Are People Really This Stupid? Issue No. 39 - NO GAY EATING HERE!

I don't even know where to begin with this.  What's next? Segregated bathrooms?  Hell, from New York to Chicago - there's gay high schools going up, because kids need a place to feel safe without being bullied and tortured.  Just recently laws in Kansas and Arizona were passed by Republican lawmakers who felt the need to discriminate gay patrons.  Lord help me if something similar happens in this state (Texas) and someone kicks me out of a restaurant.  Are people really this stupid???

by Haywood Bynum III

Proposed Jim Crow laws for gay people are already taking effect in Kansas.   38-year-old Johnny Quinns-Smith wanted to get an egg-salad sandwich for himself and his fiance, Erique Boltzman.  He went to his local diner outside Franton, near Scranton, a place where he and Boltzman had occasionally ate over the past 6 years.  In fact, it was at this diner that the two met during a lunch hour.

But today, Quinss-Smith encountered something he thought he would never see in his lifetime:  a sign.  A sign that said, “Service Refused To Gay Couples.”

“I was in absolute shock, I mean, I could not even fathom what was going on,” he said.  When he went into the restaurant, all went silent.  The locals looked at him, with several pointing and whispering.  Wiping out a cup, a server behind the restaurant’s main ordering station stared at him and then looked over at one of the newest signs next to the cash register.

“I looked at where several people’s eyes were tracking.  Then there it was, it was a sign that said ‘No Gay Eating Here’.”

Shock: “No Gay Eating Here”, Kansas bill allows businesses and government workers to refuse service to gay couples.

Not wanting to make a scene, Quinns-Smith quickly walked up to the stand where he had always been able to order his food.  The server who had taken his order and brought him his food for years stood there in front of him and asked, “How can we help?”
“What is wrong.  What is this sign meaning,” Quinns-Smith asked, feeling uncomfortable as eyes rested on him.

“It means you and your boyfriend can’t come eating in here no more, unless you find God,” a customer seated offered a response before staff said anything.
“You need to find God and the Bible,” someone else yelled out.  The floodgates were open.

“We don’t want your germs on the silverware.”  ”Just repent son, you can still be forgiven and be normal.”  ”Being gay is not natural.  It is not God’s way.”

Quinns-Smith ran from the restaurant, utterances from the customers making him absolutely horrified and uncomfortable.  When he closed the door behind him, he saw the sign boldly positioned on the front door, right above business hours, “Service Refused to Gay Couples.”  Quinns-Smith had not even noticed it when he walked in.

While he does not plan to return to the restaurant, Quinns-Smith is worried that so many people in town were so bold to talk him down about his lifestyle and that the restaurant was supporting their views, telling him he needs ‘Jesus and to read his Bible’ and to just ‘stop being gay.”

Related articles : Anti-Gay Jim Crow” Bill Gets Dangerously Close to Reality in Kansas Law

The Kansas House of Representatives recently passed a bill with a 73-49 vote that  allows government workers and businesses the right to refuse services to gay couples.  Fortunately, the bill lost traction in the Kansas Senate, but it is still alive and could become law in the state.   The story of this restaurant will become reality for more gay couples across the state, facing an unprecedented showing of ignorance that has unfortunately reached back from the turbulent 1960s and into our modern age of progress.

When Johnny Quinns-Smith hopped back into his car, his fiance was surprised. “Where’s our lunch?”
“I had to explain to him, that because we are a gay couple, some people already felt they had the right to deny us any service, and that included getting an egg salad sandwich so we could eat outside for lunch and enjoy a rarely warm winter’s day.”

This article originally appeared on the Topekasnews

Quick Guide to 50 Weird Laws

So yesterday I posted a humorous "Quick Guide to The Supreme Court Justices", and today I'm posting a suprisingly "Quick Guide to 50 Weird Laws" courtesy of YouTube Vlogger, John Green.  He informs us of the illegal activities such as throwing snowballs, playing BINGO (for longer than 5 hours), or using Silly String.  And yes, Adultery is still a crime in New York.

The Lovely 29 States That Can Fire You For Being Gay

Yep, and my lovely state of Texas if one of them.  I look at this sea of red and can't figure out why these state legislatures would allow this to happen.  I have my theories, but there are not enough curse words in the English or Spanish language to voice my frustration.

Thankfully, employers make their own decisions in our state.  And while M.D. Anderson doesn't provide health insurance for our spouses, they do support the GLBT community.  Now, Ryan's bank, on the other hand, provides domestic partner benefits, and this is across the board - all over the U.S. 

I honestly believe that if conservatives and republicans could find a way, they would make it illegal to be Gay.  I honestly believe that. They hate us that much.

via upworthy

WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 015 - Law & Justice

What is Criminal Justice?  Courtesy of wiseGeek, it is the application or study of laws regarding criminal behavior. Those who study criminal justice include the police, those working in a judiciary capacity, and lawyers who either defend or prosecute those accused of a crime. Others work to advocate for changes in the current system of criminal justice, such as those who render decisions regarding current laws, like members of Supreme Courts. It is important that the criminal justice system includes the word justice, since laws applied to those accused of a crime should be fair. 

So what has President Barack Obama done concerning Law & Justice?  Well, he appointed the first Latina to the Supreme Court, the first black Attorney General, outlined a new federal drug control policy, established crimes programs for the New Orleans area, and has managed to watch the U.S. population decline for the first time in decades.

Today, we will look at one broad policy, one funding achievement, and a targeted action in reference to Law & Justice.

WTF-44

Outlined new federal drug control policy.

The White House is putting more resources into drug prevention and treatment, part of President Barack Obama's pledge to treat illegal drug use more as a public health issue than a criminal justice problem.

The new drug control strategy to be released Tuesday boosts community-based anti-drug programs, encourages health care providers to screen for drug problems before addiction sets in and expands treatment beyond specialty centers to mainstream health care facilities.

"It changes the whole discussion about ending the war on drugs and recognizes that we have a responsibility to reduce our own drug use in this country," Gil Kerlikowske, the White House drug czar, said in an interview.

The plan – the first drug plan unveiled by the Obama White House – calls for reducing the rate of youth drug use by 15 percent over the next five years and for similar reductions in chronic drug use, drug abuse deaths and drugged driving. [Reference]

WTF-45

Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program.

"The (Bush) administration has consistently proposed to cut or eliminate funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program, which funds anti-drug and anti-gang task forces across the country. …Since 2000, this program has been cut more than 83 percent. ... As president, Obama will restore funding."

The U.S. Justice Department uses the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program to send crime-fighting money to cities, towns and counties. The grants can be used for law enforcement functions such as prosecutions, court programs, drug treatment and education, technology upgrades, planning programs, and crime victim and witness programs. Local programs are often adopted nationally, such as drug courts, methamphetamine lab reduction, antigang strategies, re-entry programs and information sharing protocols, according to the National Criminal Justice Association, a national association that represents local enforcement agencies.  [Reference]

WTF-46

Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who rose from the housing projects of the Bronx to the top of the legal profession, made history Thursday when the Senate confirmed her to become the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

Sotomayor was easily confirmed in a 68-31 vote. Nine Republicans joined a unanimous Democratic caucus in supporting her nomination.

Sotomayor, a 55-year-old federal appeals court judge, is the 111th person to sit on the high court and the third female justice.

She was sworn in at the Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday, August 8, 2009 [Reference-1, Reference-2]

I will come back to this topic in another issue, until then, please feel free to read any of my previous issues by clicking here.

Make sure to read the next issue
Issue No. 016 - Housing
as I continue with
WTF-47

Posted daily or weekly on BLADE 7184 until Election Day!

Another State Down, 42 More To go

Before I continue with my blogs I did want to mention an important achievement that occurred yesterday.  In a move that has Washington Republicans and conservative bible thumpers screaming their lungs out - marriage for the gays was passed in the state!

In a vote of 28 to 21 the Senate passed a marriage equality bill where it is expected to easily pass through the House.  Once that is done, Governor Christine Gregoire will sign the bill into law!!!  And for those who are unaware, she's actually the one who introduced the bill.  And for that we're thankful!

We love you Christine - the gays love you!

For The Gays Who Say Our President Hasn't Done Enough For Our Rights...

It irks me to say it, but yes, there are "gays" that side with the Republican party, who would rather see them in hell, hung, or put to death by stones, than to be with a party whose shown more love and compassion than anyone on the right could ever dream of having.

Look at that chart below, and you tell me.  Would you have seen this in a Republican president?  HELL to the N to the O!  If this country elects a Republican in 2012, you seriously need to worry, because they will do whatever they can to overturn what this President has worked so hard to achieve.  Mark my words.

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Politics 101: How Laws Are Made?

You don't need a political science course to teach you how our laws are made.  You just need more people like me, who will share this information with you on a daily basis. :-)

While I did take U.S. Government, U.S. History, and Political Science in college; I did manage to forget some of it. 

I find it helpful to have a handy chart like this to help refresh my memory.

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Student Voting Laws by State

In a really sad turn of events, Student voting laws are changing for the worse.  If the laws go through, it will definitely change the outlook of the 2012 election... pretty much what the Dark Side (Republicans) are looking forward to, in excitement.

The following chart pretty much tells the story...

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Girls With Guns

And you thought I only posted pics of hot guys throughout the week.  WELL YOU'RE WRONG!

I'm bringing change, and posted some pictures of girls with guns.

Seriously, what is the world turning itself into, especially here in the United States and mine and Ryan's beloved home state of Texas?  Little girls carrying guns, or boys for that matter, shouldn't be out parading themselves in front of a camera, showing how proud they are to have a weapon in their hands that can harm or kill someone.
I feel sorry for the fools who took these photos.