I've made it to the initial round for favorite progressive blogger in the Air America Cruise Contest. I have to stay in the Top 5 before the second voting round begins, so your vote is appreciated! First voting round:
The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend: "a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."
He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior."
(CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)
Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).
"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008
Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality heartily endorses the Blend, calling Pam:
A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist." (Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)
"A nutty lesbian blogger." (MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)
Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush
who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
Urgent! This Monday, November 23rd, join us at 8:30 am in Trenton to lobby for marriage equality! Meet at Garden State Equality's office across from the State House at 110 West State Street, Trenton. ...
Our brand new Garden State Equality gear is ready. On Monday, we will distribute free t-shirts, buttons, stickers and signs as supplies last. ...
The legislature is back in session on Monday. We have just learned that our anti-marriage equality opponents are doing a lobby day on Monday and are turning out in droves to try to intimidate legislators. If ever there was a time to take off from work to make history, this is it.
Logistical details are below the fold. Here is a bit more background on the situation from Blue Jersey contributor Allison_Peltzman. Looks like it's now or never.
Earlier this week, New Jersey's Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney told the press that civil rights for New Jersey couples should wait. And we say to him, if not now, then when?
If New Jersey doesn't pass marriage legislation now, any possibility in the near future is as good as gone. We have just a few weeks until Governor Corzine, who supports the right for gay and lesbian couples to marry, officially hands over the reins to Governor-elect Chris Christie, who vocally does not.
Yesterday the British prime minister Gordon Brown stood shoulder to shoulder with the trans community to mark Transgender day of Remembrance.
In a first for a British Prime minister, Gordon Brown has made a statement describing violence and harassment against trans people as "utterly unacceptable".
He made the comments to mark the 11th International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which recognises trans people worldwide who have died as a result of prejudice and hate.
In a statement given to PinkNews.co.uk, Brown said:
"Today is a chance for all of us to reflect on how far we have come and what is left to do in the battle for equality.
"The Gender Recognition Act is just one of a range of measures introduced by this government to deliver fairness on LGBT rights.
"But the level of violence, harassment and discrimination still faced by the trans community is utterly unacceptable and I am committed to doing all that we can, through the recent Hate Crime Action plan and the forthcoming Equalities Bill, to deliver true equality.
"Defeating hate will take not just policies but pride, so please accept my thanks for your courage in speaking out against bigotry wherever it is found."
Deputy minister for women and equalities, Maria Eagle, also released a statement.
Eagle, who is the twin sister of lesbian minister for pensions Angela Eagle, said:
"Today the government joins the transgender community in remembering those trans people who have died as a consequence of intolerance and prejudice.
"No one should suffer threats or violence because of their gender identity. The government is committed to fighting hate crime, promoting equality and tackling discrimination and bigotry in all its guises.
"That's why we have recently launched the Cross-Government Hate Crime Action Plan which sets out how we plan to tackle hate crime and improve support for victims."
Britain has been plagued by a spate of homophobic and transphobic murders and attacks in the last three months. A gay man in his 60's was attacked and murdered in Trafalgar square, London, by teenagers. A trans woman Andrea Waddell was strangled to death in her apartment in Brighton, Sussex. While 29 years old trans woman Destiny Lauren, was attacked in her flat in Kentish Town, London. She died the next day in hospital.
While its no victory given the recent murders, it is a move in the right direction when political leaders start speaking out against homophobia and transphobia.
As one of the people who has been lobbying government for the past three months for official recognition of TDoR. Gordon Brown has today made me feel proud of this government probably for the first time as a trans person.
Below is the video of her speech (recorded by Vicki's wife Lynda), and the prepared text for the speech. She begins her speech with the present reality that some hate us all in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and she ends her speech with a vision of hope.
Oh how I wish that this day was not necessary. We just heard some trans hatred personal stories that we all could relate to, that we could feel. Are any of us immune from this hatred? No way. My wife Lynda and I were in New York City with 2 friends last May and we were confronted on a street corner by 2 men screaming and yelling in our faces.
"You fucking faggots...you deserve to die.... You fucking faggots....you are an abomination of God...you deserve to die..."
What do you do when that happens? What do you do? If there would not have many people on the street, Lynda and I would not here tonight.
I was telling 2 women this morning about our Day of Remembrance. "How do we stop this? I asked. They both responded...
"Vicki, you can't. It is human nature, like war, it is inevitable."
I CANNOT AND I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS.
I CANNOT AND I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS.
I believe we are inherently good but through societal pressures and learning, we develop, we change, we act like we are taught to act.
Remember Dylan Thomas, the famous Welsh poet that Bob Dylan named himself after? After watching his father slowly die, he wrote this poem. His first ever published poem.
"Do not go gentle into that good night."
It has special meaning for us....it is short, so I will read it...
By now we have all heard about the Manhattan Declaration put out by various religious right figures and groups urging, among other things, non-cooperation with laws that in any way recognize same sex couples.
It has been condemned in many circles and for good reason.
“This is a disturbing call for anarchy from a group of radical clerics and activists who believe they don’t have play by the same rules as other taxpaying Americans."
And according to the blog Instaputz, there is another reason to not only oppose this document but also raise the alarm about it.
Some of the names those signing the declaration aren't a surprise. They are the usual folks who oppose lgbt equality - Tony Perkins, James Dobson, Maggie Gallagher, Gary Bauer, etc.
But here is a name which you may not be familiar with:
Rev. Peter J. Akinola
Primate, Anglican Church of Nigeria (Abika, Nigeria)
Akinola is the Anglican Primateof the Church of Nigeria. He is also Bishop of Abuja (Nigeria's capital) and Archbishop of Province III, which covers the northern and central parts of the country.
According to Instaputz, he supported a 2006 Nigerian anti-gay bill which:
called for five years imprisonment for anyone who "performs, witnesses, aids, or abets" a same-sex marriage, and anyone who engaged in public advocacy or associations supporting the rights of lesbian and gay people
The 2008 campaign was great for armchair psychologists as we saw a good slice of color-aroused America that had been hiding its true feelings about the prospect of the country being led by a man of color.
Is it me, or have the out-and-proud racist bigot stories have continued in a steady flow post-Inauguration as well? With Barack Obama now resideng at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, these same people have now created a rag-tag bunch of overlapping groups clearly untethered from reality and fact-based discourse -- teabaggers, birthers, death panel wailers, flat-earthers, womb controllers, eliminationists, etc.
A car dealer in Coloradodecided to let his inner bigot birther hang out for all to see on the sign at right. It shows a taste-free caricature of the President (two, actually), one with a turban on, and "President...or...Jihad?" with the bottom text reading "PROVE IT" and "Wake up America! Remember Ft. Hood!"
In another photo of this sign the yellow box said "Birth Certificate" on it, along with the phone number of the dealership. in the white space along the bottom of the sign.
WTF is this clown saying -- that the Obama is a Jihadist? That the nutbag suspect in the Ft. Hood shootings took orders from the President to blow away those people on base? Actually, what's amusingly sad is the headline about this on Denver's Westword news blog - "Is this anti-Obama billboard racist? You be the judge."
Is this billboard, on display outside Wolf Interstate Leasing & Sales, 4855 Miller Street in Wheat Ridge, a bold (and legitimate) statement of displeasure with the Obama administration that has the guts to link the shootings in Fort Hood, Texas, with Islamoterrorism? Or is it an offensive throwback to the Little Black Sambo imagery that typified race baiting for far too much of the 20th century?
Is there an argument to be made that it isn't racist and Islamophobic? One commenter: "the cartoon of President Obama is just missing either 1) a watermelon or 2) a banjo." Anyway, the man responsible for this intellectual bit of First Amendment prowess is...
Truly another example of the militantly stupid. This stupidity can be devastating since it distracts us and makes room for other even more moronic presentations of stupidity. All the while these morons think that they are being put upon.
These simply don't know what to do with their anger and resentment regarding the perceived loss of political, economic and cultural power and control to the melanin-enhanced portion of society. As I said, perceived -- these are the people riled up by the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck -- too ignorant and scared to think for themselves enough to see that the current leadership of the Republican party has no real interest in the welfare of these people. They had eight years of Bush and what do they have to show for it? No matter, the sheeple are dazed, confused and just finding out their savior Sarah Palin isn't all smiles, winks, and just like them.
The "tea party" movement and the "birthers" are becoming more and more outrageous. They're in the thrall of demagogues like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Peter Boyles, Sarah Palin, and conservative elected officials in Colorado like Senator Dave Schultheis--who sent out a statement last week comparing President Obama to the 9/11 terrorists who flew United Flight 93 into the ground.
We'll defend anyone's First Amendment right to speak their mind. However, the "marketplace of ideas" that the First Amendment protects only works when everyone speaks out. If hate like that spread by Dave Schultheis and the owners of Wolf Automotive is allowed to go without a response, then we allow the perception that these ideas have merit.
Regulars at the coffeehouse know that I'm burned out, fried and literally fighting all sorts of health BS of late, from the inevitable inability to balance the demands of my day job (hey, at least I have one to be thankful for), writing for the blog, along with travel to blog-related events, interviews and such. So here's a chance for my dear readers to force me into taking a vacation! The good folks at Air America have let me know that I've been queued up for this:
You've been nominated by Air America readers as their favorite progressive blogger in the Air America Cruise Contest. You've garnered significant support and you have until December 3rd to stay in the Top 5 before the second voting round begins.
The contest winner gets a free seven day cruise through the Mexican Riviera from March 6 - 13, 2010 with Gov. Howard Dean, Rachel Maddow, Robert Kennedy Jr, Ron Reagan, and other leading progressives.
First voting round: November 16th - December 3rd, 2009
Second voting round: December 4th - December 17th, 2009 Winners announced: December 21st, 2009
Of course I am small fish in the large progressive blogger pond, so I'm not going to get my hopes up too high about winning yet, but stranger things have happened. So if I don't nab the top spot, I think a restorative vacation intervention will still need to be staged by Kate soon.
When Jen of Air America sent me this via email I tried to remember the last time I went on a lengthy non-work or non-family-related relaxing getaway. It was 2002, when I went to Hawaii. Yes, it's been that long. Since before I met Kate; that's pathetic. (I don't count our wedding since we were only in Vancouver 3 days and were running around sightseeing the whole time).
Flying roaches and a Q of the day are below the fold.
The rabidly anti-gay Ken Hutcherson, a former Seattle Seahawks linebacker, is pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Washington. I have speculated that "Hutch," as he likes to be called, took too many hits while wearing an ill-fitting helmet. Hutch has now turned to the stimulating pages of WorldNetDaily in order to proclaim; Church: Stop being 'evangelly-fish.' The main theme of Hutch's polemic is that gays are hijacking the struggles of African-Americans:
It has been said loudly and proudly that gay marriage is a civil-rights issue. If that's the case, then gays would be the new African-Americans. I'm here to tell you now, and hopefully for the last time, that the gay community is not the new "African-American" community. In fact, I think Christians are the new Negro – but that's an issue for a follow-up column.
In 2005, the Rev. Jesse Jackson stated that the fight of gays and lesbians wanting to marry should not be compared to the fight African-Americans faced for civil rights. The comparison of the plight of the gay community to slavery is a stretch; remember, gays were never called "three-fifths" human, according to the Constitution, and they did not require the Voting Rights Act to gain the same democratic rights as whites.
Actually, I think that Hutch is referring to Jesse Jackson's comments in February of 2004. That aside, Hutch is incapable of separating the social from the legal issues. Hutch is correct; the struggle of African-Americans for equality is not comparable to the struggle of GLBT citizens (including blacks) for equality. They are very different experiences. However, the only people who seem to be making that comparison are a few homophobic black ministers claiming that the comparison should not be made. If Hutch really wants this to be the "last time" that he claims that gay is not the new black, he simply needs to stop making that feigned comparison as an irrelevant argument to oppose marriage equality and the many other gay rights that he objects to.
Civil rights are, at least in part, protections and privileges that are sought in pursuit of equal protection under the law. For that reason, many black leaders, including Julian Bond — Chairman of the NAACP, have stated that gay rights are civil rights. Gays, at least those of white ancestry, are not the descendants of slaves. That is indisputable fact. It also seems indisputable that gays are denied certain civil rights including the rights to serve openly in the armed forces and the right to marry the person of their choice.
There is a perfectly valid legal comparison between the effort to have same-sex marriage recognized and the historical struggle for interracial marriage equality that resulted in the Supreme Court's decision in Loving v. Virginia. While it provides a compelling precedent, Loving does not serve as a comparison to slavery or any of the other countless injustices that African-Americans suffered.
Loving also provides a thematic comparison — one that should make Hutcherson deeply ashamed. In the original 1959 criminal case, the Lovings were prosecuted for miscegenation and pleaded guilty. The trial judge made a remarkable statement from the bench:
Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.
Mr. Hutcherson needs to come to terms with the fact that his homophobic religious-based bigotry is strikingly similar to the legal intolerance that was used to oppress black people. When he is not voicing his manufactured angst about gays co-opting the black struggle, Hutcherson can be found opposing such things as diversity education. Hutcherson has been quite liberal in falsely spreading "recruitment" and "indoctrination" fears. He has no problem putting air to the dog whistle that he knows people hear as "child molestation." Much to our collective shame, there was a time in this country when that canine caller had a slightly different pitch. It promoted the fear that the black agenda was to rape helpless white women. The implications were disgraceful then and they are disgraceful now. When will Reverend Ken Hutcherson find his lost humanity?
Wow -- the teabaggers, birthers and know-nothings waited for hours for Bible Spice to sign copies of Going Rogue, and they weren't happy when her highness basically took the money and ran... (Rumproast):
Teabaggers just aren't happy about anything these days. I guess the Noblesville, Indiana Going Rogue book signing didn't go very well yesterday because 300* or so of the 1000 people with wristbands were asked not to tread on Sarah Palin and then she tried to make a getaway with Baby Trig and several duffel bags full of cash but wingnuts have learned to protest about everything these days, so they were having none of it. This is the best thing you will see about horrible, horrible Sarah Palin on the internets all day and until the end of time.
Even better, the "fans left behind" left behind not-so-kind messages on the former VP nom's Facebook page.
Lu Paletta Part I: No Sarah Palin wristband yesterday. Got a bookplate w/fake signature; was told it was as good as a band. Part of overflows that was next in line; group had real camaraderie in cold/rain for >15 hours. Folks from all over with 1 goal, see someone who speaks for us. The bus arrived, a crowd of 500 outside, 1000s inside. A roaring welcome, Gov Palin & Trig, a few remarks, few pictures and on to Barnes&Nobles;.
Lu Paletta Part II: 30 mins after being let in, told leave or be escorted out. Showed bookplates; told they had no value. B&N blamed cutoff on Palins who had to go to Ft Wayne. It is 3 hours away, a next day signing; she couldn't stay for fans who waited in rain/cold all day? B&N ticked me off; returned all books. Governor: You have the people's ear; you are scaring Washington. But, please acknowledge people that wait for hours to see you. We are reaching out to you and need you to reach back.
Gary Conner Sarah,
You angered and disappointed over 300 families in Noblesville tonight. I attended Mike Huckabee's book signing yesterday. He had pre-signed book in case he would be unable to sign all the books for people who qualified. His books would be exchange one for one with any one whose book he could not sign
First, you should work to make this right. Second, you need to make sure that it never happens again!
Jordan Harris I just spent 9 hours of my day, $40 of my hard earned money on two of your books, and took the whole day off work to watch you jump on a bus and throw a half-heated wave to the crowd you were avoiding.
I have never felt so disrespected. How can you claim that you are different? You aren't. You are just as selfish as everyone else in Washington. It breaks my heart. I thought you might be the answer to the turmoil this country is under but you aren't. You just slapped hundreds of Hoosiers in the face. The hard working type of people that you claim to represent.
You say in your book that you chose to sleep well over eating well. At the end of the day I know that you don't care that you wasted the whole day of some 20 year old college student who lives on their own. I understand that all that matters is that I spent my money on two of your books. I'm sure your eating well. You certainly have no reason to be sleeping well.
And there are many more comments collected over at Rumproast., including one man who said "We gave up our entire workday, stayed in the cold. My kids were crying," said one man. "They went home with my wife. She was out here in the freezing cold all day. I feel like I don't want to support Sarah."
Via Wonkette: The 'Tea Party: The Documentary Film' Trailer! ('Liberty's March Has A New Generation Of Patriots'). It makes you want to shed a tear like Glenn Beck (with the aid of Vicks under the eyes, of course).
The Tea Party movement of 2009 shocked the political establishment, the nation at large and left a big media machine dizzy in its wake. How did it happen? Where did it come from? Now, witness the story of the movement that's driving our national dialogue against big government spending and a Constitution under assault. Follow the inspiring stories of grassroots Americans rising from the ranks to take on a government gone too far. From the earliest days as nothing more than a social networking movement to the lightning fast year that follows, culminating in Washington, DC on the National Mall with the largest protest in our nation's history, TEA PARTY: The Documentary Film is history in the making. It's an American Story like none other with an inspiring message for our times! A greater cause united them. A greater outcome awaits them.
Equality Across America (EAA) extends our deepest condolences to the families of Jorge Steven López Mercado and Jason "Jaysen" Mattison, Jr.
Jorge was an openly gay Puerto Rican man who was brutally slain last week in what appears to have been a hate crime against him for his gender expression.
In Baltimore, Jason "Jaysen" Mattison, Jr., a Black high school sophomore, was raped and beaten to death on November 10. It is in sadness and solidarity that we gather across the nation in memory of Jorge Steven López Mercado and Jason "Jaysen" Mattison, Jr.
The vigils listed below will be publicized as tangible evidence of our support for the Puerto Rican and Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) communities as well as all other victims of hate crimes and their families.
EAA member Sherry Wolf explains,
"So long as the federal government maintains discriminatory laws against LGBTQI people, unimaginable acts of brutality like these are more likely to occur."
Equality Across America fully denounces inequality of any kind based on class, race, religion, age or community including but not limited to individuals that identify as LGBTQI. It is our mission to secure equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. We will accept no less and will work until it is achieved.
In conjunction with our commitment to equality, we call on officials to ensure that all applicable hate crime provisions be applied to these cases. At present, there is evidence that Jorge may have been targeted based on his gender expression and Jason for his sexual orientation. We are outraged by the televised public statement by a Puerto Rican police investigator who stated "people who lead this type of lifestyle need to be aware that this will happen."
Below is a partial list of solidarity vigils taking place in cities across the United States that EAA member groups have either initiated or are participating in:
• New York City: Sunday, Nov. 22, 7pm, Christopher St. piers
• LA: Sunday, Nov. 22, 8pm, Santa Monica and San Vicente, West Hollywood
· Chicago: Sunday, Nov. 22, 4pm, Division and California, Humboldt Park (contact: Nik Maciejewski, nmaciejewski@gmail.com, 630-205-5025)
· Gainesville, FL: Friday, Nov. 20, 7:30pm, Plaza of the Americas, U of F (contact: Rev. Donna Lee, 352-484-7135, activistlee@aol.com)
Please, PLEASE invite all of your friends to a vigil honoring Mercado as well as anyone else who has been murdered, beaten, and otherwise terrorized for their sexuality or gender identity, either real or perceived.
The LGBT population in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican LGBT community here in the United States need to know we support them.
WE MUST FUNNEL OUR SADNESS INTO AN OUTPOURING OF RIGHTEOUS OUTRAGE.
We must show the government, the media, and the oppressors that to systemically target one group for its appearance or mannerisms--and then subject them to violence explicitly for those criteria--is INTOLERABLE.
We also must demand that the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, recently signed into law by President Obama, is used effectively to bring Jorge's killer to justice.
========================================
PHILADELPHIA When: Friday, November 20th
Time: 6:30 - 7 p.m.
Where: Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany
330 South 13th St., Philadelphia
Speakers: Cynthia Vasquez, Youth Activist, GALAEI
Gloria Casarez, LGBT Liaison to the Mayor
Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum
Music: Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus
For more information: Call Chip Alfred, Communications Director, Equality Forum, 215-732-3378 x 116, or email chip@equalityforum.com.
=========================================
IN MEMORIAM - Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado & Jason Mattison Jr. (LA)
LOS ANGELES Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Location: Corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente in West Hollywood
============================================
BOSTON Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: In front of Trinity Church, Copley Plaza, Boston
======================================
NEW YORK CITY Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: CHRISTOPHER ST PIERS 45
Street: Christopher Street & West Side Highway
New York, NY
LOCATION: HUDSON ST PIER 45 AT CHRISTOPHER ST - 5PM WITH OPTIONAL MOMENT OF SILENCE AND MASS AFTERWARD
BRING: CANDLES FOR YOU AND OTHERS
***IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN NYC AND WANT TO DO YOUR PART, SEE END OF MESSAGE***
Chicago, IL - A candlelight vigil is being planned in Humboldt Park this Sunday, Nov. 22, from 4-6 p.m. in memory of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, a gay teenager who was murdered, decapitated and burned in Cayey, Puerto Rico.
The vigil is planned to begin at California & Division.
====================================
DALLAS
Date: November 22
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Corner of Cedar Springs and Throckmorton (heart of the Gayborhood).
(My laptop situation is currently 'up-in-the-air'; my apologies for any errors or incomplete listings. Please add any other vigils you know of in "comments"- thanks! ~Louise~)
PLEASE NOTE- THE ONE IN PHILLY IS TONIGHT- all others at this time are on Sunday.
========================================
PHILADELPHIA When: Friday, November 20th
Time: 6:30 - 7 p.m.
Where: Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany
330 South 13th St., Philadelphia
Speakers: Cynthia Vasquez, Youth Activist, GALAEI
Gloria Casarez, LGBT Liaison to the Mayor
Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum
Music: Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus
For more information: Call Chip Alfred, Communications Director, Equality Forum, 215-732-3378 x 116, or email chip@equalityforum.com.
=========================================
IN MEMORIAM - Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado & Jason Mattison Jr. (LA)
LOS ANGELES Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Location: Corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente in West Hollywood
============================================
BOSTON Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: In front of Trinity Church, Copley Plaza, Boston
======================================
NEW YORK CITY Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: CHRISTOPHER ST PIERS 45
Street: Christopher Street & West Side Highway
New York, NY
LOCATION: HUDSON ST PIER 45 AT CHRISTOPHER ST - 5PM WITH OPTIONAL MOMENT OF SILENCE AND MASS AFTERWARD
BRING: CANDLES FOR YOU AND OTHERS
***IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN NYC AND WANT TO DO YOUR PART, SEE END OF MESSAGE***
Chicago, IL - A candlelight vigil is being planned in Humboldt Park this Sunday, Nov. 22, from 4-6 p.m. in memory of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, a gay teenager who was murdered, decapitated and burned in Cayey, Puerto Rico.
The vigil is planned to begin at California & Division.
====================================
DALLAS
Date: November 22
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Corner of Cedar Springs and Throckmorton (heart of the Gayborhood).
===============================================
From Facebook.
Please, PLEASE invite all of your friends to a vigil honoring Mercado as well as anyone else who has been murdered, beaten, and otherwise terrorized for their sexuality or gender identity, either real or perceived.
The LGBT population in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican LGBT community here in the United States need to know we support them.
WE MUST FUNNEL OUR SADNESS INTO AN OUTPOURING OF RIGHTEOUS OUTRAGE.
We must show the government, the media, and the oppressors that to systemically target one group for its appearance or mannerisms--and then subject them to violence explicitly for those criteria--is INTOLERABLE.
We also must demand that the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, recently signed into law by President Obama, is used effectively to bring Jorge's killer to justice.
Chaz was on Good Morning America describing his life's progression and how he came to be a public advocate for the LGB and now the T. A few days ago Blend reader Hector sent me a link to this wonderful New York Times article about the pianist Sara Davis Buechner. Both of these stories, not to mention the story of our own barista Autumn, remind me how much is at stake in terms of privacy and profession for people who transition as adults. I thank Chaz, Sara, Autumn and so many Blend readers for allowing me to walk a moment in their shoes.
The murder of a gay teenager in Baltimore has left a family grieving and a community questioning why he was killed. The suspect is a family friend and ex-con who had served only 10 years of an original 30-year sentence for an earlier crime.
Dante Parrish, 35, has been charged with first-degree murder, The Baltimore Sun reports. Parrish was sentenced to 30 years in connection with a 1999 killing but was released after the nonprofit legal group the Innocence Project "found that Parrish had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder based on a faulty statement of facts read into the court record," according to the Sun. A judge overturned Parrish's conviction.
An overflow crowd spilled out of the sanctuary and into the vestibule of a West Baltimore church Wednesday morning for the funeral of Jason Mattison Jr., a 15-year-old killed last week in a brutal attack.
The principal at Jason's school announced a scholarship fund set up in his name. Friends and family recalled stories involving the rambunctious teenager, who had dreams of becoming a pediatrician. And the reverend of the church told hundreds of mourners that the boy's death should serve as a warning to the downtrodden neighborhood where it happened to closely watch all kids.
Several students from Jason's school, Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, attended the 90-minute service held at Unity United Methodist Church on Edmondson Avenue, some of the teens becoming so overcome with emotion that they stepped outside.
On the 20th of November each year, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice with the International Transgender Day Of Remembrance (TDOR).
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester's murder - like most anti-transgender murder cases - has yet to be solved.
Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender - that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant - each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people.
We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred based violence, especially since the events of September 11th. Yet even now, the deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. This trend shows no sign of abating.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn't perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who've died by anti-transgender violence.
As of yesterday morning, there are 119 documented deaths internationally that meet the criteria for inclusion for reading the list of the dead. That's just shy of an average of 10 known deaths a month.
For those who are interested in U.S. deaths, I count 13 U.S. deaths on the list. For another year, that still averages to about one death a month in the U.S. due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
For me, after covering the Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder Trial last April, TDOR has been made all too personal. Angie was Latina; many lost lives on the list this year are from Latin America. And, I still see the image I saw in court of Angie lying on the floor in a pool of blood, hear the painful voices of her family members, and realize there are dozens of real people who died in anti-transgender hatred or prejudice this past year -- just like Angie.
Hate and violence are all too real and personal for me; I don't just see 119 disconnected names of victims of anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, but instead painfully see 119 human lives lost in anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
Select here for a list of those who will be remembered.
Select here for memorial event locations, dates, and times.
From 
A car dealer in Colorado decided to let his inner bigot birther hang out for all to see on the sign at right. It shows a taste-free caricature of the President (two, actually), one with a turban on, and "President...or...Jihad?" with the bottom text reading "PROVE IT" and "Wake up America! Remember Ft. Hood!"
The rabidly anti-gay Ken Hutcherson, a former Seattle Seahawks linebacker, is pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Washington. I have speculated that "Hutch," as he likes to be called, took too many hits while wearing an ill-fitting helmet. Hutch has now turned to the stimulating pages of WorldNetDaily in order to proclaim; 
Via Wonkette
A few days ago Blend reader Hector sent me a link to 
