As promised, gay activists converged on Moscow to hold the capitol's first gay pride rally in spite of the event being denied a permit and denounced by religious and political leaders throughout Russia.
In preparation for the rally, over 1000 police in riot gear met the activists in Red Square along with hundreds of anti-gay protestors. In response, police arrested over 120 of the gay activists as they attempted to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
What the police didn't do is protect the peaceful activitsts from the hate-fueled violence of the counterprotestors.
From Pink News
Volker Beck, a Green member of the German parliament was attacked by 20 religious protesters and punched in the face whilst he was giving a television interview.
?There was no aggression from our side, we were simply there,? Herr Beck told the DPA press agency. ?It is unacceptable that the police offer no protection to gays on the streets.?
Around 100 religious and fascist extremists dressed in black kicked and punched gay activists. ?Moscow is not Sodom!? shouted a group of Russian women clutching religious icons.
"We are Russians. We are Orthodox. These soldiers died so we could live like Russians, not so these people could come here and tell us what to do," one Christian protester told Reuters.
Yet another fine example of the damage of the hate-rhetoric flowly so freely from pulpits around the world. I wonder how long it will be until Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola teams up with the skinheads to beat down the homos?
UPDATE: While this story has not caught the attention of the mainstream media (surprise!), you can follow it through the Washington Blade vis a vis live coverage from Scott Long, Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights program for Human Rights Watch
A local hate group has issued a call for an "evangelistic outreach" to bring their message of hate, bigotry and intolerance to Pittsburgh's LGBT community during the 2006 PrideFest activities.
Rescue Pittsburgh is best known for their "blow up the women's health care center" message of Christian love. However, founder Joseph Parente has tried to hurl invectives at a homo or two in conjunction with his cohorts at Operation Rescue.
The month of June has become, for some, "pride" month, or a time to parade the sin of homosexuality just as they did in Sodom. Under the banner of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender, sin will be lauded as an acceptable alternative lifestyle. God's Word, however, is clear:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". --Romans 6:23
We must stand in the gap for those trapped in the bondage of homosexual perversion, boldly speaking the truth that sets the captives free. Jesus Christ is the only one who can rescue us from our sin, please join with us as we love our neighbors enough to tell them the truth.
Uh huh. Well, PrideFest is certainly a good starting point if you are looking for homos in bondage, but most of the BDSM crowd respect the family friendly atmosphere and limit their bondage apparatus. But I digress ...
You only have to browse through a few of his blog posts to recognize the Parente is no more an authentic Christian messenger than Barney. Beyond his endless ranting about abortion and baby killing politicians, he actually posts a description and photos of a man who appears to be an employee of the Allegheny County Department of Health and asks his reader(s) to track down information on this person. Nice. I guess Parente learned that little tactic in his domestic terrorism classes. Too bad he ran out of film and only identified one person over the past three months. Perhaps his mom wouldn't increase his allowance and he spent it all buying anti-choice porn over the Internet.
It takes someone really committed to saving babies to allow three young children (10,12 and 14) to be arrested -- trying to bring water to Terry Schiavo. That's the kind of good parenting that clearly proves why homosexuals are unfit to raise children!
What you WON'T read on the Rescue Pittsburgh blog is any reference to volunteering at a soup kitchen or food pantry, conducting prison ministry, taking clothing and medicine to the homeless, visiting seniors in nursing homes, OR fostering children. Nope. Not a whisper. Because those are boring run-of-the-mill Christian activities. Parente and his ilk are in it for the glory and the attention. Not to mention the unceasing desire to control the lives of other people.
PrideFest organizers estimate 8,000 people will attend this year's celebration, including several thousand heterosexuals.
Parente usually attracts two dozen or less wingnuts to his little hatefests.
At the beginning of the month, we reported on ties between Russian skinheads, the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian Muslims in the Russian ant-gay movement. Police had to hold back protestors from the three groups trying to disrupt a gay event at a local nightclub. Meanwhile, Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov refused to issue a permit for a gay pride march, scheduled for this Saturday.
Now a Moscow court has upheld Luzhkov's decision. And Luzhkov freely acknowledges that the real reason Moscow is the only major world capitol without a pride parade is for morality:
?I believe that such a parade is inadmissible in our country above all for moral considerations. People should not make public their deviations," he said
Well, that's a nifty bit of advice.
Not content to just verbally demonize homosexuals, Muscovites have taken anti-gay hatred to a level that must be giving Fred Phelps multiple orgasms.
Organizers of a weekend LGBT conference say they intend to march on Saturday despite the ruling. The conference has attracted gay leadership from throughout Europe.
Russian Patriarch Alexy II has denounced the planned festival and parade, and the leader of Russia's Muslims has called for a "violent mass protest" if gay leaders go ahead with Pride celebrations.
This is an excellent moment to point out that the Christian faction appears to be less violent than the Muslims, a fact that I'm sure many of our wonderful wingnuts here in the US would be quick to exploit. That's utter bullshit. The Patriarch should be denouncing those who promote VIOLENT protest, not those who want to conduct a march. But he doesn't. Because he is just as much a part of the anti-gay violence as those who are more open about it. Welcome to the slippery slope of religious based hatred. Watch your mitre on the way down.
Just for good measure, a group of extreme nationalists attacked an LGBT conference on Friday (remember the time zone difference). They invaded a speech given by Oscar Wilde's grandson, pelted him with eggs and sprayed an unidentified gas in the room. There were no reported injuries. And the conference resumed.
Those wild and wacky Baptists are at it again, deeming Sunday June 4 "Marriage Protection Sunday" to rally the troops for the debate on the Federal Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment. From the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission:
?Supporters of traditional marriage need to bombard their senators? offices with e-mails and phone calls,? ERLC President Richard Land told Baptist Press, ?and preachers across America need to let the pulpit ring forth in clear and no uncertain terms on Marriage Protection Sunday, June 4, and help create a groundswell of support for this amendment. I can assure you the opponents of traditional marriage are doing their best to let their voices be heard in the corridors of the Senate. It is up to us to let our voices be heard loudly as well.?
I bring this up because June 4 begins the week when the Pennsylvania Legislature returns to Harrisburg and could potentially bring the Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment to the House floor for a vote. Which means our homegrown PA right-wing nut jobs may ratchet up the anti-gay rhetoric in their so-called Christian pulpits on two fronts.
Some of those churches might want to focus a little bit of their energy on actual marriages that need some protection. Like State Representative Ken Ruffing and his wife Karen of my former hometown West Mifflin. This elected official has had 17 domestic calls from the police over the past 12 months, several involving him breaking down doors. KDKA caught the latest one on tape.
This is the kind of married man whois going to decide if my relationship is valid??!!!????
This weekend, the Pittsburgh Chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educatio Network) will host the Safe Prom for All at the Westin Hotel Convention Center.
This event rocks b/c it celebrates creating safe spaces for ALL kids. There are many a straight young adult who attends this celebration of diversity rather than the usual 50's throwback prom at the regular high schools. Especially when kids across the country are refusing to be forced into traditional gender role boxes in the name of conformity. Just this week a Gary, Indiana lad was booted from his high school prom because he showed up in a dress. The school claims boys wearing dresses disrupts the learning environment. Which is very important at the prom.
So if you have the time to volunteer at the Safe Prom or make a donation, surf on over and do so. Our kids deserve it.
In another overt example of homophobic law enforcement, Allegheny County police are "stepping up patrols" around a South Park bathroom suspected of being the location of many a gay tryst.
The Post-Gazette report hits the classic homophobic note -- the site's proximity to a children's playground. Because you cannot report on gay sex without making at least one subtle allusion to children.
Now I understand that having sex in public places is illegal. But when is the last time you read a story about cracking down on heterosexual public sex? I guarantee you that there are more incidencts of breeders having public sexual relations than homos. And I guarantee you that most gay men are not having sex in public restrooms. But those who do are not guilty of a greater crime than the majority of high school students parked at South Park.
When I was in high school, we rode the activity bus and had to walk through the parking lot of Sam's Club to get home. Every day for the entire track season in my junior year (1987), a car was parked in that lot containing an adult man and woman having sex. We walked right past it every day and they never batted an eye. They were having sex within eyeshot of the middle school and a half a block from a preschool. Where was the umbrage? Who protected me?
Let's be honest -- this is not a crackdown on public lewdness. This is a crackdown on the crime of being gay.
She just can't keep her mouth shut. No matter that Penn State found her guilty of discimination on the basis of sexual orientation. No matter that she got off with a little slap on the wrist. No matter that she still faces a huge lawsuit.
Rene Portland continues to trumpet her innocence and has now officially attempted to retaliate against Jennifer Harris. On Thursday, she issued a written statement disparaging Harris' contribution to the Lady Lions team.
Harris lawyers point out that Portland had publicly lauded Harris' performance in 2004 and 2005. They also state that the team statistics attest to Harris' contributions.
Penn State has stated that if Portland violated the University's nondiscrimination policy again, she will be fired. Harris' lawyers have filed a formal complaint with the University over the retaliation attempt.
'Although coach Portland has a right to defend herself against Jennifer's allegations, the law and Penn State policy do not permit retaliation by making false and disparaging allegations,' Doering said.
Karen Doering is the senior counsel for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Will PSU take action? Of course not. I'm sure they will split hairs over what constitutes retaliation, adding fuel to Portland's slow but inevitable self-immolation.
Don't worry Rene. This is Pennsylvania so when you finally get yourself fired, you can get into politics and bring your homo-bigotry home to roost in the state legislature.
Whereas our federal government seems insistent on bringing the anti-gay marriage amendment to the Senate floor, things are looking up in the federal court system. More accurately, we aren't losing ground in the federal courts
On Friday, the US District Court ruled that an Oklahoma law banning LGBT couples from adopting was so extreme that it threatened to invalidate adoptions from other states. If a gay couple traveled to Oklahoma, their parental rights would not be recognized while they are in the state.
What the hell kind of sense does that make? As one of the judges opined, the adoption was approved by a court in another state which indicates that it was deemed to be in the best interest of the child(ren).
Obviously, Oklahoma has some serious homo-hating folks in their legislature. Or back home among the voting faithful.
Is it progress that we can now visit Oklahoma without our children being deemed orphans? Hmmm.
WASHINGTON -- A Senate committee yesterday approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, after a shouting match that ended when one Democrat strode out and the Republican chairman bid him "good riddance."
"I don't need to be lectured by you. You are no more a protector of the Constitution than am I," Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., shouted after Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., declared his opposition to the amendment, his affinity for the Constitution and his intention to leave the meeting.
"If you want to leave, good riddance," Mr. Specter finished.
"I've enjoyed your lecture, too, Mr. Chairman," replied Mr. Feingold, who is considering a run for president in 2008. "See ya."
Amid increasing partisan tension over President Bush's judicial nominees and domestic wiretapping, the panel voted along party lines to send the constitutional amendment -- which would prohibit states from recognizing same-sex marriages -- to the full Senate, where it stands little chance of passing.
Arlen voted Yes because he thinks the measure should get a full vote on the Senate Floor, but is personally opposed to the measure. Huh. Why do I think he's trying to appease Pennsylvania conservatives in order to rally votes for Ricky?
The proposed amendment would require approval by two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the states. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has scheduled a vote on it for the week of June 5.
Early June is going to be a busy month for homophobic legislation. Its also when the Pennsylvania House will (possibly) consider a state level marriage amendment.
Face it, this is a Republic ploy to drive conservative voters to the polls. The ass-whipping in the Pennsylvania election this past week has them scared out of their minds that Ricky's base will sit out the November election. The anti-incumbent feeling in the air does not bode well for Mr. Sanctimonious.
Of course, it doesn't bode well for Rendell either.
The American Family Association of Pennsylvania is displeased with the First Lady for suggesting that gay marriage not be used as a campaign tool. Even Laura Bush is not spared their fury when the AFA smells a whiff of tolerance. From their May 17 press release:
Homosexuals have a right to live their lives as they want, but they do no have a right to force our society to redefine marriage and family.Same-sex marriage is not a civil rights issue.Even the Rev. Jesse Jackson is on record as stating that same-sex marriage has nothing to do with civil rights.Those involved in the homosexual lifestyle have never been forced to sit at the back of the bus nor are there water fountains labeled ?Gay Only.?The thousands of ex-gays in this country show that people are not born ?gay.?
I could be wrong, but I suspect being prevented from medical decision making, having your parental rights restricted or terminated, and losing your job BECAUSE YOU ARE GAY would in fact be on par with being sent to the back of the bus. I have never been sent to the back of the bus, but I can clearly point out an array of civil rights that are now labeled "heterosexual only." Including marriage.
?It is tragic that Mrs. Bush doesn?t see the importance of making the marriage amendment a campaign issue.Americans want marriage between one man and one woman protected through a constitutional amendment.Marriage is the foundation of any society and the voters recognize the need to protect its foundation,? stated Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
?The federal Marriage Protection Amendment is not discriminatory.Our proposed Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment is not discriminatory.People want to protect traditional marriage and any individual running for public office would be well-advised to make marriage amendments a campaign issue,? Gramley concluded.
In other words folks, ramp up the hate-rhetoric because the homo-bigots are gonna roll. With the power dynamic shifting in the House, I have no idea what the future of the Marriage Amendment will be. Stay tuned.
As promised, gay activists converged on Moscow to hold the capitol's first gay pride rally in spite of the event being denied a permit and denounced by religious and political leaders throughout Russia.
She just can't keep her mouth shut. No matter that Penn State found her guilty of discimination on the basis of sexual orientation. No matter that she got off with a little slap on the wrist. No matter that she still faces a huge lawsuit. 
