esrosedotblog

This article from today's NYTimes is a basic schooling in the gay rights/gay marriage debates.

Lawyers Seek Sea Change on Gay Rights at Supreme Court

It is important because the Supreme Court is going to hear the cases in four states that have passed anti-gay marriage legislation.

There are many paths which their decision might take but when examined under a cold light, as in this article, it is pretty clear that there are only several possible ways for them to approach the issue.

I do not want to go into the article's points. It is a lot better that you read it and make your own conclusions. You might be more or less optimistic than I am as a result of reading it.

My own take?

I am optimistic that they will clear away a lot of the brush on this.

The main argument against gay marriage has to do with some arcane understanding of the religious rights of people who hate gay marriage. Upside down.

It is true that my marriage to my husband John is an affront to some people. Somewhere. I never see them. They, in fact, never see me in any way that is openminded and inquisitive.

It is as though the lines have been drawn and people stand on either side with no interest in further discussion.

Guilty as charged.

I am not interested in dialog.

This is why we have a Supreme Court.

I just hope they do their job. That means to be clear and concise and definitive. Not squishy and divisive.

The issue will not go away. If not this year, next.

"The gays" are going to continue to couple to the dismay of some busybodies who cannot comprehend that the "sanctity of marriage" extends to all. Or is not sacred at all.

Underneath this all, not very deep, is the old abiding tension between church and state.

A traditional struggle.

Dueling moralities.

Labels: christist watch, gay marriage, gay rights

This is old stuff. The prude who gets caught with his pants down or the bigot who turns out to be part whatever he is bigoted about. Our version is the homophobe who gets caught doing the deed in a way that seems he is just crying for "help".

This one is an anti-gay priest. So much the better.

ILLINOIS: Leviticus-Quoting Catholic Priest Busted For Indecent Exposure

It is actually sad. But it is hard to gin up any sympathy for this. Not in this day and age.

The fact that it is a priest is sort of a double whammy. The anti-gay catholic who is supposed to be celibate. Well, I guess flashing is not breaking one's celibacy. I am not up on canon law for this one.

Labels: christist watch, hypocrites

Very interesting, huh?

Not that I care a whole hell of a lot but I am glad to see it.

Spot the Difference.

Labels: christist watch

Early enthusiasm about the gayish views of the new pope was misguided.

Pope Francis Excommunicates Australian Priest Who Advocated For Gay Marriage And Female Clergy

Sorry.

Sometimes my optimism runs away with itself.

Nothin' goin' on here folks, move along. Francis is the same old homophobe as the last one, maybe worse because of the false signals.

Shoulda' read the fine print.

We do watch what you bastards do you know. Walk the fucking talk, Frank.

Also found this.

Labels: christist watch, gay bashers, homophobia

INVOKED

The Supremes are taking up the issue of prayer openings for town meetings.

Justices Take Case on Prayer at Town Board Meetings

They are late to the party.

I was the Moderator of the Plymouth MA Town Meeting for several years in the late 60s, early 70s. The first thing that I did was to stop the "invocations" which opened all the sessions.

There wasn't much of a furor. In fact, I don't think anyone objected. Not to me.

A handful of sky pilots had shown up and opened every Meeting, as far as I knew, since the Pilgrims had the same annual get together.

I felt it was just wrong. The previous guy had a setup with all the Prots and Catholics. He was a Jew so there was always a rabbi.

I did cause a scuffle when someone thought I was going to ditch the Pledge of Allegiance but that was not on my list of changes. I would have been strung up.

I am surprised to see that invocations are still given widely and that people, mostly the christians, are surprised there would be any objection to it.

Since it is part of their normal way of life they don't see it as inappropriate or as a kick in the pants of non-believers. Or believers in something other than what they believe.

Good luck Supremes. You will be up to here in yakkity yak about freedom of religion and how it applies to the ones who want to cram their beliefs down other people's throats.

Freedom to do their thing not mine.

Labels: christist watch

SCHADENFREUDE

Today, Kevin Drum goes there.

Watching the Worm Turn on Gay Marriage

Basically, some evangelical is whining about being seen as an "An outcast, a bigot, narrow-minded, a "hater" or all of the above. It's a different type of ridicule but it's still ridicule."

Yup.

I agree with Kevin. A spade is a spade.

It must be tough to wake up and have your mind set and your lifestyle the subject of constant derogation.

Hey, just like being gay, right? But now, it is a fact, the evangelicals are in the minority and on the decline and homos are in the ascendancy.

Only the holy rollers are going to be extinct or divided into cults and "the gays" will just melt back into the crowd again as equal members of a just society.

I sure don't want to pick on evangelicals but when you have a huge kick me sign on your ass what do you expect?

In this one, in 1992, ol' Pat gets immolated by the "homes". If he only could have seen the future.

Labels: bigotry, christist watch, gay history, gay rights

THE HOLY SEE

Just in time for the enclave.

The Vatican Buys Europe's Biggest Gay Sauna: VIDEO

Don't miss the comments on the page. Some are priceless.

You know what a gay sauna is, right?

A place to go and relax along with fellow heat worshipers. And if a little close up fellowship is available, then that too.

I am indifferent to the results of this week's election. I think most people are.

There was a time, when I was a kid, when the chimney watch was a major television feature.

Now, ho hum.

There is not a lot of difference between one bigot hypocrite and another.

New is the admission that there are, indeed, gay cardinals. If they get caught.

Sissy Spellman in NY city carried on for years with the young priests who ministered to his needs and everyone knew it. But no whistles blew.

And that is just the beginning.

Suffice to say it is all a sick joke. Too bad that many, too many, people's lives are ruined by these bastards.

Sure they do good. But on their terms.

Labels: christist watch

RELIGION OF HATE

Catholic Bishops Officially Endorse Gay Hate Orgy to Stand in Solidarity with "People of Good Will".A good percentage of them closeted gays like the guy in the UK. A percentage either child molesters or defenders of same.

The "people of good will".

Give me a fucking break.

Labels: christist watch, gay bashers, hypocrites

COMING SOON

I read that the (ahem) religious right isn't happy about this.

I was. It is one of the few SNL skits I have laughed at as much. But then I don't laugh at SNL skits much.

I also like that it takes on Tarrentino who I don't think very much of either. Double pleasure.

Labels: christist watch, fun

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT ROGER

In today's NYT:

California: Former Archbishop Writes of Humiliation

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony says he has been publicly humiliated in recent days by people who are angry over his handling of the clergy sexual abuse scandal. Cardinal Mahony, a former archbishop of Los Angeles, said in a blog post on Thursday that he understood the depth of their anger and had asked God to bless and forgive them. He also said he is praying during Lent for the grace to endure the public criticism. Recently released files show that Cardinal Mahoney and other top officials maneuvered to shield priests accused of sexual abuse to protect the Roman Catholic Church from scandal.

The release of files has been through all of the courts. There is nowhere to turn.

But Roger insists that it is about victimizing and blaming him, the good "father". He is one of the most blatant resistors in the child abuse scandal.

He is hated in LA. Period.

I suppose this means that people are approaching him personally to vent their anger at him. I hope they are spitting too.

If I saw him I would say something.

Another hypocrite hiding behind a "religion".

Labels: christist watch

OVER AND OUT

Labels: christist watch

UNACCEPTABLE WORKING CONDITIONS

Labels: christist watch, fun, gay fun

THE GOOD NEWS

The christers like to talk about the "good news". Well, look at this.

Non Believers on Rise in Congress

Granted this is only 10 people but it is also 10 people who are willing to be counted as "nones".

Based on my own experience of expedient christians, especially in the political arena, this is quite high.

I really don't care one way or another about who is and who is not a christian. Or who is or who is not an ardent religious of any kind.

I am more interested in how they act on it.

There is a wide range of beliefs that can easily be accommodated without making a noise about it.

Take me, for example. I believe in God, a Higher Power, but I don't have a religious bone in my body. They were all removed in my youth as a methodist and later on as I worked in various church's music program. A paid worker.

I have heard and seen more phony baloney in the pulpit and in the pews than most observers. Every Sunday and sometimes more for maybe ten years when I was really into it. Part time before that.

I played for them all regardless of creed, even the Unitarians who barely have one. Well, humanism, but that doesn't take too much mumbo jumbo to get it going.

The thing is that Congress is still out of whack with the population. Take a look at the imbalance in 2008.

There are way more "nones" in the public at large than in Congress.

But then again, I bet that it is similar in the actual practice of the politicians.

And, actually, I think the figure for "nones" is low. Many people when asked will lie toward having a belief than to say they do not.

OK.

It has been awhile since I wrote about this disparity and the tendency toward religious pandering. That is it for awhile.

Labels: christist watch

LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE WHACKO AND CRADLE OF IGNORANCE

Source=: National Geographic

Labels: christist watch, whack jobs

REVISIONISM!!!

You know, ol' Pat Robertson is getting to be liberal. I am amazed. But it does show that change is possible. I don't want to get all excited over this but there are other signs too.

Labels: christist watch

OLD RUGGED CROSS

This conflict has lasted a long time.

It is years since I wrote about it.

The Supreme Court wouldn't hear it and so it reverted to the lower courts who had approved a land exchange and there it is.

Basically unresolved.

It does not answer the questions raised by the people who don't want it there.

The cross has had a lot of action around it. Defaced and vandalized by some members of the opposition, it has been covered with a square plaque in recent years.

California Land Swap Ends Long Fight over Mojave Cross

Labels: christist watch

LIKE A RAINBOW

Jesus wants the rainbow back.

I didn't know that it was his or I wouldn't have voted it into the "gay agenda".

I never much liked the rainbow thing anyway. For awhile, Jesse Fucking Jackson had it going for him and I do think that he, at least, was/is a christian.

We actually took it from him because we were part of the rainbow coalition and, you know, "the gays" will definitely take any pretty thing they find in your place and sneak it out the door.

Incidentally, Palm Springs has a number of rainbows because of the little storms that come over the mountain in the morning but, most of all, we have them because we are gay, gay, gay.

I do get a little tired of these whiny jesus people who want everything back that we "stole" from them.

The rainbow is just part of it. We stole their sense of humor of which, now, they have none.

We stole the joy of sexuality from many of them. Obviously this goon is one of them. It is especially hurtful for the ones who are stuck in their closet and can't get OUT.

The other thing that we stole while we were taking the rainbow is their ideas of love and tolerance. He says so right here.

Reprinted in its entirety from The Maddow Blog, herewith.

Attention worldwide LGBT community: The religious right wants its rainbow symbol back. Now. And Dr. Ken Hutcherson, pastor and former linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, is volunteering for the job. To wit (with our own annotations):

"Don't we understand that if our symbols can be hijacked, so too can everything else we hold dear?1 The rainbow is only one example of many where the church has passively sat by and allowed others to redraw lines on the playing field.2 Linguistic redistricting is a pet peeve of mine, so don't even get me started about terms like "tolerance," "justice" and "love."3 Those fish will be fried at a later date. But for now, I have a simple proposition: Let's take the rainbow back.4

"Yes, let's take back the rainbow for God.5 Let the homosexual community find a different religious symbol to commandeer. If they were feeling congenial, perhaps the Muslims would let them borrow their crescent moon.6 In these desperate economic times, maybe the Wiccans would rent the pentagram to them.7 I don't really care. What I want is for the Christian community to wake up, wipe the sleep from their eyes, and realize that they are in a spiritual battle that isn't going away and has no demilitarized zones.8 The rainbow is a symbol, but its meaning points to the very character of God.9 So Christians …use this God-given symbol for His glory.10 Using it won't make you a homosexual.11 It won't make you a New Ager.12 It won't make leprechauns real.13 But it might allow you to get into conversations with people who need to meet the very One Who gave us His promise in the first place.14

1 This is a stickup-- hand over all your red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet and no one will get hurt.
2 Dr. Hutchison WAS a linebacker. He played football, a sport with no homoerotic overtones whatsoever.
3 People that say "don't get me started," are never not started.
4 FYI: "the rainbow" is stashed in a gay vault in San Francisco and requires an Ocean's 11 style team heist to get it back.
5 Because without the rainbow the Christian faith has no symbols or iconography to represent itself. None.
6 …and if they're feeling extra congenial, their table saw.
7 Wiccans don't rent out the pentagram. It's strictly a cash and carry operation.
8 It says right there in the field manual: seeing a few rainbow bumper stickers in the windows of a couple of bars on the other side of town constitutes a militarized zone.
9 i.e. God is not beige.
10 All you LGBT Christians that are nodding right now, stop it. He doesn't mean you. Even if that's exactly what you've been doing.
11 Years of laboratory testing on heterosexual rats have confirmed this
12 Ditto
13 Rainbows don't make gay leprechauns real either (always after me Lucky Charms…)
14 Conversations like, what, exactly? "You're right. Your use of the rainbow is so much more meaningful than ours. Can you help us pick out a new symbol that's less inclusive and more drenched with shame-y?"

Labels: christist watch, gay culture

MY STORY BUT I AM STILL HERE

Today's film, Fifty Gay Favorite #17, was

Prayers For Bobby (2009)

A christian mother obsesses about her son's homosexuality and tries to turn him to no avail.

She does, however, plant the seeds of hate and offers the curse of damnation in his head so, in fact, drives the son to an unhappy, guilt ridden early gay life and he commits suicide.

From here, we see her transformation of an activist for gay rights and the reconstruction of gay parents.

It is a very touchy theme, threatening to turn to soap before our eyes and, while it is a little wet, it does succeed in being a moving testament to acceptance and true love.

The events in this film occurred in the late 70s and early 80s but are as relevant today as then. To that extent it is timely.

I had a christian mother, full of hate. The old line about "love the sinner but hate the sin" holds little water for me. She never accepted who I was. Tore up my pictures as a kid because I told her that I was gay then. Different.

She knew it all the time and hated it. When it became true and I came out to her it became all about her.

I have never, ever had a suicidal thought and I didn't after that. But I did spend a significant part of my life trying to be what she wanted and, while I forgive her, I don't accept her actions. So "loving", so fucked up.

I wouldn't want to see it again but I did like it and happy to see it and cry again about the terrible waste of all young people who grow up under this kind of horrible silent or spoken accusation.

I had the love and support of my father. I found another Higher Power who loves me. I met wonderful people in my life. I got over any neurosis planted in me by the religious bastards who were all around me as a kid.

So the film carried a special resonance for me.

A 3 out of Netflix 5.

Labels: christist watch, films, gay films

WHERE'S ST. GEORGE WHEN WE NEED HIM?

Labels: christist watch, republican whack jobs

END ZONED

Americans can make a fad about anything and once that happens, a website is sure to follow.

I am fascinated with this.

My latest discovery is

TEBOWING

Football player, heavy christer, comes in toward the end of a game and performs miracles. Just like our lord and savior. Evidently. And in the spirit of the thing he drops to pray. The half kneel.

I know that you know all about this but I am writing for a few people who do not live in our christian country or, perhaps, as I, have no interest at all in the sport, or moreover, are repulsed by such behavior in public, reinforced at it is by his tiresome witnessing for the lord in post game interviews.

My interest is in the hilarious cult of "tebowing" in which people find the most amazing goddamned places to do the act and mostly, as far as I can tell, with a strong sense of irony and even mockery. To say nothing of irreligiosity.

Many are hilarious. All a lot of fun.

There are a shit load of them. I go to the site every day to keep up with the torrent of submissions.

Here is the man who started it all.

Labels: christist watch, fun, religion, sports