On Sunday October 4th, Father Geoffrey Farrow, who has been an ordained Catholic Priest for 23 years delivered a sermon against Proposition 8 to his shocked Fresno parish. Watch a video interview with Father Farrow. (I’ll embed it as soon as I can find embed codes)

What most Catholics hear about being gay or lesbian at their parish is silence.

In directing the faithful to vote yes on proposition 8, the California Bishops are not only entering the political arena, they are ignoring the advances and insights of neurology, psychology and the very statements by the church itself that homosexual is innate.

I know that these words of truth will cost me dearly. But to withhold them would be far more costly and I would become an accomplice to a moral evil that strips gay and lesbian couples, not only of their civil rights but of their human dignity as well.

Father Geoffrey Farrow
Sunday October 4th, 2008

When asked by ABC reporter Sontaya Roseif he was gay, Father Farrow replied “It’s a secondary issue. But yes, I am. And when I was a boy I asked God please make me normal and the prayer never got answered and I realized why. Because God would’ve made somebody else he wouldn’t have made me.”

It is sad, but it is likely that will be this brave man’s last sermon. Although he did get a standing ovation from approximately half the congregation, that still leaves the other half. People of faith could use more leaders like him.

via ABC, Towelroad, JoeMyGod and Pam’s House Blend

Click here to read Father Farrow’s sermon in its entirety… (more…)

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Every day this month, the video below will update and feature a different historically significant GLBT person. So bookmark the post and check back!

In the 1990’s, teachers and community organizations determined that a month should be designated for GLBT history. They chose October because public schools are in session and traditions, such as National Coming Out Day, occur then.

GLBT History Month is endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association, and other national organizations. In 2006, Equality Forum assumed responsibility for GLBT History Month.

Check out the GLBTHistoryMonth website to see more gay icons honored to see free videos, bios, bibliographies, images and other resources.

the 2008 honorees are: Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon, Stephen Sondheim, Gianni Versace, Sheila Kuehl, Tennessee Williams, Alice Walker, Greg Louganis, Bertrand Delanoë, Margaret Mead, Mark Bingham, Cleve Jones, Jann Wenner, Harvey Fierstein, Margarethe Cammermeyer, Anthony Romero, Melissa Etheridge, Gene Robinson, John Waters, Robert Mapplethorpe, Georgina Beyer, Tony Kushner, Rosie O’Donnell, Philip Johnson, E. M. Forster, Randy Shilts, Allen Ginsberg, Troy Perry, Bill T. Jones, Andy Warhol, Rachel Carson and Michelangelo.

via WickedGayBlog and GLBTHistoryMonth

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Happy moments in gay history…

Saw this tonight in the gay rights section of a special on VH1 and loved it enough to dig it up online for you. Anita Bryant’s crusade to “do away with” the homosexuals was one of the first times I remember hearing about being “gay” (before i really knew what it meant) - that and seeing Superman kiss Michael Cain in Deathtrap. I primarily think of her as an outspoken zealot who took advantage of her podium and lost it. Lets hope Sarah Palin is remembered as fondly by history. They are/were both just glorified ex-beauty queens with an anti-gay axe to grind doing a song-and-dance to entertain the mindless masses.

Its too bad our dangerous world requires public figures to be so well guarded at all times that it makes the good-old-fashioned pie-in-the-face virtually impossible. I think Sarah Palin would look fabulous in Lemon Meringue.

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Happy GLBT History Month!!!

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GAYS MARRY IN CALIFORNIA!!!!!

I’ve come across a number of articles about homosexuality and comic books since I started this blog, and have been saving them to post together and update occasionally with some of my own thoughts.

Homosexuality has long been a subtext in Comic Books. Parallels can be drawn between the double life of a Super Hero with a secret identity and that of a closeted homosexual.

Just ask Frederic Wertham. Werthem’s Seduction of the Innocent was all about exposing the comic books of the day as a corrupting influence on American Youth. He had a big problem with the superhero sidekick phenomenon, saying it was inherently homoerotic and often citing the Dynamic Duo as an example… (Gotham’s Finest image by KirwanArts)

Batman and Robin, Wertham charged, inhabited “a wish dream of two homosexuals living together.” They lived in “sumptuous quarters,” unencumbered by wives and girlfriends, with only an aged butler for company. They cared for each other’s injuries, frequently shared quarters, and lounged together in dressing gowns. Worse still, both exhibited damning psychological characteristics: proclivities for costumes, dressing up, and fantasy play; secretive behavior and double-lives; little interest in women; and, most damning of all, neurotic compulsions resulting in their violent vigilantism. Indeed, Wertham argued, depictions of Batman and Robin were frequently homoerotic, visually emphasizing Batman’s rippling physique and Robins splayed, bare thighs.

I do agree he may have had some valid points with the shacking up, spandex dress-up and hot bods - surprised he didn’t mention hanging out in a dark cave. But I think they fail to take into account that it’s really only gay to the gay kids. The straight boys of the day just read it as innocent hero-worship fantasy.

The above quote if from this excellent bilerico.com article titled When Batman was Gay

This next link is to a Newsarama interview with Hero author Perry Moore in which Moore discusses his insider knowledge from friend Allen Heinberg about how Hulking was almost a butch female, the death of Freedom Ring, his favorite sexy Legionnaire and whatever happened to Terry Berg - that gay friend of Green Lantern (Kyle)… read it here.

There are a few veteran LGBT comic book characters around since 89 when the Comic’s code ceased is prohibition on “any suggestion of homosexuality.” Writers who grew up in the era are revitalizing these characters and bringing them to a new generation of gay and straight fans. Former New Mutant, Karma has popped up in San Francisco with her twin siblings to rejoin the X-Men and improve control of her possession powers. After his major stint in 52, Flash Rogue the Pied Piper will most likely have some part to play in Final Crisis. Although now victimized and crippled, Ultimate Northstar is still alive if not currently kicking and his 616 counterpart is a shoe-in for the new San Francisco X-Center. Obsidian is snogging with his boyfriend Damon as a supporting character in the pages of Manhunter. And the alien 70’s Starman, Mikaal Tomas is slated to be one of two LGBT characters seen in a new JLA offshoot title (Batwoman is the other).

The images accompanying the article excerpts and links are of 20 current LGBT characters from a number of publishers. Some have been out and proud for awhile and others are brand spanking new characters or just recently out of the CMYK closet.

In the following four linked articles, CBR News spoke with “nine comics industry professionals about the portrayal of LGBT characters and themes in comics, past and present.”

Homosexuality in Comics - Part 1: introduces Marc Andreyko, Lillian Diaz-Przbyl, Devin Grayson, Terrance Griep and Mark Millar.

Homosexuality in Comics - Part 2: introduces Allan Heinberg, Scott Lobdell, Alan Moore and Greg Rucka.

Wiccan, Hulkling, Karolina Dean, Batwoman, the Question, Anole and Xavin are reflective of a new wave of original or re-imagined LGBT characters that are cropping up in comics continuity. LGBT Storylines like the subtle romance between Young Avengers fan faves Wiccan and Hulkling go a long way toward making gay fans feel accepted and represented as part of a world they have come to know and love. A scene where they attempt to come out to Billy’s parents as teen super-heroes becomes a wonderful affirmation when the folks misunderstand and say its “OK we’ve always known and we’re so happy you boys found each other.” Even the lesbian Batwoman and Question haven’t been overly sexualized or exploited the way Rainmaker was in the 90’s. In this new millennium, we the major publishing companies may finally be ready to develop LGBT characters that are more than a superheroes stereotype.

Homosexuality in Comics - Part 3: The panelists discuss the Comics Code, the stigma of comics as a children’s medium, whether homosexuality is a lifestyle choice or a genetic predisposition, and the tendency for fictional GLBT characters to be defined by their sexuality.

Apollo and the Midnighter broke new gound in the 90’s as the World’s Finest Couple. The idea of a gay Superman and Batman archtypes as a couple had been used many times in the slash fanfiction genre, but the Wildstorm Universe’s addition of this loving gay couple (and eventually adopted child) truly heralded a new generation of homosexual heroes. Gen13’s Rainmaker was also part of that 2nd generation of gay characters that started to gain popularity in the 90’s, but her sexuality was primarily used to titillate a largely heterosexual adolescent male audience.

Homosexuality in Comics - Part 4: Topics include the “gay retcon,” the participants’ picks for well-informed portrayals of GLBT characters in comics, and the state of the union of homosexuality in comics

The outing of characters like Rawhide Kid, Colossus (Ultimate), Lightspeed and Living lightning was a surprise to many as most had recognized hetero history. Ultimate Colussus’ case is a bit different because (as far as we know) he’s straight as an arrow in the 616 universe. Though with Kitty GONE, maybe Jean-Paul should take a shot at him. Although Quasar (Phyla-vell’s) orientation was hinted early at it wasn’t officially revealed until later.

via CBR and Newsarama and Bilerico Project

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Superman was not born on Krypton, but in a small nondescript house in Cleveland Ohio. Inspired by Brad Meltzer, the Siegel and Shuster Society is working with OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld to hold a Superman memorabilia auction with the benefits earmarked to restore and preserve the home where a teenaged Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster cooked up the Man of Steel in 1932. Its a nice gesture, I hope they have luck with it. I wish I could afford to bid on the Jason Palmer piece.

Here is some artwork that will be up for bid during the month of September. Auction items include artwork, rare t-shirts, a spot on the cover of the Brian Michael Bendis comic - Powers, tickets to the Colbert Report and a walk-on role on Heroes. Check the complete list of items up for auction.

Meltzer’s involvement ALMOST makes me want to take back the harsh things I said about Meltzer’s creation Dr. Impossible getting Action Figure immortalization when far more deserving characters are ignored. ALMOST.

via CBR and OPCTW

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