Gay Pride in Bessemer!

The following article appeared in this week's Western Star. This is evidence that equality events can and should take place in small communities as well as in large cities.

Jonesboro Community Garden turns into brightly colored beacon of equality


On Saturday, June 25th, Jonesboro Community Garden in Bessemer turned into a brightly colored beacon of equality, as Gay Pride was celebrated for the first time in Bessemer. The event was sponsored by Bessemer Equality, a Facebook group, and Equality Alabama, a statewide advocacy organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Several dozen people representing the racial and sexual diversity of Bessemer attended the event, and the park welcomed them with a rainbow of colors. Letters in the colors of the rainbow flag spelled out “Bessemer Pride!” and a rainbow flag and a historic U. S. flag flew from the gazebo.

Just like an old time church social, the event was pot luck. Those in attendance shared barbecue ribs, potato salad, fresh fruit, bacon cheese bread, pizza, cinnamon bread, cup cakes and more. Toddlers chased bubbles being produced by a bubble machine. Music played from a system set up in the gazebo. “New York, New York,” sung by Liza Minelli, was played several times to commemorate the approval of marriage equality in New York state, which had happened just hours earlier.

In addition to Equality Alabama, Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, had a display. ACCR is a nonprofit group seeking to draft a new state constitution.

Bessemer Historical Homeowners Association also had a display, with large photos of historical homes in our areas, and promoted home ownership with displays and literature of homes that are for sale in the city.

Surprisingly, they also featured a photo display that portrayed economic development in Bessemer. The new DHR building, the Norfolk Southern railroad hub, and the Dollar General distribution center, were pictured.

One of their displays featured a poster sized reprint of an article from USA Today titled “Gay-tolerant societies prosper economically.”

An artist and jewelry maker rounded out the displays.

One of the aims of the event was to bring the gay community and the straight community together. An estimate reveals that two thirds of the people there were straight, so it certainly achieved that goal.

Thanks to all who helped put on this event, and to those who came. Bessemer is on the move, as evidenced by this recent article in the Birmingham News. As the article in USA today said, gay tolerant societies prosper, and here is the proof.

Bessemer Pride

On Saturday we will celebrate LGBT Pride in Bessemer for the first time!




The Western Star printed this announcement this week.

Bessemer Pride

Bessemer Pride will take place on Saturday, June 25, from 11:30 am to 2 pm, at Jonesboro Community Garden, corner of Owen Avenue and Wellington. Bessemer Pride is about highlighting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Bessemer and surrounding communities and uniting with the straight community to move Bessemer forward. This will be a pot-luck,community get together, so bring your favorite food and join us.

Among the displays at Bessemer Pride will be a suggestion box. Should we keep the June date? Or is fall a better time (October is Gay History month)? Have it on a Sunday afternoon rather than Saturday? Have live entertainment? Forget the food, or raise money and make it a cookout? Other suggestions?

Come and join us, be proud (gay or straight) if you are from Bessemer, or learn a little about our city if you are from elsewhere.

Jonesboro Community Garden is at the corner of Owen Avenue and Wellington in Bessemer, AL.

Won't you be my gaybor (part 2)?

Earlier I posted "Won't you be my gaybor?" where I highlighted historic properties for sale in Bessemer. I can report that most of those homes were sold.

Of course there are always homes for sale, and there are always homes that need restored, and there is always a need for progressives and gays to move to Bessemer to make our city a better place.

Here are four homes of different styles and with different needs that are for sale. But I'm not going to reveal the location of these homes. They will be, along with several others, featured in a display at Bessemer Pride on Saturday. You can learn more about the homes then.









Bessemer Pride will take place Saturday, June 25, from 11:30 until 2:00, at Jonesboro Community Garden (corner of Owen Avenue and Wellington). It's pot luck, bring something to eat (and drink) and enough to share. Even if you don't live in Bessemer, this will be a chance to meet nice people, learn about opportunities and homes for sale, be gay, have fun.



According to the census, there are 53 same sex couples in Bessemer. This gives no indication of the number of single gays, but it must be substantial. Ya'll come on out!

Hey, we are not invisible

Pride

Photo credit - Joe Openshaw


Central Alabama Pride just produced one of the most memorable Pride celebrations the city of Birmingham has ever seen. Did you see any coverage on the news or in the paper? No. Were they notified of the events? Yes. Did they cover the events in the past? Yes. Are they negligent in refusing to cover the events this year? Yes.

A comment on facebook: "Imagine the difference in the outcome of the civil rights era if MLK and Rosa Parks were swept under the rug and ignored...this is our time!"

Larry Kramer said it last night in his acceptance speech at the Tony Awards: "Dearest loving mother, Daryl Roth and generous Paul Boskind, thank you, and everyone, for this magnificent production. To gay people everywhere, whom I love so, The Normal Heart is our history. I could not have written it had not so many of us so needlessly died. Learn from it and carry on the fight. Let them know that we are a very special people, an exceptional people, and that our day will come."

Here is a column I wrote for Noise Magazine about Pride. Interspersed are pictures of Equality Alabama in the parade this year.

Pride artwork by Benjamin Faucher

June is the month that LGBT Pride is celebrated in Birmingham and many other communities across the country. This commemorates the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village that occurred on June 28, 1969 that many designate as the start of the modern gay rights movement.

Photo credit - Joe Openshaw

Pride means different things to different people. For some in the LGBT community the Pride celebration is a way to let others know that “we’re here, we’re queer, get used to it.” For others, it is a chance to blossom into a role that they don’t play every day. And for still others, it’s a chance to party. But for some, Pride celebrations are thought of as silly, unnecessary or even hurtful to our cause.

Photo credit - Chris Wilson

Definitions of pride include references to dignity and self esteem and self respect. None of these words; pride, dignity, self esteem, or self respect, mean the same thing to everyone.


We all come from a different place, physically and emotionally, in our journey. But most will agree that somewhere along the way, our pride suffered and our dignity, self respect and self esteem were low.

Photo Credit - Chris Wilson

Photo Credit- Joe Openshaw

Almost all injustices toward the LGBT community have a basis in religion. Whether one is a member of a particular church or denomination, we all still feel the effects of prejudices and misunderstandings that come from the pulpit. Even though many denominations and individual places of worship are becoming more friendly or affirming toward the gay community, the attitudes of the conservative religious sects continue to affect elections and laws and policies that affect us negatively.

Photo Credit - Joe Openshaw

Equality Alabama has compiled a list of “welcoming” places of worship in our state. The list is incomplete and is evolving. If you know of a place of worship that should be included but is not on the list, please let us know. What we have tried to do is create a database of places where an unsure person could go and seek comfort and be allowed to worship without fear that they would walk away feeling condemned. Because that is exactly what has happened to many of the LGBT people in our state.

Rejection by the church has led to feelings of not belonging, being un-loved and un-wanted, and the inability to accept one’s self. Dignity is lost. Self respect and self esteem are lost. Depression and its sometimes awful consequences are the result.

LGBT Pride is a chance to counter those feelings, whether one is experiencing them now, or has experienced them in the past. Show the world, and those who would seek to oppress you, that you are proud to be gay, proud to be lesbian, proud to be bisexual, proud to be transgender, or proud to be a straight ally.

It is not a coincidence that Equality Alabama has compiled their list at this particular time. The list should be posted on Equality Alabama's site by the time Pride takes place in Birmingham. It is Equality Alabama’s offering in the spirit of Pride, that the LGBT community is not going to let religion inspired prejudice take away the opportunity for us to worship in peace, should we choose to do so.

Celebrate Pride in June, but have pride all year long. Because you are who you are; you were created, or made this way; and it does get better. We have made tremendous strides toward equality in this country over the last few years; in part because of the visibility and message that we send by showing we are proud of ourselves. And by continuing to show our Pride, we will push the arc of justice a little further along.

Central Alabama Pride is celebrated in Birmingham June 3-June 12, and Bessemer Pride is on June 25.

Photo Credit Joe Openshaw

Photo Credit - Joe Openshaw

Openly terrific

The President hosted a reception in honor of LGBT Pride month yesterday.

I'm wondering if Rick and Bubba will be able to hold their tongues. They've been warned by their sponsors and by their syndicator to hold down their rhetoric or face the music.

While most of the local community has heard what the sponsors are saying (both Academy Sports and Bojangles Chicken have said they don't agree with Rick Burgess' comments and told the radio hosts as much, and that if they targeted gays or any other group like that again they would pull their sponsorship. The syndicator of the show is unhappy as well, and he doesn't want to hear any more reports of such talk.

Here is the president speaking at the reception. He called Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis, lesbian and gay members of the House of Representative, "openly terrific."

I think that's a great new term for us. Because being gay is terrific.




Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke at an event celebrating LGBT Pride month.

She was the first first lady to march in a Pride parade.

"Human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights once and for all."



One of my facebook friends, and straight woman who took part in the civil rights struggles during the 1960's posted this comment on one of my facebook posts yesterday.

June is Pride Month. President Obama has called upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their lives and everywhere it exists.

I am so proud of our straight allies and the way they take up for us against the hurtful rhetoric of the right.

So many people have told me or have posted on facebook that this year's Pride has given them more inspiration than they have felt in years. Polls are showing that Americans are now more accepting of Equality than they have ever been, and many religious groups or individual churches are realizing that LGBT people are created and loved by God just as they are.

In spite of the vocal frustration with the Obama administration on the slowness of advancement of LGBT Equality, we really should be thankful of the progress that has been made.

These things come to mind.

Passage of the (inclusive) Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.

Repeal of the HIV ban on travel.

Hospital visitation for lesbian and gay partners (in hospitals that accept Medicare and Medicaid.

Federal employee benefits.

Broadening of the definition of "son and daughter" so employers would be required to offer workers in same sex relationships the same right to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for partner's newborns or to adopt (announced yesterday by the labor department).

And the president's call for congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), to pass an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the pending end of Don't Ask Don't Tell(DADT). The House has passed the repeal, the Senate Armed Services Comittee has approved, and the full Senate will vote someday.

Country singer Chely Wright was at the President's reception.

Here is her video for "I Already Do."

Rick and Bubba and LGBT Pride

In an email from Rick Burgess of the Rick and Bubba show, the holy man states that what I called a 'rant' was actually a "presentation of BIBLICAL truth about sexual sins for those of us who claim a BIBLICAL world view."

I normally refuse to engage in debate with people like him, but what he said was so offensive that I felt compelled to send him an email. After all, this is LGBT Pride Month, according to 40 year tradition since the first gay pride march in 1970, and according to the proclamation by the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

In fact, that proclamation was what got Rick all hot and bothered. Here's the video of his rant.





Now, I do not enjoy criticising people because of their faith, because I actually feel a bit sorry for them. Well, maybe there is some enjoyment, because possibly they are becoming educated.

People with a "Biblical Worldview" think that the world is only about 5000 years old, that people lived with the dinosaurs (think "Flintstones"), and that Noah had a mosquito net and caught two Anopheles gambiae mosquitos, (the ones that transmit malaria, responsible for infecting over 200 million people and killing 1 - 2 million per year) along with a couple of Onchocera volvulus worms (the ones that cause river blindness in about 18 million people) and a pair of the Simulium black flies that spread the debilitating disease. (Try keeping those, along with thousands of other arthropod and worm species alive for 40 days on an ark.)

I could go on but you get the picture, I hope.

I have written enough on this blog about the Bible that I don't need to repeat the passages here that are affirming to the LGBT community. Just look to the left, and you can see some links to popular posts about the subject.


But Rick did say this in his email. "...we gain control over our sin through the power found in
CHRIST who then changes our desires when we love him enough for HIS grace and MERCY to obey HIS commands as he calls us to do in several places in the BIBLE but none more simple than JOHN 14:15 if you love me then obey my commands."

The truth is, Jesus did not say one word about homosexuality. Nothing that could be mis-translated, or mis-directed, to condemn homosexuals. Nothing, Rick!

He also says this in more than one email that I have seen "...I felt that i was born as most straight men with a disposition to sleep with several women other than our wives" and that he overcame that desire through Christ.

Fine. Even though this just seems a little creepy as well as bragging (like "I wanna make sure you know I had a lot of sex before I found Christ, ladies") it seems a little strange that one would need to call on God to do what should just be the decent thing to do. Are you that depraved? Well, he would say "yes," because of "sin".

That is just a big fat excuse. He can think about adultery all he wants without acting, call on Christ to keep him from falling, but if he does fall, "Oh, it was just sin that made me do that. Let me play my "get out of hell" card and start over."

Rick also said in that video clip that President Obama didn't observe the National Day of Prayer, and I heard that same lie from other right wing talk show hosts. Rick said, "I would love to have seen a nice long letter on the National Day of Prayer but we didn't get that."

If you had been paying attention, Rick, you would have seen this "long letter", the proclamation released by the Obama administration on April 30, 2010, which included this:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer."

Rick Burgess, and others like him, ride the high horse of the Biblical World View, and talk about living a moral life and all, but have no reservations about telling lies and distorting the truth for the sake of bringing down our president, and getting higher ratings for their radio show.

I have a little proclamation of my own.

Now, therefore, I, Joe the blogger, do proclaim Rick Burgess and his sidekick Bubba Bussey as Alabama redneck trash unworthy of lending an ear to, and an embarrassment to our state. I forever ban them from my radio.*

*I do reserve the right to watch their Youtube videos in order to monitor their hate speech.

Happy LGBT Pride, all my Alabama brothers and sisters, and do not let the words of this man or anyone else dissuade you from enjoying this celebration of your being and your life.

Here's short video of the start of last year's Central Alabama Pride parade, including the Alabama Stonewall Democrats truck, which will be in this year's parade with the message, "Together we can..."

Come out Saturday night near Five Points South and celebrate with us!

Pride Week in Birmingham

While awaiting the results of today's elections in other states, I'll fill you in some area "goings on."

Quick update. the Bessemer City Council voted today to annex the 350 acres I wrote about here. The vote was 6-1. As expected, Jeffco Comm candidate Jimmie Stephens, looking for votes, voted against the annexation rather than voting in the interests of the citizens of Bessemer.

But this is a Big Plus for Bessemer as it will allow a developer to build warehouses and such near the Norfolk Southern Hub. Things are rockin' in the Bessemer area.

This is Pride week in Birmingham. That includes Bessemer, as we don't have our own Pride celebrations here. Yet. Someday. Here are some pictures from the last Pride or two.

On Wednesday the film, Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride, will be showing, and a short panel discussion will follow. What is the local importance of Pride? What should the message be? I will be on the Panel, representing Equality Alabama.

On Saturday the Pride Parade takes place, and once again I will be driving the Alabama Stonewall Chevy pickup. Our guys will be blowing bubbles and tossing out candy and maybe some beads. Step-off is at 8:30 at Five Points South.

Bubbles and jewels help make the night beautiful.


Last minute adjustments before the parade.

Patricia Todd and Jennifer rode on our truck last year!


The mis-informed haters are sure to be there.

Sunday is Pridefest at Sloss Furnace, beginning at noon. I'll be there as well, promoting and signing my book, Those Others: Navigating the "Riddle of Homosexuality" in 1965 , promoting Terri Sewell for congress and helping with the Equality Alabama table.


Lamar was one of the performers at last year's Pridefest.


Libertee Belle and Z at Pridefest last year.

Come and join in the fun. More information on these and other events can be found here.

Celebration Overcomes Adversity

If the rains had persisted I imagine that the gay haters would have said it was God preventing the gays from having a successful Pride Parade and Pridefest. But on Saturday the skies cleared and the parade was fabulous, with hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators cheering us on. Then on Sunday, after the rain and winds blew over vendors' tents and tables during set up, when it was time for the event to begin, the skies began to clear and the crowds came out.

I wonder if those same people who believe that God uses the weather to direct events will agree that God must have been watching out for the gay community and blessed us with good weather.

I don't have pictures of the parade entries (there were 55-60, I guess) because I was driving, but I took pictures from the cab of the truck during the parade.

View all my pictures of Pride here. ( Or wait, more will be posted on the blog later in the week.)


Among the spectators was a group of two or three protesters, who I have dubbed the "haters."

As believers in Free Speech most of us agreed that these guys (who hid behind their signs when they saw my camera) had a right to be there. But the next day, we were reminded what their hate speech represents.

Mr Gay Pride Andrew performed his powerful interpretation of the killing of Matthew Shephard...


And then rose to perform "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"


I don't have Andrew's performance on video, but to remind you of the song, here's Michael Ball performing:

The response to Andrew was as strong as that in the video. Gay people, and our allies, know loss. We've had friends (or ourselves) beaten or killed (Billy Jack Gaither, Scotty Joe Weaver, and Sean Kennedy ) or who took their own lives ( Bobby Griffith ) because of hatred. We know loss because we've had friends and loved ones die from a disease that was ignored by a president (Reagan) who cared less about gays than he did about smuggling arms and cocaine.

I am reminded of the Bible verse, "Blessed are those who are persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

There is so much hatred in our country, as evidenced by certain high profile killings, and in the world right now. My column in the Western Tribune this week addresses that, you will see it on Wednesday.

Beauties of Pride

Part of Pridefest is entertainment by local and not local performers. These girls are all locals, I believe, and appear regularly at local clubs, although I didn't catch the name of each.

Sorry for the anonymity, girls.


This picture was actually taken Saturday night, amongst the bubbles. How beautiful.




Here is Libertee Belle, thrilling the audience as usual. At the end of her performance, she threw off her hat and wig...to the delight of everyone.

More entertainment







Wow. I mean...WOW


In a hurry


Look at those...heels!


How pretty!

These are but a few of the entertainers, as I spent much of the afternoon manning the booth. Next year I plan to recruit others to work the table and catch more of the entertainment.

Central Alabama Gay Pride Parade 2008

If you missed the parade, or even if you attended, here are a few pictures taken as we were getting ready. Since I was driving, I could not take pictures of all the entries, but you can see it all here. About 90 pictures.


Thank you Central Alabama Pride, thank you Parade Committee, thank you Larry Langford (for creating such interest and boosting attendance to record levels).

Preparing one of the flags



Ben and Jason helped carry the huge flag from Atlanta.


Here is our Stonewall Democrats truck...the letters across the back spell out AlObama. Our chief bubble maker is Bessemer resident Glenn Shadix. Other Stonewall members are there ready to load up.



Obama bubbles like these decorated the sides of the truck.


Real bubbles floated from the truck



Here Glenn has met Libertee Belle, who has been a parade participant since the first parade in 1989. Libertee performed at Sunday's Pridefest, more about that on the next post.



Read what the Birmingham News said about Glenn and Pride Here

Our elected officials, Howard Bayless and Patricia Todd.



One other picture taken Saturday night will be posted with Sunday's pictures because it of of a beauty. On that post I will have nothing but beauties.

Be sure and look at the pictures on the Central Alabama Pride link at the beginning of the post

The Flags are Flying

Channel 6 reported last night that the Rainbow Flags are flying in Birmingham!

This video is dedicated to Mayor Larry Langford. Listen to the words, mayor. For the rest of us...Dance!

Actually the video isn't that great, but the song is nice.




I want to urge everyone to come to the parade Saturday. You don't have to be gay to enjoy a parade, but if you are gay, you have no excuse. You should either be part of a group taking part, or on the sidelines cheering us on.

If you are not gay, please lend your support. Show the mayor that Birmingham is an accepting city, and is proud of all its residents. The line up for the parade starts at 6:30...the parade kicks off at 8:30. Just go to Five Points South and join the crowd lining up for the parade.

The lead unit in the parade will be a Veterans group. How fitting, on the week that Sam Nunn, one of the principle lawmakers responsible for Don't Ask, Don't Tell, speaks out telling America it is time to revisit the policy. Gays and lesbians now and always have fought to defend our freedom, even when they do not enjoy the rights and freedoms they are fighting for.

Alabama Stonewall Democrats will be in the line-up. Watch for our bubble blowing pick up truck, and speaking of Stonewall Democrats, join us at our next meeting June 19, 5:30 at Logan's in Crestwood. We heard at the Interfaith meeting the other night that we need to get more political, and certainly if policy is to be changed it must come through the governing bodies, local, state and federal. And face it, the Democrats are the only ones who (somewhat) consistently stand up for our rights. So join us.

And make friends with us on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/alabamastonewall
Join our group on Facebook: Alabama Stonewall Democrats Group

Show Me the Money, Gays

Happy Birthday Red!!!

My youngest turns 18 today. Yes that makes me feel old. Here are both kids (not current - from a couple of years ago)

Scroll down to yesterday's post to see listings of Pride events. Happily, Central Alabama Pride finally has their permit for next weekend's parade.

CAP president Jonathan Quinn is still working to get rainbow flags or banners up in Five Points as in past years, and is working with merchants in the area. "They know what we do for the community and what business we bring and they appreciate our time and money."

The gay community's money is green, just like straight money. Years ago, when Pensacola was "wrestling" with hosting the big gay beach event on Memorial Day, the gay community made a point. A big one. With pink markers they drew triangles on their green money (never mind the color clash, this ain't fashion) so that business owners could see just how much gay money was being spent. Business leaders got the message, city leaders enjoyed the tax revenue, and the heat against the gay event died down.

CW says gays and lesbians would have more disposable income than other groups, since many of the group have no children. But there are other reasons as well.

The following comes from various sources, including : Selig Center (African-American, Hispanic and Asian-American Buying Power), U.S. Census estimates, and Witeck-Combs Communications and MarketResearch.com.

Gays are:

• More than twice as likely as the national index to be professionals or managers.


• 3.4 times more likely as the national index to have incomes over 250K.


• twice as likely to have graduated from college

And there are reasons for business people to cater to the GLBT community:

• 2000 census shows that partnered gays and lesbians live in over 99% of U. S. counties


• 9% 0f urban populations are gay


• Gay men and lesbians go out more, buy more, have more disposable income and are extremely loyal consumers


• Gay and lesbian consumers purchase from companies/brands that advertise in gay media, deliver product messages in gay-specific advertising, support gay and lesbian community causes and are good to their own gay and lesbian employees


• 60 percent took a foreign trip in the last three years


• 59 percent buy themselves whatever they want

And there is this. In 2003, America's 17 million Gays had 485 billion in buying power, compared to 688 billion for the nation's 36 million African Americans and 653 billion for America's 37 million Hispanics. That calculates to 1.5 times per capita buying power for gays compared to other groups.

So listen up, merchants. Gays are paying your mortgage and your kids college tuition. Fly the flags and let us know you appreciate us (well, our money, anyway).

And things are looking up in California. A Los Angeles Times poll taken just after the Supreme court decision for marriage equality showed that by a 54 to 35 % margin, Californians were in support of the proposed amendment banning same sex marriage.

More recently, a Field Poll, which has been tracking same sex marraige since 1977, when only 28% favored it, now shows that by a 51 to 42% difference gays should have the right to marry.

That difference in opinion has occured in just a couple of weeks since the decision. I think that by the time the vote comes around, the measure will be defeated handily. But not without hard work by people on the ground in California.

The Human Rights Campaign points out that marriage equality could last only 173 days if the ban is approved in November. Continue to visit Equality for All and donate to their effort to defeat the anti-equality amendment.

Enjoy Central Alabama Pride, even if you are not gay. The Art Show is tonight (see below).

Pride Parade Update 2

From Central Alabama Pride (emphasis mine):

The Central Alabama Pride, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce that a permit WILL be issued for the 20th Gay Pride Parade in Birmingham.

Alabama State Representative Patricia Todd spoke with Mayor Langford on Saturday morning and the mayor assured Representative Todd that the parade permit WILL be issued with no issues from his officeThe Board of Directors thanks everyone for their quick response in this matter and hopes that this will be a learning experience for all those of our community, as well as an opportunity for education for others. Mayor Langford has also agreed to meet with leaders of our community to have an open forum about other concerns.

The 20th annual Pride Parade will take place on Saturday, June 7 through 5 Points South. The Board of Directors would like everyone to come out and take part in this parade and show Central Alabama the best parade turnout ever!Thanks again and HAPPY PRIDE!

Central Alabama Pride, Inc.
Board of Directors

Pride Parade Update

Kathy has posted that Rep. Patricia Todd says the mayor will allow a parade permit, or rather, leave it up to the police department. For real? How about banners? Let's wait and see.

Birmingham is Slipping Again

First, though, know that I have written a column for The Western Tribune about John McCain and the release of his medical records and why they disqualify him from being president. Read it Wednesday, in the paper, or on this site.


Birmingham fell on its face last year.

Then Birmingham took a giant step forward.

Now, under the leadership of Larry Langford, Birmingham is renewing its old, tired attitude of intolerance and bigotry. Langford is refusing to grant Central Alabama Pride a parade permit for their annual Gay Pride Parade, which has been a part of the festivities of Pride since 1989.

Langford said "I just don't condone the lifestyle". Mayor, we might not condone your lifestyle either (and apparently the SEC and the justice department also doesn't), but this is not about how one leads their life, it is about who one is, about one's very being.

"It's not a civil rights issue, its a personal choice issue." Ignore science. Ignore medicine. Ignore all current knowledge about the origins of sexuality and call it a choice.

No, I will tell you what is a choice, Larry. Making a conscious decision to discriminate, to be intolerant, that is a choice, your choice.

Fortunately, the parade is not the main event of Pride, it is a "fun" event. But it plays an important role in that it allows families, gay and straight, to come together and enjoy floats and beads and candy. It allows people who are questioning their own sexuality to see from a distance (of sort) others who are out and comfortable that have been through what they are going through.

There are other events of Pride...10 days of events, including an art show, Pridefest with music and vendors, bowling, faith events and more. Central Alabama Pride

My advice to the organizers of Pride? Hold the parade in another city. Homewood, perhaps, or Tuscaloosa or (gasp!) Bessemer. Not that we can be sure mayors of those cities believe in equality, but you know, we need to know who our friends are.

And march with or without a permit up to city hall and into the next council meeting in protest. As of May 15 2007 Birmingham is an inclusive city that believes in acceptance and rejects intolerance and bigotry, according to the resolution. Stand up, Birmingham.

Kathy has a good write up about this too at Birmingham Blues.

Gay Pride in Birmingham, Good-bye Isaiah

June is generally recognized as Gay Pride month, although some communities celebrate pride at different times to accommodate local events or to avoid conflicts. June was chosen because it was on June 28, 1969 that police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gathering spot for gays, in Greenwich Village, and gays, drag queens and others fought back for the first time. The modern movement for equality was born.

In Birmingham gay pride has been celebrated for years, as Birmingham’s first organized PRIDE celebration was held in 1979, and the first parade was in 1989. We’ve come a long way, baby.

A few years ago we had a friend from San Francisco visiting, and took him to the PRIDE parade. He couldn’t believe that in Birmingham, Alabama we had such a celebration, with so many participating, and so many spectating, and was really amazed that so many straight couples and families were present. They were just out to have a good time, as Birmingham’s parade is a Mardi Gras style parade in good taste where candy and moon pies and trinkets and beads are tossed to the crowd.

This year, Patricia Todd will be the Grand Marshal of the parade, set for Saturday June 9 around Five Points South, beginning at 8:30. Line up begins at 6:30.

Also on Saturday is "Language Matters," a discussion sponsored by Equality Alabama at Avondale Library at 10:30 AM, which will explore how anit-gay forces use language against the GLBT community, and how to counteract them. Everyone is welcome.

On Sunday, at Sloss Furnace, the celebration continues with entertainment, children’s area, informational booths and vendors, from noon to 10 or so.

Come to these events to see friends, support equality, learn that you are not alone, be entertained, have fun, or become informed. GLBT or straight, there is something for everyone at these events.

In a sort of related matter, Isaiah Washington has been dropped from the Grey’s Anatomy line up. Goodbye Dr. Burke

Dems Discuss Faith

Hollyhocks on the farm.

With all the talk of religion and faith between the media and the presidential candidates I am beginning to wonder if we should be anticipating three puffs of smoke coming from the Supreme Court building when they elect our next pope…uh, president.

No, really I think this is good. Although I agree with John Edwards who said the United States should not be called a Christian nation, we can certainly be called a spiritual nation. For the past 6 years or more religion and spirituality has been framed around war and good v. evil and us v. them, and people are judged as righteous or sinful by nothing more than their beliefs about same sex marriage or women’s choice. For instance, the Roman Catholic Church speaks of denying sacraments to candidates who support choice. They also deny communion on a regular basis to homosexuals. Let me throw this in here too. The Roman Catholic Church is against non-celibate homosexuals and denies sacraments based on this. The Roman Catholic Church is against the war but offers sacraments to the soldiers who are participating, even to those who have killed. Is there something wrong here? I’m not saying to deny sacraments to soldiers, I’m saying that Jesus offers himself to all, and the sacraments should be offered to all.

Back to the subject at hand. Now the democrats are talking about faith. Now they are talking about Christian values: values such as protecting the planet and the environment, values such as taking care of the poor, values such as not leaving children behind after they are born. Not to mention things like invading and occupying nations and torture.

Anyway, this is something Howard Dean brought up when he spoke here recently. Even evangelicals are beginning to understand that while they may disagree on some things with the democratic candidates, they do agree on other pressing concerns such as climate change and poverty.

Edwards and Hillary both scored points in yesterday’s forum where along with Barack Obama they spoke and answered questions in an event sponsored by Sojourners/Call to Renewal evangelical organization. Then later on CNN most of the other democrat candidates were questioned by Paula Zahn on faith issues, and every one of them did a good job of explaining their faith and how they reconcile their political beliefs with their religious beliefs. I think they were all Catholic, by the way…Richardson, Biden, Dodd and Kucinich.

Apparently it’s difficult for some democrats to talk about faith because to them it is such a personal issue, and several have said they are suspicious of those who wear their faith on their sleeve. But they realize it is necessary for them to reclaim their spiritual edge if they are to be successful in 2008.

This week and this month we are celebrating gay pride. More on that later this week.