From the KDKA.com website comes this brief story about a second round of hate laced graffiti in one month on the campus of Geneva College in Beaver Falls. The first time, it was solely racial slurs, now its expanded to anti-gay and anti-Semitic remarks as well.
Geneva officials and students state they are trying to avoid responding in anger or hate, thus not giving the vandal the reaction he or she desires. The signs have all been cleaned or replaced.
Is keeping cool the best response in this situation? Has the hater mongered intentionally tried to broaden his scope of hate to provoke a response?
My partner and I went to see the play "I am my own Wife" last night. I know it didn't get a good review in the City Paper, but we both liked it. But, of course, this little post isn't about reviewing a play. According to the program that gave the history of the play, in the 1870's, the German government enacted so-called morality codes that outlawed anything different that wasn't "German" enough. Gays and lesbians of course were out and were made second class citizens. Although other European countries were moving toward tolerance, Germany was moving backward. There was a period of time from 1919-1933 where gay society flourished, but, alas, in 1933 that great moralist named Hitler made homosexuality illegal again and punishable by death in the concentration camps. Still, homosexuals survived. When the godless commies came into power after World War II, homosexuals were again criminalized as "anti-German." Still, despite the repressive regime homosexuality survived.
I see parallels in the great US of A. Yesiree, homos, trannies, bi's and all the other deviants are labled anti-American by folks such as the American Family Association and Concerned Women for America. Now they want to ban our ability to get married, a basic human right. They say we're a threat to America. And while Europe and most civilized countries are moving forward on gay rights, guess who's moving backward (or at least stagnant?) I couldn't help thinking last night as I watched the play that America could be on a very dangerous course for those of the homo persuasion. And it's really scary. And people like Darryl Metcalfe posit their anit-gay, hate rhetoric in reasonable tones. Will the people in this state swallow his crap? Is the illegalization of homos really far behind? Or am I just being hysterical?? Still, as history clearly shows, despite Mr. Metcalfe and the other homo haters, we will still surive. And they say this is a lifestyle? A choice? Can someone explain to me why given hate, death, intolerance and recriminaiton why anyone would chose to be gay?
Finally, the incident at my beloved alma mater, Penn State, shows, we have a long way to go. Rene Portland should have been fired. And PSU should be ashamed of itself for not doing so. Can anyone explain to me why Ms. Portland hates lesbians? This, to my knowledge, has never been fully explained.
I was wrong! On Monday, I credited the USC decision to reinstate the International Baccalaureate Program as a sign of hope. From the PG:
Funding will come from a combination of $45,000 raised by families of the students and $85,000 guaranteed by Gov. Ed Rendell to the district, board members said.
I just shake my head that the state is allocating $85,000 for Upper St. Clair. Dormont might lose a pool. My own community of Manchester has not a single organized youth activity. And schools throughout this region are scraping by.
I think the IB program is important and kudos to the parents (and the students) for not letting the wingers win. It is just sad this victory underscores the truth that those who have access get a disproportionate share of resources. Does that bode well for the lesbians and gays in Pennsylvania?
From the PA-GALA website, an update on the PA marriage protection amendment ...
The Anti-Marriage Amendment (HB 2381) is on the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Agenda for the week of Monday, April 24th! A vote on the Amendment could be held anytime this week!
PA-GALA needs you to contact your State Representative and ask him or her to oppose the Anti-Marriage Amendment. Ask your legislators to protect all Pennsylvania families and not harm some by writing discrimination into Pennsylvania's constitution.
Visit the PA-GALA website for information on how to contact your State rep.
The Trib's Mike Seate steps up for his turn on the Rene Portland homobashing situation and considers Portland a viable candidate for Pennsylvania politics.
[I]nstead of offering any apologies or explanations for her bigotry and paranoia, Portland held a news conference last week where she refused to answer any questions. In fact, she pretty much denied the whole ugly affair. Fined $10,000 by the school, the foul-line homophobe will get to keep her job, which is the kind of hall pass previously reserved for crooked politicians.
Seate makes some nice comparisons to our illustrious hall of crminals, including Western PA's very own Jeff "Corruption" Habay.
Seate believes that Portland may in fact be on to this trend ...
If I were a betting man, I'd wager that Portland already knows this. She knows that a winning record makes beloved sports figures almost bullet-proof when it comes to criticism. It also means the rules, whatever they are, don't apply to the powerful and successful.
And by now, I'm sure Portland realizes that Penn State may never place the same importance on its students as it does its athletic programs.
From a blurb on the Post-Gazette website comes the nugget that the Upper St. Clair School District is reinstating the International Baccalaureate program in the face of a hailstorm of protest and a pending lawsuit.
IB is an educational curriculum that proposes to give students an "international" perspective in the classroom. Obviously, its a propaganda tool for the liberals and thank goodness the alert Christian wingers stomped out the evil influence while they could.
Or not.
USC tried to dodge the discrimination bullet by claiming that they axed the program for funding purposes. So then Uncle Eddie sensing an opportunity in election year stepped up and said that the state government would drop everything to fund this program for one of the wealthiest suburban districts in Western PA. To hell with those urban kids and their pesky academic needs ...
Plus, some school board idiot let it slip that it was about the threat to Judeao-Christian values anyway.
The parents filed suit (did the school board forget that the ACLU legal guru lives in their district --- the guy who already whomped on the intelligent design folks in Dover?).
So its all better now. Politics will have its course in the next round of elections. The kids can continue to learn about life outside of their box. And the rest of us can take heart knowing that occasionally, the good guys win.
I mean, seriously, did they just not know that he lived there?
These are two of our canine crew members, Alexander and Amadeus. We've been working on a 7 month quest to help them come to terms with their apparent fear of men. Hence ...
MANXPOSURE 2006
Essentially, we ferret out our male friends who aren't afraid of big dogs and invite them over to toss bacon bits and other meaty tidbits to two large barking dogs while trying not to flinch. We reward the men with chocolate chip cookies.
It has been working very well. After about 10 minutes of fear barking, they both end up on the floor begging for belly rubs and petting. Now, we are gearing up for a summer Man Party. Two dogs, two lesbians, our straight female dog trainer and a room full of gay men ... now that's a party!
Miss Mona and her feline companions are not thrilled with all the ruckus, but certainly enjoy the company. They only fear children with sticky fingers.
Local gay advocate Dana Elmendorf asks Pennsylvania to consider why Darryl Metcalfe and his band of merry men are rushing the marriage protection amendment to the House floor? This was in the PG.
UPDATE 11:27 AM: And this was in Friday's Tribune Review. Good job Dana!
The Post-Gazette Editors have spoken -- (emphasis mine)
We applaud university President Graham Spanier for upping the penalty from the initially suggested and insultingly negligible one-game suspension to a $10,000 fine. Perhaps the punishment should have been more severe. Had she discriminated against a player on the basis of race or ethnicity, she'd likely be looking for a new job.
I never thought I'd see the day when ESPN was more in synch with my thoughts than the Post-Gazette. Welcome to that day!
What the hell are the PG editors implying ... that the punishment fits the crime because it was just a little dyke bashing instead of a real case of discrimination?
Penn State doesn't get a pass on this. The University is making it very clear that there is a hierarchy of protection in their anti-discrimination policy. Racial discimination is not tolerated. Homophobia is okay if you are willing to pay $10,000.
Portland violated the University's nondiscrimination policy. There is no hierarchy (or there should NOT be) of protected classes within that policy. Period. She forced Jennifer Harris to go to school and play basketball in a hostile environment, eventually driving her out.
Now the Post-Gazette has dropped the ball, too. They didn't question Penn State's motivation for this wrist slapping maneuver.
Pennsylvania's homosexuals are not second class citizens. Bad enough our relationships are under assault from the right wingers, but now our young people are being denied an opportunity to pursue a higher education in a safe environment at the state land grant university. That is unacceptable.
Shame on the Post-Gazette for bowing at the altar of anything goes athletics.
The Nigerian homosexuality bill, the "Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006" which was presented to the House on the 31st March has now had its first reading in the Senate. A report in the Nigerian Vanguard states that the Bill has been widened to include "punish individuals who witness, celebrate with or support couples involved in homosexual relationships".
This legislation essentially criminalizes homosexuality. It strips a group of human beings of their entire identity and any claim to justice whatsoever. Homosexuals will "no longer be human beings, but illegal beings."
The Bill effectively silences the issue of homosexuality in Nigeria and removes all Human Rights of HR defenders, lesbians, gays, bi-bisexuals and transgendered people.
Peter Akinola, Anglican bishop and all around homohater, argues that this law reflects the Nigerian people's view on sexual matters.
Here's the Pittsburgh angle .... our beloved Episcopal Bishop Robert Duncan issues a press release stating that the Archbishop's support for this legislation is an improvement over Sharia law which advocates death for homosexuals. He then whips out the arguement that outraged Episopalians (and Anglicans) are being COLONIALIST by imposing their sexual values on Nigerians ....
I can't make this stuff up folks. God be with the entire Nigeria population. Because the Anglican Church sure isn't with them.
