A Very Special Moment - Issue #6: Imagine a World Without Hate

It's time for A Very Special Moment, and this one hits close to home.  Actually, the previous issues hit pretty close too.

For those who are here for the first time, I created this series because I always come across videos on the internet, that I swear, are very special moments, and this video is a perfect example of one.  Have you ever wondered what it would be like if people didn't hate?  I have... hundreds of times.

But for the people in this video, it was something that overcame them.  It's time to reflect.  Reflect on what could have been.  Reflect on what "Hate" took away from us.  And this goes for straights and gays, as both are highlighted in the video.

Imagine a World Without Hate™, one where the hate crimes against Martin Luther King, Anne Frank, Matthew Shepard and others did not take place. Support us in the fight against bigotry and extremism by sharing this inspirational video and taking the pledge to create a world without hate at http://www.adl.org/imagine.

My Christian Thoughts - Issue #2 - The Subway Preacher

In today's My Christian Thoughts I'd like to talk about a video I saw last week.  The issue hits close to home, because I remember portraying the pastor or preacher in this video.  The debauchery that takes place really upsets me and it does so, because who are we to judge other people?  Who are we to tell other people what to do?  I understand teaching or sharing The Word, but I don't agree with forcing it down a person's throat.  In the end, we will be judged individually by a higher Being if this is what we choose to believe, and for those who don't - more power to you.

I lost countless of friends in high school and in college, because I was preaching to them - telling them they were going to hell, because they didn't belong to the true "Church of Christ".  Imagine me going up to a Catholic, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, a Methodist or a Mormon, telling them, "you, your mom, sister, brother and family are going to hell - all of you!  And if you don't change your religion soon, you will feel the fire deep in those pits!"

Yep, that was me.  Don't get me wrong, I believe in God - a loving and beautiful God who made me who I am.  Who is there beside me every day, and will be, until the day I die.  And this is what I choose to believe.  It's not your or anyone else's job to tell me it's not gonna happen.  My transformation took time, and I am so grateful to God that it happened, but that's another story - another issue of "My Christian Thoughts."

What is so remarkable about the video is the response the gay man receives after being chastised for over two minutes. 

[Excerpts from the video]
Instead of attempting to ignore a "preacher" spewing homophobic rants, a gay New York City subway rider decided to confront him.

On Saturday, a street preacher went on an anti-gay tirade on one of NYC's subway lines, according to New York Mag's Daily Intelligencer. The preacher yelled about society's poor influence on children, likened gay men to pedophiles and claimed "Michael Jackson died because he was gay" to a crowded subway car.

But one stranger wasn't having it.

"You teach hate," the man, wearing a khaki coat and a large fur hat, responded. "You are false. You are a false prophet. Do not listen to this man. He's scared. He's full of hatred."

The man continued to stand his ground and revealed that yes, he is gay, and yes, God still loves him. "I'm a man. And I'm a good man," he said. "And I'm a gay man and Jesus loves me! Jesus loves me!"

The gay man's eloquence moved his fellows riders so much that it was met by a rousing round of applause. 

Worldwide Homophobia

This chart is really fascinating.  Not in the sense that I'm glad America isn't in that horrible, deep-pink and purple category, but glad that our country has come a long way.  Sure we have thousands, if not millions of people who continue to hate us - like that ignorant school teacher in the news lately.  But to think that Ryan and I could be incarcerated, or better yet, put to death in all those countries is mind-boggling to me.  It's crazy!!! 

So if you're thinking of taking a trip to any of those places - good luck.

click to enlarge

Paint & Body Repair Man Has The Most Amazing Heart & Soul

What an amazing story - I shed a few tears watching this video.  
And it isn't just about the video being so special - which it is, but because I can't fathom why most of today's Christians, Conservatives and Republicans can't be more like this Paint & Body Repair man.  To top it off, he did an act of kindness for someone he didn't even know.

I love Ellen, and I love this young man.

Quoted - Will Smith on Hate

"Ain't No Homos Gonna Make It To Heaven"

C'mon, join me now... "I know the Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong...ain't no homos gonna make it to heaven."  A little louder... "I know the Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong...ain't no homos gonna make it to heaven." 

Yep, those are the words sung by a mere child in front of a congregation in Greensberg, Indiana.  


Isn't that just lovely?  And to think that all along I thought our preachers and pastors were men of God and all they cared about was love. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing that everyone is not like that, but as more and more churches are declaring death to us gays, and spewing hatred month after month, what else are we to believe?

I believe in a loving God.  A building is not a church.  What makes up a church are its people, and if there is but more than 1 that condones this hatred and death towards myself and my partner, then you are part of a bigger problem.  You are, in part, congregating with them, singing and worshiping with them.  The bible states where two are more are gathered in his name, He is there with them.

You don't have to go to a building to worship with people who hate your son or your daughter.  Get together with those you love and worship together, at a park, in your home, at a school - worship with them - they are your church.

My "flesh" Is Intrigued By The Idea of Killing Homosexuals and Adulterers!

Lovely. Just Lovely.

Curtis Knapp

Oh, I just love Baptist churches!  Don't you?  Hell, when all they do is condemn homosexuality and force God down our throats, what makes them think we want to worship with them?  Seriously?  Don't they think we love God just as much, if not, more than all of them!!!!

Two more Baptist pastors have come out in support of killing your brother, sister, mother, father, uncle, aunt, grandmother, grandfather, cousins, friends, co-workers, the list goes on.  All because... well... a straight couple bore a gay child.

Dennis Leatherman

Two pastors, Curtis Knapp of the New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, Kansas, and Dennis Leatherman, pastor at the Mountain Lake Baptist Church in Oakland, Md spoke from the pulpit at two of their recent Sunday sermons.  While Knapp suggested that the government should put gay people to death, Leatherman said that his “flesh” is intrigued by the idea of killing homosexuals.

You can read more about this ridiculous nonsense here and even listen to clips of their sermons.

Thanks to Shane Montgomery for sharing this on his news feed on Facebook!

Detain Them In Electrified Camps Until They're All Dead!

I was reading Facebook this morning and came across this horrible article... "N.C. pastor calls for "lesbians and queers" to be detained in electrified camps "until they're all dead"" - Full Story

You know that despite the hatred that comes from these religious people, they will be judged for how they were on earth.  Whether you believe in God or not, most of these people who call themselves Christians are the most vile people on earth.

But like Jesus asked his Father on his dying day, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do"

Image courtesy of www.houstonrainbowherald.com

Read Full Article Here: The Raw Story

"To My Unborn Child... I'll put a bullet in your damn skull" (if you turn out gay)

This hate talk comes from a parent or an idiot who wants to be a parent.  Everyone knows that Twitter is the place to be nowadays, and sometimes things can get a little personal, sometimes a little too personal.  "To My Unborn Child" has become a recent topic of discussion on Twitter.  Unfortunately, it turned into a disgusting ranting space for anti-gay bigots. 

***

The Twitter account @Homophobes (which retweets public homophobic tweets to its 4,500 followers) created a post at Storify (a site where users can bundle tweets onto one page and add commentary to create a story) to document over 100 tweets of mostly young men and women saying they would murder their future child if he or she was gay. [source]

 ***

 ***

I honestly don't know where to being with this to tell you the truth.  All I know is that this is who you're voting for, remember that.  Yes, I'm bringing politics into this, and for those who think that this has nothing to do with it, it most certainly does.  When you have candidates running for President who want to strip you of your dignity and your life, politics are involved.  When you have a candidate running for President who says he will stop at nothing to have every gay right overturned, you might as well put a bullet in our heads.  But you know what, why don't we just turn back the hands of time and be like Iran and parts of Africa and start killing our gay children. These imbeciles/parents don't seem to mind it.  Hell, one goes so far as to say "To My Unborn Child, I will kill you if you turn gay, (I support the gays, but will never be one, neither nor my unborn baby)."

Let me put it to you in simple terms, voting for the REDs says you are supporting their causes, and until you realize this, you are fighting against everything your cousin, brother, sister, friend, co-worker, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, grandson, grandaughter - the list goes on.  You are fighting against everything they have accomplished, and are still trying to.  All we want is equal rights for everyone, and the right to love who we want.  I know what you're going to say, "Oh, I can be a RED and not support everything they stand for."  Yeah, and I can say the same thing too, "I can vote for a Democrat and not support everything they do."  Only difference is, they are not trying to take away your rights and your freedoms.  If you vote for a RED - you are supporting them, you are giving them the key to the White House, which will eventually take away the rights from the people you love.

This blog post may have sounded repetitive, but I don't care, I need to make it clear to you people.  And don't even start saying you're Christian if you're tweeting shit like this.  Hell, if you're thinking or wishing it, you're just as guilty.

Post Secret Fridays - Issue 099

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

 See More Secrets. Follow PostSecret on Twitter.

Want to see older Post Secret Friday issues? 
Click my Post Secret Logo Below.

Quoted - Novelist Haruki Murakami on Hatred

“Hatred is like a long, dark shadow. Not even the person it falls upon knows where it comes from, in most cases. It is like a two-edged sword. When you cut the other person, you cut yourself. The more violently you hack at the other person, the more violently you hack at yourself. It can often be fatal. But it is not easy to dispose of. Please be careful... It is very dangerous. Once it has taken root in your heart, hatred is the most difficult thing in the world to shake off.”

- Novelist Haruki Murakami from his novel, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

As The World Turns

You just can't debate with crazy, or practically anyone anymore. The world is changing for the better, but some people just can't accept that. All they have left to hold on to are their beliefs.  When those once common ideas are now considered out-dated, irrational and even hateful, and can be proven justly so, people get angry, desperate, and will fight to the very end to protect an ideology that they hold sacred. 

It's an unfortunate sign of the most conservative parts of the Republican party. Never give up, never surrender, never admit you're wrong, just keep screaming nonsense until you drown out your opponent and every last one of his facts.

Well I have a few facts to share myself - Gay people can get married without the sky falling or your family being affected in anyway, shape or form aside from the possibility of them not sharing your homophobic hate. Black people can be in charge of a country that once considered them property. 

conservative poster hating liberals

Being a Liberal is not the same thing as being weak. Trust me. We fight against income inequality in the Occupy Movement. We fight for the right to unionize in Wisconsin, Indiana, Arizona and any other states controlled by a Republican majority that wishes for it to be a "right to work" state. We fight for the health of our women when conservative wolves in pink sheep's clothing attempt to break down Planned Parenthood. And we fight for our right to marry the person we love to not only receive the same benefits that everyone else gets, but to also simply show that we are no different from any straight couple and hence should not be treated differently as such. 

California is another footstep in the marathon that is the fight for marriage equality and gay rights everywhere. We will continue fighting. We are not weak. We are stronger than ever and we will fight for Obama this year and we will win. We must. This country needs to show the world that we stand for common sense, compassion and an ability to inspire hope in others by getting back up after being knocked down hard. Screaming at the top of your lungs until you can't hear the facts just won't do for this country of ours, and neither will defeat, hatred, or the desire to divide.

We can come together to make sure our country continues to succeed and head in its' current, correct direction. We can vote for Obama 2012, because hope is nothing without people to believe in it and change is impossible without people to fight for it. 

- Ryan Joseph Lopez (Blade 7184 blogger) in reference to Miley Cyrus' marriage equality tattoo

Who Is This Young Teenage Nazi Boy?

THE SAME MAN WHO CONSIDERS ME, YOUR GAY BROTHERS, SISTERS, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, CO-WORKERS, AND ALL GAY PEOPLE - HEATHENS!

POPE BENEDICT XVI

Documentaries To Watch: The Bully Project

If you don't want to read any of what I have to say, at least view the trailer down below.

Sometimes I just want to go back to a school, ANY school, and be some kind of instructor, teacher, counselor, or monitor that just watches out for these kids. I can see how spotting every bullying situation could be difficult for teachers and administrators alike, but at the same time I was harassed for years consistently and not once, NOT ONCE, did any teacher or administrator do a fucking thing about it.  Until my mom forced them to.

Over a period of four years, 5-8 grade, at lunch, in class, in the locker room, at physical education, in the halls.... there wasn't a single place except maybe the bathroom where I wasn't tormented. This behavior in school will never stop until something is done. Now that I think about it, only you can stop someone from bullying another person when you witness it in action. Trying to handle it through force or punishment isn't possible. Only through educating the students as early as kindergarten on why bullying is wrong and hurtful will be the only way to stop all this pain.

These kids need to be taught how horrible it can feel to be on the other end of the jokes, harassment and ridicule, but also learn how easy and misguided one can be to join in on the fun - taking part without realizing the damage they have done.

Teach them the power of words and how much more of an impact they can sometimes be than a fist to the face. Words can stop bullying and create new friends, yet still have the ability to cause unimaginable pain depending on how they're used.

Show them how being smart or small or different or gay is not the equivalent to being a freak, something wrong or a very bad thing. Being unique is a gift. It's special because you're not like everyone else. You're you, and you're great just for being who you are. It's a message that isn't shared enough today.

But no matter what is done in the schools to teach our kids to be kind to each other, as long as they continue to see horrible examples of bigotry, hate and abuse set by our politicians, pastors and parents, there will never be an end to the suffering and fear some kids face every day they go to school. This can be changed. It can no longer be accepted as a rite of passage or child's play, and to anyone out there that would dare call the protection of a gay child from anti-gay rhetoric "freedom of religion" or "anti-Christian bigotry"...... to hell with you.

I know this is a very inappropriate stance to take and is the absolute worst way to try and bring all people together to stop this epidemic....but seriously...to hell with you! Open your mind, your heart and your eyes and see that these kids are dying right in front of us. They are innocent and have done nothing to deserve this, but when you hide behind your religious beliefs to cloak your hatred and bigotry you are the bullies. You are the instigators. You are the cause of this pain and suffering that no loving God would condone, and you are an accessory to murder if you do not change your words and actions that have farther reaching consequences then you could ever imagine. Stop worrying about the life of an unborn fetus and start caring about the child that cries himself to sleep every night because he knows he's different, he knows he can't change, and all he wants is the torture and pain to stop so that he can truly be loved just the way he is. Will you love him for who he is or condemn him for being a sinner? What would Jesus really do.

We all have the power to stop this ongoing tragedy. Whether it be taking action to enact anti-bullying laws, speaking to your school administrators or simply having a conversation with your child. I beg all of you to do something, anything, to try and attempt to eradicate this evil that has been going on in our schools for way too long. I can't say this enough but these kids are dying, and unless we act, more will continue to have their lives cut short by this catastrophe that is bullying. Don't be the parent standing over the grave of your 12 year old child. Don't be the school official that didn't intervene and say something. Don't be the person that talks about religious values when you can't even comprehend what they truly mean. Don't be a bully and don't be a bystander that does nothing. Be a hero. It's definitely not an easy task and it never will be, but someone has to do it. There is no Superman. There is only you and your ability to love and be kind to others, over an easy choice to hate. You have the power. Make the right decision. Stop bullying today.

Almost a year ago, my partner Peter posted this trailer on his blog, Blade 7184 that moved me beyond words, and it will finally be released on March 9, 2012.  Please watch it, it would mean a lot if you did.

It's Okay To Be A Bully, So Long As It's For Religious Reasons

Jacob Rogers

Yep, the good 'ol south - you gotta love'em. It hasn't even been a month since a local gay teen in Tennessee was buried that a new law allowing kids to bully is being proposed by the State Legislature.  I know, you're thinking I'm trying to push some liberal agenda, that no conservative would ever do such a thing.  But guess what, it's true!

As local news channel WSMV is reporting, the proposed law change by state lawmakers would allow students to speak out against homosexuality without punishment if that's what their religious beliefs call for. [source]

So in other words... if my child is walking through the halls, minding their own business, and a religious kid comes up and tells him or her they are going to hell, they're a sinner or sodomite, they will have every right to ridicule them and belittle them?  Yes, this new law will allow that.  You mean to tell me, if they tell my child "you're a fag and are going to burn in eternal fire," and my child might not even be gay - that will be okay? YEP.

It's true and it's sad, but this type of behavior is what led many of us to contemplate suicide when we were younger.  I would often find myself praying myself to sleep asking God to make me normal, asking him why would he made me this way if I was his child.  Depression kicks in, and everything you're taught to believe in this world turns out to be a lie. You start to believe that everyone, and every thing is a lie!

In correspondence with the Tennessee Equality Project, the state's main gay rights group, state Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, claimed gay people commit suicide at a higher rate than others and suggested Jacob's sexuality itself drove him to kill himself. Ragan asked whether the suicide could have had "more to do with his own proclivities and behavior than anything to do with schoolmate bullies ..."

Blaming the victim is necessary to prevent Jacob's death from damaging chances for passage of Tennessee's 2012 state legislative priority—a bill to make it easier for young bigots to mistreat gay schoolkids. This legislation brought by conservative Christians who oppose special protections for gay people actually gives special protections to homophobic bullies. [source]

An Open Letter To The People Who Hate Obama More Than They Love America

If this letter doesn't change you, or move you, I don't know what else will.  On my knees and crossing my heart to the God who brought me into this world, this letter is the damn-awful truth!   If you're a Republican this is directed at you,  If you hate Obama, this is meant to describe you, and if you're considering to vote for any of the presidential candidates currently running, let this open letter help change your mind.

Written by the Ministry of Truth, this was published on the Daily KOS, and I absolutely had to share it with the rest of of the world.  I'm so tired of people who wear the cross and promote their hatred beyond belief.  I highly condone this letter, as it is straightforward, honest and true.  If it sounds like we're mad, we have every right to be.  But do we hate you?  No, we are just embarrassed by you!

An open letter to the people who hate Obama more than they love America

    I meet you all the time. You hate Obama. You hate gay people. You hate black people, immigrants, Muslims, labor unions, women who want the right to make choices concerning their bodies, you hate em all. You hate being called racist. You hate being called a bigot. Maybe if you talked about creating jobs more than you talk about why you hate gay people we wouldn't call you bigots. Maybe if you talked about black people without automatically assuming they are on food stamps while demanding their birth certificates we wouldn't call you racist. You hate socialism and social justice. You hate regulations and taxes and spending and the Government. You hate.

     You like war. You like torture. You like Jesus. I don't know how in the hell any of that is compatible, but no one ever accused you haters of being over-committed to ideological consistency. You like people who look like you or at least hate most of the things that you hate. You hate everything else.

Now, I know you profess to love our country and the founding fathers (unless you are reminded that they believed in the separation of church and state), but I need to remind you that America is NOT what Fox News says it is. America is a melting pot, it always has been. We are a multi-cultural amalgamation of all kinds of people, and yet you still demonize everyone who is not a rich, white, heterosexual christian male or his submissive and obedient wife.

You hate liberals, moderates, hell, anyone who disagrees with Conservative dogma as espoused by Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. You hate em.

Well, here are the facts, Jack. If you hate the Government then you are unqualified to manage it. If you hate gay people more than you love America than you should take your own advice and get the hell out. There are several countries that are openly hostile to gay people, but they are full of brown people and you don't like them much either from what I understand. It looks like you are screwed, but that's not what I am here to tell you.

Continue reading after the jump . . .

"What's Going On" Video Nears 8,000,000 Views

This video went viral last week.  It was all over Facebook, the blogoshphere, and practically all over the web.  It's poignant, meaningful, and it will make you cry.  It's heartbreaking that someone has to go through life feeling this way.  As parents, how can we allow this sort of thing to go on?  Was carrying your child for 9 months just a joke?

It really perturbs me to say this, but why would people condemn this video?  If you were to read some of the hateful comments people posted on this video, it would sicken you.  At least I hope it would.  

I don't get Christians, or the ones who say they "wholeheartedly" believe in God.  These same people mentioned God in their comments, yet added filthy language while posting their hateful messages at the same time.

People go so far as to say the video was a fake, that Jonah was crying fake tears and that he's just a "faggot" wanting attention.  Really?  Are you people that ignorant?  And if it was? So what!  You're still missing the message behind it. This goes on every day.  Wouldn't you want your kids to be upfront with you?  Not afraid to tell you anything.  Instead they hide in shame because you tell them, they're screwed up, need therapy or simply because carrying them for 9 months really was a joke.

Quoted - The Salvation Army on Homosexuality

“Sexual attraction to the same sex is a matter of profound complexity. Whatever the causes may be, attempts to deny its reality or to marginalize those of a same-sex orientation have not been helpful. The Salvation Army does not consider same-sex orientation blameworthy in itself. Homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, requires individual responsibility and must be guided by the light of scriptural teaching. Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage. Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation. The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse.” 

         – the Salvation Army‘s ridiculous policy on homosexuality

A Very Special Guest Indeed

One of the things that really perturbs me is the fact that there are those who have nothing better to say, but to degrade a talented artist.  So many times I hear about how Gaga was copying another artist, and frankly it has gotten downright ridiculous.  These type of people never change, they were instilled with hatred and being a bully all their lives - the very things Gaga is so against.

Without further adieu, here you have a princess being classy to a lady despite all the hateful comments and rumors about Britney Spears and Gaga hating each other.

During a recent concert in Atlantic City, Britney tells her fans, "I have a very special guest here tonight... Lady Gaga is here!"  She then blows a kiss in the direction where Lady Gaga was sitting.  

According to The Sun, “They sat for around an hour gossiping and talking about collaborating together on a track. GaGa already has two songs in mind.”

I hope you're looking forward to the VMAs, because the Lady will be on stage with Britney.  Woop, Woop!

Warning: Gay Days at Disney!

Ahhh you gotta love America.  They spew hatred even across the skies... literally.

You've seen them everywhere.  Hell, I've had brushes with death trying to read the damn things while driving home from work sometimes.  I'm talking about advertisement banners pulled by airplanes in order to promote a company's product, or in this weekend's case, warning signs announcing there are huge orgies of hot gay men taking place at Disney.  

Florida Family Association hired planes to fly two separate banners, and reportedly paid $7,000 to do it.  The banners read "Warning Gay day at Disney 6/4" and "Warning Gay Pride Day at Disney 2 Day."

These are the same people that said, their emails to MTV to remove SKINS off the air "made a difference."  Really?  Really?  Lord these people are nuts. "thousands of people enter the park, then turn around and leave then they see the same-sex couples. Mainstream America is offended."  

Disney and event organizers disagreed with them.