The Post-Gazette reports that as part of our city's 250th anniversary, we'll be host to the "World's Largest Wedding Vow Renewal" in February, 2008. Organizers hope to attract 1,000 wedded couples to renew their vows. Why?
Two of the themes of the 250th celebration are attracting reunions and homecomings to the city and underscoring family and community ties. Getting a thousand couples to reaffirm their vows is a way to do both.
"It's something that comes straight out of the word 're-union.' I was surprised no one had thought of it already," said Kitty Julian, marketing director of Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, who came up with the idea. "Pittsburgh is all about love of family, tradition, nostalgia ... This is exactly in that neighborhood."
Something about the phrase "straight out of the word 'reunion'" got me thinking -- would event organizers welcome LGBT couples who are legally married, albeit not in Pennsylvania? Would they recognize couples who are domestic partnered and civil unioned? So I dropped Ms. Julian a line to find out.
Turns out, they will! Here's what she had to say via email:
Wedding vow renewal isn't a legal event, but is a celebration of love and family. We'd be honored to have LGBT couples participate. Since this is a Guinness World Record breaking attempt we are following their requirement that, "all couples must provide a copy of their original marriage certificate." They don't seem to specify that it must be from a specific state. So, as long as people have such a certificate, and pre-register they are in! I don't know what Guinnness says about civil unions or even if one gets a certificate in that situation, but we'll contact them to find out, and will report back what we learn.
So that means all you crazy gay couples who married in Canada, Massachusettes, Europe and beyond ... you get to participate. Does anyone who has been civil unioned know about the certificate thing?
After the Guinness ceremony, there will apparently be a mass blessing (no pun intended) led by leaders from multiple local faith communities. Now that could get interesting...
The date of the ceremony is Sunday, Feb. 10. Those wishing to preliminarily register for the event may contact Carnegie Museums marketing assistant Leigh Kish at 412-578-2571 or kishl@carnegiemuseums.org.
The Post-Gazette reports that local gay business owner and community advocate, Jay Bernard, has passed away. Jay and his business partner Bill Stanhope owned Jay Design in Lawrenceville. Jay was the founder of the Boys of Lawrenceville "a benevolent organization of gay men" and the author of a monthly column about pet adoption. I've heard of Jay, but did not have the opportunity to meet him. Jay's company donated some items to an event I am hosting tonight for my day-job. I will be thinking of him when we raffle off those items. God speed.
The Presbyterian debate over gay marriage continues. From the PG:
A regional Presbyterian court's decision yesterday upheld Pittsburgh Presbytery's ban on gay marriage ceremonies, and reiterated the national church's stance that ordination requires chastity in singleness or fidelity in heterosexual marriage.
But the language was such that both sides of the local debate regarding the ban on actively gay clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) found aspects of the ruling acceptable.
Several Middle Eastern governments have filters in place to prevent their citizens from accessing gay and lesbian sites.
Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen had the strictest social-filtering practices, blocking pornography, gambling and gay and lesbian sites.
That's interesting. I usually have at least one IP address a day based in those very countries that visits my site, usually with a keyword search for "hot lesbians" or "lesbian photos" or "naked lesbians." Once it was "nudie lesbians." I chalk that up to a translation issue. Someone is getting through that filter.
Meanwhile, today's Trib runs this nice little affirmation of Falwell from the self-described "mean girl" Ann Coulter:
Let me be the first to say: I ALWAYS agreed with the Rev. Falwell.
Coulter sets the record "straight" on Tinky Winky's sexual orientation and explains why he didn't go far enough identifying who was responsible for 9/11 (hint: he's a Kennedy).
Meanwhile, South African churches get the go ahead to perform same-sex marriages.
Reports say that 5,000 people turned out for the Warsaw gay rights parade in spite of government sponsored crackdowns. Anti-gay crusaders want to ban gay propaganda in the schools. Does that sound familiar?
And, closer to home, Kent State has installed a "gender neutral" bathroom to accomodate transgender male and female students. Nearby Oberlin has a residence hall specifically for transgender students. The times they are a changin'.
LGBT groups in more than 50 countries will participate in the initiative, which was launched in 2005 to mark the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of disorders.
I work for a mental health provider that just extended health insurance coverage to employees in domestic partnerships. So an important day to commemorate say the lesbians.
In conjunction, Human Rights Watch has identified the worst offenders in the homophobic Hall of Shame:
"This `hall of shame' does not claim to include the worst offenders, but it highlights leaders who have lent their authority to denying basic human rights," said Scott Long... "Bush and Pope Benedict both speak of human dignity, but their homophobic words and actions undermine families and endanger health."
Top on the list? Pope Benedict XVI for undermining families. Then comes President George Bush for jeopardizing public health with his abstinence only programs. Next is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for violating the right to privacy on a widespread scale. Poland and the Philippines are represented as well.
Interesting day to be a gay Catholic American (from Poland?).
You mean other stuff happened yesterday? Here's a smattering ...
Scott Weber of Shaler wrote to the Post-Gazette urging people to recognize the value of gay parenting.
In describing his country's new civil partnership law, British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke about what he called "the civilizing effect" the policy has had on society far beyond the gay and lesbian community. Gay and lesbian parents deserve understanding and the same legal safeguards as other parents.
The Rev. Jane Adams Spahr a North Side Presbyterian native will speak Sunday at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.
PG sports columnist Shelly Anderson takes a peek at discrimination in the sports world.
Perhaps, on the surface, we don't really care if athletes, coaches and management are black, white, Asian, gay, straight or Libertarian, as long as they come across as decent people, although it's telling that gay athletes aren't lining up to go public during their playing days.
In reality, we probably have a long way to go. For now, sports can still be defined as black, white and misread all over.
One of the most bitter foes of the American gay community has died and I only feel sadness for him and his family. I'm sad because his legacy is permanently scarred by his unrelenting hatred and intolerance for people who are gay, feminist, foreign born, of color and otherwise different from his vision of a godly society. Falwell sowed dischord and hatred in the name of religion, a weapon he used to divide our nation.
Remember this?
> After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Falwell said on the 700 Club, "I
> really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the
> feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to
> make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American
> Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the
> finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen."
Should I cry for this man? Nope, but neither do I rejoice at his death. Instead, I mourn a life wasted, power abused and faith misplaced by millions of Americans. I guarantee the wingnuts are just looking for the slightest bit of glee from our side, just waiting for something to pounce upon to carry on his legacy of hate. From what I've seen, most people won't give them the satisfaction. Media outlets all over the nation are contacting prominent LGBT organizations and leaders for comment. I was thinking what I would say if a media outlet asked me (ha).
Statement by Matt Foreman, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
?The death of a family member or friend is always a sad occasion and we express our condolences to all those who were close to the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Unfortunately, we will always remember him as a founder and leader of America?s anti-gay industry, someone who exacerbated the nation?s appalling response to the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic, someone who demonized and vilified us for political gain and someone who used religion to divide rather than unite our nation.?
This made me laugh. And cry. Our favorite Pennsylvania-flavored fundie, Diane Gramley of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania, has issued a call for all good Christian families to boycott the City of Brotherly Love for being too gay friendly.
It seems that Philly has ratcheted up the drive to attract gay tourist dollars by unveiling several dozen rainbow street signs in the gayborhoods that cater to the LGBTQ community.
According to Gramley, the city was prompted by the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus to approve the street signs. "What the city of Philadelphia is doing is looking for the homosexual [tourism] dollars," she says. "They need to know that if they are going to be accommodating homosexuals, then they're going to lose the traditional family dollars."
The city of Philadelphia is not family friendly, says Gramley -- and families should not choose Philadelphia as a vacation spot, she adds. The AFA of Pennsylvania leader believes a loss in tourism dollars is the only way the city is going to get the message.
"Let's face it," she says; "the majority of people in America hold traditional values, or they at least believe that homosexual acts are not right -- and we need to just send that message to Philadelphia."
Gramley says the country's Founding Fathers would be appalled that Philadelphia is now being touted as a "mecca" for homosexual tourists.
Let's face it. Gramley is another hate-spewing pseudo-Christian bigot with the temerity to think she can successfully boycott an entire city. At least she had the smarts to do it before football season gets underway. Good Christian men may object to Justin Timberlake exposing Janet Jackson's breast during a football game, but what's a few prancing queens compared to the Eagles?
You know what really pisses me off about Gramley's sanctimonious "family values" boycott? She's right -- Philadelphia is not a family friend place, but it has nothing to do with homosexuality. This year, the city has seen more than one homicide per day. The poverty rate in Philadelphia is the highest of any major US city. The city is overwhelmed by guns. The police force has been reduced. The number of people who are homeless has risen.
These things impact real people's lives -- 1.5 million people. Real families with two parents, single parents, grandparents, etc. These are REAL issues about which a family association should be concerned. Taking action to address any of the above would be a wonderful way to honor the Gospel and the call to social justice. But this isn't about Jesus or social justice or honoring anything. It is about hate, intolerance and a rejection of the essence of Christian love.
Diane Gramley and the AFA of FA: putting the FU in family values.
h/t Pam's House Blend make the jump if you want to read some really atrocious comments from the wingnuts ...
The Trib's editorial board clicked their heels and jumped into line with the right wingnuts clamoring about the House of Representative's extension of federal hate crime protections to the LGBT community. It passed 237 to 180 while a companion bill works its way through the Senate. W, of course, is going to veto it.
Here's what the Trib has to say about it:
So, if somebody shoots dead a homosexual -- actual or perceived -- he would face the added hate-crime offense as opposed to someone who shoots to death a heterosexual.
Did the shooter hate the heterosexual less?
"H.R. 1592 would further carve out 'tiers' of victims, putting more importance on crimes committed against a Rosie O'Donnell than against her next-door neighbor," the Family Research Council reports.
They neglect to point out that shooting someone because they are gay happens a lot more frequently than the equally terrible crime of shooting someone because they are heterosexual. Its not the fact that a homosexual has been shot, you idiots; it is that they've been short BECAUSE they are homosexual.
The truth is that wingnuts are freaking out because they won't be so free to spew their inciteful hatred in the guise of free speech. They claim their thoughts wll be censored, but that's patently untrue. They will just be held responsible for violence based on intolerance.
The Trib doesn't fail to play the fear-mongering card ...
From capital crimes to organized religion, the adherents of hate-crimes legislation don't seem to know where to stop. A Catholic city official in Canada, for example, got slapped with a $1,000 fine for suggesting a gay couple's lifestyle was not "normal."
Again, not quite accurate. I feel like daveyoe what with all this fact checking and n'at. The Canadian city official was opposed to a gay pride proclamation, but took it a step further by denouncing homosexuality as unnatural and abnormal. That's inappropriate behavior for an elected official and, apparently, a violation of Canadian Human Rights ordinances. However, the nutters spin it as a suppression of DeCicco's Catholic beliefs.
They should relax because the worst DeCicco would face in the US is a short stint in rehab and an appearance on Oprah. While he might be unelected, he'd get puh-lenty of $$ on the wingnut speaking circuit and be personally annointed by Big Daddy Dobson. Not too shabby for a little dude from Kaloomps, British Columbia.
Seriously, those of you who are white and heterosexual, take a moment to think of the many ways in which you can express your identity without repercussion. I have to think very carefully about holding Ledcat's hand in public. I can not kiss her good-bye 99% of the time. We can't enjoy the simplest display of public affection without some qualm because of the very real possibility that we will encounter hostility. The majority of the time its merely dirty looks and muttering. But you never know. You have to be careful. I love Ledcat too much to expose her to potential violence just for the pleasure of holding her hand while we walk down the street.
Violence against gays is a very real issue in our society, much of it driven by hate rhetoric dripping from the fervored wingnuts and their merry minions of faith. I believe their speech is protected. Parry if you must, but be careful not to thrust.
"This is a congregation that has been dealing with these issues for years, long before I ever came on the scene," Rev. Weaver said. "This congregation is concerned about the shift of the denomination away from biblical standards."
He believes that reports endorsed at last year's General Assembly weakened the church's commitment to the doctrine of the Trinity and paved the way for local option on gay ordination.
This is the Memorial Park Presbyterian Church in McCandless, the largest Presbyterian church in the region. They are evangelical and are heeding the call of a breakaway evangelical group that seems to believe in take your toys and go home theology.
But that's just my reaction when I see the doctrine of the Trinity on the same level of concern as gay ordination. I mean seriously ... the Trinity seems like it should be a bit more important in terms of theological differences than a homo leading the flock. I don't think New Hampshire is about to descend into Hades anytime soon and they have a queer bishop. Of course, they are liberal Yankees and Episcopalians ...
The absurd ...a father is suing an Arkansas library because his sons "stumbled across" the Whole Lesbian Sex Book which disturbed them greatly. I believe the quote is that they had two sleepless nights at his house. Hmm ...
The ridiculous ...Rudy Guiliani does a big and very public flipflop on civil unions. In case you weren't keeping track, he was for them before he was against them. Pam's House Blend has the audiotape of Rudy discussing his "for them" stance back in 2003. When he wasn't running for President and courting the fundies.
CONCORD, N.H. -- The Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, says he and his partner of 18 years will be among the couples taking advantage of New Hampshire's soon-to-be-signed civil unions law.
I'm not even going to spoil the joy of their announcement by contemplating how Bishop Duncan and Archbishop Akinola must be spinning in their sanctuaries ...
Speaking of Nigeria ...a lesbian who married four women (as in took them as her wives, not performed the ceremony) has gone in hiding because she's facing imprisonment.
The ugly ...Poland. Censured by the EU for promoting homophobia, the Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski is speaking out in favor of repressive school based legislation that would make homosexual propaganda illegal. Here's the best part courtesy of Europe's gay news service:
"Nobody is limiting gay rights in Poland," Mr Kaczynski said.
"However, if we're talking about not having homosexual propaganda in Polish schools, I fully agree with those who feel this way.
"Such propaganda should not be in schools; it definitely doesn't serve youth well.
"It's not in the interests of any society to increase the number of homosexuals, that's obvious."
Not limiting gay rights indeed. I'm planning my trip to Poland right now.
New York Governor Elliot Spitzer plans to introduce legislation to legalize same sex marriage in New York. What can we say other than -- yeah!
Here in Pittsburgh, Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church voted themselves off the island of mainstream Presbyterianity and into the conservative boat known as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. But its not about the gays.
Although debates over gay ordination and gay marriage get the most attention in the divided denomination, the Rev. Wolling said those were not what spurred the decision to leave. He said he believes the denomination has turned from classical Trinitarian theology and from belief that Jesus is the divine son of God and sole savior of humanity.
Huh.
Penn State has hired a new coach for the women's basketball team ... with the lyrical name of Coquese Washington. I love her already. And I'm not a basketball fan ...
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican's second-highest ranking doctrinal official on Monday forcefully branded homosexual marriage an evil and denounced abortion and euthanasia as forms of "terrorism with a human face."
