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Loving the Hater While Hating the Hate

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:32:47 -0700

Loving the Hater
While Hating the Hate
by James Nimmo

(OKLAHOMA CITY) I found a link recently to a blog (www.bilerico.com) that contains a comment (http://tinyurl.com/4qdbph) written in reaction to reading the main story about the Oklahoma City chapter of PFLAG and their recording of Rep Sally Kern (http://tinyurl.com/2zbpgn) that catches Kern in her spider web of hubris and cant.

Like the author, I too, am very disappointed with the approach of "loving the hater while hating the hate."

Of course, I respect our supporters who use their close relationship with Jesus to try and gain support for LGBT citizens and other minorities who are used for verbal target practice in the war for suppression of civil rights.

I'm delighted the Oklahoma City PFLAG chapter was able to document the duplicity of Sally Kern and record with her permission the lies she later reported as irresponsibility on the part of PFLAG. This single incident should show you the arrogance and madness that is being passed off as legislative Republican leadership. Not one elected official in Oklahoma from either major party has come strongly to the defense and support of the LGBT taxpayers living in Oklahoma.

Had Kern used race, skin color, or ethnic origin as her subject I bet the rent she would be renewing her teaching certificate today and looking for a school that would hire her.

The First Amendment guarantees both sides the freedom to practice their respective religious viewpoints and the market place in which to talk about them.

However, this same First Amendment does NOT give either side permission to encode their religious viewpoints into CIVIL law. I feel this is where we miss the boat in establishing our birthright to equal treatment under judicial law, and not the ten laws of Deuteronomy.

There will always be a bible verse to trump the opposing bible verse resulting in a version of ping-pong skirmishes with Jesus as the referee.

The writer gives some specific examples of public, peaceful protest that we can engage in to show that LGBTs are neither the doormats nor the monsters our enemies make us to be.

It's odd that our suppressors are either afraid to be in the same room with us, fearing for their own bodily integrity, keeping their knees close together; or they dismiss us as dippy airheads, frivolous and irresponsible. How can we be both at the same time?

Their response shows more about the fiction in their minds then about the truth of our lives.

Until we get out of the religious justification business the more we'll be dragged into its historical quagmire. Look at the present wars being fought around the world and you'll see religious intolerance at the root.

Our LGBT equality will have to be established in the legislatures and the courthouses in all fifty states without religious prejudice tipping the scales of justice.

Living this. . .

Brwn.Skn — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:48:19 -0700

My mother is a Black ex-military, Republican Preacher. . .so needless to say my being a lesbian is a HUGE no-no and EVERY conversation that she can squeeze it in to that I am "being deceived by the Devil" and not living the life God intended for me. . .it hurts. . .to no end to know that my own mother, my once best friend thinks that I am ignorant or that I choose to live my life as a lesbian. I have recently started the process of AI and I'm terrified to tell my mother about it. . .when I was in a relationship and I discussed with her that my then partner and I were going to have children together she said "Why would you bring a child into that?" and followed that statement with "I don't know if I could ever accept that child as my grandchild." WOW. Because of my experience with my family and my "church" back home I have shyed away from "Religion" and have become more spiritual. I have come to the realization that My Creator made me exactly how I was to be made and it is my responsibility to live my life the way My Creator was meant for me to live it.

It saddens me to know that the hate and judgement spewed from the pulpit is the reason why we are losing our "family" one by one. . .We all know that this country and its beliefs are rooted "In God We Trust" from George Washington on down. . .and even those that do not subscribe to a religion still accept the belief that different is not okay.

I pray that when My Creator blesses me with a child that s/he will grow into a world that is more tolerant. And if that day does not come, then s/he will have a mother that will instill in her/him that it's okay to be different and it's never okay to hate.

And on another note. . .I too work for Child Protective Services and it breaks my heart to see LGBT youth coming into foster care because their parents do not want them. . .and it is even more disappointing that we can't find a placement because Foster Parents don't want "our" LGBT children. . .or if they do accept them. . .they preach at them and force them to "fit the mold." My heart is so heavy.

They DID have the "paperwork"!

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:42:37 -0800

Unfortunately, this brief snippet does not go into ALL of the FULL details of this story. This couple did have legal paperwork made up that was "supposed" to allow them access to each other under a medical emergency. Granted that they had to have them faxed to them by a friend back in their home state, but even after they were faxed. The hospital STILL REFUSED to give her partner and children access to her dying partner and their mother!

Here's a quick link to a more "complete" version:
http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/07/triumph-over-tragedy-the-langbeh...

Yes, it is still important to "have all your papers with you" when you travel. Even if you are just travelling to your local grocery store, I suppose.

Yet, heterosexual, married couples DON'T have to carry THEIR "paperwork" whenever they go to the store or across the country!

Blatant sexual orientation DISCRIMINATION!!!

How Horrible!

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:50:33 -0800

Make sure to have health care proxies and durable power of attorney's with you any time you travel. Whenever my wife and I leave Massachusetts we make sure to bring them. I don't think they could argue with that. Some day we won't need them but till then they are essential.

gay right

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:15:24 -0800

i would sue that hosp. and anybody else in florida or any whee that would stop me from seeing or any thing with my partner . you straight people have gone to fare this time as god as my god like yours ur no better then us so get off ur highg horse about gay people .

that's why we need

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:23:14 -0800

marriage and recognition of our families.

Either of them is infinitely better than any Republican

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:14:50 -0800

Although your point is well taken that Clinton has won the big blue states that are so critical in the general election, it is sloppy reasoning and overly alarmist to state that all of the Clinton supporters in those states will stay home if Obama is the Democratic nominee.

First of all many Democratic primary voters have had an extremely hard time making a choice between Clinton, Edwards, and Obama. For once we have faced a surfeit of good candidates. The decision FOR one does NOT necessarily mean a stance AGAINST the other. I -- and virtually every other Democrat I know -- will be thrilled to have either Clinton or Obama over any Republican, and we fully intend to vote for whichever of them runs against McCain.

Secondly, the reverse of your alarm is even more likely (and more concerning). And that is that Obama has drawn new and younger voters, by the hundreds of thousands, into the political process this year. They are excited and energized by his candidacy and will be greatly disappointed if he does not win. As a result, I fear a great many of them may return to their disillusionment and apathy. And a mass influx of younger generation voters is exactly what LGBT Americans need if we are ever to attain equal rights in our lifetime. Unfortunately, Obama supporters are the ones who may be much more inclined than Clinton supporters to stay home in November if Obama is not in the race, which doesn't bode well for Democrats -- or for our civil rights.

I will whole-heartedly vote for either of them and can only hope that every other registered Democrat will do the same.

no f*ing way

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:39:26 -0800

massachusetts, california, new york....

did you just say these people would stay home or vote republican rather than elect obama?

you are out of your mind. im excited to watch you be wrong in 9 months.

Unfortunately, Obama's camp

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:56:54 -0800

Unfortunately, Obama's camp will hand the election to McCain. Right now, polls show Obama with a slight edge over McCain, but it's going to be a long time until November, and Republicans are very good at tearing someone down, making things up if they need to.

Obama is winning caucuses, not primaries. There is a huge difference, unfortunately Obama's supporters are all so young, they don't see the bigger picture. They don't know what that means. He won Idaho, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, et. al. He might have got the most Democratic votes in those states, but during the general election, those states always go red, so his victory in those states is moot.

The big blue states, Florida, California, Michigan, New York, et. al. have all gone Hillary.

These people will stay home on election day, if Obama is the nominee or will cross over to vote for 'liberal' McCain.

Obama has a better platform of support for LGBT issues

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:48:18 -0800

The quote about Obama being handsom and well meaning is preceded in the article by this important point ....

It's hard for Obama to match that history, even though his LGBT platform is similarly progressive to Hillary's. (In fact, Obama's is actually better, since he supports a full repeal of DOMA, and Clinton just wants to remove many of its restrictions.)

Thank God for a man with reason!

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:44:16 -0800

Finally - someone who understands the difference between a religious ceremony and a contract with the state! Hopefully what he says will sink into the hearts of those who are committed to the bill of rights and the constitution: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal ..."

Gay Marriage

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 16:15:41 -0800

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The truth will set them free…

What are ya gonna do?

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:15:20 -0800

Hillary's got the machine to work a decent Presidency - but Barack has the inspirational (modern) way of thinking that will morph us into a more accepting United States.

Lip Service

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 15:13:04 -0800

Many, including Hillary pay lip service to get the vote, but what active and tangible thing have they personally done to make a real difference?

should be a great race

Momsinthetub — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:07:29 -0800

although the mud-slinging has already started on both sides.