Sunday, July 31, 2005

Southern Tradition: A 'Taste' of Bluegrass

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As seen in The Winston-Salem Journal Thursday night is bluegrass night at the McDonald's over in King By Lisa O'Donnell JOURNAL REPORTER KING - Every Thursday night, the McDonald's here serves fast pickin' with its fast food. Sounds of Bluegrass, a five-piece band, jams in a corner of the restaurant, cranking out such bluegrass standards as "Orange Blossom Special" and "Rocky Top." Click here to continue reading the article Click here for an audio slideshow

PFLAG issues statement on Zach Stark and ex-gay "reparative" therapy

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PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) has issued a statement concerning Zach Stark (pictured left), the gay 16 year old Tennessee boy who blogged about being sent to an ex-gay camp by his parents. I have followed this story for a while now, in fact, I have followed it since practically the beginning. Zach was supposed to be released from Refuge on Friday, July 29, 2005. I have not seen any news reports concerning his release on Friday and it is still not yet known what kind of effect the camp might have had on Zach. I keep him in my prayers and hope that he has come through this journey okay. I also pray that he has not given in to the hate-filled and bigoted beliefs of the radical religious right. God loves all of His children. It is my belief and the belief of so many others that our loving and merciful God cares more about our love and devotion to Him rather than who we love. I also firmly believe that we will all be judged on how we loved and not who we loved in this earthly life. To see the PFLAG statement: Click Here

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Nazi Germany on the rise again? At least for gays it is.

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According to an article originally appearing on 365gay.com on July 26, 2005, but now on About.com (see article), police in three German states are keeping secret computer files on gays. The databases can be searched by entering "omosex," the German word for homosexual and the files include the names of all gay persons in someway connected to the legal system - whether that be in the form of suspects, witnesses or victims. Many in Germany, including politicians, have condemned the practice, saying that it harkens back to the days when the Nazi regime kept "pink lists" of homosexuals. The Nazi's rounded up anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 homosexuals under a German law known as Paragraph 175 (finally abolished in 1994). The law prohibited sex between two men. Homosexuals were required to wear the pink triangle (a modern gay pride symbol) by the Nazis and they were forced into concentration camps where they were subjected to scientific experiments and operations including lobotomies. Homosexual men were also forced to work and many were sent to the gas chamber. The German homosexual police organization suspects that the practice of keeping files on gays is more widespread than now thought.

Friday, July 29, 2005

'Ex-gay' confab in N.C. a sad sight- From Sovo.com

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From Sovo.com, http://sovo.com/blog/index.cfm?blog_id=1819
Reporter Eartha Melzer returned this week from a stint in North Carolina, where she covered last week’s Exodus International conference for gays and lesbians seeking to change their sexual orientation. For those who live in predominantly gay neighborhoods in the Northeast between Washington, D.C., and Boston it is tempting to dismiss the "ex-gay" crowd as fringe crazies bent on derailing the gay rights movement. But a very different picture emerged from last week’s conference. The crowd, about 1,000 people, mostly men, came to attend panel discussions on resisting masturbation and creating a sexual relationship with a member of the opposite sex, among others. They attended prayer sessions and were addressed by Jerry Falwell, longtime enemy of gay rights advocates. But there was a noticeable absence of anti-gay malice among the ranks of attendees. Most of these people are desperate to repress and deny their homosexuality because they don’t understand it and long to be accepted by their communities. They’ve long been subjected to anti-gay rhetoric from their families, friends and church leaders. They fear being ostracized for being different and many of them no doubt live in fear of physical violence. Being gay in a rural area can be a frightening prospect, as evidenced by this week’s arson attack on a gay couple’s home in Florida. The ex-gay ministries are cruelly preying upon the Exodus conference attendees, feeding them false hopes of living a "normal life" with a member of the opposite sex. These people are largely from rural areas; they are isolated from other gays and the resources that many urban gays take for granted. They may be poor — one attendee told of saving money from multiple jobs to make the journey to the ex-gay conference — or uneducated. And those factors make them prime targets for the fundamentalist Christians, who know something about exploiting the vulnerable. Whether it’s preying on the elderly for donations to shifty televangelists, indoctrinating alcoholics with fundamentalist dogma or convincing gays they can choose to be straight, fundamentalist Christians know how to manipulate and take advantage of vulnerable people. Reports from the conference make it clear that the ex-gay business is booming. Their message — that prayer coupled with avoiding pornography and masturbation can help change a person from gay to straight — is silly, simplistic and not grounded in anything approaching science or even reason. But it’s wrapped in a slick package, complete with rock music, light shows and promises of salvation. Sadly, many rural gays are being taken in and they’re buying it.
See Earlier Posts on the MattHillNC.com Blog: 'Two tid-bits: Falwell at ex-gay conference" "Gay teen to be released soon from ex-gay camp" "Western NC Mountains become hotbed of debate concerning gays and religion"

"The Clear Truth of Scripture" (from The Reverend Susan Russell)

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From The IntegrityUSA Blog
Here’s a question from a letter I received this week: "What we're asking for is a straight answer out of you people on where in the Bible you rest your case on the same sex relationship issue. Can you do that or not?" Finally a question I can answer without hesitation. The answer is "no." There is no single text -- no specific chapter and verse -- that I can point anyone to and say, "Here is the clear truth of scripture" on the issue. Nor is there any "clear truth of scripture" in support of the ordination of women. Nor is there any "clear truth of scripture" on the sanctity inter-racial marriage. Nor is there any "clear truth of scripture" opposing the death penalty. Nor is there any "clear truth of scripture" supporting the abolition of slavery. Finally, if there WAS a single text argument for any of these hotly debated issues YOU WOULDN'T FIND AN ANGLICAN MAKING IT! We’re not a Sola Scriptura people. That is not how we do theology -- never has been and (God willing) never will be. And yet, there are forces at work urging us to ignore our history and abandon our traditional methodology and polity - substituting literalism and “confessionalism” for traditional Anglican comprehensiveness. Key to that effort is the ongoing “spin” of the controversy du jour as the sole responsibility of the mythical gay agendists hell-bent on undermining western civilization and destroying Christianity as we know it. “The clear truth” is these are not arguments about sexuality but arguments about biblical authority -- and we have been having for CENTURIES. Check out Terry Holmes for a little historical perspective:“The Puritans taught that the Scriptures provided a certainty that transcended all other certainty, including reason, which reason they wished to confine to “science” (e.e. all forms of human learning). They believed that the Scriptures must be read for themselves and devoid of subsequent interpretations, namely, tradition. Hooker’s answer to this was that the Scriptures when read apart from reason and tradition and were subject to the all kinds of private interpretations, which would of necessity be biased. Hence, Hooker articulates for Anglicanism its answer to the question of what is our authority. Our authority is the association of Scripture, tradition and reason … Scripture for the Anglican is a fundamental source of authority for the church; but apart from reason it is dangerous. It becomes the mirror for the misdirected person to project his or her own opinions and give them the authority of God. Th! e sin of schism in the result.” - Urban T. Holmes, “What Is Anglicanism” pg. 11-13 Hmm … “the sin of schism” … perhaps we detect a pattern here! Some of us had Puritan ancestors who jumped ship over this very thing in the 16th century and some of us are losing friends and colleagues in ministry over it in the 21st. And the battle goes on. And to equip ourselves for it, I commend "To Set Our Hope on Christ": ECUSA's response to the invitation of the Windsor Report to explain "from within the sources of authority that as Anglicans have received in scripture, the apostolic tradition and reasoned reflection, how a person living in a same gender union may be considered eligible to lead the flock of Christ." It is available for order through http://www.episcopalbookstore.org or in a PDF online at ToSetOurHopeOnChrist.pdf Read it. Mark it. Inwardly digest it. Study it in a group and reflect on it in your prayer time. Give thanks for the blessing it represents as a 21st century reflection of the historic faith we inherit as Anglicans. And pay close, close attention to the powers and principalities organizing to take that historic faith and turn it into something neither Hooker nor Seabury would recognize.
http://integrityusa.blogspot.com/2005/07/clear-truth-of-scripture-from-rev.html

Two tid-bits #2: Methodist Pastor Removed and Gay Billboards rejected

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According to an article on 365gay.com, a Methodist pastor in Virginia has been removed from his position for a period of one year for denyingmembership in his congregation to a gay man. For more details, read the article According to an article on Express Gay News, Lamar Advertising Company in South Georgia has refused to do business with Georgia Equality, which had wanted to put its "We are your neighbors" billboard campaign in South Georgia. Georgia Equality's billboard campaign is similar to that of The Triad Equality Alliance. Gay.com billboard ads were also pulled in Massachussetts. For more, see the article

Thursday, July 28, 2005

McCain v. Clinton in 2008?

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I ran across some very interesting polls for the 2008 race for the Presidency today. One of the more interesting polls was the Marist College Poll, taken in April 2005 nationwide, and is below. Be sure to notice the pairing of Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and John McCain (R-AZ). Visit www.pollingreport.com/2008.htm to see.

International groups dispute claims over gay teen executions in Iran

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According to an article on Express Gay News, international watchdog groups are disputing claims made about the execution of two Iranian teenagers (see earlier blog post, "Two tid-bits"). The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch claim that the two teenagers were convicted and executed for sexually assaulting a 13 year old male, not for having consensual gay sex. The Human Rights Campaign sent a letter last week to Madame Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to condemn the executions. The executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission welcomed the HRC's work on international gay-rights abuses but noted that this was "the wrong case" on which to take action. The Human Rights Campaign stands by their original request for a condemnation of the executions. The HRC is not willing to give Iran, a country full of LGBT-rights abuses, the benefit of the doubt and believes that the charges were trumped up. Although Madame Secretary of State Rice did not condemn the executions, the US State Department did release the following statement on the Iranian judicial systeM:
"We remain concerned about Iran’s judicial process. Defendants are not receiving due process of law, and trials lack procedural safeguards. "As noted in our country reports on human rights practices, the judge and the prosecutor are the same person, trials are frequently held in closed sessions without access to a lawyer and the right of appeal is not often honored. "We call upon the government of Iran to vigorously pursue prison reform, cooperate with international investigations of human rights cases and respect international human rights law and practice."
Although the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch have decided that the teens were not excuted for having consensual homosexual sex, they are still alarmed and concerned about Iran's execution of teenagers. Other high ranking officials around the world have either condemned the executions on the grounds that teenagers should not be executed or on the grounds of the belief that the teens were executed for having gay sex.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

President of UNC Assoc. of Student Gov'ts speaks out against Budget Provisions

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In today's edition of the Raleigh News and Observer, Zach Wynne, President of The University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments (www.uncasg.org) spoke out against the budget provisions harmful to the UNC System included in the proposed North Carolina Budget. He has written both an editorial and a Point of View column in today's paper. To read the editorial: Click Here. To read the Point of View column: Click Here.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

And the race begins: Piedmont/Triad organizing efforts for the 2008 March on Washington for LGBT Equality

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Last night I was asked if I would like to volunteer to help begin organizing for the 2008 March on Washington for LGBT Equality (projected date: April 2008). Well, of course, I said, "YES!" The planning and organizing for the 2008 March will definitely be a grassroots movement, nationwide. As of right now (July 2005), I am the only volunteer to start organizing for the Piedmont/Triad area of North Carolina. Please check out: www.MattHillNC.com/2008march/, the Piedmont/Triad 2008 March on Washington Organizing site. I've also set up a blog to go along with site, so that people in the Triad can keep up to date on all current news and information: 2008triadlgbt.blogspot.com. For more info, just visit the organizing page!

Monday, July 25, 2005

Falwell: Forcing gay kids into "reparative therapy" OK

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According to an article on Express Gay News, the Reverend Jerry Falwell (pictured left), founder of the Moral Majority and Liberty University, has endorsed the forcing of gay teenagers into "reparative therapy" at centers such as Refuge in Memphis, Tennessee. The Refuge center is run by Love in Action, an affiliate of Exodus International, an organization that bills itself as the largest ex-gay organization in the country. At the 2005 Exodus International conference, which is currently going on at the Lifeway Ridgecrest Conference Center (run by the Southern Baptist Convention) near Asheville, North Carolina, Falwell compared letting children identify as "gay" to allowing children to play on the interstate. According to the article Falwell also "dismissed psychologists’ claims that consent is fundamental to a healthy counseling relationship and that parents should not force their gay kids into therapy." This year's "Freedom Conference" was attended by more than 1000 and took on a higher profile after the controversy surrounding Love in Action and the experiences of Zach Stark (pictured right), a gay 16 year old Bartlett, Tennessee, boy who blogged about his parents forcing him to be sent to the camp and "turn" straight (see earlier post Gay teen to be released soon from Tennessee ex-gay camp). There has been no more news regarding the release of Zach Stark and no new information is available regarding the affect which the ex-gay camp might have had on him. ====== Falwell has gone and done it again. After opening his big, fat mouth after September 11th, blaming the tragic events on gays, feminists and the ACLU, Falwell is going about his old tricks again. Who should know better about therapy and forced therapy upon youth: The Reverend Bigot Falwell or the American Psychological Association? Also, who knows better about sexual orietnation and the science surrounding it? Just because some people may believe homosexuality is choice does not make it true. The Church once insisted that the earth was the center of the universe, despite science's claims to the contrary. I wonder when the Church will have to apologize for the actions of bigoted leaders like Falwell in the future just like it has apologized for the actions of the leaders in Galileo's day? How much proof do you need people? Do we have to wait five hundred years before we realize, "Ooops... Looks like we were wrong... gay people are born that way." Wake up and smell the coffee!!! While you're at it, start treating ALL of God's beautiful children equally and fairly.

Two Letters: The Bible, the Quran, America and Discrimination

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I read a letter to the editor in the July 19, 2005 issue of The Winston-Salem Journal and I just had to respond to it. Below you can read the original July 19th letter and my response which was published in the Journal today, July 25, 2005. "HERITAGE" July 19, 2005
We should not trash our heritage for the abyss of pluralism because the Muslims in Greensboro want to use the Quran and not the Bible in the courtroom ("Group requests that courtroom oaths cater to various faiths," July 7). The Bible has given the Muslims and others freedom in this country, whereas the Quran has not provided likewise to others in theirs. The Bible, with its high morals and absolutes of right and wrong, coupled with mercy, forgiveness, acceptance and a savior for eternal life, which brings consolation and coherence, has been America's historical foundation and source of common law. Without a high moral standard to lead, we are lost in the abyss of unknowns and searching instability. We can be proud to have had, connected to our common law, virtues of moral purity, faithfulness, trustworthiness, righteousness and justice. Maybe that is why in the 1776 North Carolina Constitution, only Christians were allowed to handle the affairs of the state. E.A. TIMM Walnut Cove
"USED TO DISCRIMINATE" July 25, 2005
I found the July 19 letter "Heritage" to be very distasteful, arrogant, prejudiced and bigoted. The Bible is not what gave our nation's citizens the freedoms we all enjoy (and sometimes take for granted). Instead, the Bible has been used to discriminate against countless groups of people in our nation's history and it continues to be used to justify discriminating against certain groups of people because of their "sin." The Bible has been used to discriminate against Jews, Muslims and other non-Christians. People have also used the Bible (and also the holy name of God) to discriminate against blacks, women and people who are gay or lesbian. How righteous is it to own another human being, or hold your wife as inferior or discriminate against others just because they may be different from you? The Bible should be used to promote love, mercy, forgiveness and equality, but I guess our mortal, inferior minds will continue to use the name of God and his book to justify our own sins. I pray that God would have mercy on us all, for we have sinned against him by using his unending good to do nothing but evil. MATTHEW MORRELL HILL Winston-Salem
======= There have been other responses to the original July 19th letter published on the Opinion page of The Winston-Salem Journal. All of them, so far, have been in opposition to the original letter writer's position. One letter said something like (and this is not a direct quote), "The original North Carolina Constitution also gave voting rights only to white, privileged, land-owning males. I doubt that is the type of North Carolina we all want now." I did not have room in my letter to the editor to give a full response to the original letter. I wish I had. I see no problem, whatsoever, in allowing Muslims to use the Quran to take courtroom oaths. Why does it matter... won't they still be saying the same oath? The only thing that might change is the "so help me God" part and in that case only the word "God" would be changed to the Arab word for "God," which is "Allah." If there truly is a separation of Church and State in this country (which there is, although some people still don't realize it and even I have still have a problem reconciling God and Country) then why is there even a controversy over the Quran and its use in court? If Church and State are separate, then all religious people should be able to use their own holy texts and God(s) to take courtroom oaths. This whole debate is ridiculous. I wonder how much money the officials over in Guilford County will use in trying to keep Christianity above all other religions in our court system?

Sunday, July 24, 2005

No Surprise: No mention of Gays in North Carolina Democrats and Young Democrats Platforms

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As most of my friends and acquaintances know, I am a staunch Democrat... I have been ever since I became politically aware and active. Living in Winston-Salem and being in a relatively conservative high school, I thought I was a "liberal." As I went off to college though and found out through my first year at UNCG, I'm really not all that liberal. In fact, I'll go ahead and say it... I am a conservative. About the only things I am "liberal" on are the separation of Church and State (maybe), gay rights, civil rights and the all-important monetary and financial issues. I was looking around online today and found the Platforms of the North Carolina Democratic Party (Platform)and that of the Young Democrts of North Carolina (Platform). It came as no surprise to me that LGBT issues were not even once mentioned in either of the documents. You have to admit, although North Carolina tends to vote Democratic for all of our state offices, such as Governor and Council of State, we are in a pretty conservative state. For God's sake... we went to Bush in the 2000 and 2004 elections. I really do think that the NC Democratic Party and the Young Democrats of NC would be better off placing LGBT issues in their platforms though. With such a high number of LGBT persons active within the party, it just makes sense to recognize our issues, our problems and our concerns. Hopefully LGBT issues will be added in the next time they get around to revising the documents. The United States is heading toward a major internal conflict over LGBT rights and North Carolina Democrats would be smart to take an early lead in setting up their platforms to be in favor of treating LGBT citizens as equally and fairly as straight citizens.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Two tid-bits: Falwell at Ex-gay Exodus conference and Nobel Peace laureate condemns gay Iranian executions

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On Saturday, the Reverend Jerry Falwell spoke at the 2005 Exodus Conference at the Lifeway Ridgecrest Conference Center, which is owned by the Southern Baptist Convention. I wrote an entry on the conference previously, Western NC Mountains become hotbed of debate concerning gays and religion The article concerning the Reverend Jerry Falwell can be found online on the Asheville Citizen-Times: Falwell encourages ex-gays at Ridgecrest In other news, a Nobel Peace Laureate has condemned the hanging of two gay Iranian teenagers (see my earlier blog post, HRC pushes Secy. Rice to condemn executions of Gay Iranian Teens). According to an article on Express Gay News, news has surfaced that the boys (pictured left) were charged not only with committing homosexual acts but also with raping other boys. The British group, OutRage!, and other gay groups across the globe believe that the rape charges were trumped up in order to decrease public sympathy for the executed teenagers.

Friday, July 22, 2005

HRC pushes Secy. Rice to condemn executions of Gay Iranian Teens

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According to an article on 365gay.com, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to condemn the execution of two gay teenagers in Iran. On Thursday, July 21, news about the two teenagers, one 18 and the other said to be 16 or 17, came to light. According to the Iranian Student News Agency, the two teenagers were found to be guilty of the "crime" of homosexuality by a religious court in Iran. The English langauge Iran in Focus also reported about the executions, saying that the two were executed by hanging in the public square of the city of Mashhad July 19 and had been held and tortured before their execution. It is reported that they also received 228 lashes. According to the article:
"This crime warrants an immediate and strong condemnation from the Department of State," said the Human Rights Campaign in a letter Friday to Rice. "Atrocities committed by foreign governments against all people must be condemned swiftly and forcefully by the world’s greatest democracy. We urge you to do so. "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed by the UN General Assembly in 1948, declares that every human should be guaranteed the fundamental right to life, liberty, and security of person and every human should be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Tragically, this guarantee of basic human rights does not exist for GLBT individuals in certain regions of the globe." The letter, signed by HRC President Joe Solmonese goes on to say that research done by organizations such as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International, shows that human rights abuses are perpetrated against the GLBT community in all corners of the globe. "As we have seen in recent weeks, the barbarous punishments for sexual acts in these countries run contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For that reason, these acts must be condemned," the letter from Solmonese said. The State Department said that it had not seen the letter and would not comment on it until it had been studied.
======= With all that is happening in American society surrounding the issue of LGBT rights and abuses of those rights, it is easy for us to forget about the abuses which LGBT persons across the globe face on a dialy basis. In many parts of the world, the abuses which LGBT Americans face are nothing compared to the abuses of others, such as the executions of the two gay Iranian teenagers. Our world has a very long way to come in order for LGBT people to be treated equally and fairly. We have much further than that to go before LGBT people will not only be treated equally and fairly but also respected and valued as equally as straight people. May God help our mere mortal souls to know the difference between right and wrong and may He also guide us to love our neighbor as ourselves and treat others the way Christ Himself treated us.

"Activist Judges" ??? They exist in Spain, too!!!!

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According to an article on Yahoo! News (article) a judge has blocked a same-sex marriage citing the country's constitution. According to the article:
The head of Spain's supreme court, Francisco Jose Hernando, commented on the judge's move, saying, "if the colleague in Denia thinks that the new law regulating homosexual marriages contains unconstitutional aspects, it is within his rights to have chosen this means of expressing his doubts."
Spanish gay rights organizations fear that conservative Catholic judges may wage a war against marriage equality for gay couples. ======= It seems that while conservatives here in America are complaining about liberal "activist judges" who legislate law against the will of the people and legislature, liberals are complaining about the opposite in Spain. The Spanish people and legislature have ruled that gay couples can be married, yet conservative "activist judges" are fighting it. One thing though: I bet most of the hypocritical, radical, religious conservatives of America are standing behind these conservative judges in Spain... even though those judges are doing what the American conservatives seem to loathe the most: legislating from the bench. You know what... hypocrisy stinks.

Gay teen to be released soon from Tennessee ex-gay camp

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According to an article in the Washington Blade Online (article), Zach Stark (pictured left), a gay 16 year old from Bartlett, Tennessee, will be released soon from Refuge, an ex-gay camp for adolescents run by Love in Action, a group affiliated with Exodus International. He has been in the camp since early June. A firestorm of media coverage, LGBT rights activism, Tennessee state investigations of the camp and ex-gay activism began after Zach posted entries about coming out to his parents and being sent to the ex-gay camp on his blog. Joe Stark, Zach's father, confirmed the identity of his son and his placement into the ex-gay camp on the Christian Boradcasting Network, where he also defended his actions.
“We felt good about Zach coming here … to let him see for himself the destructive lifestyle, what he has to face in the future, and to give him some options that society doesn’t give him today,” Stark said, "Until he turns 18 and he’s an adult in the state of Tennessee, I’m responsible for him, and I’m going to see to it that he has all options available to him.”
It is not known what type of effect the ex-gay camp has had on Zach. Before going into the camp Zach wrote about having suicidal feelings in his blog. The gay media, blogs on the web, the Memphs area media and mainstream national media sources including the New York Times, have covered Zach's story. With all of the media attention, the debate over the legality and ethics of treating homosexuality has sprung back up. ========= It is so good to know that out of the horror and tragedy which Zach has expereinced and is still experiencing, something good is coming out. Zach's struggles have sparked a debate which was well overdue in American society. In 1973, the American Psychological Association took homosexuality off its list of mental and psychological diseases. So this is the question I propose... Why isn't illegal to force people into treatment to "cure" homosexuality, especially teenagers who are at the mercy of their parents and their decisions? Hopefully, when Zach is released, he can get away from his parents. They are supposed to love him and protect him, instead they have done nothing but hurt him. He will need to get away rom them and find a family that is supportive and loving. I just pray that Zach has not given into the bigoted and hatefilled ideology of the Ex-Gay Movement.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Two kids dead... "But the school denies there is a problem"

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According to an article on Mirror.co.uk (article), two students have killed themselves inthe last few weeks. The cause has been blamed on bullying. The first student, 16 year old Karl, was raped by a 23 year old man. He told his secret to a "friend," who then proceeded to tell others at his school. Although he did tell his parents and went to the police with the crime, the taunts and teasing continued at his school where students began to call him "gay." Karl even switched schools, but the taunting followed him. Karl was found dead earlier this month. Two weeks after he died, another student at his most recent high school, Hirst High in Ashingotn, Northumberland, a 15 year old girl killed herself. Again the blame has been put on bullying. And according to the article, "But the school denies there is a problem." ====== I am trying my best to keep cool and not get to overworked and pissed off sitting here at my computer. TWO kids have KILLED THEMSELVES and you DENY there is a problem???!!! What the f*#@ is wrong with people today??? Does the hate for gay people, or people who are just perceived to be, run so deeply that people do not care about the tragic misfortunes of other humans???!!! There is a serious problem here. Two kids dead and the school denies there is a problem. I can only hope that God will open the eyes of these people in Britain and in America and in France and in China and South Africa and Iran and Mexico and Brazil and etc. etc. etc. They are kids for God's sake!!!!!

Protecting the Family.... yeah right... more like destroying it... if you're gay anyways

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An op-ed piece in The Detroit News points out a serious flaw in America's conservative movement to "protect and defend the family." The radical conservatives might be wanting to protect the family, but it seems they are nothing but willing to destroy families, too... well, families with gays included anyway. The op-ed piece tells the story of families with same-sex parents and their fight against the Oklahoma law which prohibits both same-sex parents from adopting children and from recognizing the second parent as a legal guardian. North Carolina also only allows one same-sex parent to legally adopt children. These parents are loving and committed to their children. They are even willing to give up their homes, their jobs and their life in Oklahoma just to protect their children if they do not win out in the battle to get the Oklahoma law overturned. The fight has made its way to federal court in a lawsuit brought by Lambda Legal. It is a shame that children are being put into the middle of this very nasty debate over homosexuality in America. The debate is nothing more than this: Some people want rights equal to everyone else, while others want the right to say who is wrong, who is right and who gets to be equal or not. Shame on our governments for putting the welfare of children in limbo while they fight over the "hell-bound homosexuals."
Good parents -- gay or straight -- shouldn't have to fear that some government agency is going to take away their kids. Anne Magro, Gay Oklahoma Parent

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Troy Perry, Moderator of Gay & Gay-friendly MCC denomination to step down

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According to an article on 365gay.com (article), The Reverend Troy Perry, Moderator of the Metropolitan Community Church, a gay and gay friendly Christian denomination, and founder of the first ever MCC Church in Los Angeles in 1968 has announced that he will step down from the position at the church's General Conference being held July 21-26, 2005 in Calgary, Canada. Perry will be succeeded by the Reverend Nancy Wilson. According to the article:
Wilson has had a distinguished career within Metropolitan Community Churches. In 1976, she became the youngest person ever elected to the MCC Board of Elders and has served as an Elder since that time. She attended Boston University School of Theology with a Rockefeller Fellowship, also holds an M.Div. from SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, served as Vice-Moderator of MCC during 1993-2003 and has pastored MCC congregations in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and California. Wilson is the former senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, the Founding Church of the MCC movement. She currently serves as senior pastor of Church of the Trinity MCC in Sarasota, Florida. From 1979 to 1999, she served as MCC's Chief Ecumenical Officer, representing MCC at the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches. In 1987, she represented MCC as an ecumenical observer at the Bilateral Dialogue of the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches in Columbia, South Carolina, where she met Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, becoming one of the first LGBT leaders to meet the man who is now Pope Benedict XVI. Wilson has also been active on behalf of HIV issues, prisoner treatment programs, and women's rights. She is the founder of the MCC Conference for Women in Professional Ministry. In 1979, she participated in the first-ever meeting of gay and lesbian religious leaders at the U.S. White House during the Carter Administration. She is also the author of several books and is a contributing author to Poems and Prayers in Race and Prayer edited by Malcolm Boyd and Chester Talton (Morehouse Press). Wilson resides with her partner of 27 years, Dr. Paula Schoenwether. They both actively work for same-sex marriage equality. Prior to beginning her MCC ministry, Rev. Wilson was active in the United Methodist Church. Following the ratification vote this weekend, Wilson will be formally installed as the new MCC Moderator at a ceremony at Washington National Cathedral, Washington, DC, on October 29.
The Metropolitan Community Church has more than 300 churches around the world with more than 40,000 members total. The General Conference is expected to draw a thousand or more delegates to Calgary and is the third conference to be held by the MCC in Canada.

Western NC Mountains become hotbed of debate concerning gays and religion

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According to an article in the Asheville, North Carolina Citizen-Times (article), two separate and "diametrically opposed" groups will hold conferences in the next two months in the Western North Carolina Mountains. Exodus International, a group which seeks to convert gays to being straight, is holding their conference this week. Reconciling Ministries Network, an LGBT Methodist Church group will hold their conference September 2-5, 2005. Exodus is meeting this week at the Southern Baptist Convention-owned Lifeway Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain. The Reverend Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty University and the Moral Majority, is scheduled to speak, as well as Dr. Nancy Heche, mother of Anne Heche, who was in a public relationship with actress Ellen DeGeneres. About 800 people have registered for the Exodus International "Freedom Conference." Reconciling Ministries Network, a United Methodist group, will be meeting September 2-5, 2005 at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference Center at Lake Junaluska, a center owned by the United Methodist Church. The group focuses on acceptance of all, no matter our differences in sexual orientation. Debate has erupted within the United Methodist Church over the allowance of the gay group to meet on church property. The Executive Director of the Center, Jimmy L. Carr, defended the Center's decision to allow Reconciling Ministries to meet saying, "They are United Methodists. They asked for the space. We had it available. There will be some people who will not agree with what they stand for, but they are trying to bring some reconciliation around a very difficult matter in the life of the church. We don’t think that Lake Junaluska by hosting them either approves or disapproves of what they’re doing or of their program. We’ll host them as we do other programs as graciously as we can.” In months past, a group of LGBT and LGBT-friendly people from various universities and colleges in North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee had tried to organize some type of protest of Exodus International's conference. Word even reached UNCG through the internet. I haven't heard anything mroe about it and it is unclear as to whether there will be any protests held. For more about Exodus International's Conference: www.exodus2005.org For more about the Reconciling Ministries Conference: www.rmnetwork.org/convo

Canada legalizes marriage for gay couples

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According to an article on 365gay.com (article), Canada has become the fourth country inthe world to legalize marriage for gay couples nationwide. Canadian marriage equality is the first in the Americas. The Canadian Senate voted 45-21 to pass the legislation and it is expected to be signed into law soon. The legislation was passed in the House of Commons on June 28. It is nice to know that a nation in the Americas has taken the steps to legally recognize the loving, committed relationships of all its people, gay or straight. With Canada's approval of marriage equality, maybe America can grow closer to the point at which we might be able to one day do the same. Many more conservative minded persons and people with more conservative religious views have voiced concern over marriage equality. I understand their concern; they are concerned that the government will force them to accept something which they believe is wrong. The Canadian government should do all that it can in order to make these more conservative minded people more comfortable with their decision to have marriage equality. It must be understood that no one wishes for anyone to abandon their principals and that no church will be forced into doing what it does not want to do. There must be room for respect and acceptance on both sides of the issue here: The government must respect and accept LGBT persons and their relationships, but the government must also respect and accept those persons who may not totally agree. Respect and acceptance is what will either make or break this new marriage equality in Canada. If conservative minded people feel as though the government is threatening them, they will not respect the government and will work even harder to stop marriage equality. IF LGBT persons feel as though the government is threatening them, they will not respect the government. As a nation, Canada must build bridges and bring its citizens together.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

NC wife sues husband's gay lover

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According to an article on Express Gay News (article), a North Carolina woman has sued the lover of her husband for alienation of affection and "criminal conversation" (according to the article, the term used in "civil lawsuits to refer to sexual intercourse between a defendant and the plaintiff's spouse"). In the lawsuit, Pamela Lavone Putjenter alleges that Stephen Glenn Barefoot of Durham began to "willfully and intentionally seduce, entice and alienate the affections" of her husband, Ronald Joseph Putjenter. Ms. Putjenter claims that her husband admitted to the affair and they have since separated. Mr. Barefoot said of the complaint, "It's news to me." North Carolina is one of only a handful of states which still allow alienation of affection lawsuits. They are rare and suits involving same-sex lovers are even more rare. So here'smy opinion on this whole thing: Since North Carolina has a Defense of Marriage Act which makes it possible to legally recognize only relationships between opposite sex couples, the relationship between Mr. Putjenter and Mr. Barefoot cannot be legally recognized, whether that be in the form of marriage or in the form of an alienation of affection suit. I guess the State and its people should learn that if you want to discriminate, you can't turn around and then say the people who you have discriminated against are equal and should be held to the same standards as yourself. You can't have it both ways. If gay relationships aren't good enough for marriage, then they should not be good enough for alienation of affection cases. We are either all equal or not... I say lets go for the all equal part. Then maybe Ms. Putjenter will be able to fairly sue and hold accountable both her cheating husband and his lover (because it wasn't just the lover who was to blame in this situation, now was it?).

Monday, July 18, 2005

A world of possibility and a healthy disregard for the impossible.

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So today is my first day back in the Triad from the LeaderShape Institute (www.leadershape.org) held in Champaign, Illinois. YAY! It feels so good to be at home. My experience at this leadership conference was something special. This was not just your normal everyday leadership training conference. It was so much more, but yet it was so simple and even though it was so simple it is an experience that just cannot be explained in words. I learned so many things. Part of this conference and its process of teaching leadership to students was this: Leadership is not something that can be taught systematically, for there exists no systematic approach to learning how to lead. Also, leaders are not born; they are made through integrity, honesty, respect, inclusion and work. Leading is not what you are... it is what you do. Of course one can say, "I am a leader," but that statement does not come true unless you are doing something to make it so. Another gem of wisdom I learned from this conference is that one must live his or her life and lead with integrity. People become leaders for one reason: To serve people. If people do not respect you, they won't follow you. One of the biggest things that I think has changed my life is learning how to respect other people and accept them as they are, nothing more and nothing less. I've also learned how to not base my judgments of people on that first impression or on stereotypes but rather on getting to know people, their background and where they are coming from. Each and every time that the almost 80 participants did that this past week at the conference, people were drawn closer together and never were we pushed apart. We were taught to have a healthy disregard for the impossible and to live in a world of possibility. As a part of that we were told to come up with a vision. Our visions were dreams that we had for the future of our schools, communities, nation or the world. The great majority of the visions were, at first glance, "impossible" or "unrealistic," but what I have come to realize and what all of the participants came to realize is that a vision is just dream to which we strive. Working to achieve our vision does not mean that it will actually be achieved through us or through other people whom we might inspire to help us achieve it. As with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision of a de-segregated America, we might not live long enough to see the "impossible dream" materialize and become reality, but if we work towards the vision and inspire others to work towards our vision, or even their own vision, we can be confident that one day, maybe five, ten, fifteen or one hundred generations from now, our vision will become reality. Again, as with Dr. martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision in the 1950s, my vision is one which, at first glance, is "impossible" and "unrealistic" for 2005. I have confidence, however, that my vision will one day become reality. My vision's reality has already started and it started when two students at the conference came to accept me as a total person and to accept and, yes, even embrace my sexual orientation (it must be said that these two young men had admitted they were a bit homophobic and against homosexuality, just not in those words). Now that these two young men (let me add that they inspired me so much, for I hardly ever get see the change which I have caused... they showed me the change and they have inspired me) have changed they can go out and, maybe, help to change others. Through them my vision has already begun to take form. This is my vision:
I envision a United States of America where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans will be freely able to live, work, grow, learn, parent and love openly and honestly. Furthermore, I long for the day when our beloved nation will live up to its ideals of equality, liberty and justice for all by full heartedly treating, respecting, accepting and valuing LGBT Americans as equally and as fairly as straight Americans.
Achieving my vision won't be easy. That is why we must take small steps and go for and accomplish goals which we can achieve until everything adds up to completion and the vision is no longer impossible or unrealistic. At the point in which the vision does become possible and realistic, we must strive further and get to the point where the vision has become reality. I have spent six days with some of the many best student leaders in America. My life has been changed. I want to be like a pebble dropped in the ocean. I want the ripples I create to stretch out, for I never know on which shores those ripples might fall.

I'm Back!!!

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Hi everyone! I'm back, just got to Winston-Salem a couple hours ago. I will begin posting entries again on a regular basis beginning after I get some sleep: Plane rides are so tiresome! LOL

Monday, July 11, 2005

Out of Town

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Hello everyone! Thanks for coming and reading my blog. I will be out of town on a trip to a conference in Champaign, Illinois, from July 12 - July 17, 2005, so I will be unable to post as often, if at all. If you need to contact me, email me. I will try to read my email during the week, but you will probably not get a response until July 18th, at the earliest. Feel free to read my past entries and take care! MATT HILL

One of my favorites

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One of my favorite versus of Scripture:
If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. The Gospel of our Lord according to Saint Matthew 18:6, NRSV
I know my Lord will protect me and all of the other young gay Christians out there. My Lord loves me and cares more about my belief and service to Him than He does my sexual orientation. All I am asked to do is live a moral life... loving another person is not immoral, no matter the sex. It is good to know the my Lord will protect me from those who would want to reject me and keep me out of His Church.

Follow Up: "Christians, Christianists & Christianism..."

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A reader of my blog left a couple of comments on here (YAY, my first comments) and on the blog which I had a link to in an entry of mine. Below is an email I sent to him as a follow up: Hi, Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. I have to say that you are the first person to do so since I first starting blogging on blogger.com last week (Yes, I'm a newbie, I admit it). I read your comments on my blog as well as the blog entry for which I had a link in my entry (my entry: Christians, Christianists & Christianism. It so makes sense.) In your comment on James Rowe Adams blog (http://tcpc.blogs.com/better/2005/05/christianity_or.html) you say that the terms "liberal" and "conservative" Christians seem to work well. For me, they do not. Many of my friends at the University, some of whom are Christian but many of whom aren't, call me a "conservative" Christian because of my supreme allegiance to the traditional Doctrine and practice of the Church (such as that of the Trinity, the Immaculate Conception, Resurrection, Virgin Birth, Salvation, Justification, Absolution, Confession --as in communal confession, I'm Episcopalian/Anglican--, and the traditional order & practice of Church worship services). Doctrinally, I am conservative. I don't like all this new age stuff and I absolutely abhor these new "contemporary" services which do nothing for me but diminish the ultimate and unending magnificence and awesome power and majesty of our Lord and God: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. On other issues within the Church, however, people see me as "liberal." The main issue of course is the inclusion of gay and lesbian persons into the Church. I really don't think I fit into either one of the categories of "liberal" or "conservative" Christians. In all reality, I probably fit into both. The problem is that I cannot find people with whom I feel comfortable in sharing my faith in either group. Our world and the beliefs of its people are so various. I think that it is just too difficult and unrealistic to place all of Christ's Church into the categories of "liberal" or "conservative." I'm not attacking your viewpoint. I was just trying to explain why the terms and categories of "liberal" and "conservative" Christians just don't work for me. They probably don't work for a lot of Christians. But remember: No matter what our beliefs within the Church, we are all one, for we share one bread and one cup. Your brother in Christ, MATT HILL

Gay and Lesbian Pride in the Triad

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According to a July 10, 2005 article in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (article), the gay community of Rochester, NY, has made itself a sculpture which is going to be placed in the city's "Neighborhood of the Arts." The sculpture (pictured at left), Three Pride Symbols, was designed by Christine Knoblauch and was built by her husband, Paul. It contains three of the traditional pride symbols standing for gay men, lesbians and transgender people, but according to the designer it can be interpreted differently. "It stands for us all — male and female," said Christine Knoblauch. I think having a sculpture to honor the lives of LGBT citizens is a grand idea. Our society already has sculptures and statues to honor war veterans, other community leaders/heroes, people of color and communities in general. Winston-Salem itself has numerous sculptures, ranging from one for Richard J. Reynolds at City Hall, one for his wife, Mrs. Katherine Smith Reynolds-Johnston on the grounds of the R.J. Reynolds High School and even a Confederate Memorial at the Old County Courthouse. A sculpture honoring the general LGBT community is no different. I would love to see the Triad get such a piece of art. As the "City of the Arts," I propose that Winston-Salem be the place to put such a sculpture and it should be put in the Downtown Arts District (the center of which being at Sixth & Trade Streets). In recent months, the visibility of the LGBT community of the Triad has become more outspoken. Thanks to the Triad Equality Alliance, billboards advocating for equal treatment of all people regardless of sexual orietnation have sprang up across Winston-Salem and Greensboro. The first such billboard stated, "Gay or Straight, all Americans deserve equal treatment under the law." The current billboards feature pictures of prominent LGBT community members with the following text above the pictures, "Lesbian and Gay People are Valued Members of this Community." But I guess that the first logical step toward getting a sculpture to celebrate the LGBT community of the Triad would be to first get our local governments to recognize that we even exist. The Mayors of Winston-Salem and Greensboro should both issue official proclamations every June celebrating Gay Pride Month (in the defense of the current and past Mayors of Winston-Salem: they have done this before). During the month of June the rainbow flag should be flown from the City Halls of Winston-Salem and Greensboro. It would also be nice to see rainbow flags put out on street lamps (like American flags put out for July 4th) in such affirming and more inclusive areas of our cities such as the Winston-Salem Downtown Arts District and Greensboro's counterpart. If we really wanted to be bold we could have rainbow flags put out on Fourth Street, Winston-Salem and Elm Street, Greensboro. So that's it. Before we get a big, fancy sculpture we need to get our governments to recognize our community every year in June, the one time of the year when we, as a community, celebrate our history, our lives and our pride. If we can succeed in that then maybe we will have a shot at not only creating a more inclusive and affirming Triad community, but we might also have a shot at getting that long overdue sculpture!

Christians, Christianists & Christianism - It so makes sense

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Today I discovered a wonderful piece of knowledge contained within the blog of the James Rowe Adams, the founder of The Center for Progressive Christianity. In the writing he explains the difference between Christians and Christianists and what this whole "Christianism" word is all about. I suggest you check it out: http://tcpc.blogs.com/better/2005/05/christianity_or.html

New gay-friendly religious coalition forming in Virginia

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According to Express Gay News (article), a new coalition of gay-friendly and moderates is forming in order to confront the more conservative sides of the Christian Church. "People of Faith for Equality in Virginia" is being organized by clergy, laypeople, community leaders and "strongly spiritual residents," according to the article. North Carolina has its own organization, similar to that in Virginia. The North Carolina Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality has publicly demonstrated against a state consitutional amendment limiting marriage to the union of one mand and one woman in the State of North Carolina and has created a declaration which supportive clergy, laypeople and community members can sign. The declaration is often presented to members of the State Legislature. It is good to know that gay-friendly and moderate religious and spiritual persons are beginning to organize and network amongst themselves. It is too bad that we haven't done this any sooner than now. The Religious Right has been organized for a good two decades or more. There will be a lot of work to be done if we wish to undo the harm caused by them int he past twenty years. The movement to create a more loving, accepting and inclusive church atmosphere and memership is finally starting to gain speed and I so happy to know that it is even occuring in the South, the so-called, "Bible Belt." I send out a very grateful, "Thank you," to all those individuals in and outside of the Christian Church workign to make a difference in our world.

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Study finds many "bisexual" men are actually gay

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Accordign to an article on Exress Gay News (article), a team of pyschologists in Chicago have releaseed a report that many men who claim they are bisexual are actually gay. The researchers used self-proclaimed "bisexual" men int he study and showed them various sexual images. For the great portion of research participants, only the sexual images of other men caused arousal. Researchers say that this is happening because these "bisexual" men have not yet fully come to terms with their own sexual orientations. So... tell us something we didn't know. I think that it is just plain old common sense. But now we know for sure... most bi guys are really gay. YAY! No need to worry about some woman stealing my man!

Changing the Church

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Gay Catholics around the globe are wearing rainbow sashes to Mass. Their "protest," they hope, will help to change the Catholic Church. I think that I might start doing something similar to this and I encourage all gay or gay friendly Christians to do the same. Every time I go to Church, I will wear something that stands for gay pride or awareness, whether that be a rainbow button or my small pin on rainbow ribbon. When I go into the Church, the ushers will see it and when I go for the Holy Eucharist, the priests will see it. Hopefully, people will start to realize that gays can be Christians too.

Saturday, July 09, 2005

Vatican condemns Spain/Canada marriage equality

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According to Express Gay News (article) the Vatican has condemned votes in both Spain and Canada supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples. The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, called Spain and Canada's new marriage equality laws "violent and direct attacks against the family." His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has said that same-sex unions are one factor damaging marriage in the Western World. The Holy Father has also said that same-sex unions are "pseudo-marriage between persons of the same sex," according to L'Osservatore Romano. I wonder why the Vatican and so many other reilgious groups and churches are calling marriage equality "attacks" upon the "traditional" family and family values. It seems to me as though opening marriage to all persons, regardless of gender does nothing but strengthen the family by making sure that every type of family is protected by the laws and statutes of their respective nations and communities. If the Vatican wants to know what a real "attack" on the "traditional" family would be, I'll tell them: Take away all marriage rights and benefits from straight couples. If that were to happen, then maybe the Vatican and other groups would come to know what a real "attack" would be.

The Archbishop: Leading with Love

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It is with no doubt in my mind that I state the following: The Most Reverend His Grace the Lord Archibishop of Canterbury R. Williams, the 104th Archibishop of Canterbury and leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, is truly a religious leader who leads by the Grace, Love and Mercy of our Divine Father. In the past few years, His Grace has led the Church through one of its most toiling and turbulent times. The Anglican Church is in the midst of a possible schism over the election and appointment of The Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, an openly gay priest living in a committed and monogamous relationship with a person of the same sex. For the past five years I have seriously contemplated converting to Episcopalianism/Anglicanism. I am just now starting the official process of conversion and will be starting Confirmation classes in the fall. I look forward to the day where I will stand in the Nave of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church and be confirmed into the Church by the Right Reverend Michael Curry, Bishop of North Carolina. I am glad that I have chosen to become a member in a Church whose guiding principals call for love and compassion, even though not all of its members are fully accepting and approving of homosexuality or gay people. I am happy that I have found a spiritual home for my faith, a home in which I can feel comfortable and close to my Heavenly Father. Long Live the Church!

UCC Church vandalized

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Just days after the United Church of Christ voted to endorse marriage equality for same-sex couples, a UCC church in Virginia has been desecrated with anti-gay graffiti and set on fire, according to an article on Express Gay News (article). A message that UCC members were sinners was also left on the outside of St. John's Reformed United Church of Christ. It is a sad, sad day indeed. A Church does not belong to human beings, for it is the house of the Lord. The desecration was most likely performed by someone who probably thinks they are a "true" Christian. I have news for this person, however: You have desecrated a place of worship, a House of the Lord. You have not only sinned against your fellow brethren in Christ, but also against God. No matter our different beliefs, there is one principal which unites all Christians, our devotion and service to Jesus Christ, the Son of the One True God. I find it hard to believe any "God-fearing," "true" Christian could bring themselves to desecrate a place of worship. Shame on you!

It might not be so bad after all

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According to an article on 365gay.com (article) the appointments which President Bush has made to federal appelate courts really aren't too different from the appointments made by Reagan and Bush I. According to the article, Bush's appointees are definitely from a conservative mold, but judging fromt he decisions they have made so far, they do not stray too much to the right. Well, what do you know, these appointees might be real conservatives! How nice! SOmaybe it won't be so bad after all... let us just keep our eyes open and watch out for when a gay rights case comes up...that will be the true test of how conservative Bush's appointees are.

New mag in N. America First to be written for and by gay youth

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According to an article on Yahoo! News (article), a new magazine has "come out" and it is the first magazine in North America to be written for and by gay youth. Young Gay America was created by Benjie Nycum and Mike Glatze. They wanted to give gay youth something which would make them feel like they belong and not so alone in the world. Four issues have been made so far and sales have been through through roof. In Winston-Salem, YGA is being carried by Borders Books and probably many other stores around the city and in other areas such as Greensboro. Finally gay youth have something to call their own within the plethora of teen mags available for purchase today. Now, there is no doubt that many of our area's religiously radical right nutcases will try to get places such as Borders to remove the magazines in the name of "family values" and "morality." Hopefully the stores which are selling YGA will stand up to the bigotry and hatred of these individuals and keep it to where gay youth can have access to a magazine made just for them and by them. Its about time us gay youth have our own magazine. We've earned it!

Friday, July 08, 2005

Judge rules Boy Scouts cannot receive federal funds

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According to an article on 365gay.com (article), US District Court Judge Blanche Manning has ruled that the Boy Scouts of America cannot receive federal money in order to help prepare Fort A.P. Hill for the Boy Scout National Jamboree, held every four years. The Defense Department spends more than six to seven million dollars every four years in funding for the Scouts. The decision stems from a 1999 suit brought by the ACLU of Illinois which claimed that the government funding of the Boy Scouts of America was unconstitutional because the group requires members to swear an oath of duty to God. This particular suit did not deal with the issue of the Boy Scouts' anti-gay membership policies, which were the subject of the 2000 Supreme Court case BSA v. Dale, in which the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow the Boy Scouts of America the right to choose its own members as a private organization. A spokesman for the Justice Department has said that the government is still considering its options. The recent order to refuse government funding for the Boy Scouts' National Scout Jamboree will not cover this year's Jamboree which is scheduled to begin on July 25, 2005 and expected to draw approximately 40,000 people to Fort A.P. Hill. Bob Bork, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, said, "We are confident that an appeal to the 7th Circuit will return everything to the status quo." It must be made clear that no person or group is attacking the Scouts. I, for one, would never attack the Scouts or make myself out to be anti-Boy Scouts. I was a Boy Scout myself for five years before I was kicked out in December 2000 due to their anti-gay membership policies. The issue at hand here is government endorsement and funding of a religious organization. Although I personally have no problem with the government giving money to the Boy Scouts as a religious organization, I do have a problem with the government giving money to the Boy Scouts as an organization that openly discriminates against and hurts gay and atheist youth. I am one of the youth which the Boy Scouts of America has hurt. Before I was kicked out, Scouting was practically my life. I was well on my way to receiving the Eagle Award, which is the highest award which the Boy Scouts of America offers to its members. The Boy Scouts of America deserves to have ALL taxpayer contributed funding stripped out of its budget. The people of this nation should not have to support an organization which does not serve all of its citizens equally and fairly. More than this, our great nation should not support a group which not only discriminates against youth (as in CHILDREN, our future leaders and out nation's most precious gift), but hurts and abuses their self-image, self-esteem and psyche due to the nature of its policies making gay and atheist youth feel somehow diminished and outcast from their friends and peers. I am not against the Boy Scouts. I would re-join to become a Scoutmaster or Camp Staffer if I could. I am against the hurting of and discriminating against youth. All boys deserve a chance to be a part of the Boy Scouts of America, not just those who happen to be straight and not believe in God.

Gay ban justified? No rights violated? ARE THEY CRAZY???

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According to an article on 365gay.com (article), the Pentagon has called a suit challenging the military's ban on openly gay service members "frivolous and without merit." The Petnagon also claims that the ban "does not violate their constitutional rights because they could still serve as long as they abstain from sex and do not disclose they are gay." Assistant US Attorney Mark Quinlivan told the court that only Congress has the power to change the rule. THe article goes on to say "He also said it had been proven that having openly gay people serving in the military would hurt unit cohesion although he offered no evidence to support the contention." The suit is being brought by Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund on behalf of twelve gay servicemembers. They are asking that the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the United States Military be struck down, thereby allowing them to return to active duty. The first thing I noticed when I read this article is that the Pentagon is saying no one's rights are being violated... as long as the gay people live in silence and abstain from sex. Why is it that gay people have to keep their lives private and abstain from sex, but straight people do not? How equal is that? Has America also forgotten one of its most fundamental founding principals, that all people are given the inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness? Gay people in the military are not given any of those three rights, for they have to live their lives in secret and in fear, have no recourse if anything should happen to them, and cannot live to the fullest extent of happiness. I don't understand my nation's military. In the article on 365gay.com, the Executive Director of SLDF states that American's don't care "if the helicopter pilot crossing enemy lines to rescue their wounded son is gay, or if the medic assisting their daughter is a lesbian." Another issue here is that our military has hit a very bad time with this War in Iraq. Redruitment is down and we are in need of more servicemembers. In the face of this crisis, the military still continues to dismiss servicemembers who are gay and not allow gay people to serve. To me, this is crazy! Any person in America who is willig to put their life on the line for my freedom and my liberty should be able to serve in the military that we all support through our taxes. I've come to the conclusion that the Pentagon's leaders must be crazy, firstly for thinking they have violated no one's rights and secondly for dismissing badly needed servicemembers while we are involved in a war. I think it is time for new leadership i our government and, boy, I just can't wait until January 2009!

A New Blog, A Fresh Start

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So it is 2:30 am now on July 8th, and after considering for quite a while to finally just give up on my own "I'm gonna have my own blog and not use one of those horrible free ones like blogger.com" I finally have moved the MattHillNC.com Blog to one of those "horrible free ones like...." you guessed it: Blogger.com. I hope that you all enjoy this! And this one's for you Ricky: You get to leave comments now! YAY! All of my pre-July 8, 2005 posts which were made on my old blog (www.MattHillNC.com/blog/) can still be read there if you'd like. I have posted two of my better blogs (Schism is still a threat & Thirty Six Years After Stonewall) on here. I'm also still looking for someone who would be interested in helping me post on my blog. This person would have to be someone I know and trust and someone with whom I can relatively agree on most issues (political, societal, concerning gay rights and religion). If you are interested please let me know by emailing me at matt@matthillnc.com. If you would like to help me, al that you would have to do is make regular posts concerning political, activist, societal, religious, local, state, national, world or LGBTQA issues. I can offer you an account on my blog and an email account such as user@matthillnc.com. If your interested email me. Talk to you all later and enjoy!

News??? I don't think so.

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At The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), where I go to school, the political atmosphere is always buzzing. Although the majority of students probably lean a bit to the left, with a great portion of them either somewhere near the middle or they just don't care, there seems to be very few students on campus who identify as "conservative." I am one of those few people who will identify myself as a conservative. Others include members of the College Republicans which is about the only group on campus for regular, plain old conservative minded individuals, Democratic or Republican. There is one organization on campus though that caters to a different type of concervative ideology. This group, calling themselves the "Conservative Union," is nothing more than a small band of radical right conservatives who will stop at nothing to see everyone's rights stripped away just so that their own ideas of "morals" and "family values" will win the day. This, I am afraid, is NOT conservative ideology; rather it is facist and dictatorial ideology and the same ideology of Mr. Karl Rove and... oh yeah, almost forgot, Mr. George W. Bush. Current members of the Conservative Union were involved in the push to have University funding stripped away from UNCG PRIDE!, the campus lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and allied student association. They also run a non-University affiliated "newspaper" called The Spartan News at www.thespartannews.com. This website is not a newspaper, in fact, it is far from ever being a newspaper. The site is nothing more than a place for the radical right members of our student body to slam every person in the world who isn't straight and Republican. If one were to even look at their website for news he or she wouldn't find any, at least not any that is less than four months old. A real newspaper contains news, their "newspaper" contains four-month old propoganda and rhetoric. I have nothing against conservatives, hell, I am a conservative. What I am against, however, are people who think that they can make every person in this nation live under they rule of what they think is "God's Will." I believe in God and the majority of American's believe in God and, yes, this country was even founded on some Judeo/Christian/Islamic principals, but that doesn't mean that our government and our leaders get to establish a religion or force other people to live under the rule of a set of beliefs to which they do not ascribe. I wish that the Conservative Union wasn't controlled by radically conservative religious fanatics... maybe I would join.

Schism is still a threat

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Another one of the better pre-July 8, 2005 posts According to a July 6th article on 365gay.com (article), an Episcopal church in Elizabethtown, Kentucky has split due to the controversy over the election and appointment of the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire. It has been two years since the election of the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson but 100 members of Christ Church and its Rector have decided that they are leaving their parish, diocese and Church. During the Spring 2005 semester of my University studies, I wrote a thesis/research paper on the controversy surrounding the inclusion of gay and lesbian persons to the clergy of the Church ('Sibling Rivalry: The Threat of Anglican Schism"). I was astonished to learn during my research that the battle amongst members of the Episcopal Church (USA), the Anglican Church of Canada and the Church of England, not to even mention the worldwide Anglican Communion, had become so divided and heated. Of course, the battle of gays and homosexuality is not new; its been going on for more than thrity years now. The difference is that now, in this day in time, the battles, conflicts, divisions and upsets are more public and talked openly about. Thirty or more years ago, homosexuality was just not a subject people spoke openly about. It makes me very sad to see the Church which I am just beginning my conversion to go through so much pain and suffering over the issue of homosexuality. It would seem to me that the people of the Church would be able to see past all ofour differences of opinions and practice in order to see the many common bonds which we all share, one of which happens to be the most important: Our service and faith in Christ, the Son of the One True God and Saviour of all humankind. I hope and pray that the Anglican Church will be able to one day see past all of our differences and reach toward the one goal which draws us all together in the first place: To live in love as Christ loved us, to gain salvation and learn of God's ultimately magnificent Grace, Mercy, Power and Might. I also hope and pray that the people of the Church, and all people in every church, mosque and synagogue will one day be able to know that our God is one of unending love, mercy, forgiveness and benevolence. May the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ guide our Church, our communities, our nations and our world in order to one day attain that which was only made possible by the unending and ever-present love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.

Thirty Six Years After Stonewall: The State of LGBT Civil Rights

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One of the better pre-July 8, 2005 posts

In the early morning hours of June 27, 1969, the New York City Police Department, once again, raided one of the many gay hangout spots and bars in Greenwich Village. This bar, the Stonewall Inn, was a hangout spot frequented by gays, drag queens, transgendered persons and other people considered “rejects” or somehow deficient in American society.

What made this particular raid different and memorable, however, is also the same thing which would spark the National Gay Rights Movement. Unlike the many times in which the New York Police had raided Stonewall and the many other gay bars, patrons of the Stonewall did not just sit down and take the abuse. They fought back. The Police barricaded themselves inside the bar as all hell broke lose outside on Christopher Street. The riots lasted for almost a week after the initial raid at Stonewall that night and the nation started to come to a realization that gay people were no longer just going to sit idly by as their civil and human rights were abused and stripped away by those in power.

Today, the state of LGBTQ civil rights is far better than it was in June of 1969. As a group, gay people have come into being; we are now a community and no longer, for the most part, society’s rejects. We no longer exist on the very fringe of society, for we are involved in society’s everyday life. Openly gay people, living their lives and not hiding who they are, can be found in every walk of life and in almost every area of our nation. We are high school students learning algebra and world history. We are teachers teaching our nation’s future leaders. We are mechanics fixing our neighbors’ cars. We are accountants, lawyers, doctors and business owners. We are priests and members of the clergy teaching about God and His everlasting love shown through Christ. We are Rabbis and Imams. We are involved in politics, from the very bottom as a campaign worker, to the very top as a member of the United States Congress. Gay people are, today, able to live their lives in a somewhat stable manner.

The thing that gay people have not been able to achieve in the past thirty six years, however, is a feeling of acceptance and respect within our society. Yes, we may be everywhere and many people may know other gay people, but, overall, our society still does not accept, much less respect, us and our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In many areas of the country we can still lose our house or apartment if our landlord doesn’t like gay people. We can be fired from our jobs, simply because we are gay. We can be expelled from our Church-run school, college or university. LGBTQ parents can be told to come, not as a couple, but separately to school functions. And the most obvious point of civil rights concern: We have become, officially and constitutionally, American second-class citizens by the numerous state constitutional amendments discriminating against gay people based simply upon our sexual orientation.

We have made much progress, however, and that progress is going to help us fix the many problems that still exist. Our largest and most substantial piece of progress is how much we have been able to network, nationally and on the local levels, with other people like us and other people sympathetic to our cause. Straight people can be our biggest allies and in many cases in the past thirty-six years straight people have been just as personally involved and devoted to our cause as gay people. The Civil Rights Movement would never have been a success without the help of white people and, likewise, the Gay Rights Movement will never fully succeed without the help of straight people.

In terms of successes, there are many. These successes, however, are sometimes small and insignificant compared to the victories which we have yet been able to attain. Some of our successes, such as more gay people in the media and more representation in Hollywood’s creations, are good but where do they really get us? Many of the gay roles on television are humorous and who would take an overly stereotypical, feminine gay man strutting around like a woman seriously? All that gays in the media get us is entertainment. The only time that having gay roles on television might help is on shows such as Law and Order: SVU where gay people are seen as normal human beings living out their lives in the face of rejection from friends and family and the sometimes all too real possibility of being hurt or killed simply because we are gay. Those types of roles really help us. The greater society gets to see gay people as human beings, free of stereotypes and lies.

One success, which is a great victory but also one which has yet to materialize on a national scale, is the respect of gay youth within our nation’s schools. In such states as Vermont, Massachusetts, California and New York, legislation has created a more positive and safer climate for LGBTQ youth. Our youth, gay or straight, is our nation’s greatest asset, for it is the youth of today who will become our future leaders, doctors, lawyers, politicians, business owners, teachers, parents, etc. Although the state of our school climates have become better for gay youth in some schools across the nation, we cannot count this as a full victory until all gay youth are respected and able to learn and grow in schools free from discrimination, harassment, prejudice and physical and verbal abuse. Parents, teachers, students and community members realize this and for the sake of voiceless gay youth across the nation groups such as the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and state groups such as North Carolina’s own Safe Schools NC are working toward the greater vision of a nation of respecting, tolerant, safe and secure institutions of education.

Many would say that the greatest set back to the Gay Rights Movement, at least in recent years, is the introduction and passage of numerous state constitutional amendments limiting marriage to a union of one man and one woman. Casting out arguments regarding marriage equality and a gay couple’s right to marry, these amendments are still ethically, legally and morally deficient. These amendments do more than just limit marriage and in places like the Commonwealth of Virginia, gay couples have been stripped of the right to enter into otherwise legal contractual agreements such as power of attorney agreements and wills if those agreements and contracts somehow give any of the rights or benefits of marriage to couples ineligible for marriage. The constitutional amendments across the nation making marriage between one man and one woman also only give the rights and privileges associated with marriage to those persons who are married. In places such as the State of Michigan, unmarried, straight couples are being stripped of the right to be protected from domestic violence because of the couple’s unmarried status. So it is easy to see how these amendments are so legally, ethically and morally wrong, for they not only discriminate against gay people (the last group of people which, many would say, is still allowed to be harassed or discriminated against), they discriminate against every couple which is unmarried. The one fact which separates the unmarried gay couples from the unmarried straight couples is this: those unmarried straight couples still reserve the right to get married at any time; gay couples don’t have that right and are unable to ever achieve the more than 1000 rights, benefits, privileges and protections, plus hundreds more given on the state levels, associated with being in a legally recognized relationship.

Although we have many areas in which we must still gain acceptance and respect and also many areas in which we must still work to attain full equality, we have many things for which to be thankful. One of the greatest things which I have learned in my more than five year involvement in gay rights activism circles is that we must always remember the positives; we must always remember our past successes and victories. In the face of what seems unbearable and unchangeable we must look into the past and see what we have changed so far. Being aware of what has changed and how many victories we have helps us to go forward and they all serve as a rallying point, for many of our victories belong to everyday life and are things which gay people everywhere can relate and be grateful.

In the past thirty six years, the state of LGBTQ civil rights has done nothing but improve. We must continue our work and our devotion in order to make sure that civil rights will continue to improve. Whether you are an activist, politician, teacher, student, parent, blue-collar worker, or high-class business person, you can do your part in furthering LGBTQ civil rights by simply being who you are and speaking out in ways in which you feel comfortable when you see intolerance and disrespect. If you are not “out of the closet” that does not mean that you don’t have anything to offer. If you are in the position to do so, come out and let your family and friends know who you really are. Surprisingly, the single act of “coming out” can do so many great things to help make others more accepting, tolerant and respectful.

Gay people in the United States have a lot for which to be thankful. We also have many things for which we must still work and strive. If we continue to strive for the goal and keep our eyes on the greater vision of a nation of acceptance and full equality, we will someday make that a victory. If we band together and continue to network and work together as we have in the past thirty six years, we will succeed and we will, one day, be welcomed with open arms into full equality in our communities, cities, states, nation and society.

Misunderstanding arising from ignorance breeds fear and fear remains the greatest enemy of peace. ~ Lester B. Peterson

LGBT NC Resources

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LGBT NC News LGBT Carolina Resources Triad Area Resources For more resources and links visit: The MattHillNC.com Resources Page www.MattHillNC.com/resources.html