The folks over at eQualityGiving.org have developed a great way to interact with leaders of various areas in the LGBT community. They have created a free virtual convention that has various panels. Individuals are able to submit questions to a panel and hear the discussion. The panels are also recorded and can be listened to any time. Below is some information on the upcoming panels.
Sunday January 30, 2011
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm EDT
DOES THE "T" IN "LGBTQ" MEAN ANYTHING MORE THAN "TOKEN"?
After HRC appended the "T" in 2004 and the bruising battle over an inclusive ENDA in 2007, are we again forgetting trans and gender-non conforming concerns?
Panelists
Stephen Glassman, Chairperson, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Diego Sanchez, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA)
Melissa Sklarz, New York City transactivis
Meghan Stabler, Board of Directors, Human Rights Campaign
Question Moderators
Jessica Lee, Board Member, GOProud
Lisa Turner, Political Strategist, The Turner Group
Monday February 7, 2011
Noon to 1:00 pm EDT
WHY HIV CRIMINALIZATION MATTERS
Do current policies still discriminate against HIV? In which ways the law still discriminates against HIV?
Panelists
Edwin J. Bernard, Editor of HIV and the Criminal Law (NAM, 2010) and Criminal HIV Transmission
Vanessa Johnson, JD, Executive VP, National Association of People with AIDS Sean Strub, Senior advisor, Center for HIV Law & Policy's Positive Justice Project, founder of POZ Magazine
Ever since Barack Obama announced that Pastor Rick Warren would be giving the invocation at the Inauguration I have been on edge about the decision. My first thought was
"Gee it's been about a month and a half - I guess it is time for us to get slapped in the face."
In case you're wondering what the big deal is and why the gay community would be offended by Rick Warren being asked to have such a high profile moment check out Warren's little video here
I love how he says,
"If you believe what the bible says about marriage you need to support Proposition 8."
Oh really. So then I should look at Deuteronomy 21:15
"A man might have two wives. And he might love one wife more than the other. Both wives might have children for him. And the first child might be the child of the wife he does not love."
Or how about Matthew 19:8-9
8 Jesus answered, "Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you refused to accept God's teaching. But divorce was not allowed in the beginning. 9 I tell you that any person that divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of the sin of adultery. The only reason for a person to divorce and marry again is if his first wife had sexual relations with another man."
Interesting isn't it. Let's hear what Pastor Warren had to say in an interview with Beliefnet about divorce and if it is a big problem today.
I love how he basically says that the reason we make such a big deal about gay marriage is because of "ratings." This is ok to turn the gays into the BIG sinners and second class citizens because the other stuff is too close to home so no one will listen (come to church - or give money).
It's this attitude that keeps suicide amongst gay teens and young adults so high. All because it's easier to vilify such a small minority than deal with real problems, like divorce, that are really hurting families and kids all across this country. Warren and others like him don't want to "redefine marriage". Yet marriage has changed so much over the course of time. Wives used to considered more property than anything. Marriage was a business transaction done by the patriach of the family. Not so long ago bi-racial couples could not marry in this country. Warren says over and over that marriage has been the same for 5,000 years. I wonder if he meant this example from the The Sex Atlas written by Erwin J. Haeberle, Ph.D., Ed.D.,
"The English Puritans in the 17th century even passed an Act of Parliament asserting "marriage to be no sacrament" and soon thereafter made marriage purely secular. It was no longer to be performed by a minister, but by a justice of the peace. The Restoration abolished this law and reverted to the old system, but the Puritans brought their concept of marriage to America where it survived."
Marriage is not a sacrament but secular - well isn't that interesting.
Apparently I am supposed to be ok with Warren because he's not homophobic because he funds AIDS projects. Gee that's about the only good thing President Bush did too. Not the kind of company I'd want to be in.
But wait there's more
I am amazed he can laugh off being homophobic when he compares gay marriage to incest and pedophilia but it's ok because he will talk to gay people and give them water and donuts.
So again I'm back to why did Obama go there. I agree with the reporter in the video. This is political. But I'll let Obama speak first.
So is this a payback? The comment Obama says about Warren having him come speak to his church he considered a big opportunity. So is this his thank you for helping him with some of the religious groups that Obama needed to reach. I can't say for sure. I do believe that Obama is trying to e inclusive and bring people together. I also think that there are those that are not promoting hate and equating LGBT people to pedophiles that can have this kind of a spotlight.
So I know it seems us gays have been yelling a lot lately and this isn't going to help calm us down.
I heard a woman on the radio today and she has given me reason to pause and try to move from this in a different direction.
Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, an African-American pro-gay minister will be giving the benediction. The woman on the radio commented that these two choices were symbolic.
"Pastor Warren represents where we are now. That's why he is going first. Rev. Lowery represents where this country is going.
Like the inauguration will show the journey of change.
This caller saved the day for me. To me it sounds like Obama's thought process and diligent planning. I'm trying hard to buy into it.
