Stonewall

The Stonewall Rebellion was the official beginning of the modern queer rights movement in the United States. Up until the riots began in June of 1969, homosexuality was criminalized and many considered it a mental disorder. This was the beginning of a decade of liberation and visibility, which would soon be pushed back by a backlash from the growing religious right and the outbreak and devastation of AIDS. In spite of the setbacks, gains were still made and the struggle continues.

Heterosexist Propaganda

Here is an ad funded by NOM, the National Organization for Marriage. Notice how it uses fear to persuade voters to vote against full marriage equality. What is the fear? It doesn't matter. What matters is that fear is being used to motivate people to take away the rights of their fellow citizens. Click the link above (click on NOM) to see how much money the National Organization for Marriage has been able to raise using hatred and fear. I'm not sure if NOM is a religious organization, but other organizations, employing similar tactics, like the Mormon and Catholic churches, receive this money tax exempt. This is a business folks. It has nothing to do with morality or any actual threat. Someone's getting rich off of this stuff.



Here is a parody of the same ad. Sometimes it's good to laugh at the ridiculousness of the fear-mongering.

What does the Bible really say?

"For the Bible Tells Me So", is an excellent documentary that looks at what the Bible really says about homosexuality, taken in the context of the culture and the times in which those things were written. Those who quote scripture as justification for denying full equality to sexual minorities, "cherry pick" and often ignore other biblical admonitions that they find "inconvenient". Every now and then I get the e-mail that has been circulating for years asking how much would be a fair price to sell my daughter into slavery, something that is sanctioned in the Bible, but would obviously be unheard of for most American Jews and Christians. Popular culture has also taken this on. In this clip from The West Wing, also featured in the documentary, Martin Sheen takes on a radio talk show host who seems to resemble Dr. Laura Schlessinger. This is how I would like to see my president respond to those who use the Bible to deny me my rights as an American citizen. Maybe one day I'll see it.
Until then, I'll watch this clip again and again and dream.