KnowThyNeighbor.org

Can There Be Equality Without Transgender People?

In The Fight For Equality, Awareness Is Not Just A Challenge For the Straight World But It Essential For the Gay Community As Well

As we approach the Sixth Anniversary of Legalized Same-Sex Marriages in Massachusetts and the first in the nation on May 17th, I find myself in a bit of an ethical dilemma.  For 5 Years, my husband, Alexander Westerhoff and I have stood on the steps of the Massachusetts State House with an 8 foot sign which reads, "Thank You Massachusetts For (fill in) Years of Equality."  We have publicly committed to do this for the rest of our lives as a commemoration of not only our own marriage (May 17, 2004 officiated by Rev. Peter J. Gomes in Manchester-by-the-Sea) but as a Thank You to our Commonwealth including our Legislators. And I can tell you, we usually stand for at least 10 hours, once in the pouring rain.

But today, one day before our Anniversary, I woke up.  Yes, marriage equality is a very important aspect of what the gay community is fighting for--by virtue of our relationships, we will be recognized as human beings and given the protections of American citizenship (which is our birthright).  And yes, Massachusetts was the leader in terms of organization, groundwork, strategies, court challenges, national groups, religious groups, legislators, and most of all, the people of our Commonwealth, gay and straight who came together to make this happen.  

But can there be Equality (of course on a state level) when Transgender People are still not protected in Massachusetts?  When they still can be fired, thrown out of their rental housing or worse...And lately all this "Bathroom Bill" rhetoric.  The LGBT Leadership calls that reference derogatory and unacceptable, the Anti-Gays such as Kris Mineau and NOM who are whispering in the GOP's Charlie Baker's ear calling it "a threat to public restroom safety."  KnowThyNeighbor embraces this bill and language and asks the GOP, "Where do you expect transgender people to pee?" and asks the Democrat Super Majority in the MA Legislature, "What the heck is your problem in getting this bill passed?"  Three years STILL no result. 

I felt so sure of my yearly statement, my yearly commitment to stand all day on May 17th Thanking Massachusetts for Equality...but now I feel a bit elitist, a bit "non-inclusive,"  and a whole lot incomplete.  Becoming more aware however, which is a good thing.  And to answer that question earlier posed, "Can we have Equality in Massachusetts without Transgender People?"  Of course not.

This is what I will reflect on tomorrow when I celebrate my anniversary...  

Tom Lang

Director of KnowThyNeighbor 

Brooklyn Jury Finds Beating Death "Not a Hate Crime"

You may remember in December 2008 when there were reports on an attack in New York City that left one brother dead from his skull being cracked open when it was hit with a baseball bat by one of two men who yelled racial and homophobic slurs prior to the attack. Somehow, a Brooklyn jury has found this to be neither a murder nor a hate crime. We have come so far in some ways, yet sadly we still have a long way to go. The saddest thing I see in this whole case is that these were brothers, not lovers, the fact that one was holding the other helping him stand as they walked home was the reason they were attacked. Our society is still so virulently anti-gay that not only can a crime like this be committed, it can still go unpunished.

By DEEPTI HAJELA (AP) – 17 hours ago

NEW YORK — A man who smashed a beer bottle over the head of an Ecuadorean immigrant was convicted Thursday of manslaughter, but a jury decided he did not commit a hate crime.

Hakim Scott faces 25 years in prison on the manslaughter charge when he is sentenced June 9. The state Supreme Court jury in Brooklyn acquitted him of murder and hate crime counts. A second jury was deliberating charges for his co-defendant, Keith Phoenix.

Scott faced steeper prison time had he been convicted of hate crimes in the death of Jose Sucuzhanay in December 2008.

"For Hakim Scott, this was never about hate or prejudice and that's exactly what the jury came back with," said his attorney Craig Newman. He believed there would be an appeal.

Prosecutors and the Sucuzhanay family did not comment. Jorge Lopez Amaya, Consul General of Ecuador, said he would wait to speak until the second verdict, but praised the work of the prosecutors.

Scott was accused of breaking the bottle over the head of Sucuzhanay as he walked arm-and-arm with his brother, Romel, on a cold night in Brooklyn. The brothers were returning home from a bar; Jose was drunk, and Romel was helping him walk.

Prosecutors said Scott, 26, and Phoenix, 30, mistook the brothers for gay men, and yelled anti-Hispanic and anti-gay slurs at them. Scott smashed the bottle over Jose Sucuzhanay's head and chased after Romel with the broken bottle, while Phoenix beat Sucuzhanay with an aluminum baseball bat so badly he cracked open his skull, prosecutors said. Sucuzhanay died several days later at a hospital.

Phoenix has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, manslaughter and attempted assault, all as hate crimes. His jury began deliberations Thursday evening.

Scott's actions may not have resulted in the death of the man he attacked, but to say this wasn't about hate is such a travesty of justice it makes me glad my spouse has decided to pursue a degree in law. We need more people in positions of education and leadership in our society that can influence both public policy and opinion towards a more just outcome.

Written by John Hosty-Grinnell

Tell KISS 108 Boston to Stop Hurting LGBTQ Youth

A CALL TO ACTION: As Published in BayWindows

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When I received that fateful phone call from 22-year-old Greg Kimball who told me what transpired when he called KISS 108’s Sunday Night "Teen Help Guru," Dawson McAllister Live, one of my first questions to Greg was, "Who is Dawson McAllister?" My lack of knowledge of this program (which is syndicated by 165 other radio stations across the country) astounded this young man. But why should I or anyone else over 30 know who Dawson McAllister is? He is on late night radio, gears his program to the problems of youth, promotes himself as a peer, a friend of those 13 to 25 and with a quick look at his "Hopeline" promo on YouTube, one can see that this is a fast-paced, modern, "I understand you like your parents could never" appeal to get kids to talk about rape, drug addiction, sexual abuse, and a wide variety of relationship issues. And Dawson McAllister’s qualifications to speak to kids as young as 13? Well, McAllister is a Christian Youth Minister, the very one in fact who directed ex-gay leader and now president of Exodus International, Alan Chambers, to head that organization and "repair" his own homosexuality.

But for me Dawson McAllister is much less Christian Youth Minister than he is Stephen King’s "It." There is something creepy about this man’s approach, rarely speaking about religion on air, and almost never talking about LGBTQ issues on his live talk show on KISS 108 and other stations. However, if a young person is unfortunate enough to call into Dawson McAllister Live and reveal that he or she is LGBTQ like Greg Kimball did, the nature of this program and McAllister shows its true fangs. Kimball was told, "God considers homosexuality the same as murder, incest, and drug addiction," and then was directed to Dawson’s favorite anti-gay organization, Exodus International, being provided its phone number, hours of operation, and URL. And it gets worse: these kids are only allowed to call in from a non-blocked phone number, are asked their full names, asked if their number is a cell phone, and asked if they can be called back. A week of phone calls and emails to KISS 108’s parent company, Clear Channel, by activists from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus (MGLPC); the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force; Parents, Friends, & Families of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG); KnowThyNeighbor; Change.org; the Human Rights Campaign (HRC); and Truth Wins Out were able to get Clear Channel to put pressure on McAllister’s show to remove links and to stop directing questioning youth to Exodus. While pressure to disassociate from Exodus was successful, McAllister’s "Hopeline" still directs youth to second stringer Focus on the Family as follow-up phone calls to the helpline by KnowThyNeighbor.org, Exodus’ blog, and McAllister’s own website proved. 

So where is KISS 108 in all of this? Shamefully absent in acknowledgment of what a program like Dawson McAllister Live is doing to not only LGBTQ youth but to all youth. While it seems that the LGBT community is supposed to be content with KISS 108’s content promoting people like KISS 108 personality, "Gay Jim," and DJ Matty in the Morning’s interviews of out gays such as Tim Gunn, our LGBTQ youth, at the most vulnerable time when they are reaching out for help, are being tricked into and subjected to such negative messaging as was experienced by Greg Kimball. And worse as they are then put into the hands of Focus on the Family. KISS 108’s lack of response and attempts to wash its hands of this by directing people to log complaints with Clear Channel are not acceptable. I personally have been banned from commenting on Matty In the Morning’s Facebook page about McAllister and what he is dong to LGBT youth though, if I had chosen another subject like "Tiger Woods’ Mistresses" (a common topic on KISS 108 FB Fan Pages) I would still be allowed to comment.

We need to tell KISS 108 directly that it needs to remove Dawson McAllister Live from its airwaves. Our youth cannot and must not be subjected to this. We will never be able to quantify the damage already done, but we can do something about what is happening here and now in our own backyard. Call KISS 108’s switchboard during normal business hours and leave messages with management, your favorite DJ’s, the producers of your favorite shows and tell them that this has got to stop. Tell KISS 108 to "Take Dawson McAllister Live off the air and stop hurting LGBTQ Youth."

KISS 108 Contact Page: http://www.kiss108.com/pages/jobs.html?feed=105118&article=301026 
KISS 108 Switchboard: 781-396-1430
KISS 108 DJ’s:
Matty in the Morning: [email protected]
Billy Costa: [email protected]
Romeo: [email protected]

Tom Lang

Director of KnowThyNeighbor.org

KnowThyNeighbor.org To Be Challenged in Supreme Court "Doe v Reed" Tomorrow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KnowThyNeighbor.org

Director, Tom Lang

Cell:  978-335-0477

April 27, 2010 Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

KnowThyNeighbor.org, the Massachusetts LGBT Rights Organization that made headlines back in 2005 when Co-Directors Tom Lang of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Aaron Toleos of Boxford became the first to ever publish the names of signers of an initiative petition online in a fully searchable public database, are not only the subject of Wednesday's Supreme Court Hearing on Doe v Reed, but are the reasons for the court challenge.

Back in June of 2009, with much similar strategy as that in the 2005 gay marriage petition here in MA,KnowThyNeighbor.org joined forces with Brian Murphy of WhoSigned.org in Washington State vowing to publish the names of the signers of Washington's Referendum 71 which if it had been successful would have limited domestic partnership rights for same sex couples in that state.

Almost immediately, KnowThyNeighbor.org met the ire of Ref 71's sponsors, Protect Marriage Washington, which began various court challenges blocking Tom Lang's, Aaron Toleos' and Brian Murphy's attempt to acquire the names and addresses of signers of the anti-gay petition.  Washington's Open Government Laws require the release of this information to the general public and in state history, the release has never been stopped.  Protect Marriage Washington was able to win District Court favor in Washington State which then was challenged and over-turned in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  However, Protect Marriage Washington caught that attention of the United States Supreme Courtand Doe v Reed will be heard Tomorrow.

Twenty Attorney Generals including Massachusetts have submitted Amicus Briefs on the side of Reed which is the name of Sam Reed, Washington's Secretary of State who ultimately would release the names to the public if the SCOTUS sides with Reed.  Local LGBT organizations and National ones submitted Amici also on the side of Reed, including the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, GLAD and Lambda Legal, the latter two, writing to SCOTUS that KnowThyNeighbor's strategy of name posting should be allowed as "Public access to petition records provide a much needed procedural check on Anti-Minority Initiatives" and "an opportunity to lobby the persons who legislate using such measures."   .  See Amici HERE

Tom Lang, Director of KnowThyNeighbor.org, is concerned deeply about the greater implications of a win for Doe and a loss for Reed.  "Wednesday's hearing and subsequent outcome will have a major effect on state election laws nationwide.  If the Initiative Petition process is allowed to fall into the shadows of anonymity based on Protect Marriage Washington's false claims of electoral 1st Amendment restrictions, then the general public will have absolutely no ability to scrutinize the process for signature theft or be able to know who and what is behind major public legislative actions.  The only ones who will win if signatures are blocked from public access are the multi-million dollar signature gathering companies who dupe signers, forge names and the campaigns that turn a blind eye to this while forcing their agenda on unsuspecting voters."

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KnowThyNeighbor to Charlie Baker: Anti-Transgender Press Conference Unacceptable!

Tom Lang of KnowThyNeighbor Slams Charlie Baker, Massachusetts GOP Gubernatorial  Nominee For His Anti-Transgender Rights Bill Sentiments In Press Conference at Republican Convention

It certainly did not take long for the GOP in Massachusetts to anger gay activists and this time coming from the Baker Committee just moments after its nomination of Charlie Baker for Governor and Richard Tisei for Lt. Governor.  In a nut shell, electioneering at the Republican Convention on Saturday to persuade delegates to vote for Charlie Baker and knock out Christy Mihos resulted in flyers being circulated stating, "Charlie Baker Opposes 'The Bathroom Bill' and If It Came To His Desk He Would Veto It."

Now rumors are circulating that this may have been a last minute attempt by the anti-gays such as Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute or one of many other anti-gay Republican activists on the Convention Floor to drive a wedge between Baker and openly gay Senator Richard Tisei.  Tisei not only supports The Transgender Rights Bill but he is a co-sponsor.  We know that the days leading up to the Convention where Tisei needed the votes to be nominated were not easy for the openly gay Republican prospect and sentiments among Republican activists may have indicated that they had wished Charlie Baker had chosen a more "straight" candidate. 

And KnowThyNeighbor is also hearing that this may have been done by Christy Mihos reaching for votes but what is being thought a more likely reality that Tim Cahill's people did this to discredit Baker.  But the flyers read also, "Paid for by the Baker Committee."  So ownership or not, ownership is implied and finger pointing at this point when once again, members of the LGBT Community are attacked and treated with a "less than" status is not acceptable.

In terms of full disclosure and on a personal level, I was posturing to support the Baker/Tisei candidacy We had committed to a fundraiser at our house in Manchester-by-the-Sea.  My Co-Director, Aaron Toleos, cautioned me last summer before Charlie Baker's announcement that he would seek the nomination and long before Baker considered Richard Tisei for a running mate, that a Director of KnowThyNeighbor could never support a candidate who may be excellent on "gay" issues but turns a blind eye to the issues faced by Transgendered People.  Now let me make this perfectly clear to our LGBT Community, as early as last Fall I spoke with Charlie Baker and discussed with him my support based conditionally on his reaching out to the trans community.  I was impressed with Baker's upfront and honest support for same sex marriage, his love for his own gay brother, and Baker's committment that he would NOT support any sort of anti-gay marriage ballot initiative seeking to Repeal or Restrict Goodridge.  

On Sunday night just a little after Midnight and having received the disturbing news of a Boston Globe article written from the Convention Floor that stated Baker's opposition to the Transgender Rights Bill and Charlie Baker's reference to it as demeaningly, "The Bathroom Bill" (something the anti-gays use to belittle the messaging of the truth about what trans people face everyday), I emailed Richard Tisei on his cell phone.  My message laid it out to Tisei that Charlie Baker's handling of the reporter's questions about the Transgender Rights Bill came off as "cocky, entitled and arrogant."  And I told him that seeing Kris Mineau's name all over that Globe article put him a little too close for my personal comfort.

Monday, sparked multiple phone calls by me to Richard Tisei and Republicans as I was being asked to supply a quote to the press.  For me this was unacceptable that anyone running for higher office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would dare address a group of people in the abstract.  I made it perfectly clear that this is NOT about polls, this is NOT about the Transgender Rights Bill, this is NOT about a section of the Transgender Rights Bill, this is NOT about the steps necessary to secure a nomination.  THIS is about a group of people who, just like the rest of us, want to be protected from being fired, from being thrown out of public accomodations and rental housing, from being attacked or worse, just because someone does not like who they are or what they look like.  And this group of people, the Trans-Community deserves recognition and address by Charlie Baker as human beings and as citizens of the Commonwealth. 

I do not want to hear or read some campaign press statement generated to cover Baker's ass on this one.  If there is a problem with the Transgender Rights Bill, in how it was written, address that separately from the need of this group of people to expect the same protections that everyone else has.  It seems Democrats are backing away from this bill too.  Any wonder why, when haters and spoilers like Kris Mineau are still afforded an ear and given such undeserved access in the State House from BOTH SIDES of the aisle?

If Charlie Baker and Richard Tisei represent a new Massachusetts Republican Party, one that Gives a Damn about its fellow human beings, and one that drew me back in and gave me hope, then Charlie Baker needs to prove it.  Every day waiting for his response, is a day of loss of countless votes and support that he needs for this Fall's election.

Tom Lang,

Director of KnowThyNeighbor.org  

Top 40 Radios Stations Nationwide Including Kiss 108 in Boston Promoting Ex-Gay Movement, Exodus International

Who Is Dawson McAllister and Why Should You Care?  If You Have Children or Care About Their Well Being You Should!

Sometimes my Sunday nights consist of listening to Dawson Mcallister on Kiss 108 in Boston. McAllister is the host of the syndicated radio talk show, "Dawson McAllister Live", which is featured on over 160 radio stations around the country . The Radio Time Website through Kiss 108 in Boston describes his show as encouraging, "Those 25 and younger to call and talk about their lives deepest needs and issues, such as broken families, abuse, depression, addictions etc. DMLive is fast paced, compelling radio that draws listeners in as they share their hopes, fears and problems."

So what's the big deal? On the air his show seems helpful and genuine. He gives the number of his Hopeline 1-800-394-HOPE (4673) frequently throughout the show, saying that you can speak with one of their trained Hopeline representatives. His website, dmlive.com , seems to reflect his show and it offers several other methods of getting in touch with his show. In addition to calling him or the Hopeline, you can text, Facebook, or tweet.

This past Sunday, I was listening to the show when I began to wonder how they would react to a teenage boy questioning his sexuality. I decided to call the Hopeline and ask. On the automated menu, it stated that I had to be between the ages of 13 and 29. I thought it curious that the show could speak with children that young. Upon confirming that I was of said age, I was presented with the option to speak with either a trained Hopeline representative or Dawson McAllister. Because I knew I would never get through to McAllister, I opted to speak to a representative. Pretending to be a 16 year old boy (I am really 22), I told him that I had recently begun to question my sexuality and that I thought I might be gay. The first thing he told me (which he told me several times throughout our conversation) is that they get a ton of calls like this. He then asked if I had been raised religiously. I told him no, and that is where things began to explode. He told me that it is common for "children raised with no God to question their sexuality." He went on to say that "if I embraced God, I could be cured." He continued, comparing homosexuality to "alcoholism or pornography or drug addiction." He said that"homosexuality was not natural." He then quoted several Bible verses, saying that homosexuality was just as bad as "adultery, theft, or murder." He agreed that I was "broken and needed to be cured." This conversation lasted for 20 minutes. When I couldn't take any more, I thanked him for his time and hung up on him while he said that he would be praying for me.

 

After calming down, I called again, hoping to get a different representative. I had to know if this was just one person or if this is what the radio show and the Hopeline believed. Thankfully I did get a different representative. Still posing as a 16 year old boy questioning his sexuality, I told him about the conversation I just had and that I was frightened because I didn't want to go to Hell. He confirmed that the Hopeline gets many calls like that and went on to refer me to the Exodus International program and Live Hope Ministries. For those of you who don't know, the Exodus International is not only a program that attempts to "cure" homosexuality from "infected youth," it has ministers who have been in Uganda preaching that the murder of homosexuals is not only acceptable, but should be made into law. **(see correction below)

I did a little research and found that Dawson McAllister Live has strong Christian Right ties.

 

Despicable. Can you imagine the number of gay or questioning children that, because of this advice, have hurt of killed themseves? Who have lived a lie for the rest of the life? This makes me sick. When McAllister is on the air, he never overly stresses religion or gives the impression that he is hosting a religious show. But a quick look on McAllister's Partner's Page will show that he doesn't try to hide this.  EXODUS INTERNATIONAL IS RIGHT THERE!!

I called and spoke with Kiss 108 Boston's Program Director, Chris Tyler, and he stated that not only was he unaware that McAllister's show was giving out this advice, but that he was unaware the show had a religious foundation!  Kiss 108 is Boston's most popular radio station, it has been for decades and is part of Clear Channel Radio and the Premier Radio.  Take a look at the other 165 stations that have contracted Dawson McAllister's sleazy little enterprise--most of which are radio stations serving younger audiences.  

Dawson McAllister is an evil, calculated sneak who is reaching out across the country and hurting our gay youth while pretending to be a good person who just wants to help people.

-Greg Kimball, Knowthyneighbor

_____________________________________________

** Correction to "It (Exodus) has ministers in Uganda preaching that murder of homosexuals is not only acceptable, but it should be made into law."  While there is no evidence that indicates that Exodus International with its presence at the Ugandan "Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009" Conference in March of 2009 actually "preached" for the murder of homosexuals in that country, it did participate in the conference and allegedly provided its core talking points -- that homosexuality is a curable disease, which was used to give validation to the Ugandan Bill. Readers should note that the Ugandan Bill adds to existing Ugandan law of life imprisonment for "being" a homosexual, a mandatory 7 year jail sentence to anyone (ie those who are or claim to be straight) who commits an act of homosexuality AND it demands HIV testing of those arrested with death administered to the HIV positive.  Exodus International later responded to Truth Wins Out's accusations

with this press release.  

Tom Lang, Director of KnowThyNeighbor

Dan Choi Leads GLBT Uprising

On Thursday March 18, 2010 Lt. Dan Choi staged an uprising that seems to be gaining momentum by the moment. During the protest of DADT Lt. Choi chained himself to the White House lawn perimeter. Here's a video of his arrest:

Since Lt. Choi's arrest a series of uprisings have occurred, almost as if this was our own age's Stonewall. Nancy Pelosi's office was inundated with calls from all across the country fueled by a battle cry from our friends over on Pam's House Blend as well as many others. Choi wants us to support getequal.org, but more importantly so does internationally known world famous GLBT activist Will Phillips:

 

My hat is off for Lt. Choi, but I bow to the courage of a ten year old boy who knows wrong when he sees it and has the care to try to do something about it. His actions remind me of words in the ulogy of the late Robert F. Kennedy:

 "What it really all adds up to is love -- not love as it is described with such facility in popular magazines, but the kind of love that is affection and respect, order and encouragement, and support. Our awareness of this was an incalculable source of strength, and because real love is something unselfish and involves sacrifice and giving, we could not help but profit from it." And he continued, "Beneath it all, he has tried to engender a social conscience. There were wrongs which needed attention. There were people who were poor and needed help. And we have a responsibility to them and to this country. Through no virtues and accomplishments of our own, we have been fortunate enough to be born in the United States under the most comfortable conditions. We, therefore, have a responsibility to others who are less well off."

 
There is much work to be done if we are going to have equality in our time; all of our participation is critical to creating meaningful change. Put your wallets away and get out to any of the many events out there and be seen supporting your GLBT brothers and sisters. If a ten year old boy can do it so can you!

Christy Mihos on Same-Sex Marriage--"The Courts Got It Right" but He Would Support a Referendum To Take Away the Rights of Greek Men

Yes, That Is Right, Republican Gubernatorial Runner Christy Mihos Would Support Voting on the Rights of Massachusetts Greek Citizens To Justify His Pandering to Pro-Family Anti-Gay Activists for Votes in the 2010 Republican State Convention

A few months ago, KnowThyNeighbor.org made a personal phone call to Republican Christy Mihos and interviewed him on LGBT issues.  My sudden interest in Christy came from my observation that many of Massachusettts Anti-Gay Republican Activists seemed to be "friends" of his on Facebook or in the GOP rumormill now declaring support.  These include Sandi Martinez, Peter Porcupine (GOP Sock Puppet Blogger/State Committee Woman), Aaron Margolis, Bob Hargraves, etc.

When I pointed this out to Christy Mihos and asked him if he supports "Gay Marriage" his answer to me was, "Let me say first off, the 'Courts Got It Right!"  Taken a bit aback I went silent in the interview, to which Mihos returned the question, "Don't you think the courst got it right?"  My answer was "of course, but I am concerned why all these anti-gay people seem to be rooting for you and not Baker/Tisei?"  His answer, "Because I feel that this should be voted on (meaning same-sex marriage)."  "Everything should be allowed to be voted on."

Mihos, then went on to say, "I would even support a measure that would allow the people of Massachusetts to vote of the rights of ' Five Foot Eight Greek Guys..."  One thing about Christy, he is one of the few people that can make me speechless.  I paused and said, "Well Christy, I for one would be one of those standing up and yelling from the top of my lungs that we should not vote on the rights of 'Five Foot Eight Greek Guys' -- just as we should not vote on anyone's rights."  To which Mihos responded, "yeah I (meaning Mihos and his Greek reference) am probably protected in the Constitution..."

"Yes, Christy, the conversation by those already inside Equality is different  than those who are outside of it," I said, and my interview with Christy Mihos ended.

Conclusion, during the 2006 Gubernatorial Race Christy Mihos produced a funny commercial showing charactures of Kerry Healey and Mitt Romney sticking their heads up their asses.  I suggest that on the subject of Equality, Mr. Mihos portray himself as a "man  speaking out both sides of his own ass."

Tom Lang,

Director of KnowThyNeighbor 

N.H. Rep. Nancy Elliot Shows Her True Hatred For GLBT

New Hampshire state Rep. Nancy Elliot (R) of Merrimack begins her tirade against the GLBT community by saying that she doesn't understand anal sex between two men, showing her disgust visibly on her face; ignorantly implying that anal sex is exclusive to the gay community:

"We heard in the hearing one of the people who came to testify, and they said that this was not normal, and I had to think about that for a while, you know, what are we talking about, and I started thinking, and we're talking about taking the penis of one man and putting it into the rectum of another man and wiggling it around in excrement, and I have to think, I'm not sure, would I allow that to be done to me? All of us... (inaudible for a split second) would you let that happen to you? Is that normal? Is that something, umm, that we want to portray as the same as the one flesh union between a man and a woman? I don't know, umm, then I start to think I remember when we were having the testimony people were saying that, umm, it was brought up that this would be brought into the schools and we were told 'oh no-no, that won't happen',"

She then claims that a parent called her; here's what she said:

"I heard yesterday from the mother of a fifth grader that they were given as part of their classroom instruction naked pictures of two men showing a presentation of anal sex."

She is at this point interrupted and told to keep her comments relative to the bill at hand; one meant to strip the newly obtained equality in marriage, but she insists:

"This is directly about the bill, because we now have made a marriage of same sex they are now teaching it in the public schools. They are showing our fifth graders how they can perform this kind of sex, and they are condoning, they are saying this is normal and this is something that you may want to try. This is the context of the lesson, this is something that you as a fifth grader may want to try. I see it as a real problem in our society, I see it as an affront to our citizens that their children are subjected to this, so I think it is important that we revisit what we did. We made a mistake and we should repeal it."

For the rest of the meeting you should watch the YouTube video above, but I warn you the ignorance doesn't end with her.In a surprising turn Alderman Diane Sheehan called out Elliot's wild story and gave her 48 hours to either give the name of the parent who supplied this erroneous information against the Nashua school systems to the police, or offer an apology for giving a false statement.

"If neither of those two actions take place in the next 48 hours, I will begin exploring action to prosecute for false statement, and your removal from office," Sheehan wrote.

Rep. Elliot has chosen to give a "cover her own ass" statement that offers no apology for the inaccuracy of her statement, leaving me to wonder if she didn't fabricate it all on her own. If her story were true and someone had contacted her she shirked her responsibility to confirm this information before serving it to her peers as fact. From the Nashua Telegraph:

“I would like to apologize to the Judiciary Committee, the Nashua public schools and its employees and the speaker as well as anyone else affected by what I said,’’ Elliott said, reading from a prepared statement at the beginning of a House Judiciary Committee meeting. “I will try much harder in the future to verify fully my statement.”

Despite the apology, Elliott maintained she believed what she said was true at the time.

Many thanks should go to Alderman Sheehan, not for being GLBT friendly, but for being fair. It's nice to see that at least SOME of the untruths are being called out and found out by the mainstream moderate middle. Is it enough, or is it too little too late? Are we as a community doing enough to stand up and protect ourselves from having our relationships reduced to a simple sex act in the eyes of the public? 

Special thanks to Lurleen at Pam's House Blend for reporting on this story. Let's just hope that the good people of Merrimack decide to reward Rep. Elliot's actions with a civilian life.

The REAL Senator Scott Brown on Gay Issues

A Little Unclear on Scott Brown's Stances on LGBT Issues?  Then Look No Further Than the "Brown Bigot Brigade," The Massachusetts Family Institute, for Reliable Coverage

You are not alone.  Scott Brown has rejected all requests from Gay Journalists like Chuck Colbert to provide a statement on issues key to the Gay Community like DOMA, ENDA, "Don't Ask Don't Tell."  I personally have tried to broker an interview with Brown's press man, Felix Browne (no relation) and after about 15 attempts, phone calls, emails, NOTHING!  Scott Brown has even snubbed a questionnaire from the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus leaving Arline Isaacson not 100% clear on Brown's stances.

Why is Scott Brown distancing himself from the gay issues?  Scott himself will tell you that his stances are the same as Barack Obama's or John Kerry's.  Scott will also tell you that "marriage equality is the law of the land" hmmm I have heard that before...John Kerry if memory is correct.  But this smart little move from this very smart little man of keeping the "gay debate" out of the mainstream in this election is proving very effective.  Brown would be set to lose moderates and progressive unerolleds if his true feeling about our issues were made part of this campaign.  And of course in typical Dem fashion, Martha "I got this one in the bag" Coakley, won't debate our issues for fear that the "ick factor" may just cost her a vote or two.  Well, Martha, welcome to the mirror of not standing up for what is right 100% of the time...without shame. 

So, you want the "Real Scott Brown" ??  Same as Barack Obama or John Kerry?  Answer this for yourself. See this link from the Brown Bigot Brigade, The Massachusetts Family Institute.   

Duped again Massachusetts and to think, even with the smell of Mitt Romney's magical underwear still lingering on Beacon Hill...

 

Tom Lang, Co-Director

**Note, we thank Mike Capuano who ran Democrat in the primary and did include marriage equality in his television ads AND as a topic in his telephone town hall meetings.