Remember waaay last year when I was complaining about plans to hold a breast cancer fundraiser in a hookah bar?  Well, I got some righteous girl flak from the promoter (Girl Weapon X) and her posse who didn't appreciate me questioning their, like, total commitment to preventing cancer.  Scratching your head to remember Girl Weapon X?  Yeah, me too.  Googling her moniker just brings up 14 million MySpace entries.  I just tried it out of curiosity.

Why am I curious?  Well, I caught this little item over at feministing.

Camel is trying to lure more women into smoking by pinkifying the packaging.  WTF?

This is exactly why I was impelled to label Girl Weapon X a quasi-Christian bar wench for her stupidity in celebrating breast cancer awareness in a hookah bar.  She is exactly the reason why Camel thinks this new tact is a good idea. 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph ...

This is just too delicious.  The Concerned Women for America are taking former NBA player Tim Harding to task for his recent homophobic rant.  The CWA fears that Harding's blatant bigotry will taint the anti-gay movement.  Or something like that.  Just check this out:

"Hardaway?s comments are both unfortunate and inappropriate,? said Matt Barber, CWA?s Policy Director for Cultural Issues. ?They provide political fodder for those who wish to paint all opposition to the homosexual lifestyle as being rooted in ?hate.? It?s important to note that Hardaway?s words represent the feelings of Hardaway. His words do not represent the feelings of the vast majority of people opposed to the homosexual agenda.

?It?s perfectly natural for people to be repelled by disordered sexual behaviors that are both unnatural, and immoral,? said Barber. ?All too often those behaviors are accompanied by serious physical, emotional, and spiritual pitfalls. However, the appropriate reaction is to respond with words and acts of love, not words of hate. Jesus Christ offers forgiveness and freedom for all sinners, and that is the heart of the Gospel message.

?Thousands of former homosexuals have been freed from the homosexual lifestyle through acts of love. Hardaway?s comments only serve to foment misperceptions of widespread homosexual ?victimhood? which the homosexual lobby has craftily manufactured.?

I can't make this shit up.

This is the kind of Christian-flavored bigotry that makes me puke.  As I was trying to explain to H's Mom in an earlier post, hate is a slippery slope.  H's Mom and her fear of lesbian-association for her daughter might seem a far cry from "I hate gay people," but if you interject the intermediary step described above ... its not so crazy a leap is it?

Dear H's Mom,

Congratulations on raising spunky, articulate and polite daughter.  As you know, she took the time to post a comment on this blog several months ago, sharing her thoughts on the Upper St. Clair performance of "The Importance of Being Earnest" and the potential for homophobia.  Unlike most of those who comment here, she had the guts to post her real name and stand up for that which she believes.  That's commendable and I'm sure you are very proud of her.

But you aren't happy that googling her name brings up a lesbian website. Out of deference to your sensibilities, your daughter has very politely asked me to take her comment down. 

Given that your daughter seems to rock, it is quite discouraging, H's Mom, that you are a homophobe.  Oh, I know you probably don't think that way of yourself and would never be the kind of person who says "I hate gay people."  And you probably think we deserve some civil rights and disagreed with Rick Santorum's man-on-dog slurs. 

But let me be clear, H's Mom, that being "freaked out" because your daughter's name is associated with lesbians is nothing but homophobic.  And you freaking out sent a very clear message to your daughter that if she is gay, it's not okay with you.  And that, H's Mom, makes you a very real threat to myself and my community.  And your daughter, too.

If being mistaken for a lesbian or perceived to be lesbian-friendly is the worst assumption people make about your daughter, is that so bad?  If you are worried how people might treat her or what they might think about her, you might want to consider why people do that. Perhaps you might use the opportunity to teach your daughter some lessons about tolerance, rather than capitulating to gay panic. 

I'm honoring your daughter's request to take down her comment because she asked me politely and was very respectful and straightforward with me about her reasons.  She seems like a great ally for my community and has her head on straight when it comes to your being freaked out over this whole thing.  I doubt she's going to develop a sudden fear of lesbians over this. 

I do hope you take a moment to consider the lesson you've taught her. 

Sincerely,

Sue                                                                                                                          PghLesbian Correspondents