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| Via Occupy Democrat |
Jon Stewart on the “hypocrisy of controversy” in the NFL
Congressman Steve Fincher votes to cut hunger subsidies but pockets $3.4 million from farm bill
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| Via Occupy Democrat |
Bryan Fischer could not “choose” to have sex with a man
Bryan Fischer, of the anti-gay hate group American Family Association, has long shared that he does not believe gays and lesbians are born gay. That their sexual behavior is by choice. That they can CHOOSE to have same-sex relations.
But when caller to his radio show asked if Fischer could have sex with a man (it’s a “choice” you know…) Fischer was a little dumbfounded because he simply couldn’t “choose” to do the “deed” with a man:
Caller: Could you have sex with a man?
Fischer: I’m sorry?
Caller: Could you have sex with a man?
Fischer: Would I?
Caller: Could you?
Fischer: No.
Caller: I thought it was a choice?
Fischer: Sure it is, I’m just saying it’s emotionally, morally, mentally impossible for me—
Caller: But you just told me that you couldn’t do it?
Fischer: Yeah, I couldn’t do it, there was no way; there is nothing in me that would let me do that.
Caller: OK. How do you think I feel about women?
Fischer: I don’t know. How do you feel about women?
Caller: There ain’t no way.
So when gays and lesbians don’t choose to have sex with someone of the opposite sex, it’s their own choice and a sin. When Bryan Fischer can’t choose to have sex with a man, it’s just impossible.
But remember – Fischer says it’s all a choice…
(via Right Wing Watch)
Values Voter Summit 2013: “Homosexuality is now dividing us”
At the 2013 Values Voter Summit, Star Parker says “enemies of God” are using homosexuality to undermine marriage, liberals want conservatives to smoke pot and take off their clothes.
Note that she starts with the idea that gay people are “forcing” her to be, think, or act in a way she doesn’t feel good about, and how that’s a violation of her rights – but then proceeds with her idea of forcing gay people to be, think, or act in a way that’s based purely on what makes HER comfortable.
In other words, “do as I say, not as I do.”
Parker also notes that “all sexual behavior is adult behavior, so keep it private.” But SHE’S the one bringing up homosexuality at a public event…?
Typical.
Anti-gay Oregon bakers display a bit of “pick & choose” hypocrisy
Remember the two bakeries in Oregon who declined to make wedding cakes for two same-sex weddings due to their deeply held religious beliefs (Gresham’s Sweet Cakes by Melissa, Hood Rivers’ Fleur Cakes)? And by doing so got in trouble for violating an Oregon statute that makes it illegal for businesses to turn away customers based on race, religion or sexual orientation?
Well… Portland’s Williamette Week reporters wanted to see what other “deeply held religious beliefs” would cause the bakers to turn away business. As it turns out, not many.
The reporters made undercover inquiries asking for price quotes on some other “celebrations” that Christians may frown upon (divorces, unmarried parents, stem-cell research, pagan solstice parties…). Here are a couple of the responses.
Baby Out of Wedlock
WW Asks – I’m shopping around for a nice baby shower cake for my friend. It’s her second baby with her boyfriend so I’m not looking for anything too big or fancy—probably enough to serve 15 to 20 people.
Sweet Cake says – “We have a sheet cake that will feed 30, or a 10-inch cake that would feed 30 people. The 10-inch cake is $50 and the sheet cake is $52. Or we have an 8-inch cake that would feed 15 for $40.”
Fleur says – Prices vary based on decoration and frosting, but a basic cake is $3 per serving.
Divorce Party
WW Asks – My friend is getting divorced and we’d like to throw her a little party to mark the start of her new life. Do you ever write messages on those—we’d want it to say “congratulations!”—and how much would it be for a cake that could serve about eight people?
Sweet Cake says – “A 10-inch is $29.99. That should probably do it….We can definitely do something like that.”
Fleur says – “The price for a 10-inch cheesecake is $36 and up. So it’ll be between $36 and $45, but you’re going to have to call in advance because my schedule for June and July is very busy.”
WWeek adds: “We later contacted both bakeries to ask about these inconsistencies. Regentin of Fluer Cakes declined to comment beyond asking whether she had been taped (she had not). Sweet Cakes owners Melissa and Aaron Klein were upset that we ‘would even try to entrap a business’ and contacted conservative talk-show host Lars Larson.”
(via Instinct)
Anti-gay voices’ deafening silence on violent LGBT attacks
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| Pic via Memeographs. Click pic to enlarge |
After last year’s shooting at Family Research Council, many prominent voices in the LGBT community condemned the senseless attack.
However, I have been pondering the deafening silence of the Tony Perkins’ (Family Research Council) and Brian Browns’ (National Organization for Marriage) of the world regarding the multiple violent attacks on the gay community in NYC this month.
Question: does silence equal consent?
UPDATE: Interestingly, the following statement appeared on the NOM Blog this afternoon, hours after my original post above.
“We condemn in the strongest possible way the murder of a gay man in New York by a killer who apparently hurled anti-gay insults at him moments before the killing. This senseless act cannot be condoned in America or anywhere, and we urge that the perpetrator be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Our heart goes out to the family of the victim, and we hold them in our prayers. While this killing appears to have no connection to the current debate about redefining marriage, there is no room for violence toward any American — whether they support traditional marriage or not. No person should be subjected to violence because they are gay or lesbian or because they believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. There is no place for violence, period.” – Brian Brown
UPDATE 2: This statement is now on the Family Research Council website.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement regarding the charges filed in the Mark Carson murder case in New York City: “We denounce any and all acts of unprovoked violence. No American should be the target of violence – period. We hope and trust that justice will be served in that the perpetrator of this senseless act of violence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Perkins said.
From the GOP: “Billionaires Row Hypocrisy”
SRSLY?
Pot, meet kettle.
My advice to the GOP: get a candidate and a message you can sell, not buy.
Oh, and how many billionaires fund-raising events did Mittens attend? And he STILL lost…
Swing and miss, GOP. Swing and miss.
Irony of the day: GOP Convention theme “We Built This”
Famously anti-gay pastor guilty of obscenity charges
Infamous anti-gay New Orleans Pastor Grant Storms, who has held anti-gay “purity” parades through the French Quarter during Southern Decadence, was convicted yesterday of public masturbation near a children’s playground.
From NOLA.com: Judge Ross LaDart promptly found Storms guilty of the single count of obscenity. He sentenced Storms to three years of probation, citing no evidence of a criminal history.
LaDart also ordered Storms to be evaluated, apparently psychologically. The judge noted that in Storms’ confession, he admitted that Feb. 25, 2011, the day he was arrested, was the third time that week that he masturbated in Lafreniere Park.
“Lafreniere Park is a public place,” LaDart said in announcing the verdict. “Lafreniere Park is a place that was chosen by this defendant to engage in a history of masturbation.”
Storms declined to testify. His attorneys, Brett Emmanuel and Donald Cashio, did not overtly deny their client masturbated in the park but argued he never exposed his penis. The exposure was a necessary element of the obscenity charge.
In his confession, Storms told Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Kevin Balser he had taken a break from his grass cutting business to sip a beer in the park, where he said he became “horny.” He said he put his hands into his underwear, but he never exposed himself.
Indiana: First Baptist Church Pastor Jack Schaap fired for alleged adulterous affair with teenaged girl
So, remembering that most of the rhetoric offered on why gays and lesbians shouldn’t have equal marriage rights hinges on what’s in the bible, here are a few things that are disconcerting about what plays as the “religious right” these days.
Check out this pastor of a Baptist church in Indiana – who has some choice things to say about the biblical view of men and women – went on to do.
From JoeMyGod: Indiana’s First Baptist Church, which is one of the twenty largest megachurches in the nation, has fired head Pastor Jack Schaap for an adulterous affair with the teenaged girl. The church has issued a press release:
“At this time, we deeply regret the need to announce that First Baptist Church has dismissed our pastor, Dr. Jack Schaap, due to a sin that has caused him to forfeit his right to be our pastor. First Baptist Church is in full cooperation with our local authorities in their investigation of this matter. Our church grieves over the need to take this action and the impact it will have on our people.”
The Christian Post reports that Schaap may be arrested:
“Lake County Sheriff John Buncich shared with local publication the Times of North West Indiana that a criminal investigation had been launched into the church along with Hyles-Anderson College, although he declined to comment on what specifically they were looking into. “They met with us. They did the right thing,” Buncich said of church officials. “They have cooperated fully.” A detective involved in the investigation also has reportedly said that there are indeed criminal charges being made, since if the case solely concerned adultery with another woman, the police would not have to get involved.”
Friendly Atheist points out that Schaap has written a dating advice book for young Christian girls:
“By all means, keep your weight down to the proper level. Hundreds upon hundreds of times I have had young men tell me that they would date a particular girl in whom they were interested if only she would lose a few pounds. Fix your hair every day. Go to the library, study books on hair care and find new ways to wear your hair. Don’t be afraid to wear modest amounts of make-up. But, be very careful about using excessive eye shadow. Many guys are turned off by dark or colored eye shadow. Don’t be trendy. One of my best friends in college nearly broke up with his future wife because she was the first to wear colored stockings among her peers.”
Check out the video above where the Pastor makes clear how he feels about men and women. Nothing out of context here. It goes on for several minutes.
Last issue I’ll raise here: recently the First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, refused to allow an African American couple to marry in their church. What is up with the Baptist church these days? I don’t know, but things don’t seem to be very “biblical” or “Christ-like”lately.