Porno Pete LaBarbera continues lying vendetta against Progressive Insurance

Peter LaBarbera seems to be carrying his nonsensical vendetta against Progressive Insurance to another level.

And bear in mind, it's not because Progressive has harmed him in any way. Peter objects to the fact that Progressive Insurance has the temerity to not only treat its lgbt employees with respect, but also support lgbt causes.

After posting a letter from someone who supposedly canceled his insurance because of Progressive's support of the lgbt community, LaBarbera is continuing the same vein of lies in his newest post by claiming that not only Progressive but other corporations fund and support lgbt pride parades.

And the picture he uses to push this nonsense is the same one I talked about this morning - the picture of two go-go dancers from a gay pride in Sydney, Australia.

But Peter distorted this picture to give the impression that the dancers are naked.

Nor does he offer any evidence that any corporation, Progressive included, funded this parade.

By linking Progressive and other corporations to lgbt pride parades while posting a distorted picture having nothing to do with them, LaBarbera is sinking low.

It's the equivalent of fanning people's racial prejudices by posting a picture of a kissing interracial couple.

Peter seems to be on a "streak" here. My guess is that on a daily basis, he will be "revealing" more information about how Progressive pushes the so-called gay agenda. Bear in mind that LaBarbera most likely already has a reservoir of information which he will pervert.

By pushing the phony angle of "it's worst than what we thought," LaBarbera will reveal the information bit by bit for the purpose of suspense.

Allow me to take a possible morsel from his mouth. It's about the Peter Lewis, the owner of Progressive. He will be receiving the 2010 America's Future Lifetime Leadership Award from Campaign for America's Future for his funding of progressive causes.

It's a wonderful honor but watch, if LaBarbera mentions it, how he will try to tarnish the occasion by accusing Lewis of trying to undermine "family values" in the same manner others on the right attack George Sorors for his funding of progressive causes.

But the most annoying part of LaBarbera's afternoon diatribe is this statement.

This is how we regain our culture: taking one principled stance at a time, and using our considerable power as consumers to defend morality and truth. In the last decade or so, the corporate world was essentially ceded to the “gay” lobby without much of a fight — while pro-family advocates were busy opposing the homosexual activist political agenda in Washington, D.C. Now look at the tragic result: major corporations are using their immense resources to promote sexual immorality and gender confusion throughout society. And the agenda they are financing wars against Biblical values and directly threatens YOUR religious freedom.

One wonders: what have the Christian employees been doing all these years at companies like Progressive? Why haven’t more people of faith spoken up in their place of employment — urging their superiors not to waste valuable corporate resources to fund and promote the homosexual and transsexual agenda? And why aren’t more Christians and moral advocates demanding true corporate “diversity” — which includes respecting those employees who support real (man-woman) marriage and who oppose homosexual practice and gender confusion?

First of all, this is not your culture alone nor is it your country alone. You have neither title nor deed to it. It belongs to all of us, lgbts included. The fact that you can't share is none of our concern because the truth is that you will share it all, one way or the other.

Lastly, what do Christian employees do, Peter?

True Christians, employees or otherwise, would recognize the fact that lgbt employees have every right to be as open about their lives and families as they do.

And at the very least, they don't post distorted pictures of go-go dancers.

Again I would suggest that readers call Progressive Insurance and thank the company for its policy of fairness. And offer congratulations for Peter Lewis on his award. Call Progressive at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (800-776-4737) or fax your own letter to 800-229-1590.  (A Progressive phone/e-mail contact page is HERE.)

Related posts:
Peter LaBarbera's homophobic lies reap a small benefit

Rekers scandal continues to undermine the religious right and other Thursday midday news briefs

How The Rekers ‘Rent Boy’ Scandal Could Undermine Prop. 8 Supporters’ Court Battle - The Rekers scandal is like the gift that keeps on giving to the lgbt community.

Malawi “People Like You” Given 14 Year Sentence - This is disgusting. We all need to keep the Malawi couple in our prayers.

Montgomery College picks new president - And she is African-American too! Yes it is a big deal because we need more lgbts of color in the public eye, especially intelligent, successful ones.

Rand Paul On 'Maddow' Defends Criticism Of Civil Rights Act, Says He Would Have Worked To Change Bill - Not necessarily an lgbt issue per se . . . then again maybe it is.

Barber: "Solicitor Kagan, Do You Identify as a Lesbian?" - The hot mess that is Matt Barber.

FDA starts process of lifting gay blood donor ban - This is good news!

Peter LaBarbera's homophobic lies reap a small benefit

Peter LaBarbera seems to be in a good mood this morning. Naturally this means trouble for the lgbt community.

The source of his merriment is that his nonsense regarding the lgbt community has resonated with at least one person.

Peter reprinted a letter from a man in Texas who canceled his car insurance with Progressive after reading Peter's post about its support for the lgbt community. The following are snippets:

The GLBT agenda violates my core fundamental beliefs. Please allow me to clarify this … I am a firm supporter of equality; when it pertains to one’s ethnicity, skin color, natural gender, or age. I adamantly oppose the oppression of any human being, by any individual, or group. I am a man of principle and a man who seeks to bring about peace. In layman’s terms, I am the bigger kid on the playground that pulled the “bully” off the smaller kid.

What I am opposed to in this situation is not a person, nor a group of people, but rather an “Action.” An Action that I find to be repulsive and a shock to the conscience. Not only because of my spiritual beliefs, but by my instinctive and natural human ability to decipher between what is right and what is wrong.

. . .Frankly, I could care less what others do in their private time. I do not ask and I do not want to know. It is a discussion that should be left outside of the main streets of our society and confined to the privacy of one’s own home.

However, rather than leave this controversial “Action” to the confines of one’s own personal life, your company has publicly elected to endorse a movement that seeks to promote an “Action” that I find to be unnatural, immoral, and contrary to any teachings I would want my children exposed to.

The GLBT movement seeks to pursue a public campaign, whose primary goal is to re-define what I am naturally programmed to believe. Therefore, I ask you: Why would your respected organization support a movement that forces such an offensive position upon my family and me, with little to no regard for my religious, moral, or natural beliefs?

The letter left me scratching my head regarding this man's ignorance. Then I took at look at Peter's posting which supposedly led him to cancel his insurance.

Just like so many things he does pertaining to the lgbt community, LaBarbera misled in this posting by publishing a picture which had nothing to do with Progressive Insurance being fair to the lgbt community:

There are so many things wrong with this picture. First of all, the guys aren't naked, as the original source photo shows. But Peter is clearly implying this.

Secondly, it is a pride parade in Sydney Australia, having absolutely nothing to do with Progressive Insurance or its policy of fairness to the lgbt community.

But we all know that LaBarbera posted the picture to infer the phony idea that the lgbt community is a danger to the sanctity of America (and a serious detriment to children) and through its hiring policies, Progressive Insurance is somehow promoting this mess when the truth is merely the fact that the company is practicing basic fairness in its employment policies.

Granted, I'm sure the idea of naked go-go boys would most likely get them more premiums but come on, Peter. You know you told an outright lie here.

You baited the hook with the usual  homophobic tripe and managed to catch a little fish.

One more thing - I was reluctant to link to  LaBarbera's piece because he included the man's name and address. I would sincerely hope that anyone reading this post would have the good sense to recognize a trap when they see it.

Regardless of how angry you get, DO NOT  contact this man in any way. The last thing we need is another phony martyr of the alleged "gay menace.

I would suggest that you call Progressive Insurance and thank the company for its policy of fairness.


Call Progressive at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (800-776-4737) or fax your own letter to 800-229-1590.  (A Progressive phone/e-mail contact page is HERE.)

Family Research Council refuses to acknowledge lgbt servicemen and women

If you want a good view of how religious right groups subliminally push hatred against the lgbt community, check out this email I received from the Family Research Council regarding the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy:

President Obama wants to raise the rainbow flag of the homosexual rights movement over them.


Which will it be? That's what is at stake in Family Research Council's (FRC) campaign to stop the homosexual Left from lifting the ban on open homosexuality in the military.

That prohibition is federal law and was applied in the 1993 Clinton compromise policy called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).

And if the Left overturns it and forces open homosexuality on the military, here are just a few of the results:

• Soldiers will be forced to live in close quarters with people who view them as sexual objects.
• Morale will plunge, discipline will suffer, and unit cohesion -- the glue that holds the military together -- will fall apart and dramatically weaken our national defense capability.
• Many highly motivated, well-trained servicemen and women will leave the military rather than serve in compromising situations . . . and many men and women simply will not join the military.
• Scarce funds will be wasted to retrofit sleeping quarters and handle discipline problems.

I've seen many religious right missives about the lgbt community and that email is probably the ugliest thing I have ever read for a number of reasons.

The implication that lgbts only want to join the military for sexual adventures is bad enough. And it is here that the Family Research Council is being crafty. The organization is obviously channeling the discredited studies of one Paul Cameron, particularly the one which claims that gay soldiers are four to seven times more likely to rape their fellow officers.

I wonder how the Family Research Council feels about Cameron's other claims, such as gays stuff gerbils up their rectums.

But the most insulting thing in this email is the lack of acknowledgment for our lgbt fighting men and women. Gays and lesbians aren't trying to invade the military. We serve in it already and we merely want the right to be open about who we are.

According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, more than 13,500 service members have been fired under  Don't Ask, Don't Tell since 1994.

Also:

• 73 percent of military personnel are comfortable with lesbians and gays (Zogby International, 2006).
• One in four U.S. troops who served in Afghanistan or Iraq knows a member of their unit who is gay (Zogby, 2006).

But you can't tell that to the Family Research Council.

In the world that the supposedly Christian group inhabits (and seems to want to create for the rest of us), there is no such person as Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, who was the first American to be wounded in war in Iraq. On March 21, 2003 Alva stepped on a landmine, sustaining heavy injuries to his leg. It was later amputated, leading Alva to be medically discharged and awarded a Purple Heart.

Nor are there such people as Jenny Kopfstein, Rhonda Davis, David Hall, or any of the other lgbt fighting men and women who, with the rest of our Armed Forces, are willing to give up their lives to preserve this country's freedoms.

Even, unfortunately, FRC's right to disrespect them by diminishing their contributions.

Regardless how anyone feels about lgbts serving openly in the military, to pretend that they don't serve at all - and serve with honor- is an act worthy of a spiteful child.

But it's not surprising. After all, FRC thinks elderly lgbts don't exist. Why should anyone be surprised that the organization feels the same way about lgbt servicemen and women.

In it's zeal to yet again pigeonhole the lgbt community as a bunch selfish hedonists, FRC does a disservice not only to our entire Armed Forces but also to the concepts of integrity, truth, and Christian values.

Lgbt parenting - myths vs. reality

For those interested, the midday news briefs post is below this one.

But I wanted to demonstrate something. A lot has been said about lgbt parenting so I decided to show how some folks on the right think of lgbt parenting vs. the reality.

Granted, some folks will think that the clip from the right is a bit extreme, but to me, it demonstrates the mindset that some have but aren't willing to publicly admit (Editor's note - this clip comes from a comedy youtube site but it is an actual tract from Chick Publications, which supposedly gives information from a "Christian" perspective):



Okay, now here is the reality:



Any questions?

High schoolers take a stand against homophobia and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Anti-homophobic B.C. students cross-dress to show support - This is too awesome!

Colorado gets fourth openly gay state legislator - Way to go Colorado in making up for electing that awful Marilyn Musgrave!

Greg Quinlan's anti-PFLAG 'hate' meme: Ex-appropriate - When he's not lying about court cases, PFOX's Greg Quinlan is lying on PFLAG.

AFA Takes Credit For Video Chain Bankruptcy - I bet they took the credit for the failure of new Coke.

Uganda Parliament Proposes Death Penalty in New HIV/AIDS Bill - This ain't good.

Anti-gay Matt Barber's youtube site is hilarious

You probably know this already but Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber has a youtube site.

Granted, it hasn't been updated in years, but it's a very interesting look at the insights of a man who has been attempting to build a career on anti-gay lies and distortions.

Believe it or not, he used to be a boxer as two clips from the site shows (insert your own bad jokes about his pudgy body here.):



The best video on this site is one where Barber engages African-American gay activist and former Clinton White House employee Keith Boykin on ENDA from three years ago.

Boykin mops up the floor with him:

Nate Phelps gives lowdown on hateful anti-gay father and family

Not every member of the Phelps family (i.e. the "God hates fags" group which likes to picket everywhere) are bad people.

In fact, one member, Nate Phelps, is doing what he can to combat the hatred his relatives freely throw out. In a recent interview with ABC's Nightline, he verifies what was probably suspected about his father, Fred Phelps and his family environment.

Gay couple faces 14 year prison term and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Gay couple convicted in Malawi faces 14-year term - There are no words for this monstrosity.

Another (R) hypocri-bites the dust - A la Governor Mark Sanford, another "marriage defender" caught with his hands . . . well you get the picture.

Hawaii governor says bill's civil unions may be same-sex marriage - I hope she don't veto it.

Janet Porter: The Movie - Godzilla and Cloverfield, eat your heart out. And now that comment was not meant to be a dig at Porter's physical form, only her mental one.

Those who want to `cure' gays spread poison - Amen, Amen, and AMEN!

Newsbusters: How dare CNN treat gay people like normal human beings!

The right-wing media "watchdog" site Newsbusters is angry at CNN for daring to show an hour-long special about a gay couple who has chosen to have a baby because the network supposedly won't show "opposition" to lgbt parenting:

CNN likes to paint itself as the "objective" middle ground in cable news between Fox News and MSNBC. But you don't find the middle with a one-hour June special titled "Gary and Tony Have a Baby." A duo of "gay marriage" activists are the stars "on their quest to have a biological child of their own" -- using an egg donor and a surrogate mother. The trailer is here, championing "the support, the drama" behind "the new American family." The pro-gay blog AfterElton.com noted CNN's own explanation of the Soledad O'Brien documentary:

Unable to legally marry in the U.S., [Gary and Tony] travel to Canada, get married, and spend thousands on an arduous journey toward parenthood via surrogacy and in vitro fertilization. ... Though Gary and Tony had hoped for a happy extended family, they discover instead ambivalence about same-sex marriage. With court battles, and struggles against their hometown community – can these men achieve a life as mainstream as their parents?

CNN is not the "mainstream" media. Like the other liberal networks, they are the "mainstreaming" media, the idealistic leftists who want to take every sexual orientation straight into the center of respectability. "Transgenders" were honored with the two-hour special "Her Name Was Steven" in March. Soledad O'Brien talked to Michael Jensen at AfterElton, and explained this project was never meant to be two-sided

As it is, this is an inaccurate assessment. According to transcript provided by Newsbusters comes the statement by O'Brien:

We tell their (the gay couple's) story very organically. They are activists and there are times when their activism brings them into contact with those that oppose them and we show that. But we don't go out and solicit opinions from those against gay parents. 

So there is, in fact, opposition to lgbt parenting which will be shown But I think Newsbusters's discomfort lies in the fact that CNN didn't seek out a religious right spokesperson speaking carefully rehearsed, exact anti-gay talking points in an unchallenged venue

 

In other words, CNN intends to film things as they happen, al natural, and if someone happens to show themselves to be a homophobic loudmouth who opposes lgbt parenting for no other reason than a rash fear of gays then so be it.

 

I fail to see the problem here.

Chill out, Newsbusters. Not every network aspires be Fox News. There are some out there who actually want to tell a fair story rather be a sounding board for right-wing nonsense.

'Ex-gay' Michael Glatze 'deeply cares' about Ricky Martin's 'sexuality'

I noticed that the American Family Association's One News Now has not said a word about George Rekers. However the phony news services did publish a seemingly defiant piece via "ex-gay" Michael Glatze.

For the benefit of those who are not aware, Glatze was the founder of a gay magazine and an activist who, after a health scare which turned out to be anemia, decided that he was no longer gay. Now he attacks the lgbt sexual orientation with as much fervor as he claims to have embraced it. Since Glatze's "change," he has been wandering through life doing strange things, such as briefly joining the Mormon church or attacking President Obama's racial heritage.

Recently, he claimed to no longer be a "spokesman" for the ex-gay community.

 I guess his mind changes as quickly as his sexual orientation. There is no need to read his recent piece, Healing from Homosexuality. If you have heard Peter LaBarbera, Matt Barber, or Andrea Lafferty speak, then you know what this piece is all about.

Blah, blah, blah, homosexuality is evil. Blah, blah, blah.

But what caught my attention when looking for that piece was the one Glatze had written earlier addressing the recent coming out of singing sensation, Ricky Martin  in his piece, To Ricky with love: You can resist:

People like Ricky Martin, even if they don't care about his sexuality. But I care about his sexuality. I care deeply about his sexuality - and about the sexuality of people on this planet. Because, you see, our sexuality is under attack.

Our increasingly perverted culture is engaging in an all-out war on human sexuality, with the idolization of the male body one of its bastions and the twisting of normal heterosexuality into active homosexuality as its main goal. If masculinity can be undermined, the people will be without a powerful spine - and charismatic leaders with nothing but power and control in mind can assume that power and control.

Ricky Martin, like many of us, had the pressure of a life of fame and the life of being successful on account of his sex appeal and physical appearance. And, like all people who suffer this temptation, the "gifts" of success can seem to outweigh the gifts of humility and denial of that success - in pursuit of higher principles. The pressure is immense.

. . .I tell people all the time that the seduction of homosexuality is so powerful - especially when supported by charismatic presidents and powerful lobbying groups - that it can seem so much easier just to succumb, rather than fight. But that fight is for your very soul. This goes for everybody reading this, whether you identify as "gay" or "straight," "Christian" or not - this is a battle for your soul.

When the homosexual temptation arises in a human's experience, it is always possible to avoid it - and push through. There are many good Christian churches there to help, many good organizations out there with powerful, good resources (NARTH.org is one of my favorites) and many loving individuals who can offer their personal stories to inspire and edify.

What's so hilarious about Glatze's commentary - other than the NARTH mention in light of the Rekers scandal (Glatze's piece came out before Rekers's desire to have his "junk,"  I mean luggage handled became public)  - is how Glatze makes it sound like Martin is in the lure of something sinister and evil.

The following is Martin's statement after coming out. Does it sound like something sinister or evil?:

This is just what I need, especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day," Martin wrote. "These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed." 

Personally I could care less about Glatze. Whatever he decides to do for himself is his decision and it is something he has to live with. And it is his right to live how he wants and to believe what he wants.

But lines must be drawn when he tries to push that belief on others. His audacity in this "personal note" to Ricky Martin, as well as that silly piece he wrote recently in One News Now is sad.

How dare he makes such assumptions about people's lives.  There are many of us lgbts who love our sexual orientation. A lot of us, myself included, feel like it's wrong not to express our homosexuality because it is a gift from God.

What makes our voices and opinions any less important than Glatze's?

Finally far be it from me to attack someone's personal decisions in life but I think something highly Freudian is going on here. Why Ricky Martin?

If you want to impress me, Michael, why don't you try to convert someone older and more difficult, such as  Nathan Lane or Rip Taylor?

Shouldn't you deeply care about their sexuality too, even if they don't swing their hips like Martin?

Religious right ties threatening Republican gubernatorial bids and other Monday midday news briefs

Republican gubernatorial candidates in trouble over religious right ties - thus proving the old adage of "when you lie down with dogs, you end up with fleas:

Brownback's Ties to Engle Becoming An Issue In Kansas Gov. Race

Fla. Editorials Gang Up on Attorney General’s Support of ’Rentboy Rekers’

And in other news:

Thanks to gay couples, DC marriage licenses may hit new record - Not that I'm gloating or anything.

Rekers case again shows shame of gay adoption ban - It's always nice to hear the plain truth.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty Vetoes “Final Wishes” Bill for Same-Sex Couples - I called it last week. Sorry Pawlenty but if you think you are going to the White House on the backs of the lgbt community, think again.

Elena Kagan 'plays softball like a lesbian'

The folks at InfoMania's take on the Wall Street Journal and that picture of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan playing softball.

Why did they run that picture anyway?




Past infoMania posts:

Conversion Therapy - a video with George Rekers in mind

Advice to closeted politicans - How to keep from being exposed

Why the phrase 'No Homo' is highly needed

Reasons why the 'sanctity' of proms MUST be preserved from Constance McMillen

Why gay marriage is 'wrong'  

Know Your LGBT History - The Celluloid Closet

Via my Know Your LGBT History posts, I've tried to impart a little history regarding lgbt images in movies and television. I was guided by an excellent book The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies by the late author Vito Russo.

I would remiss if I didn't mention the documentary film by the same name based on Russo's book. As the book is an excellent read, this is an excellent documentary:



Past Know Your LGBT History postings

Know Your LGBT History - Querelle

Know Your LGBT History - Theatre of Blood

Know Your LGBT History - Strange Fruit

Know Your LGBT History - Designing Women

Know Your LGBT History - The Children's Hour

Know Your LGBT History - Sylvester

Know Your LGBT History - Once Bitten

Know Your LGBT History - The Boys in the Band

Know Your LGBT History - Christopher Morley, the crossdressing assassin

Know Your LGBT History - Midnight Cowboy

Know Your LGBT History - Dracula's Daughter

Know Your LGBT History - Blacula

Know Your LGBT History - 3 Strikes

Know Your LGBT History - Paris Is Burning

Know Your LGBT History - The Women

Know your LGBT History - Soul Plane

Know Your LGBT History - The Player's Club

Special Know Your LGBT History - Fame

Know Your LGBT History - Welcome Home, Bobby

Know Your LGBT History - Barney Miller

Know your lgbt history - The Jerry Springer Show

Know your lgbt history - Martin Lawrence and that 'gay guy' on his show

Know your lgbt history - The Ricki Lake Show

Know your lgbt history - Which Way Is Up

Know your lgbt history - Gays in Primetime Soaps

Know your lgbt history - Boys Beware

Know your lgbt history - The Boondocks

Know your lgbt history - Mannequin

Know your lgbt history - The Warriors

Know Your LGBT History - New York Undercover

Know Your LGBT History - Low Down Dirty Shame

Know Your LGBT History - Fortune and Men's Eyes

Know your lgbt history - California Suite

Know your lgbt history - Taxi (Elaine's Strange Triangle)

Know your lgbt history - Come Back Charleston Blue

Know your lgbt history - James Bond goes gay

Know your lgbt history - Windows

Know your lgbt history - To Wong Foo and Priscilla

Know your lgbt history - Blazing Saddles

Know your lgbt history - Sanford and Son

Know your lgbt history - In Living Color

Know your lgbt history - Cleopatra Jones and her lesbian drug lords

Know your lgbt history - Norman, Is That You?

Know your lgbt history - The 'Exotic' Adrian Street

Know your lgbt history - The Choirboys

Know your lgbt history - Eddie Murphy

Know your lgbt history - The Killing of Sister George

Know your lgbt history - Hanna-Barbera cartoons pushes the 'gay agenda

'Know your lgbt history - Cruising

Know your lgbt history - Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones

Know your lgbt history - I Got Da Hook Up

Know your lgbt history - Fright Night

Know your lgbt history - Flowers of Evil

The Jeffersons and the transgender community   

Shirley Q. Liquor is NOT funny and other Friday midday news briefs

Lettman: Detroit is a model for black LGBT future - And good models NEED to be copied.

Blackface Drag Queen Set To Perform in Northern California - Ain't nothing funny about a white man in black face and lgbts have NO BUSINESS making fun of other disadvantaged people. Sorry but I simply can't defend Shirley Q. Liquor's hot mess.

Inhofe Says U.S. Soldiers Will Be Unwilling To Fight And Die For Their Gay Comrades - Good grief. How many loons are there in Congress?

Massachusetts Health Official Aided Ex-Gay Tampering with Suicidal Teen-Agers - We got trouble in Massachusetts.

Rachel Maddow explores the George Rekers - Liberty Counsel connection

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Governor Pawlenty continues attack on lgbt community

Arguably the one who will probably try to make a good shot at President Obama in the 2012 elections is Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

And if this the case, lgbts better start planning what we are going to do. For good reason, we have been giving Obama hell for not moving as swiftly as he should on our issues. But if Pawlenty gets in office, we are going to be moving in the other direction big time, as evidenced by his veto threat today:

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Wednesday that he would veto a bill aimed at giving same-sex partners the same end-of-life rights as married couples, saying the bill was unnecessary and would "stoke up a political controversy on a hot-button issue."

Supporters balked at the governor's rationale, saying his suggestion that same-sex couples could achieve the same rights through a will still leaves gays on unequal footing with their heterosexual counterparts — married couples have those rights without a will.

"He's wrong," asserted Rep. Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, a House sponsor of the bill.

The bill is the product of Project 515, an advocacy group for gays and lesbians named after the number of Minnesota laws the group says discriminate against same-sex couples. The group is not pursuing marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Project 515 got its first bill passed last year, which protected the homes of the surviving partner of a cohabitating couple should the state try to force a sale to cover the deceased's medical bills. Pawlenty signed it.

The new bill gives same-sex partners the right to make decisions about how to dispose of a deceased partner's body — something gay couples say is needed because some gays and lesbians are estranged from their immediate families. The bill passed the House and Senate this week and also gives surviving partners the right to sue those responsible should their partner be killed.

Now come on, Pawlenty. Are you saying that lgbt couples should have to jump through extra hoops for end of life dignity instead of you just signing the law that the Minnesota legislature passed?  There is nothing to be gained from such a nasty gesture.

Then again, I take that back. Pawlenty is obviously continuing his attempt to gain conservative base credibility. His veto threat is in line with his comments last year when he backtracked from pro-lgbt legislation he earlier signed. His explanation then was even more insulting than his about-face. Pawlenty claimed that the legislation could lead to cross-dressing third grade teachers:

That statute is not worded the way it should be. I said I regretted the vote later because it included things like cross-dressing, and a variety of other people involved in behaviors that weren't based on sexual orientation, just a preference for the way they dressed and behaved. So it was overly broad. So if you are a third-grade teacher and you are a man and you show up on Monday as Mr. Johnson and you show up on Tuesday as Mrs. Johnson, that is a little confusing to the kids. So I don't like that.

That ridiculous comment last year and his nasty veto this year makes it all clear. Pawlenty is trying to build a road to the White House on the backs of the lgbt community.

Governor Pawlenty, if you are going to treat the lgbt communities like whores, then shouldn't you pay us first before you screw us?

Liberty Counsel claims George Rekers was set up and other Thursday midday news briefs

Liberty Counsel Willing To Stand With Rekers - Please, please, PLEASE let it be so! Christmas would come early for me.

Kentucky: Crosby Middle School student called a 'contradiction' for having lesbian parents - I don't care about "deeply held personal beliefs" about homosexuality being a sin because there is simply NO excuse for this.

Tallahassee: Leon County Passes Fully-Inclusive HRO - Way to go, Tallahassee!

How The Game Is Played…(continued) - This has been pointed out SO MANY times by so many folks, myself included.

Puerto Rican pleads guilty in killing of gay teen - You have fun with those 99 years in prison.

Gay couples kissing? Why not?

In case you are not aware of it, there is an internet campaign geared to show the gay couple in the ABC hit sitcom Modern Family kissing. The campaign sprung from a recent episode of the show which showed a heterosexual couple kissing while showing the gay couple locked in an embrace.

According to Huffington Post blogger Waymon Hudson:

These are all symptoms of a larger issue. The show completely neuters and desexualizes its gay couple. Sure, they never kiss, but they also never even make innuendo or refer to any kind of sexual relationship between the two of them. The other couples do what every sitcom does, with a nod and a wink refer to their sex lives and their physical relationship as a married couple. That doesn't happen with the gay couple.

Modern Family is a great show. I'm happy to have it on the air and will continue to watch it. What I hope, however, is that the show's producers continue to make a fun, heart-warming show about the make-up of modern families in today's society and strive to make a bit more realistic and reflective of where LGBT families are today.

That would be truly modern.

And now others are starting to weigh in, including a certain homophobic individual whose ignorance I usually make fun of but will not  in this case even refer to him OR link to his SPLC designated hate site due to his nasty comments about lgbt couples in general.

But what I will do (and that is the video above) is feature a youtube take on the entire thing regarding gay couples kissing. A kiss may seem irrelevant. But you would be surprised how powerful of an image it conveys.

Why can't Matt Barber stop lying about hate crimes legislation?

According for People for the American Way's Religious Right Watch, Liberty Counsel member Matt Barber was exploiting an incident in Britain to claim that lgbts in America want to imprison Christians who believe that homosexuality is a sin:

When it was first reported that Dale Mcalpine, a Christian street preacher in Britain, was arrested for saying that homosexuality is a sin, you know it was only a matter of time before the Religious Right in the US started using this incident to work up fears about how this is exactly what gays want to do to Christians here in America.

Case in point:

Liberty Counsel Cultural Affairs Analyst Matt Barber raised the warning that such cases will be seen more and more in America, too.

"We know that what's happening in Europe and what's happening in Canada offers us a window into the future of what will happen here in the United States," he said. "The hate crimes laws and employment sexual orientation laws such as ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act here in the United States, have been the precursor to the more oppressive hate speech laws," Barber explained.

"Make no mistake, those laws we have now for hate crimes and the more present danger with ENDA, these laws are the precursor in the U. S. for the same kind of criminalization of Christianity that's happening in the U. K.," Barber said.

..."Their goal is to silence any dissent and to silence under any penalty of law the Biblical recognition and expression of a traditional Judeo-Christian world view relative to sexual behavior and sexual morality," Barber said.

He warned if unchecked, the radical homosexual lobby will ensure that the U.S. goes the same direction as Britain.

"We've seen the same kind of vague language and loopholes that are used to prosecute Mr. McAlpine in Great Britain show up in laws employed here in the United States to prosecute individuals for non-violent speech, for simply sharing a Biblical world view relative to sexual morality," Barber said.

In the original World Net Daily article, Barber cites the tired example of the 11 individuals who were arrested in 2004 for disrupting a gay pride event in Philadelphia:

"The 11 people who were arrested and charged with a hate crime for sharing the Gospel at a Philadelphia gay pride event is an example of the trend. They could have been put in prison for 47 years," Barber said.

Of course Barber conveniently (more like intentionally) omits several facts such as those 11 so-called Christians were disruptively pushing their way into the middle of the festival and got arrested after they refused to follow police orders and that the hate crimes charge was dismissed, thereby proving the notion of the "law silencing Christians" in America is ridiculous.

And it is the only "example" from this country he cites as proof that American hate crimes legislation will lead to the imprisonment of  Christians. All of his other examples are from foreign countries.

But before there is even time to ruminate over the irony of Barber listing foreign examples in order to smear laws in this country, he then tells a even more suspicious tale:

This WND article also contains audio of the entire interview with Barber, during which he also claims that after he first learned of this incident, he "started perusing a number of homosexual news sites and homosexual blogs" and found that "the majority of homosexuals and homosexual activists for this same kind of homophobia/hate speech persecution here in the United States"

Just what blogs and news sites did Barber peruse to get this opinion? Certainly not mine because I've said a number of times that I don't believe in arresting people for declaring homosexuality to be a sin. I've even got a count down clock on my site which shows that since President Obama signed the lgbt inclusive hate crimes law, no one has been arrested in this country for calling homosexuality a sin.

And I know that Barber didn't get his opinion from any post on Pam's House Blend, Box Turtle Bulletin, Goodasyou.org, Truth Wins Out, Queerty, Towleroad, Joe.My.God., or any of the other prominent lgbt blogs. And I suspect the same thing from lgbt news sites.

In short, I don't think that Barber just told a lie. I think he told a damn lie.

But making vague, unprovable accusations is old hat for Barber.

In September 2008, Barber tried make the case against GLSEN's Day of Silence event.  In the piece, he said the following:

In fact, multiple studies have established that homosexual conduct, especially among males, is considerably more hazardous to one’s health than a lifetime of chain smoking.

To the consternation of “gay” activist flat-earthers and homosexual AIDS holocaust deniers everywhere, one such study – conducted by pro-”gay” researchers in Canada – was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology (IJE) in 1997.

Those who follows this site know that on more than one occasion, I used that study to show how religious right groups distort credible scientific data.  They are always so quick to cite the 1997 study to claim that lgbts have a "short life span" but never seem to mention that in 2001, the researchers of the study claimed that it was distorted.

Barber did mention the 2001 complaint by saying the following (I bolded the most important part of his statement):

Not surprisingly, that same homosexual lobby and its codependent enablers in the mainstream media moved quickly to sweep the IJE study under the rug. Under tremendous pressure, the researchers who conducted the study even jumped into the political damage control fray issuing a statement which read, “[W]e do not condone the use of our research in a manner that restricts the political or human rights of gay and bisexual men or any other group.”

And where is Barber's proof of this "tremendous pressure?" Who knows because Barber does not give any citations.

Then in June of last year, he told a story about the so-called dangers of allowing gays in the military. According to Barber:

I served twelve years in the Army National Guard. During basic training a young man who later turned out to be homosexual was discharged after making unwanted advances toward other soldiers and for inappropriately touching several while they slept in the barracks.

“A lengthy investigation ensued. Troops were pulled away from their regular training to answer questions. It was a tremendous distraction for our entire platoon. This incident most definitely disrupted unit cohesion and harmed troop morale.

At the time, I said the following - and I continue to stand by it:

I have a serious problem believing Barber's story and here's why:

The one thing I know about Barber is that he never misses a chance to attack the lgbt community on our supposed wrongs and proclivities. His entire career has been built on being a phony martyr of the alleged gay agenda.

But to my knowledge, this is the first time I have ever heard him recount this story. I find it hard to believe that Barber would let such an juicy anti-gay anecdote be unheard until now.

And the ironic thing is that Barber is quoted repeating the alleged incident in a One News Now article which also quotes Elaine Donnelly. Donnelly is the head of a the Center for Military Readiness and has been vocal with attacking the concept of gays in the military.

The question I have is where was Barber and this story last year when Donnelly was figuratively and deservedly butchered in front of a Congressional committee last year for her abysmal testimony against allowing gays in the military.

You will remember that one example she cited about an alleged incident in 1974 concerning a white female who was accosted by a group of lesbians.

Why didn't Barber supply her with his incident, which would have been a more up-to-date story.

Keep lying Matt. You will be caught in a story one day and I'm going to be there to announce your disgrace. I even bought a trumpet for the occasion.