Poll Results

Moron of the Week

It looks like I need to start a weekly post called "Moron of the Week". There seem to be plenty of candidates. The Governor of Illinois I have decided to bestow the first award to singer Pat Boone. Now I know what you are thinking how can the person famous for songs like "Tutti Frutti" possibly make this list. Or maybe your thinking, "Tutti Frutti" really explains it all. Just watch and let Keith Olbermann explain it too you.





Here is the response from the Human Rights Campaign. Hope you will consider sending a message to Pat!

"...there is a real, unbroken line between the jihadist savagery in Mumbai and the hedonistic, irresponsible, blindly selfish goals and tactics of our homegrown sexual jihadists."
- Pat Boone, December 6, 2008

Dear HRC members,

Country singer and right-wing pundit Pat Boone has written a column equating the movement against Prop. 8 to the terrorists who tortured and murdered hundreds in Mumbai.

I am not kidding. This is a new low in anti-gay rhetoric.

Boone and his buddies continue to stir up fear, even if they have to lie. It's exactly how they passed the California marriage ban.

We need your help to stop the radical right from painting a movement about love and dignity as violent and radical. We need your support to stay strong, smart, and nimble, to combat these growing attacks with the simple truth: all we want is equality.

Make a donation to HRC on behalf of Pat Boone. Your gift helps HRC combat these lies – and sends the message that our call for equality cannot be silenced.

We'll even send Mr. Boone a note with your first name and gift amount to let him know you've donated in his name.

It's time to say enough to the deception and false ads that defeated marriage equality in three states and banned gay couples from adopting in Arkansas; enough to the attempts to equate peaceful protest with "jihadist savagery"; enough to the lies used to block federal hate crimes laws and workplace protections.

In the face of lies like this, there's only one thing to do: Demand the Truth – and that's exactly what we will be doing in the coming year. HRC will:

• Respond quickly and forcefully to the lies and intimidation with media outreach and grassroots mobilization, as part of an ongoing "Demand the Truth" campaign;
• Organize hundreds of thousands of activists to pass the Matthew Shepard Act and combat the inevitable misleading campaign that will be waged against us;
• Work with religious leaders to encourage LGBT people to come out in their faith communities and create venues for the voices of tolerance and love;
• Continue the march for marriage equality and relationship recognition, especially in key states where new doors are opening right now, including New York, Vermont, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Iowa; and
• Work with the Obama administration to undo years of White House anti-LGBT hostility.

To really go toe to toe with the mouthpieces of bigotry like Pat Boone, we're going to need your support.

If, every time they tell another lie, run another deceptive ad or use more fear-mongering to try and win votes and recruit new members, we respond by strengthening our movement for equality, eventually they'll realize they're hurting themselves more than they're hurting us.

But it only works if we all stand up.

Join us in demanding the truth, by making a gift in Pat Boone's name today!

What's perhaps most disturbing about Boone's rhetoric – painting LGBT people as a threat to society – is that it leads to the very real hate violence directed against LGBT people every day.

We can't stop the Pat Boones of our world from speaking their ugly lies, but together we can make sure that there's a political cost associated with this kind of hateful speech.

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President

To see the full article by Pat Boone, click here.

On a side note, I hope I never have to put myself on the "Moron of the Week" list.

Day Without a Gay

Join the Impact has been organizing another nationwide event. Wednesday, December 10th they are calling for people to participate in a Day Without a Gay.

Our community contributes $700 billion a year to this economy (the same amount as the bailout), yet we are not given equal protections under the law that every citizen deserves. As such, it is time we make a stand. During the largest shopping season of the year, we ask that you do one very important thing: Don't Buy Anything! What would happen to this world if the LGBTQ community didn't exist? Why is it that we continue to contribute to an economy and government that does not contribute to us? Let's answer these questions on December 10th.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

STRIKE: call in gay, shut down your business, or just take the day off.

BOYCOTT: don't buy anything, spend money or support the economy. If you do need to buy support LGBT businesses.

PARTICIPATE: Volunteer and/or protest in your area.

Here is the info on the protests organized by H.E.R.O. happening in the Phoenix area.

Update on Marriage Amendment Protests

Since my last post more cities from Arizona have gotten involved in the nationwide protest this weekend.

Phoenix - November 15th - 200 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ - We will meet at Cesar Chavez Memorial (across from Phoenix City Hall). The event will start at 11:30am. For more info click here.

Tucson - FRIDAY Nov 14th - El Presidio Park and La Placita Village, Downtown Tucson. The event will start at 5pm. For more info click here.

 Flagstaff - November 15th - City Hall on Route 66. The event stars at 11:30am. For more information click here.

Kingman - November 15th - Locomotive Park, Downtown (across from Powerhouse 1st street and Andy Devine). There are very few details on this. I can't confirm a time. To stay updated on details click here.

For information on the protest happening in other states go to JoinTheImpact

Phoenix Protest of the Passed Gay Marriage Ammendments

Join the Impact is asking for a nationwide protest of the passing of the gay marriage amendments. Below is the information on the event taking place in Phoenix on Saturday Nov. 15th at 11:30am.

Let the community know that we need to be treated equal. Make sure to bring your signs! We will meet at Cesar Chavez Park and then head across the street to City Hall.

PASS IT ON and invite everyone you know.