Category: Uncategorized

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Southern Baptist Convention supports churches cutting ties to Boy Scouts over gay scouts

The Southern Baptist Convention approved a resolution today opposing and expressing disappointment in the Boy Scouts of America’s recent decision to allow openly gay youth to participate in the organization.

While the resolution does not require individual churches within the convention to cut ties with any scout troops, it does express solidarity with churches and leaders who decide to do so, according to the AP.

In May, the BSA reversed its long-standing ban on “open or avowed homosexual” youth within its ranks, but continues to bar openly gay or lesbian adults from serving as leaders or volunteers with the organization.

(via Advocate)

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NFL Players Association announces gay pride t-shirts

The NFL Players Association has launched a line of gay pride shirts on their website.

All proceeds from the shirts will go to Athlete Ally, the anti-homophobia in sports organization founded by Hudson Taylor.

Via press release:

“I am extremely proud to be a part of this collaboration between Athlete Ally and the NFLPA’s One Team Shop to raise awareness both of Pride Month and the issue of tolerance and respect within the NFL itself,” said Chris Kluwe, punter for the Oakland Raiders. “As players, we are role models to a wide variety of people, and this is a great way to send a message of empathy to those who love and watch the game. Also, I’m pretty stoked that people can buy something with my number on it.”

“June is a special month for the LGBT community,” said Super Bowl Champion Brendon Ayanbadejo. “I am extremely excited that the NFLPA’s One Team Shop is adding its name to the list of ever-growing allies. The simple fact that football players believe in equality for every human being is going to make an impact on a lot of peoples’ lives.” Steve Gleason, a former NFL Player supporting this effort said, “It’s pretty simple for me, I believe all people are created equal, regardless of their sexuality. To promote respect and acceptance is an important role for NFL players and the NFLPA.”

The One Team Pride Shirts include the option to add the jersey number of the following players: Brendon Ayanbadejo, Connor Barwin, Scott Fujita, Steve Gleason, Chris Gocong, Chris Kluwe, Donte’ Stallworth, Terrell Suggs and Eric Winston.

Now, you KNOW I’m totally getting the Chris Kluwe shirt.

Head over to One Team Shop by clicking here to take a look.  Then BUY something 🙂

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One Million Moms doesn’t like Kraft Foods “Zesty Guy”

Well, I guess you could have seen this one coming from One Million Moms (who are really more like ‘less than 60K’):

Last week’s issue of People Magazine had the most disgusting ad on the inside front cover that we have ever seen Kraft produce. A full 2-page ad features a n*ked man lying on a picnic blanket with only a small portion of the blanket barely covering his g*nitals. It is easy to see what the ad is really selling. A person has to look closely to see the item the company is marketing because the salad dressing bottle is so small next to the male model, picnic basket and other food items. There is also a small Kraft logo in the upper corners with the words “Silverware Optional – Let’s Get Zesty.” The website getmezesty.com is listed in the bottom corner.

Kraft has gone too far and will push away loyal, conservative customers with this new ad campaign. Christians will not be able to buy Kraft dressings or any of their products until they clean up their advertising. The consumers they are attempting to attract – women and mothers – are the very ones they are driving away. Who will want Kraft products in their fridge or pantry if this vulgarity is what they represent? One Million Moms cannot get over the gall of this company. It is unnecessary for Kraft to use s*x to sell salad dressing!

I think the ad is cute and fun, personally.  I feel the need to get “zesty” already.

And by the way, if you click here you can send a Zestygram!  I made this one for my husband Michael and sent to him via Twitter.  Lots of options and fun for a diversion 🙂

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Tour de France to be targeted by anti-gay marriage protest

The anti-gay marriage activists are not going away.

Their new target?  The Tour de France.

The Local reports:

“From June 29th to July 21st, we will have an incredible global visibility  to show our fight against the law,” read a statement on a new Facebook page created to inspire protesters to line the 3,360-kilometre route.

And while the first stage of the race will get rolling on the island of Corsica, the remaining 20 stages will cover well near every corner of mainland France, offering protestors across the country the chance to snatch a bit of prime-time coverage.

Their Facebook page implored would-be demonstrators to send private messages with points on the route they would consider protesting at, giving the impression that the ‘Tour Pour Tous’ (Tour for all) will try to organize as wide a coverage of the famous event as possible.

The page also launched the hashtag #tourpourtous to prompt users on the social media site Twitter to rally to the protesters’ defence. By Wednesday, proponents and opponents alike had begun using the keyword to trade jibes.

Anti-gay activists have already targeted the French Open with a flaming protester.

(source)

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Texas: High school salutatorian comes out in graduation speech to friends, family

From KTEM.com:

During his senior year, Belton High School’s 2013 Salutatorian Mitch Anderson had a GPA of 112.2, and scored a perfect PSAT score in his junior year. He said when he found out he would be the senior class salutatorian, he immediately began thinking about what he would say to his graduating class. He decided to “come out” at his high school graduation in his salutatorian speech, a decision Anderson said “felt natural.”

The ceremony took place at the Bell County Expo, in Belton on Thursday, with the largest graduating class in Belton High School’s history. But Anderson said he was intimidated by the crowd.

“Once I got up there and stared talking, I felt completely fine,” Anderson said of Thursday’s night speech at the Bell County Expo. He said he told no one of his plans to come out during the speech.

In his speech, Anderson addressed his struggles with coming out and finding acceptance with who he is.

“I myself am guilty of self-doubt, relying on others to give my life definition,” he said in his speech, “But that time has passed, and I feel the moment has arrived for me to be publicly true to my personal identity. So now, I can say, I’m gay. It is both a significant portion of who I am and an inconsequential aspect. It’s as natural and effortless to me as breathing. I couldn’t change myself even if I wanted, and believe me, I have.

He said no one, not even his parents and close friends, knew he was gay prior to the speech. So far, the teenager said reaction has been positive.

“I’ve received so much support and kindness,” Anderson said of fellow classmates and others. “Knowing that [people] found the speech inspirational has been really amazing.”

As for what inspired him to come out, Anderson said pop culture icons such as Madonna, Lady Gaga and Star Trek star Zacharay Quinto all played a role in helping him feel confident about his identity.

“They are all about standing up for who you are, being different, being unique,” he said. “They’ve gotten strong positive reception for their [actions].”

Anderson said he was aware of some negative reaction directed towards the speech, mostly posted on various community Internet message boards. Some expressed that it was wrong for the student to use the opportunity to make the speech about himself. Anderson noted that Valedictorian Jacob deKeratry also spoke about his own personal experiences as a teenager.

“I didn’t make the speech all about me,” he said. “It’s about acceptance, about celebrating everyone.”

Read more at KTEM.com

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Imaginary Couples campaign to address homophobia

Pink News reports on a new campaign to address homophobia:

Two male French Olympic swimmers have posed in an intimate shot as an “imaginary couple”, as part of a campaign to tackle homophobia, which also features images of Eva Longoria and Lara Fabian. Florent Manaudou and Frédérick Bousquet, posed in the photo, taken by Olivier Ciappa, who also started the campaign.

The project is called “imaginary couples”, and includes shots of other models, featuring the caption: “A peaceful look on homosexuality”, and features the “couples” asleep in each other’s arms, or in intimate, happy situations.

More photos at the link.

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Disowned at 18 for being gay, singer wows America’s Got Talent

Jonathan Allen was kicked out of his house on his 18th birthday for being gay.

Unemployed, he decided to pursue his dream of singing by going on Americas Got Talent.

Then this happened…

Judge Howie Mandel: “Your own family disowned you, but with your talent, this show has become your family, and we’d like to say ‘welcome home’. We love you. We accept you. And we’re so proud that you came here.”

Judge Howard Stern: “I don’t know if your parents are watching tonight but I would like to say what a wonderful son you have.”

Grab a tissue…

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Talking about domestic violence on The Candi & Randy Show

Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on BlogTalkRadio

Join Candi and Randy today along with special guest, retired police officer John Bell, as they speak on domestic violence.

Domestic abuse is defined as behaviors use by one person in a relationship to control another. Candi recently experienced this violence first hand with someone renting a room in her home, and decided that it would be valuable to have a professional’s insight into how people can avoid violent situations and what can be done after.

A few statistics about domestic violence:

Number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq: 6,614; Number of women, in the same period, killed as the result of domestic violence in the US: 11,766

Number of people per minute who experience domestic violence in the U.S.: 24

Number of women in the U.S. who report domestic violence: 1 in 4

Number of men in the U.S. who report domestic violence: 1 in 7

Number of women who will experience domestic violence worldwide: 1 in 3