Ridiculous notions of homosexuality

This video was made by one of the most confused, in denial, bisexual or gay human beings I have ever seen. via joemygod.

First she has a distorted view of where homosexuality comes from.

"The Lord spoke to me and he said that the enemy has released a giant spirit of homosexuality throughout the world."

As if that isn't enough, she encountered a lesbian and became homosexual for 45 minutes because it rubbed off on her!!! Seriously. but once she gets to her truck, she is able to cast the spirit off.




She says the feelings of homosexuality felt "natural"...because they are natural.

Read more about the upcoming protest here.

It was reported in the Birmingham News as well.

Ex-gay pushback

This is background for what you will hear next week about so-called "ex-gay" therapies, which have been discredited by every professional organization.

• American Psychiatric Association (“the risks…are great” and include “self destructive behavior,” and “reinforces self hatred…already experienced by the patient”)
• American Psychological Association (“so-called conversion therapy is not supported by the science”)
• American Medical Association (“oppose any psychiatric treatment, such as ‘reparative’ or ‘conversion’ therapy”)
• American Counseling Association (supports “appropriate interventions in order to counteract bias that is based on ignorance or unfounded beliefs about same gender sexual orientation)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (Therapy directed specifically at changing sexual orientation is contraindicated…provokes guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving changes in orientation)
• National Association of Social Workers (No data demonstrate that reparative or conversion therapies are effective, and in fact they may be harmful).

We believe that truth wins out, and here are the facts. Gay teens are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, and are at higher risk of dropping out of school, being kicked out of their homes, and turning to life on the streets for survival. They are at risk because their distress is a direct result of the hatred and prejudice that surround them, not because of their inherently gay or lesbian identity orientation.

Next week several events will take place in Birmingham regarding an ex-gay ministry. Watch this site, facebook, examiner.com, and the news for more information.

Thank you Mitchell Gold, Wayne Besen.

Update in Bessemer. Aaron Killings and Denise Blue Poe are back on the job. No explanation given.

Weekly wrap

If you've missed me...I've been at a loss for words since Larry Langford was convicted. It's not the conviction that has me baffled, its what his wife, Melva said:

Only in Alabama can a black man not get a fair trial.

Then her husband agreed:

They struck as many blacks off that jury as they could.

Oh, well, my response to that will be forthcoming, probably in the form of a Western Tribune column. I'm trying to avoid a letter writer's bait that has been dangled in front of me. You know...if not, see the notes on my facebook page.

So on to other subjects.



This has to be just about the quickest response to one of my columns I have ever seen. This column was printed on Tuesday and posted on Wednesday, and then the next day the Senate voted to confirm Dr. Regina Benjamin as U. S. Surgeon General.




Glad to know that Senate republicans are reading my column.

Of course their quick action may have also been because they got a tongue lashing from Senate majority leaders Harry Reid.

Late last week, President Obama declared a national emergency because of the flu
outbreak, Mr. Reid noted, adding: “Unfortunately, though, right now we have no
permanent surgeon general in place. And the reason is as simple as it is
mind-boggling: Republicans in the Senate refuse to confirm President Obama’s
exceptionally qualified nominee for this job.”

In addition to Dr. Benjamin, Mr. Reid singled out Dr. Tara O’Toole, who would oversee bioterrorism defense at the Department of Homeland Security. “For that position, President Obama nominated an expert in combating both pandemics and bioterror attacks,” Mr. Reid said, adding: “Imagine that: Americans are bracing against a flu epidemic here at home and threats of terrorism from abroad, the President nominated someone highly experienced in both of those areas, and Republicans are saying no.”

Congratulation to Dr. Benjamin.

In Bessemer, the Western Tribune is reporting that city attorney Charlie Waldrep has fired two of its attorneys, Aaron Killings and Denise Blue Poe.

That might throw a wrench into...well, let's just wait and see.

Update: Aaron Killings and Denise Blue Poe Are back on the job.

Celebrate!!!!

Be sure to read my Western Tribune column that follows.

It's time to celebrate.

In my Western Tribune column on November 19, 2008 , I made the following prediction:

"Barack Obama may not immediately grant all of our wishes, but I would be willing to bet that the first legislation that mentions sexual orientation to be passed and signed by a president will occur within the first year of his administration. And then we will be on the way to a nation that values each of its citizens."

Moments ago, that prediction came true. President Obama has signed legislation enacting the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

It took 11 years after the murder of Matthew Shepard and and James Byrd, Jr before this legislation was signed.

Thankfully we now have a president who supports (however slowly) our community, unlike the previous president who...well we won't even bring that up.

To see what the gay community must do to see that equality is reached, go here.

Locally, in Birmingham, we can celebrate because the Board of Education has passed a policy on Anti-Bullying that includes sexual orientation, gender identity and expression!!! The first of its kind in the state. Thanks to board member Howard Bayless for leading the way on this. Will Bessemer follow suit?

Now, if we can just get a verdict in the Larry Langford trial.

Update: Langford guilty on all counts. Carole Smitherman is now mayor of Birmingham. Let's see about electing Patrick Cooper.

Here's a video from my college years. Three Dog Night

Western Tribune column October 28, 2009 Party of No

Western Tribune column today

The party of "no" will be left behind

I’m beginning to wonder why we trust our health care to insurance companies, and why anyone would trust the Republicans to lead on this issue.

We are in the middle of an H1N1 flu pandemic, and seasonal flu season has not even started yet. The H1N1 flu is affecting and killing people in different age groups than the seasonal flu.

The surgeon general holds a key position in educating the public on health issues, and presumably if we had one she could be at work during the current pandemic.

But the top Republican on the senate health committee, Michael Enzi, has indicated he will block the confirmations of Dr. Regina Benjamin and other top health picks from moving forward because of a so-called gag order on health insurance companies that would prevent them from telling their views on health care legislation.

Even after the Obama administration retreated on the order, Enzi is still working to stall the nominees.

Members of the party of “no,” the Republicans, claim health care decisions should be between a patient and his or her doctor. They say they do not want the government involved.

Yet they are fine with insurance companies making decisions about an individual’s care. On an almost daily basis we hear examples of such practices.

A friend of mine had a drug prescribed by a physician, and the pharmacy would not fill it because the insurance company wanted it changed to another drug. Not a generic. Another drug.

I requested a refill of a prescription from a pharmacy one day before I was to run out because I was leaving town. The pharmacy had no problem with filling it, but my insurance company would not pay because I was filling the prescription a day early.

Insurance companies have refused to cover babies who were too fat, and now refuse to cover those who are too thin.

The television and the internet are full of stories of people who have been denied a procedure, or denied coverage, because an insurance company decided so.

Yet when the government is involved, as with the veterans and the seniors, the decisions seem to be made by the doctors and patients.

The party of “yes, we can” is going to pass health care reform with a public option that is now being described as “Medicare, part E (for everyone).

And the party of “no” will be left behind.

Craziness

There is an effort underway to ban divorce in California, based on the same arguments used to pass Prop 8, which took away the right of couples to marry in that state. Namely, protecting traditional marriage, and protecting the children.

Live blogging from Lala's trial here , not much going on yet. It's 9:51 and the attorneys are just now returning to the courtroom from the judge's chambers. Here we go!

Why in the world would the senate even consider health care reform with a public option where states can opt out. How fair is that? I live in a state where one company has a practical monopoly, and where the public option option is desperately needed. But we are also probably one that would opt out. So where does that leave us? Separate but unequal, that's where.

We need a public option. Plain and simple.

Did you know that slavery existed long after the Civil War in Alabama? Especially in Bibb, Jefferson and Shelby counties. More on this later.

The Tea Party Express is coming to Birmingham on November 9. At noon, at Linn Park. I hope that good supporters of health care reform and those who support our president will be there to contrast with the crazies.

Jefferson Jackson Dinner 2009

The Jefferson Jackson dinner was held last night, and as usual, elected officials and candidates from Bessemer or who want to represent Bessemer were there. State senator Priscilla Dunn and her husband Grover Dunn, tax collector for the Bessemer Cutoff, were there.

Claire Mitchell, aiming to take senator Dunn's place in the house, was there also.


As was Terri Sewell, hoping to take the place of Artur Davis as AL-07 representative.


Of course Davis and his competition, Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks were there, and most other elected democrats.

The big hit of the night was West Virginia governor Joe Manchin (who grew up neighbors with Nick Saban), who reminded us that politics was like driving a car. Park and neutral you don't go anywhere, but R, like republican takes you in reverse and D, like democrat, drives you forward.

He also made a quip about Abraham Lincoln probably being a closet democrat. That's not the only closet Mr. Lincoln may have hidden in if you believe a recent book, which I mentioned here, titled The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln by C. A. Tripp.

Manchin mentioned 5 key points to success, especially concerning children.

1. Give them unconditional love.
2. Provide a safe place for children. A home, or a grandparent's house, a school, or other place at times.
3. Give them a healthy start and teach a healthy lifestyle.
4. Teach them a livable skill.
5. Have them grow to be a loving adult who is willing to give something back to the world.

Good advice, for both republicans and democrats.