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.
Blogwhoring, chatting, relaxing, headline-sharing, you know the drill...
Relaxing and staying away from the keyboard is really, really hard for me. I've only put up a couple of posts this weekend, and spent a good deal of time unconscious. Last night I was on Facebook and in another window I was listening to Anita Baker videos to relax. Her album Rapture (1986) was her masterpiece. Seven years ago, I loaded it on my now-ancient MP3 player and that was what I listened to as I sat on a beautiful meditation point on The Big Island (Hawaii) all by myself.
Songs from Rapture were on our CD of wedding music five years ago. So I associate the soothing, smooth sounds of Anita Baker with peace, love and tranquility. It's no surprise that I turned to it last night when I was in pain, woozy and wanted to hear those healing songs. I'm not alone in loving the Queen of Quiet Storm. My FB page of links to a few of the videos brought quite chimes in of appreciation for Baker.
A couple of videos...
Below left, the song most people think of when they hear the name Anita Baker, Sweet Love. On the right, from a later album, 1994's Rhythm of Love, another favorite, Body and Soul.
What album do you turn to when you need to chill/get away from the world/heal?
I received an email from Mike Ritter, the graphic designer and illustrator at The Southern Voice, and he said:
Love the Blend! Saw you had a little brief about the Catholic Diocese of Maine's budget priorities and I thought you might enjoy a cartoon I did on that topic for SoVo a few weeks ago:
Well, when I clicked over, it was brilliant...so I asked and received permission to reprint it (the original page is here).
As you might recall, the Catholic Diocese of Maine "found" $100K (via Bishop Richard Malone) to put to work to repeal marriage equality in Maine, but apparently God's priority was to hate on the gays first and close more churches in the state.
I still don't have the energy to blog much for coffeehouse regulars to go live today; fibro is kicking booty still (love how my fingers cramp into a painful curl just when I need to type, bleh). Give special cheers to the hard-working Louise and Lurleen for wiping up the crumbs and perking smooth java over the weekend and on Monday, and java jolt thanks to Autumn and Alvin for the work at the espresso bar providing a strong Blend. Some tidbits from the mailbox:
* Schwarzenegger's Budget Cuts Force Closure of California AIDS Clearinghouse. That's the news from a press release from Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.
A casualty of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's draconian cuts in social service funding, the California AIDS Clearinghouse will close next week. The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, which operated the program for more than 15 years, received notification from the state Office of AIDS that all funding for it had been eliminated. The Clearinghouse employs seven people and serves hundreds of non-profit organizations in all of California's 61 health jurisdictions, including community clinics and HIV/AIDS organizations. Its mission is to develop and share culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials regarding HIV/AIDS and other STDs with community-based organizations throughout the state. Materials were produced in 14 languages to serve the diverse communities of California. The Clearinghouse also distributes more than 1.5 million condoms each year.
* Pro-equality ally and Virginia U.S. Congressional candidate Krystal Ball will be on the Randi Rhodes Show today at 4:15 PM ET. on your local station that carries Randi's show, or on XM Channel 165. You can also see my Netroots Nation interview with Krystal. You can donate to her campaign here.
* Harvey Milk is being inducted into the California Museum's California Hall of Fame, but the Governator has yet to act on a Harvey Milk Day bill (SB 572). Equality California calls on Schwarzeneggar to sign it this time around.
The Harvey Milk Day bill was originally introduced last year by Sen. Leno, but Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the measure at the time, claiming Harvey Milk was not well known enough beyond San Francisco. Since that time, however, Harvey Milk has become a focal point of national conversation following the release of the successful biographical film Milk, for which both actor Sean Penn and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black received an Academy Award. In March, Penn joined Equality California's campaign publicly advocating for the bill while Black testified before a Senate committee on the need to appropriately honor the civil rights leader. There are a few ways people can contact the Governor, who has asked for people to share their opinions to help him make up his mind:
- Tweet @schwarzenegger and ask him to pass the bill.
- Call 916-445-2841 and follow the prompts to express support for the Harvey Milk Day bill (SB 572). They won't have to speak to anyone; all they'll have to do is press buttons.
- Sign EQCA's petition at www.eqca.org/harveymilkday.
News links, blog whoring and chatterboxing appreciated...
Perhaps it is about the state of education in NC, or a reflection of the right-wing's obsession with naughty bits...you decide. Shown on the News & Observer's coverage of a teabagger/birth/health care fearmongerer crowd. From Dem Underground:
As a "moran" bonus in the background: "Where's the birth certificate?" OMG--when angry white people aren't being scary they sure are entertaining.
USAir got us home from Netroots Nation safely and on time yesterday. I am so tired, but I dragged myself into work at 6:30 AM. Have fun!
It's time to kick back, relax, surf the web and bring us some interesting links, stories, and do a little chatting and blogwhoring... The sad state of American mind can be seen in this Daily Kos-sponsored poll by Research 2000 (Jul 27, 2009 - Jul 30, 2009; margin of error 2%) that reveals the demo of the average birther is -- SURPRISE -- white Republican men living in the South. Special props to the 30% of Republicans and Southern know-nothings who checked off they were "not sure" that the President is an American citizen.
Feel free to chat, blogwhore and link share. I've been offline a lot, so I know I've missed plenty of stories out there. Blender BethCA66's handiwork here is most excellent. Anti-gay, barely sane DC Pastor Leroy Swailes gets the remix treatment to Run-DMC. In it he educates us on 4-legged homosex and bestiality as well as how sadism=Satanism.
'Christians Lack Understanding on Key Issues' Christians don't have a thorough knowledge of the Fairness Doctrine, hate-crimes legislation or the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), according to recent research by Wilson Research Strategies. CEO Chris Wilson said the data examined suggest that Christians don't fully understand the negative impact of these policy proposals on the ministries they support.
"The recent change in control of both the White House and Congress has reintroduced the possibility of the Fairness Doctrine being revived," he said. "Ministries would avoid any commentary that could be interpreted as relating to political or policy issues or risk action by the FEC. Stations would feel pressure to pro-actively drop some radio ministries in favor of music or left-leaning content.
Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberties Convention, finds it imperative for Christians to know the full impact of the current hate-crimes legislation, which can become law once both chambers reconcile differences between the two versions of the legislation they passed.
"It's going to have a very chilling effect on speech, religious speech," Land said. "There are people in other countries that have been arrested and sent to prison for explaining what Romans 1 says about homosexuality."
Of course they aren't talking about all Christians, mind you, but the people they consider "real" Christians, not you homo-loving fakers out there.
Open thread time -- blogwhoring, link-sharing and gabbing highly encouraged...
Here's the handiwork of a black pastor named Oen Dollins in Central Texas town of Gatesville (pop. 15,000). Rod 2.0:
The billboard, known in Gatesville as "The Sign", first made news earlier this week when a reader emailed photos to the Voice and added: "Hate is alive and well deep in the heart of Texas." KCEN-TV interviewed some residents and one black woman said she had no problem with the sign because "as a Black woman, because I have been through ...I know what it feels like and it’s totally different."
Dollins repeats this popular talking point by anti-gay black Christians: "No gays are having to ride on the back of the bus. No gays are being enslaved. No gays are being prosecuted [sic] in any way."
Chatting, blogwhoring and link-sharing highly encouraged...
I mentioned in my Walter Cronkite tribute thread that when I was a youngster he was the only public figure that I asked my mom if we could invite him over for dinner. I think I started asking around 5 or 6.
Here's the Q of the day:
When you were a kid, what public figure from your childhood years would you have wanted to have over for dinner? It can also be a fantasy figure like H.R. Pufnstuf, Tinkerbell, whatever.
Good morning, everyone. Really early morning, as in 5:15 AM. When this post goes live I will have been at work since 6:15 AM. ZZZzzzzzz. Need a hot cup of English Breakfast tea.
A few random headlines...
* Senate votes to expand federal hate crimes.. We heard that good news last night, but the open issue now is that Republicans will have the opportunity to changes to the hate crimes bill on Monday, though it will not affect its status as part of the must-pass defense bill. I'm sure we'll see ample fundie outcries today. If you find a few, post them in the comments.
Sanford, who once criticized other state officials for costly travel, charged the state more than $37,600 for one first-class and four business-class flights overseas since November 2005, expense records show. Other state employees flew in the back of the plane at a fraction of the price, according to the documents...His spokesman defended the governor's state travel as "very judicious."
* Speaking of straying politicians, in Mississippi, the wife of former U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering (need I mention he's a Republican at this point), has charged the social conservative pol with carrying on an affair with a former college friend while living in a building where several Christian lawmakers reside on C Street near the U.S. Capitol. Pickering doesn't deny it.
He cast himself as a defender of decency, particularly on television and the Internet, and was among House members urging then-President George W. Bush to declare 2008 "the National Year of the Bible."
The 45-year-old man used tire repair solvent to plug a hole in his airbed and left it overnight. But it blew up when he went to inflate it the next day. "A spark from the electric air pump ignited it," a fire brigade spokesman said. The blast pushed his living room wall into the building's stairwell and caused extensive damage to walls, windows and furniture.
You can find important news on Pam Spaulding's blog that you will not find in any of the other sites. I would love to be able to tap into her network and know where she gets her tips. She has uncovered many stories on the religious right, has excellent coverage of the Trangender Community and is the best on lesbian coverage of all the blogs. This well written blog, often with a cutting sense of humor, is crucial to read to be fully informed of what is happening in the LGBT community. Pam's House Blend is never boring and always informative. Pam has a take no prisoners approach to the enemies of the LGBT community and her powerful voice has broken new ground.
Chatting, blogwhoring and link-sharing highly encouraged...
Jim Burroway over at Box Turtle Bulletin has a howler from anti-gay extremist Scott Lively.
In an amateur video posted this week on YouTube, Scott Lively talked about his work in "re-Christianizing America," which is threatened by an "infrastructure collapse" brought on by that dreaded gay agenda:
Frankly, I see things simply disintegrating very rapidly and I believe that we're going to suffer some kind of infrastructure collapse in this society because of the failure of moral culture, and that Christians have a responsibility to continue to oppose this disintegration.".
So, does this mean roads, bridges, and tunnels will be destroyed by The Homosexual Agenda?! Better get some of those stimulus funds out there pronto.
Chatting, blogwhoring and link-sharing highly encouraged...
Here we go again with the "silencing religious speech" from the bible beaters about hate crimes legislation. Unfortunately for the fringe, this argument doesn't even make sense since existing hate crimes laws have not resulted in anyone religious cleric going to the pokey for screeching homophobic rants from the pulpit. {Citizenlink):
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on legislation Thursday that could pave the way for religious persecution.
The "hate-crimes" bill, being considered as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, would create a new class of crimes based on a victim's "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity." And, pastors who preach against homosexuality could end up prosecuted if they are found to have "induced" a hate-crime against a self-identified homosexual by preaching from the Bible.
This is an out-and-out lie they repeat over and over. Focus on Your Family's Ashley Horne bleats:
"Gay activists have and will continue to use these kinds of laws to silence Christians who speak publicly about God's design for human sexuality - and make them pay if they stand up for their beliefs," she said.
If these bigots want to be intellectually honest about this, they should call for a repeal of hate crimes laws altogether.
Chatting, blogwhoring and link-sharing highly encouraged...
I'm hitting the hay early...it must be hormones...right Mr. Liddy?
Today Joe Sudbay was up on Capitol Hill and he shot some video of Judy Shepard discussing the hate crimes bill.
First, the Hate Crimes bill will be on the Senate floor this week as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill. That's the same vehicle to which hate crimes was attached in September of 2007, when it broke a filibuster by receiving 60 votes. There will probably be another filibuster attempt, meaning we'll need 60 votes again -- but there should be even more yes-votes this time. DoD authorization is a must-pass bill, which is why Hate Crimes is being added to it.
Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, appeared with Majority Leader Harry Reid at a press briefing in the Capitol this afternoon to push for passage of the bill. She's been working on it for years. I had never met Judy before, but I really felt like I was in the presence of a hero.
One of the most controversial and successful figures of late 20th century politics wants to expand his brand to the 21st.
Ralph Reed believes conservative voters of faith need a Christian Coalition 2.0. And the man once dubbed the "right hand of God" by Time magazine is returning to the arena where he had his greatest success to try and make it so.
"This is not going to be your daddy's Christian Coalition. It has to be younger, hipper, less strident, more inclusive and it has to harness the 21st century that will enable us to win in the future. Even though I've been doing other things, this is kind of like Steve Jobs returning to Apple."
I should point out that he phrased his nifty spin on diversity a bit more explicitly to US News and World Report::
"It's got to be more brown, more black, more female, and younger. It's critical that we open the door wide and let them know if they share our values and believe in the principles of faith and marriage and family, they're welcome."
I've been under the weather big time since last night (fibro flare), so there won't be content from me today that wasn't already in the queue. The good news is that a lot of regulars in the coffeehouse are tracking news, so share links and developments in the comments.
There were lots of newsworthy tidbits and things in the Blend mailbag, more than I can get to, actually. A few:
Reader Bobbi Beavers alerts us that the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Maine will provide written testimony today in support of LD 1020, to be read by an associate at the hearing.
If we, as Mainers, believe that faithful, lifelong monogamous relationships are among the building blocks of a healthy and stable society, then it is in our interest to extend the rights and obligations of civil marriage to all Maine citizens. To deny those rights to certain persons on the basis of sexual orientation is to create two classes of citizens and to deny one group what we believe is best for them and for society." The Rt. Rev. Stephen T Lane
* The San Francisco Chronicle has an article on marriage equality advocates' plan to put a measure on the ballot should the California Supreme Court uphold Prop 8.
* Friend of the Blend Pam Bennett has filed to become a candidate for Aurora City (CO) Council At-Large. If elected, she would be the first transperson to serve there.
* A homophobic ad by Buzzfree Prom has been pulled. Lisa Derrick has the update and the original post on this "From Prom King to Queen..." garbage.
Just a weekender open thread...I turned it into a Q of the day after coming across some interesting NC legislation in the queue.
It seems like we've had days and days of gray skies, downpours and generally bad weather. While this is great for our reservoirs (drought was terrible in NC last year), it's not fun for outdoor activities.
It's a beautiful day here in Durham, about 65 degrees, slight breeze, blue skies, no humidity. This is the short respite before 1) the clouds of nasty yellow pine pollen that clog up everything, and 2) the subsequent jump in temperature to 90 degrees and 90% humidity.
Today, I took Casey and Chloe to Pet Ritz/The Pet Resort in RTP for its open house (they got a free nail trim), fueled up the car, then we went for a walk, did some training, and they vegetated in the backyard where I shot this short video.
If the court, including magistrates as authorized under G.S. 50B-2(c1), finds that an act of domestic violence has occurred, the court shall grant a protective order restraining the defendant from further acts of domestic violence. A protective order may include any of the following types of relief:
(14) Provide for the care, custody, and control of any animal owned, possessed, kept, or held as a pet by either party or minor child residing in the household.
(15) Direct a party to refrain from the cruel treatment or abuse of an animal owned, possessed, kept, or held as a pet."
Q of the day: does your state have such a law on the books?
Proceedings can be seen on The California Channel starting at 9AM PT/12 PM ET. There may be connection problems because of the high traffic. Feeds are also located at Yes! on Equality's web site and at SFist. If folks know other ways to view or hear the audio of the hearing online, please leave notes in the comments.
You can gab in real time in the Blend Chat Room, which will appear in the banner around noon ET. See the multimedia chat features by joining PHB on Chatroll.
Note from Autumn: The attorney in this diary's photo is NCLR's Shannon Minter. He's a female-to-male trans person -- a transman. I point this out to remind people that trans people work on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community issues, such as marriage equality, and often do so in the front of the room. Shannon Minter is a prime example of LGBT community members working as one community on LGBT community issues.
The image below was sent in yesterday by Blender Kyle in Nashville, who said:
I read your blog a lot, and you always use "fundies" to describe fundamentalists. Every time I read that, I can't help but think of this image a friend sent to me years and years ago. It has been lounging around my folders, and I thought I'd share it with you with some Valentine's Day love. I die with laughter when I think about it because fundies are ridiculous enough as it is; imagine them in a pair of these.
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! Pour a Mimosa for yourself at the coffeehouse holiday buffet...
It's an open thread where you can gab about anything -- holiday travels and festivities, pets, Rick Warren, a roundup of outrageous fundie news headlines, whatever is on your minds if you're surfing to the Blend on Christmas day.
As you can see by the photo, I was actually crazy enough to get post for the camera as Santa's elf a while back. Well, I guess I'm short enough (5'3") to feel like an elf or hobbit next to a lot of people -- when I lived in NYC, there was nothing like getting stuck in a crowded subway car lodged under someone's armpit, particularly in the summer, bleh.
* Pro-equality ally and Virginia U.S. Congressional candidate Krystal Ball will be on the Randi Rhodes Show today at 4:15 PM ET. 
Have to lighten the mood around the coffeehouse after the serious 
Open thread time -- blogwhoring, link-sharing and gabbing highly encouraged...
Good morning, everyone. Really early morning, as in 5:15 AM. When this post goes live I will have been at work since 6:15 AM. ZZZzzzzzz. Need a hot cup of English Breakfast tea.
* Gay activist and former Clinton aide David Mixner rates the Blend as on of his 
Shannon Minter during the proceedings today.
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! Pour a Mimosa for yourself at the coffeehouse holiday buffet...
