Written: 05/22/2011

I have a huge, huge post that’s been in the works for years about the hatred the hierarchy of the Catholic Church throws at the LGBT community. Note: And it continues to grow and is in need of so much editing, it will probably never see the light of day.  It’s probably not the healthiest thing to keep a log of all their hatred, but everyone needs a hobby, right?

However, I’d like to point this out in a separate post, as the underlying lie is what the Boy Scouts also use to hide behind in denying membership to the LGBT community.

A study commissioned by U.S. Roman Catholic bishops concludes that neither the all-male celibate priesthood nor homosexuality caused the church’s sexual abuse crisis.

Gay men are no more likely to be pedophiles than heterosexual men.  It amounts to slander to say otherwise.

By the way, the study concluded that the sex abuse crisis was caused by too much social change in the 60s and 70s.  Which is a load of bullshit.  Billions of people made it through those two decades without becoming raping pieces of shit.  Slog comments:

I guess the takeaway here is this: Keep things on an even keel—not too much social change, not too quickly—or God’s representatives here on earth will rape your kids.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 05/22/2011

Thank goodness I don’t live in Wisconsin.  The governor, Walker, who does everything under the guise of “economic necessity” (see his union-stripping bill), is now trying to move through legislation that prevents gay couples from visiting their partners in the hospital.

It’s just another “right” that straight couples take for granted, and one that should not even be an issue.  Ever.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 05/22/2011

The Republican lawmaker who is a veteran gives an impassioned speech in support of marriage equality.  His testimony is wonderful, please watch:

But once again, I’m remembered how tired I am, and how tired I am of the fact that any recognition, any right that I may have as a gay man, I have to fight to either have or keep.  Why should anyone have to fight for their own basic civil rights, which are supposed to be guaranteed?

May, historically, sucks.  It’s my busiest month, and this year it has been extra, extra shitty.  So I’m tired.  I know I’ve brought this up before, but I’m tired and fed up.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 05/08/2011

Here is a long press release that involves a lot of boring legal speak dealing with resolutions and conventions and whatnot (I’m such a nerd that I follow the General Conventions, but that’s another story for another day).

The point is, diocese have been directed that they may begin recognizing same sex unions (marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, whatever the kids-lawmakers- are calling them these days).  At the 2012 convention, I believe there will be a presentation and a vote on the official wording for services which will then be added to cannons and made available for use across the country.

On a side note, heaven help us if there is a new printing of the Book of Common Prayer.  The old ladies will once again take to Amazon to complain that the older version is better.  No seriously, check it out sometime, it’s hysterical.

But anyway, diocese like San Joquin are moving forward, which is awesome, and I think I read that the rector of my church is somehow involved with writing the new sacraments, but I could be wrong about that.

Anyway, Integrity USA is a group within the Episcopal Church working towards equality, I’ve been working with them to help them out as they redesign their website.  It’s been a fun process and I like the people I work with, hopefully we can continue the momentum.

Note: The redesign never happened, I’m actually not sure what happened.  Now that I have some more time, I should check in with them and see if I can help in some way.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 05/08/2011

Rick Santorum, former Senator and internet celebrity (don’t click the link if you’re at work or have a weak stomach) doesn’t believe that homosexuals should be able to adopt children.  He says:

A lesbian woman came up to me and said, ‘why are you denying me my right?’ I said, ‘well, because it’s not a right.’ It’s a privilege that society recognizes because society sees intrinsic value to that relationship over any other relationship.

I will just turn that around.  I don’t believe Santorum has the right be in elected office, and of course, many people will do what we can to make sure that does not happen ever again.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 05/08/2011

A constitutional ban on marriage equality has been brought up in the State House.  Even though it’s already banned, now the right wants to enshrine it in our state constitution.

Equality PA is the state-level organization, I haven’t worked with them much, but we’ll see.  I’ll be donating what I can.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 05/08/2011

HuffPo recently listed this as possibly the best wedding video ever.  I like it, especially the use of the iPad at the beginning.  Overall the editing is great, although there were of course a few shots that I would have put together different, but again, it is pretty cool:

joya and emre | wedding music video from David Robin on Vimeo.

Note: The video is set to private, so we can’t view it, sadly

Jasun has an amazing response to it, I can’t add anything to it, so I’m going to post most of it here, he writes it so eloquently:

A marriage (and it’s sad a gay person who can’t get married has to tell you this) isn’t something that happens one day… it’s something that’s supposed to happen for the rest of your life.

When you spend tens of thousands of bucks on a one-day party, dress you’re going to wear once, decoration­s, party favors and now a high-budge­t “wedding video” so you can get your Youtube moment, people have lost the point of marriage.

I still think the reason there are so many anti-gay marriage laws is that it’s straight people’s way of clinging to that idea that it’s “special” when it’s just… not. To them, anyway. They never had to fight for it and with divorce, they get as many as they want. Hey, they can have another one next month if they can afford it.

Read the last paragraph again, I think he hits the nail on the head, something I didn’t even realize before it was spelled out:

They never had to fight for it.

Will marriage equality solve all our problems?  Erase hatred and bigotry, ensure fairness?  No.  But we still fight for it.

Because it’s worth it.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 04/30/2011

Not only is he a horrible interviewee, he’s a total asshat:

And there is outrage over a recent episode of Glee:

“Naturally, conservatives were outraged by the homophobic football player’s apology to Kurt for threatening to kill him.”

So remember, it’s wrong for me to have basic rights like visiting a partner in the hospital, and it would be wrong for people to apologize to me after threatening to kill me.

After all, the conservatives are the ones being bullied into having to have me alive.

All my best,

The King of Spades