, the man can't see the hypocrisy of a judge tyrannically defying another judges decision based on the premise of judicial activism is only further demonstration of his inability to be unbiased in anything not relating to his religious *values* (or lack thereof )
American Family Association Evangelist Bryan Fischer Has Been Fired
Reading the *fine print* on this story though, as I understand it, the AFA is still funding his talk show...so, unofficially, he is still the spokesman and voice of the AFA.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
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