I like it. Its sweet and totally speaks to the part of me that grew up on Schoolhouse Rock. Music is a very effective tool for communicating a message to the masses. And not only is this video political, adorable and catchy, but it is also true. Why else would the state be in such a hurry to keep Perry vs. Schwarzenegger (the landmark civil rights/marriage equality case against Proposition 8 currently underway) from being forever immortalized on YouTube? They don’t want the world AND history to see California as ignorant. But its too late in the information age to keep that sort of thing from happening.
A new cover mashup music video (the music “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis with the lyrics from “Finally” by Ce Ce Peniston) about marriage equality directed by Adam Joseph and Josh Kesner. Starring Lars Stephan, Stuart Perkins and Erickatoure Aviance. The handsome grooms are very sweet together and their drag bridesmaid was a nice touch. Music is a wonderful way to share the message.
I do so love the YouTube generation. Its videos like these and the ones that follow that will end up going a long way towards making gay marriage a reality everywhere. Current and future generations are growing up with the message that its OK to be Gay. We just want to love. I have hope. Now we just have to wait and see how Perry vs. Schwarzenegger turns out.
The gay hijinks in Llanview keep on coming! In the Llanview gay-marriage-palooza in which every gay couple in town is about to tie the knot Oliver reveals to everyone who didn’t know yet that he’s gay and Kyle says he’s proud of him for doing that. When the ceremony begins, Nick tells Kyle he loves him, and Kyle realizes he doesn’t love him back; he loves Oliver. He leaves Nick at the proverbial altar and asks Oliver for another chance. Both agree they should try a date before they get married.
It’s official they’re a couple… let the pillow talk begin.
I was more than a little surprised to see Dorian Lord among the gay couples getting married… Is she just using the lesbian to make some guy jealous? That would be so Dorian. Looks like her angle is political instead of romantic. In the real world I don’t think the protesting bigots would have stopped their yelling for the ceremony.
Having these two stories in the same news cycle really is a great example of the “one step forward and two steps back” problem that has been dogging the Marriage Equality movement.
Why is it that the anti marriage equality forces ALWAYS go to the incest and bestiality argument? REALLY! SERIOUSLY? Is that really all they’ve got?
I mean unless they are talking about extremely attractive gay twins, the incest thing isn’t very likely. I wish we could ACTUALLY compare the numbers of gay couples who want to get married to the number of rednecks who want to wed their favorite sheep or cousin to make them cut this bullshit the hell out.
I love the fact that we live in the YouTube generation. Not only are messages like this are so easy to share, but also it is reaffirming to know that there are others out there who are capable of seeing the world through the eyes of others.
All the hate (anti-LGBT hate speech in particular) on the internet inspired YouTuber Stevie Bee Bishop to organize this video featuring 23 YouTubers lip-syncing to Lily Allen’s song GWB (Fuck You Very Much).
Unsurprisingly, the elected asshole left ignorance, hatred and bigotry off the list of forces affecting peoples decision making on this issue. During a press conference Wednesday, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas announced that he will veto the marriage equality bill even if makes it all the way through the state legislature (it passed the state senate and it’s currently in the House) to his desk.
Vermont Freedom to Marry is calling for a rally tomorrow morning at the Vermont statehouse beginning at 8:45 am. They write: “We need to thank the Legislators for their leadership and to URGE Gov. Douglas to change his mind. The Governor has a Legislative Open Door from 9am-9:30am.”
Douglas’ phone information is Ph:802 828-3333 (toll-free in VT only: 800 649-6825). For a list of Vermont House Judiciary Committee members, go to Vermont Freedom to Marry.
I am so proud that the new generation of gay youth is outspoken and unafraid to confront authority. I cannot imagine the courage it takes to stand up and do what he did at that age.
In Mid-March, during hearings prior to Monday’s Vermont Senate vote which passed the same-sex marriage bill 26-4, 17-year-old James Neiley from Charlotte, Vermont, told it like it is. You Go James!
Personally I am a BIG fan of sarcasm. Sad thing is the people being made fun of probably aren’t smart enough to get the joke (but are they watching Jimmy Kimmel anyweay – well maybe, his is not an audience of rocket scientists). Or does that just make it funnier?
If you blog, PLEASE repost the phone numbers below!!!!!
The ever vigilant homophobic hate mongering American Family Association had already announced a boycott of Pepsi for its support of LGBT causes but the recent UK airing of this commercial has them stepping it up a notch. REALLY? Are we THAT threatening? Is it THAT horrible if occasionally we get to see ourselves included if not fully represented in a television commercial? REALLY?!!
The AFA was kind enough to provide a number for Pepsi Customer Relations in order for outraged bible-bangers to call and lodge their bigoted “christian” judgment. But I used it to call and lodge my support AGAINST the AFA boycott and to thank them and ask them to keep up the good work. The customer relations person was SOOOO glad to hear from me. Please call and do the same and then tell a friend and have them tell 2 friends – and so on, and so on.
PLEASE CALL PEPSI TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT: 1-800-433-2652
YOU CAN ALSO CALL AND THANK PEPSI SUBSIDIARIES… (AFA targeted them for harassing phone calls too so give em a break and call to say thanks)
the AFA’s letter to Pepsi and Pepsi’s response… (I believe this is before the ad aired)
AFA Letter to PepsiCo Chairman Indra K. Nooyi from Donald E. Wildmon (October 14, 2008):
Recently we noticed that PepsiCo gave a $500,000 donation to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We were indeed surprised by PepsiCo’s support of the homosexual group. It would appear to us that PepsiCo would not involve itself in a political and culture war, especially supporting an organization seeking to redefine marriage and family.
We ask PepsiCo to remain neutral in this culture war, neither supporting nor opposing the homosexual agenda.
We would like to discuss this matter with PepsiCo. Would you have a representative of PepsiCo contact us?
Response from Paul Boykas, director, public policy to Donald E. Wildmon (November 18, 2008):
I’m responding to your letter to our Chairman. In 2008, the PepsiCo Foundation awarded a grant to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays to support a national program specifically designed for workplace environments.
The initiative seeks to promote further understanding and equality in the places where people spend much of their time at work.
Among the values promoted by the PepsiCo Foundation is ensuring a work environment that is respectful and where associates are valued for their contributions. I hope this helps clarify this grant by the PepsiCo Foundation.
Melissa Etheridge I love you! Her she is on the View explaining the need for marriage equality In small words that even conservative kool-aid drinkers like Elizabeth Hasselback and Sherri Shepard can understand. Sherri seemed REALLY uncomfortable when Melissa asked Elizabeth to confirm that she meant “the majority should vote on the minority” when she said the decision should come from the people and not “activist judges.” Maybe Sherri isn’t as stupid as I thought. She and Elizabeth were in a corner so she changed the subject, though not particularly deftly. Though I’m not sure Hasselback was smart enough to be glad for the save.
Interesting attempt to illustrate the gay struggle to the type of straight who “just doesn’t get it.” Sort of plays like a very special political episode of the comedy series Gaytown which is viewable on hulu.
Did you go to work on Wednesday? I work at home so I didn’t get to change my routine that much. I did enough work that they thought I was working (they’ve always been very gay-positive and supportive), but I took it easy – as evidenced by all the posts lately.
I loved Wanda Sykes before, but she’s really moving up in my esteem with every public appearance lately. Go Wanda!
A Soulforce marriage equality video for the song Don’t Tell Me Who To Love (by recently out former contemporary Christian artist, Ray Boltz) – featuring couples, families, and images of protest signs around the country in response to Proposition 8.
The Marriage Equality songs, videos, articles and advertisements always get to me. It uplifts me that so many are doing so much to get the word out, yet it depresses me that it is still necessary in today’s society – much less in today’s California!
The song by Ray Boltz is available for free download at rayboltzblog. Please share the song with your family and friends and go to soulforce.org and join our email list!
Election day 2008 was a roller coaster in the Castro. We took the streets to celebrate the election of Barack Obama, but we were brokenhearted when Prop 8 passed. This video is a story from the streets of the Castro about election night, the fallout of Prop 8, and the national movement for LGBT civil rights that’s being ignited through California’s struggle.
Prince has always mixed spiritual overtones in his music, yet it took a Kevin Smith special to shed some light on this once popular icon’s evolution into a practicing Jehovah’s Witness. Evidently Prince believes it his duty to enforce his views of salvation on others when not spontaneously demanding the purchase of a camel at three in the morning.
There does seem to be more to this “black hatred” toward the gay community than media spin. Self-professed comedian DL Hugley admitted his conflict on the measure during his attempted CNN facsimile of Bill Maher’s popular HBO program. Even stars like Forest Whitaker and Don Cheadle belong to the Film Independent organization that donated funds in support of Prop 8. Why did blacks and Hispanics vote in strong numbers for a proposition to repress another minority? Jesus.
We all love Jesus. He usually has blond hair, blue eyes and tight abs when Mel Gibson isn’t busy obscuring all of that by bloodying him up and killing him in his movies. I don’t know why Mel hates Jesus so much. Spirituality can be an important force in centering an individual. It sure has helped minorities through some inconceivable times. Personal enlightenment has now been replaced with irrational superstition that is preventing gay men and women of some basic civil rights. God and religion have become a child’s binky for grownups.
Religion and gay rights can easily coexist as long as these “non-profit” organizations aren’t funding political initiatives (I’m talking to you, Mormons). Nobody intends to force churches in opposition to gay people to perform their marriage ceremonies. Nobody is trying to teach gay sex in schools either. The only indoctrination comes from the Christian community. Maybe they are mistaking their own tactics for ours. I could care less how a church or individual feels about my life. I just want the opportunity to live it the way I see fit – a way that doesn’t hurt anyone and has the same legal protections as others gay, straight, black, Hispanic, married or single. This battle is about more than marriage, it is about equal opportunity.
Let’s be honest here; this isn’t really about God. He’s merely the justification for the prejudice so bigots can sleep at night. This is about what everything else is about in this country – the kids. That’s why the advertising in Prop 8 focused on children. The leading website on the subject (preservemarriage.org – I refuse to link to them) has admitted to the fact that they don’t want to legitimize gay families. They really aren’t concerned about the “definition of marriage” as they claim. These zealots are worried about trying to explain their disapproval of thriving gay people and families in their community to their children without sounding intolerant. Ultimately – it’s about hate.
I love classic Prince music. He wrote “When U Were Mine” for my favorite singer Cyndi Lauper (who would likely kick his ass now) and other such Christian favorites such as “Cream”, “Get Off”, and “Pussy Control”. Should we forgive Prince? Maybe it’s just the syphilis talking. Let’s not forget the popular “Little Red Corvette” where he boasts his reuse of condoms. That would certainly do it. I’m not saying he actually has an STD but it would make sense for this crazy talk. I don’t even know where you’d buy a prophylactic for a dromedary.
links and video added by fanboi, Prince can go fuck his camel image by Buttersboi
I am so glad to see that there are people of faith who do not live in fear of gays and lesbians being able to live and love completely openly and equally. The folks at Mission Gathering posted the reasons they took out the billboard here at the blog Our Hearts Are With You. They believe “God’s love and grace is for ALL people, regardless of race, creed, sexual identity, or life circumstances.” Which sounds a lot more Christian than what I usually hear from a pulpit.
Mission Gathering Christian Church is sorry for the narrow-minded, judgmental, deceptive, manipulative actions of those who took away the rights and equality of so many in the name of God.
The San Diego billboard is sparking discussion from both sides of the fence. Depending on whose blog you are reading you might find it called a “wonderful outreach” or a Church selling out Christ to make a buck.
The church was founded by a group of young adults who say they wanted “to embody God’s grace to the emerging/postmodern culture they were a part of.” It’s affiliated with The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which has approximately 723,000 members throughout North America and is the denomination Ronald Reagan was baptized in. So, despite having a Facebook page and a podcast that includes titles like “Sexuality & Spirituality: Sex, Lies and Craigslist”, the apologetic Christians sit squarely within the mainline Protestant tradition.
San Diego has been arguably the epicenter of the Prop 8. protest movement, with over 25,000 people marching in the streets in last week’s “Day of Impact Protest“– the largest group anywhere.
I myself am a lapsed Catholic (raised churchgoing but gave it up first day away from home at college – it was never anything for me but a place to think – I got the same level of meditation while mowing the lawn), but I do like to hear that there are people who believe yet still have the ability to think for themselves.
I love her – she does Gods work.
