"If you're gay, lesbian, or bisexual, would you sacrifice for your trans neighbors and siblings? If you're trans, would you sacrifice for your gay, lesbian, or bisexual neighbors and siblings? It's something worth knowing about yourself and those around you." --Autumn Sandeen, 4/19/2010, the night before GetEQUAL's DADT repeal protest at the White House
Public Calendar
Press/media, organizations, and individuals send your time-based event info to: calendar@phblend.net
The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend: "a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."
He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior."
(CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)
Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).
"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008
Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality heartily endorses the Blend, calling Pam:
A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist." (Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)
"A nutty lesbian blogger." (MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)
Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush
who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
Microsoft had their annual shareholders meeting the other day. As anticipated, His Royal Homobigot, The Reverend Ken Hutcherson was there to "put the fear of god" into Microsoft for not hating on the gays. His proposal got 4.59% of the vote, and was not approved.
The language of the wacky proposal and the official transcript of Hutcherson's defense of it before the shareholders are below the fold. You can listen to his presentation by clicking on "Webcast" under the heading Recent Events, Microsoft Annual Meeting of Shareholders found here. Hutcherson is introduced 16:00 minutes in. Funny, but I don't hear anything remotely "fear of god" in there. More like, I hear in his voice a guy who knows he's going to fail mightily. But that's our Ken.
Also, check out the bio of the guy who actually penned the proposal for Hutcherson. It's at the very bottom of the diary.
Final item of business to come before the meeting is Shareholder Proposal Number 3. The shareholder proposal and its supporting statement are set forth in the company's proxy statement, and the secretary will read the resolution.
BRAD SMITH: Resolved, to list the recipients of corporate charitable contributions of $5,000 or more on the company's Web site.
CHRIS LIDDELL: This proposal has been submitted by Mr. Thomas Strobhar. The company recognizes Mr. Strobhar's representative, Ken Hutcherson for a period of three minutes.
KEN HUTCHERSON: Thank you. Appreciate the opportunity to speak towards this.
We believe that there is an opportunity to correct a process that this company is, should I say, not being very open-minded to who we support, why we support because we are supporting the issue that we believe, especially as an African-American, that there are problems in where you are sending your charitable gifts towards the homosexual community. I do not believe our company would ever support a group of people that is very prejudicial in their views, that is very intolerant in their views, that is very hateful in their views.
And I think that you gentlemen, and the rest of the stockholders, if you watch television, have seen the example of many of the homosexual groups and activists that this company is putting millions of dollars in supporting. And I don't think this company and the stockholders, and myself, is pretty excited about a group of individuals that would run around and call the African-American community, especially, 70 percent of the traditional Black church that voted, and helped pass Proposition 8, have been called the N-word on national television. This company is saying that we will continue to support groups like that.
They have attacked groups, you've seen it on television if you have a television, if you watch the news at all, what has taken place towards the African-American church, what has happened to evangelical churches, that have stood and just voted, and exercised their freedom in voting. And they have been attacked by these groups. One old lady was taken, and a cross was taken out of her hand, stomped, and she was pushed around. One woman had her bible taken out of her hand, and was hit across the head and knocked down. And if it was a white supremacy group that was doing exactly the same thing, this company would be the first to stand up and deny that we're going to support any group that was doing such things.
And yet, still, I'm asking this company to make sure we vote down putting this kind of money, millions of dollars, in a group that is not good for the family; millions of dollars in a group that has proven intolerance; millions of dollars in a group that has proven that they do not like anyone that does not think the way they do; and I think this company has a right and a responsibility not to put millions of dollars in an intolerant, hateful group such as this. That is why we have this resolution, that is why we would like for the stockholders to vote it down, and the board not to support this group.
Thank you.
CHRIS LIDDELL: Thank you, Mr. Hutcherson.
The board recommends a vote against this proposal for the reasons set forth in the company's proxy statement.
The Proposal and Microsoft's Recommendations to its Shareholders, from the 2008 Proxy statement:
Mr. Thomas Strobhar, 2121 Upper Bellbrook Road, Xenia, Ohio 45385, has notified the Company that he intends to submit the following proposal at this year's Annual Meeting:
Whereas, charitable contributions should enhance the image of our company in the eyes of the public.
Whereas, making known the recipients of our company's charitable gifts to as many people as possible should promote the company's interests.
Resolved, it is requested that our company list the recipients of corporate charitable contributions of $5,000 or more on the company website.
Supporting Statement
The more people know of our support of philanthropic activity the better it is for our company. For example, if we should decide to give money to the American Cancer Society we might garner good will from the millions of people touched by cancer. Similarly, should we decide to give money to Planned Parenthood, the nations largest abortion performing organization, we might be expected to win sympathetic praise from many who support the choice of abortion. Possible contributions to organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation or other organizations that focus on the interest of people who choose to define themselves by their interest in homosexual sex, would likely engender positive feelings among potentially millions of people who enjoy engaging in sex with members of their own sex or simply those who support same sex marriage. If we gave money to the Boy Scouts of America we might expect the plaudits of potentially millions of their past members, even though they refuse to allow homosexuals to be scout leaders. Contributions to the American Heart Association or a myriad number of other worthwhile cultural and educations charities could be a source of ongoing public approval. Proper disclosure of charitable contributions would cost us little and should only serve to enhance our corporate image. For these reason and others we urge your support for the above resolution.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of common stock cast in person or by proxy at the meeting is required for approval of the proposal.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST this proposal for the following reasons:
Microsoft provides a wealth of information on our citizenship programs and charitable contributions. As a result, this proposal would not add any meaningful value for shareholders in the context of the extensive information that is already available.
In addition to employee contributions in fiscal year 2008, Microsoft directly donated $122 million in cash and $376 million in software to nonprofits worldwide. Since 1983, Microsoft and its employees have given more than $3.4 billion in cash, services, and software to nonprofits around the world through localized, company-sponsored giving and volunteer campaigns. Our programs have won numerous awards and recognition in the U.S. and worldwide from a variety of organizations, including the Red Cross, the United Way, and the Points of Light Institute.
Our corporate citizenship Web site, www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship, contains extensive information about our charitable programs including:
The Citizenship @ Microsoft annual report
The Unlimited Potential campaign, our umbrella for a number of programs aiming to enhance worldwide access to technology. For example, many specific grantees of our Unlimited Potential Community Technology Skills Program are identified.
A list of our strategic partners such as Tech Soup who support NGOs by building their information technology capacity, in part through software we donate
Employee giving and volunteer programs including company matching of cash and volunteer time contributions
Our specific efforts using technology and other resources for relief of natural disasters and other humanitarian crises
We also detail our activities in numerous surveys by third parties such as the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, and other publications.
As the Citizenship @ Microsoft report details, Microsoft's priorities in its citizenship efforts are transforming education, enabling jobs and opportunities, encouraging local innovation and industry collaboration, maintaining a safe and secure computing ecosystem, and maintaining high standards of accountability in our business practices. Microsoft's worldwide citizenship efforts are far more broad and diverse than a simple list of cash donations could convey. Reducing our citizenship practices to a list of donations would distort and oversimplify our efforts, and could in fact be counterproductive by providing opportunities for distraction by groups pursuing narrow agendas.
Because the information requested by the proposal would provide little or no incremental benefit to our shareholders and other stakeholders, the Board of Directors recommends a vote against the resolution.
By the way, check out Hutcherson's associate Thomas Strobhar, the apparent brains behind the bigotry. He styles himself the investment guru for haters and forced-birthers. A real piece of work. I wonder how much he soaked Hutcherson for penning the proposal?
For over twenty five years, Thomas Strobhar has worked reliably to meet the financial needs of the people he serves. Moreover, he has integrated moral screening criteria into his investment strategy in a way that few advisors have attempted.
...His advocacy on behalf of morally responsible investing has earned Thomas the reputation as one of the best known investment professionals in his field. He has stood up to fight corporate involvement in pornography, abortion, and gay marriage by speaking at corporate meetings such as Pfizer, Merck, Target, Johnson & Johnson, Ford, General Mills, Berkshire Hathaway, American Express, JP Morgan Chase, At&T, and Microsoft.
...Thomas Strobhar also provides stock market screening information to a number of large professional organizations. This information helps Catholic dioceses and religious orders comply with the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops' Investment Guidelines. This information has been helpful in avoiding companies involved in immoral business pursuits especially pornography and abortion. Evangelical groups have been especially appreciative where this applies to gambling and corporations that support gay marriage.
Thomas Strobhar's twenty five years of investing experience have proven it is a myth to think that investment results have to suffer because of an integration of moral standards. He is guided by the familiar admonitions, "what does it profit a man to..." and "blessed is he who hungers and thirsts for righteousness for they..." It is for many of the above reasons that individuals and institutions such as Human Life International trust Thomas Strobhar to invest their funds wisely.
