Queer Visalia - A local gay blog

Daddy D must be grumbling in his oatmeal over this, from his hometown newspaper.

Group’s political influence is waning, scholars say
June 29, 2008 - 1:35AM
By MARK BARNA

THE GAZETTE

On Tuesday, James Dobson of Focus on the Family railed against Sen. Barack Obama for distorting the Bible and trying to govern by the “lowest common denominator of morality.”

But if he was trying to rally his base of Christian evangelists to vote against Obama, he might need a lot more than a censorious radio address.

Evangelicals got credit for helping put George W. Bush in the White House, but religious and political scholars say they won’t have nearly as much influence in this year’s presidential race. The reasons, they say, are varied:

Oh, joy of joys! Rest here.

The Onion ran this 100 short months ago. What a hoot!

February 25, 2004 | Issue 40-08

BOSTON—Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled 5-2 Monday in favor of full, equal, and mandatory gay marriages for all citizens. The order nullifies all pre-existing heterosexual marriages and lays the groundwork for the 2.4 million compulsory same-sex marriages that will take place in the state by May 15.

“As we are all aware, it’s simply not possible for gay marriage and heterosexual marriage to co-exist,” Massachusetts Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall said. “Our ruling in November was just the first step toward creating an all-gay Massachusetts.”

Marshall added: “Since the allowance of gay marriage undermines heterosexual unions, we decided to work a few steps ahead and strike down opposite-sex unions altogether.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Well gang, we know that there are a lot of you out there in QueerLand so I am asking everyone that can, please reply.  And if you feel better replying privately, email me at michaelcrilly@sbcglobal.net .

I am writing to ask what kind of topics that you all would like us to blog about?  Is there a particular subject?  We have a lot that we normally blog about on here but sometimes change is a good thing too.  I don’t think that I am the only blogger on here who looks for various topics, so this would give all the bloggers new ideas, too.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Michael

Don’t miss The Onion’s gay pride edition.

THE WEEKEND IS COMING!  AND IT’S SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE WEEKEND!  WOO HOO!

See you in “The City”!

This, from the (gasp!) Orange County Register.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Editorial: Marriage shouldn’t be government’s concern

But since it is, there’s no reason not to extend the recognition to same-sex couples

An Orange County Register editorial

Perhaps because leaders on both sides of the issue urged supporters to avoid undue disruption, the first few days of legal same-sex marriages in California went reasonably smoothly. An expensive and potentially acrimonious political tussle may be brewing behind the scenes, but both the celebrations and protests so far have been relatively low-key.

Catch the rest here.

I found this at PageOneQ.

by Nick Langewis

That organic smoothie can be tough to swallow when it’s choking your civil rights at the ballot box.

Alex Blaze, Managing Editor of The Bilerico Project, reported that a major owner of Bolthouse Farms, an organic juicer, has put $100,000 behind Initiative 07-0068, also known as the “California Marriage Protection Act,” which calls on voters to undo marriage rights for same-sex couples that were affirmed by the California Supreme Court on May 15.

…

While a businessman can use his money to attack your rights, says blogger and Bilerico Project founder Bil Browning, an informed consumer can speak just as loudly by redirecting his hard-earned money. Browning’s call to action has also been picked up by the Huffington Post, Pam’s House Blend, Daily Kos, and Barack Obama’s campaign website.

…

Shop wisely, Queers.

This is from NPR, so it’s (obviously) audio-only. Definitely worth a listen. (Hat tip: Ron)

Gay Marriage?!?!

I have had several of my “friends” ask me if I plan to get married now that it is legal? I tell them that I am glad that now I have the choice to get married…

The interesting part is when these “friends” say “I support your right to marry, but I don’t agree with your lifestyle because of my religious beliefs.”  So of course I must ask the question “should it be taken to a vote where do you stand?” The response is ”Well I have to be true to my beliefs and vote my moral conscience…against gay marriage.” 

So to all who oppose my right to marry the person I Love, voting is your voice and it does matter. If you support me then don’t vote to take my rights away.”

What happened to the separation of church and state? I don’t want to wed in your church or change your beliefs, I want the state of California to acknowledge my human and civil rights.  After all I pay my taxes!

“that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression.” ~Thomas Jefferson