I do love what the commitment to mythology does to people. Religion distorts empathy and reason and allows bigots like the pastor featured in this clip to get away with spewing more than a few spitefully atrocious statements. It is funny though for a religion that often claims to represent
Continue readingTag: homophobia
Montreal Simon: Obama and the Cruelty of Hatred
It was long overdue. “At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,” Mr. Obama said. It won't make any difference to gay couples in many states
Continue readingFive of Five: Dan Savage and Some High School Kids
Dan Savage is talking to some high school age kids at a conference about journalism. When the subject turns to homosexuality in the bible a bunch of them walk out. By walking out they are making a public statement that they don’t mind being on the wrong side of history
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Challenging Homophobic NHL Fans
Having spent some time recently examining the NHL’s and NHLPA’s collective negligence about headshots, I was inspired to address the homophobia that surrounds hockey fandom last night. Sure the Canucks lost, but before that, someone called them a bunch of faggles in Twitterland. How did that all go down, and
Continue readingFive of Five: Identity Politics and Some Numbers
The No True Scotsman fallacy often appears in arguments about philosophy or religion. It has some bearing on the change that is about to engulf Alberta. The fallacy would sound something like this in a conversation about Alberta politics: You: No conservative would vote for the Progressive Conservative
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Alberta Provincial Election – The Wildrose Faileth, so Say Mr.Lake of Fire and Mr.White Powah!
Only in Alberta does the the electorate consider ending the 40 year term of the staunchly right wing Progressive Conservatives with a party that is, you guessed it gentle reader, further to the right. The false populist veneer of the Alberta Wild Rose Party makes it appear palatable to the
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Federal NDP launches Rainbow Day on May 1st
First shadow program between LGBT students and MPs OTTAWA, April 20, 2012 – Today, the New Democrat Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Caucus announced the launch of Rainbow Day a LGBT shadow program which will take place this May 1st. … Continue reading →
Continue readingA. Picazo: Link Byfield – Another Thorn On The Wildrose
Though it took longer than I anticipated, it seems Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, gag order and all, has failed to contain the radical views held by some in her party from seeping out into the public sphere. These views would have been discovered eventually, mind you, as Smith cannot muzzle
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: No Surprise Here: Rob Ford Fails in His Civic Responsibility Again
Not that I expected any better of the brazen buffoon wearing the chain of office in Toronto, but Rob Ford once more amply demonstrates that he is not the mayor of everyone in his once-proud city. Recommend this Post
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Danielle Smith and the Lake of Fire
Until about ten days ago I clung to the hope that all I ever needed to know about Danielle Smith was that she was the new Evita of the Alberta Teabaggers, and Big Oil’s Bubbah Barbie doll. The one with the big wheels. That she had vowed to make it
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: When even silence “indoctrinates:” the “No Pro Homo” education model. (Part 2)
This is part of a 3-part series on LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying education, centering around the Day of Silence, which encourages students to take a vow of silence for the day, to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. It occurs on April 20th. Part 1: When even silence offends: on the
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: When even silence fails: On affirmation (part 3)
This is part of a 3-part series on LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying education, centering around the Day of Silence, which encourages students to take a vow of silence for the day, to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. It occurs on April 20th. Part 1: When even silence offends: on the
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: When even silence offends. (Part 1)
This is part of a 3-part series on LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying education, centering around the Day of Silence, which encourages students to take a vow of silence for the day, to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. It occurs on April 20th. Part 1: When even silence offends: on the
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Hate Crimes and the Fatal Blindness
I’m glad to see that reported hate crimes are down in Canada. It’s really good news for most people. Just not so good if you’re gay. The report said, though, that while the rate of racial hate crimes was down 20 per cent from 2009 and the rate of religion-based incidents
Continue readingRusty Idols: Conscience Rights in Action
May 2011 – (AP) NEW ORLEANS A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Mike Wallace and The Homosexuals
I see that Mike Wallace is being given a grand send off and is being called a journalistic hero. The newspapers are full of glowing obituaries, and TV stations have been running clips of his most famous interviews and documentaries. But funnily enough nobody mentioned the famous documentary LGBT activist Wayne
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Homophobic language from an Ontario Catholic School Board
A Toronto area Catholic school board has recently released a blueprint to combat a wide range of discrimination. Laudably it includes a robust defense of the need to combat homophobia. However, it also includes a passage quoting all but the last sentence of the Catholic Church’s Catechism (or teaching) #2358: “The
Continue readingFrom Orangutan: Dear Laura Coppens and Angelika Levi,
Anak-Anak Srikandi/ Children of Srikandi Official Trailer from Srikandi Films on Vimeo. It is admirable that your film, Children of Srikandi, is the first to address the lives of queer women in Indonesia. You are creative and pioneering.
Continue readingMy journey with AIDS...and more!: So three lawyers walk into the Ontario Legislature…
…but this is no joke! There’s a friendly exercise each morning that the Ontario Legislature sits when Members have the opportunity to introduce guests seated in the gallery – family members of one of the high school student pages, perhaps a visiting township reeve, or dignitaries representing other governments, be
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