New York Liberalism

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 01:59:00 +0000

Why is that I feel so incomplete here? It's because I am homesick from my real baby. I might be staying there. This site just doesn't complete like my baby.

Happy 4th!

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 12:55:00 +0000

Happy 4th ya'll!

Brandon Tidwill takes us into the dirty workings of "Love in Action":

Brandon Tidwell lives his life as an openly gay man but years ago he wasn't as proud so he turned to Love In Action in hopes it would change his life...and it did, "They're representing the radical extreme element of evangelical faith." Tidwell says he soon realized the Love in Action program wasn't working for him, "There were rules, intimidation techniques, manipulation and poor counseling or inappropriate counseling techniques used to continue to shame and guilt and manipulate people."

Program director John Smid disagrees, "People come out of being here stronger, better, more authentic, more real, more honest and more potentially able to lead a positive life than when they came." Smid says his program which is based in Memphis and currently has 19 members doesn't dispute some people are born gay instead it teaches not to act on those feelings, "It is a form of re-thinking, it is a form of therapeutic principals to help us think differently so that we respond differently with the choices we have."

Tidwell, "What it leads to is self hatred and denial." Love in Action has graduates who say the program benefited them and changed the way they feel...Tidwell isn't one of them, "I didn't shift my theology so I could be gay. being gay helped me to look at my theology though a whole new lense and see Christ through an embracing point of view rather than one through condemnation."

John Smid said he wants people to know the program is voluntary. The teens that take part are often sent by their parents but he says they can leave on their own and if the resist the program they are asked to leave.
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- Thanks to thousands of Americans outraged by the story of the gay teen Zach forced into "Love in Action," this anti-gay group has been notified by the Tenn. Attorney General that they are being investigated and are suspected of being an illegal establishment.

The letters, the phone calls, the e-mails. Sometimes we send them or make them and don't remember to check back and see what impact they have had. In toppling "Love in Action," They had impact.

YOU ROCK GUYS!

Update on Zach

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 17:39:00 +0000

Straight from The Washington Blade:

Tenn. opens new probe of ‘ex-gay’ facility
Experts say children should not be forced into counseling

By EARTHA MELZER
Jul. 01, 2005

The state of Tennessee continues to probe Love in Action, the Memphis facility that has drawn protests since a 16-year-old known as “Zach” blogged that his parents were sending him there for treatment intended to change his sexual orientation.

The Tennessee Department of Health has sent a letter to Love in Action notifying the group that it is suspected of operating illegally, according to Andrea Turner, communications director for the department.

Turner said that if the program is strictly faith-based it would not require licensing by the state, but that according to the group’s Web site, Love in Action has licensed counselors and provides services related to alcohol and drug addiction on site.
“If this is the case, they are required to be licensed as a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Tennessee,” Turner said.

If employees there are providing counseling on homosexuality, it is possible that they are operating outside their area of expertise, Turner added.

Legislation giving the health department the authority to issue cease-and-desist orders to unlicensed alcohol and drug treatment facilities goes into effect July 1. Turner said that the health department is considering whether the Love in Action facility is causing harm.

Rachel Lassiter, of Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen’s communications office, said that the Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities has also begun research on Love in Action and is writing a letter of inquiry to the facility to determine whether an official investigation is warranted.

Lassiter said that only licensed professionals should provide mental health care in Tennessee and that the state has an interest in making sure that whatever services are offered are beneficial.

Last week, the Department of Child Services investigated allegations of child abuse at the facility and determined that the allegations were unfounded.

Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a psychologist at faith-based Grove City College in Pennsylvania and a leading advocate for the view that sexual orientation can be changed, said that he believes that Love in Action is mixing ministry with treatment and that people can be damaged by sexual reorientation therapies offered by unprofessional practitioners.

Throckmorton emphasized that while a parent might compel a teen to attend church, a professional counselor is bound to obtain informed consent from a client and should not treat a minor solely because his parents are upset about his sexual orientation.

Love in Action advertises a therapeutic environment in which professional counselors help people overcome “addictive behaviors including homosexuality.”

Insurance covers ex-gays?
Throckmorton serves on the professional advisory board of Magellan, the country’s largest behavioral health insurance manager. Magellan handles behavioral health coverage for hundreds of health care plans and Medicaid.

This year, Magellan removed Throckmorton from his advisory role after critics expressed concerns about Throckmorton’s efforts to advance the idea that sexual reorientation counseling should be available to gays.

Magellan restored Throckmorton to his post after pressure from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, a Christian products and services company based in Nashville. Throckmorton said that he believes the fact that he was reinstated means that Magellan would cover patients’ costs associated with sexual re-orientation therapy.

Although homosexuality is not an illness, Jack Drescher, chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual issues Committee, said that he believes some counselors offer therapies intended to reorient gays and bill insurance companies with the diagnosis “sexual disorder not otherwise specified.”

It is not clear how widespread this practice is. Magellan could not provide statistics on how frequently people are diagnosed with “sexual disorder NOS.” Some providers, including Throckmorton, do not accept insurance, and therefore would not be subject to monitoring by managed health plans.

Throckmorton said that most people who seek reorientation counseling are referred to practitioners through Exodus International, an umbrella group for “ex-gay” projects.

There is no referral system that guides people to professionals that specialize in sexual reorientation counseling. No schools provide specialized training in this area and so it is outside the area of expertise for most professionals.

Sexual reorientation and reparative therapy counseling presents ethical, legal and regulatory challenges.

The idea that sexual orientation is changeable is advanced by conservative groups like Exodus International and Focus on the Family.

In “Calculated Compassion: How the Ex-Gay Movement Serves the Right’s Attack on Democracy,” Surina Khan writes that the ex-gay movement provides political cover for anti-gay campaigns by repackaging them in kinder, gentler terms and attempting to ally itself with religious groups.

“The ex-gay movement is an integral part of the Christian Right, which promotes Christian nationalism, an ideology that seeks to use government laws and regulations to impose fundamentalist Christian values on the entire nation.”

Indeed, money from James Dobson’s Focus on the Family has funded both Exodus and the Alliance Defense Fund, a leading legal group opposing recognition of gay relationships. In her 1998 report Khan points out that Robert Knight of the Family Research Council has characterized the beginning of a major ex-gay publicity campaign as “the Normandy landing in the larger cultural wars.”

Ex-gays backers oppose forced treatment
But not even those who support making sexual reorientation available to adults believe that it is right to coerce a minor into undergoing such treatment.

Dr. Mark Yarhouse is often cited by the ex-gay movement. Yarhouse runs the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity at the religious Regent University in Virginia Beach. Yarhouse said that it is unethical to treat a minor against his or her will.

Arthur Goldberg is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality and co-director of Jonah, a Jewish ministry that addresses unwanted same-sex attraction. Goldberg said, “We tell parents that unless someone is motivated to want to change, they are wasting their money.”

Shannon Mintner, a lawyer with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, has worked on hundreds of cases in which teens are forced into various types of treatment scenarios because their parents disapprove of their sexual orientation.

Mintner first became aware of this phenomenon when he was contacted by a teenage girl who had escaped from a psychiatric facility where she was undergoing forced treatment for Lesbians. Mintner was able to help the girl find an adoptive home with a San Francisco lesbian couple.

Mintner said that Love in Action’s attempt to reorient kids is unique only in that they are so open about what they are trying to do.

In 1995, Mintner was involved in a case in Memphis in which the group Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays helped a 16-year-old gay male seek emancipation from his parents because they were forcing him to attend reorientation counseling with a Memphis psychologist, Dr. Duff Wright, and planned to send him to either Love in Action, or another similar program.

Minter said that the Memphis Circuit Court judge agreed that the boy would be harmed by this treatment and indicated that he would sign the emancipation order. In a settlement agreement, the parents abandoned plans to send the boy to reorientation treatment.

In April, the Tennessee Department of Health permanently revoked Dr. Duff Wright’s license to practice as a psychologist, due to alleged ethics violations.

Mintner said that while he has been able to help young people on a case-by-case level, “What we have not yet been able to find a way to do is to develop a systemic response that would get at the heart of the issue.”

Discussion of Love in Action has permeated the Memphis media in recent weeks and Alex Polotsky of the Queer Action Coalition said that the group will continue its campaign of demonstrations against Love in Action.

“We want every person in America to know about this. No reasonable sane person would support this program,” he said.

Twenty-one-year-old J.M., who spoke on condition on anonymity, said that he was sent to Love in Action by his parents at the recommendation of a Christian counselor when he was 17.

“The place was like a Nazi camp. I lost faith in God, friends, family.”

J.M. said he is glad that Love in Action has come into the spotlight.

“I am optimistic for some point in the future, I’ve lived for brief periods in New York, New Jersey, Philly. They are not as close-minded about this; it is not as cruel,” he said.

Resignation from Hell

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 14:45:00 +0000

And so the bloodfest begins... Sandra Day O'Conner resigns...

I guess this is worse than two mothers...

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 16:26:00 +0000

Straight from GenderPAC:

"Next time you drop your child off at school, you better be sure you look like Ozzie if you are the dad and Harriet if you are the mom. At least, that’s how St. Mary Star of the Sea Preschool in Oceanside, California would have it. Last week, the school barred a three-year-old girl from enrolling because her father presents himself as 'feminine,' according to a news report in the North County Times.

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'It’s wrong to discriminate against anyone and it’s wrong to deny this little girl of her educational opportunities. No one has the right to sit as judge and jury over whether a dad looks like a dad to them,' said Riki Wilchins, Executive Director of Gender Public Advocacy Coalition.
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The school accepted the little girl when her mother, a teacher, filled out the paperwork. But officials changed their minds when her father showed up in a tie-dyed tunic and pants. The father told the newspaper, 'My lifestyle is so average. I’m a married, heterosexual, working parent.'

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The enrollment deadlines for other preschools have passed and the little girl will have to wait another year to apply to another school.

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'If a dad in a tunic is too feminine, is a mom in jeans and sneakers too masculine? I’ve heard of dress codes for students, but I’ve never heard of dress codes for parents,' said Wilchins."

- Thanks C.D. Oldenburg for writing about this. Gender identity is a branch of the LGBT civil rights movement that I formally knew little about. This school should not have done this, in fact, something reeks here that is not legal.

I visited this website which listed the rights of Parents regarding their child's school enrollment in California. They said nothing about barring rejection of Parents and their children from that school based on a parent's sexual or gender identity.

Thus I e-mailed webmaster@fusd.net and asked him the following:

To whom it may concern,

I was brought to attention recently of a very disurbing and outragous act by a school to deny a student enrollment to their school based on her father's gender identity.

The school was St. Mary Star of the Sea Preschool in Oceanside, California. Last week, the school barred a three-year-old girl from enrolling because her father presents himself as 'feminine,' according to a news report in the North County Times.

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Now thanks to this action taken by the school, The enrollment deadlines for other preschools have passed and the little girl will have to wait another year to apply to another school.

I am very concerned about parents not being able to enroll their children in basic schooling simply because of the way they dress or their sexual preference. the child's dad was not wearing anything flamboyant for that fact either, simply showing up in a tie-dyed tunic and pants.

Please get back to me on this issue because I am very concerned, and am ready to take further action on this issue. I want to know if it is legal to deny a child a basic education based on the gender identity or sexual preference of a parent. Thank you very much, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Your name here

E-mail this to webmaster@fusd.net

TAKE ACTION!

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 15:48:00 +0000

"Common Sense New Yorkism" is devoting its entire blog (and spare time) to fighting for Zach!
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UPDATE: I am enrolling my local GLSEN and ACLU branch into this fight. Today I am visiting personally my local ACLU, GLSEN, and GLAAD. To make a difference, mail the below letter to Donna Lieberman, Exec. Dir., NYCLU, 125 Broad St. - 17th fl, NY, NY 10004
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I am formulating a draft letter with a Texas-based GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), and some local LGBT civil rights groups and we will be taking action on this. If YOU want to take action, e-mail or mail the following letter which I wrote myself to groups listed after the letter (PLEASE feel free to edit):
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To whom it may concern,

You may or may not have heard of the growing controversy over the program sponsored by Christian group Love in Action that takes gay youths and "indoctrinates" them into a straight lifestyle. This has been reported on by such bloggers as popular Daily Kos and it has even been reported on CNN.
Recently, Love In Action has taken in a youth known as Zach, who wrote about the program on his myspace before he was forced to go to the camp by his parents. His postings inspired LGBT groups to protest outside the Tennessee camp, as well as leading to outpourings of support from all over the nation, including from celebrities such a Margaret Cho.
While it is revolting to see such groups trying to convert gays into heterosexuals, it is fine if it involves a consenting adult voluntarily entering into the program. It becomes different when a gay child is forced into such a program, and indeed may in fact be very dangerous. I really am concerned for Zach, but in a broader sense I am concerned that there is not more outrage in regards to LGBT youth being forced to attend such camps.
I am concerned about the legality of such practices, and the effect that this program is having on Zach, who has written on his blog that the program has made him suicidal, In fact, Rev. John Smid, the head of this camp, said the following: "I would rather you commit suicide than have you leave Love In Action wanting to return to the gay lifestyle." Some of the rules of the group which outrage me include the use of public humiliation and solitary confinement as punishments, as well as kids not being allowed to have any physical contact with another human being besides an authorized hand shake or pat. These rules are posted on Zach's blog.
Please contact me as soon as you can. I feel strongly about this, but I'm just one person, I need help trying to figure out how I can take action. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[your name]
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Send to:
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- ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)

Website: www.aclu.org

Email: contact form on site
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- Amnesty International (USA Branch)

Website: www.amnestyusa.org

Email: admin-us@aiusa.org
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- Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Email: hrc@hrc.org

Fax: 202/347-5323

Website: hrc.org
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- Oprah Winfrey

Contact Form: http://www2.oprah.com/email/reach/email_reach_fromu.jhtml
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- Lambda Legal (A Gay-Centric Legal Service)

Website: www.lambdalegal.com
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- Tennessee Equality Project (A Gay Rights Group In Tennessee)

Email: info@tnep.org
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- National Libertarian Party (political party dedicated to human rights)

Website with Contact Info: http://www.lp.org/organization/lncdirectory2.shtml
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- News Networks:
CNN: http://www.cnn.com/feedback
MSNBC: viewerservices@MSNBC.com
FOX: Viewerservices@foxnews.com
Memphis Local:
ABC/UPN: jimturpin@clearchannel.com
NBC: pphillip@wmctv.com

CBS: sengstacke@wreg.com
FOX: fox13news@foxtv.com
Independent Media:Free Speech TV: eric@freespeech.org
Democracy NOW!: http://www.democracynow.org/storyidea.pl
Independent World Television: contact@iwtnews.com

"I would rather you commit suicide than return to the gay lifestyle."... Quote from Love in Action.... odd way of showing love.

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 14:18:00 +0000

From now on I would like to hear the fundamentalist group camp known as Love in Action referred to as the "Gay Guantanamo."

"Common Sense New Yorkism" has previously reported on the plight of Zach, the Tenessee gay teen who is being forced to attend a brainwashing cult-like camp attempting to set him straight sexually (From Pam's House Blend):

"After having his mobile (cell) phone taken away and his access to the internet denied, very little has been heard of the teen. In one of his last 'blogs' on June 3, he wrote: 'I don’t know how long I’m going to be on, because if they wake up, I’m screwed. The program starts June 6.'

According to someone who claims to be a friend of Zach’s, the teen is staying another six weeks at the LIA refuge because his parents find it 'necessary and effective.' Love in Action International Inc. claims to be able to 'cure' gays in most cases.

But '…sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be altered. Groups who try to change the sexual orientation of people through so-called conversion therapy are misguided and run the risk of causing a great deal of psychological harm…' says Dr. Raymond Fowler PhD along with the vast majority of contemporary American – and world-wide – psychological opinion."

I want you to go right now and post on Zach's myspace (you will need to set up an account). There is no other way to show support, unless you also want to call your local media outlet or contact congress (but blegh, that's so much work).

I'm currently working on getting together GSAs from around the nation to draft a collective response to what Zach is going through. Zach man, hang in there!

Quote of the Day

"It's kind of inspiring reading through all the comments in support of Zach. The vast majority of them seem to be from teens and people in their early twenties. There's a reason the fundamentalists, the radical right-wingers, and all the rest of them are fighting so hard right now to destroy the lives of gay people. They are afraid the young ones coming up will be insufficiently full of hatred toward gays. They can't rely so much anymore on the peers of gay kids making their lives such hells that they'd have to be crazy to come out. Some gay kids can do that now, and so now the gay-haters are reduced to threatening them with Gay Guantanamo."

- Quote from The Corpuscle

Gay Marriage will be legal in New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 12:45:00 +0000

A New Jersey Court ruled recently that New Jersey's Constitution, which in the past has been very much interpreted to strongly protect minorities, does not allow Gay Marriage. This was a widely expected decision, since groups involved in the case, such as Garden State Equality and Lambda, expected the case to travel to the State Supreme Court.

"The dissent was strong, cogent and even a little blistering," said Steven Goldstein, head of Garden State Equality, "We believe we're going up to the Supreme Court in very good shape, particularly with public opinion on our side."

Indeed New Jersey public opinion is one of the most supportive of gay marriage in the nation, with 55% in support of gay marriage, and a stunningly low 40% opposed.

As John Zogby put it: “No matter how the question is worded, the answer remains the same. More than half of likely voters support allowing gay couples to marry. And a majority believe it would be better if the state stopped fighting the marriage lawsuit and use the resources to focus on problems like the economy.”

Due to the recent ruling on same-sex marriage in New Jersey, a lot will happen in the coming weeks about this case. Thus, I am making an official "Common Sense New Yorkism" prediction. I am pretty much certain that the next gay marriage victory will be in NEW JERSEY. That's right, with strong public support, Democrat-controlled legislature as well as governor's house, it is unlikely that momentum in NJ for marriage equality can be stopped. This will also be decided by the State Supreme Court sooner rather than later, since the Supreme Court ordered the appellate courts to expediate the case, meaning that the State Supreme Court is eager to make a ruling.

What's more is the case was decided by a split appellate panels, which as stated before guarantees that the state court will hear the case.

Judge Donald G. Collester Jr. wrote an inspiring dissent, which summed up arguments for same-sex marriage in the best way that I have ever heard it said.

New Jersey will be the next Massachusetts, except unlike Massachusetts, we can finally say that a majority of the public is in strong support of granting marriage equality to LGBT people.

Quote of the week

“While the Domestic Partnership Act gives, at some cost, many, but not all, of the benefits and protections automatically granted to married persons, we have learned after much pain that separate but equal does not substitute for equal rights. What Sarah Lael and her partner lack and seek may be summed up in the word: dignity. But there is more they will gain from lawful marriage. That something else goes to the essence of marriage and is probably best left to poets rather than judges. It is the reason that people do get married. For marriage changes who you are. It gives stability, legal protection and recognition by fellow citizens. It provides a unique meaning to everyday life, for legally, personally and spiritually a married person is never really alone. Few would choose life differently.”

- Judge Donald G. Collester Jr. (Sarah Lael, along with her partner and Lambda Legal, brought this case to the NJ courts).

Newsflash:

Gay Groups Demand Scott Bloch's Ouster

In the wake of testimony by the director of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Scott Bloch, before a Senate subcommittee, where he said he cannot enforce government anti-discrimination regulations for gay federal employees, several major LGBT organizations are calling for his resignation.

Newest Conservative hate fashion statement: Tagging Homosexuals

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 02:40:00 +0000

"We put warning labels on cigarette packs because we know that smoking takes one to two years off the average life span, yet we 'celebrate' a lifestyle that we know spreads every kind of sexually transmitted disease and takes at least 20 years off the average life span according to the 2005 issue of the revered scientific journal Psychological Reports."-- Rev. Bill Banuchi

Is it just me or is the right getting more and more out of the mainstream?

Don't be mistaken, many conservatives out there believe in some LGBT rights, but their alliance with radicals such as Bill Banuchi for political ends have always hurt LGBT people.

Honestly, when comparing LGBT people to a pack of cigarettes, Banuchi comes off sounding like a self-raging lunatic (Sorry if that offends some of the more sensible self-raging lunatics).

If it was just Bill Banuchi saying this, the world would be a much better place, however we have groups such as Pat Buchanan's Christian Coalition (One of the most influential "Christian" lobbying groups... though by far it does not represent the beliefs of all Christians) spewing this type of illogical hate as well:

"Banuchi called LGBT Pride celebrations held in New Paltz, north of New York City, and other areas of the country on the weekend "sad". He called on people to 'pray for those who are deceived by the lies of popular culture, who are caught up in a destructive lifestyle, and for the children who are being zealously evangelized by radical homosexuals.' "

It seems to be a favorite mantra for the religious right that us gays like to "evangelize" our homosexuality on others. This absurd notion leads millions of Americans every year to develop a hatred for us LGBT people.

If we do have some weird nationwide cult to abduct and "convert" teens into... GASP... us, then I for one have totally missed out on that.

Such talk is long out of the mainstream.

In an environment where 75% of Americans believe that LGBT people should be protected under hate crimes legislation, Falwell, Banuchi and their ilk should crawl back into the perverted interpretation of the Holy Bible that they have illogically developed.

Quote of the day: "[homosexuals are] brute beasts...part of a vile and satanic system [that] will be utterly annihilated, and there will be a celebration in heaven." Jerry Falwell, 1984-MAR.

NEWSFLASH

Straight from Pam's House Blend:

NJ Constitution does not recognize gay marriage. Gay marriage is not protected by New Jersey's Constitution and will not be recognized in the Garden State unless legislators change the law, a state appeals panel ruled Tuesday. The issue will now go to the state Supreme Court because gay marriage proponents plan to appeal the 2-1 decision, and the high court must accept cases from split appellate panels. The ruling, rejecting the efforts of seven same-sex couples to marry, said legislators will have to act before such couples can marry in New Jersey.

Gay child forced to go to "Straight Camp"

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 22:30:00 +0000

This story is brought to you by Janus Online:

"A 16 year old named Zach in Bartlett, Tennessee recently came out to his parents who reacted by announcing they are sending him to an ex-gay live-in program called Love In Action, the same cult like program Peterson Toscano survived. How do we know all this? Zach has been writing about it on his blog found here on MySpace.com. To view Zach's main profile click here.

Among the camp’s practices, posted on the blog of a youth whose parents are forcing him to attend:

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1. Kids in the program are not allowed to speak to anyone, not even their parents, for at least the first two days.

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2. Kids are not allowed to go anywhere unless they are accompanied by at least two other participants, one of which has to have at least 8 weeks of prior indoctrination.

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3. Kids are not allowed to keep a journal or a diary

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4. Kids are not allowed to discuss what goes on in the program with anyone, not even their parents

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5. Kids are not allowed to have contact with any family members other than parents, who also go through the program

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6. Kids are not allowed to have any physical contact with any human being other than a hand shake or a pat on the shoulder, and only when authorized.

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7. Kids are not allowed outside of a small geographic area within Memphis, even if accompanied by parents, without prior written authorization

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8. Kids are not allowed to listen to any music that is not explicitly Christian (Bach and Beethoven are specifically forbidden as being non-Christian)

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9. Kids are not permitted to enter restaurants that serve alcohol

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10. Kids are not allowed to speak after 9:00 p.m. under any circumstance

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11. Kids may be placed in a state of isolation where they are not allowed to communicate with one another"

No offense to his parents, but what twisted souls to put his son through something like this. It honestly must be how Jews must have felt mentally in the concentration camps of WWII (let's not forget that homosexuals were also massacred by the Nazis however).

The poor kid has a blog (click here).

News Flash

Pam's House Blend has a story about plans by some conservative to tag homosexuals. Crazy quote of the day: ""We put warning labels on cigarette packs because we know that smoking takes one to two years off the average life span, yet we 'celebrate' a lifestyle that we know spreads every kind of sexually transmitted disease and takes at least 20 years off the average life span according to the 2005 issue of the revered scientific journal Psychological Reports."-- Rev. Bill Banuchi"

We will do a feature story on this tomorrow.

Gay War Hero Discharged

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 05:00:00 +0000

Now ok, to simply build on my last post, I'm TOTALLY PISSED at the army's recent decision to DISCHARGE A WAR HERO because he happened to be gay!

The man? Army sergeant Robert Stout.

His crime? Serving his country as himself, a gay man. I suppose now it's still regarded as a crime for a gay man to love his country so much that he would go into battle and risk his life for it, even if his country doesn't protect his rights at home.

The army has long been a place where change comes first. Women and blacks fought long and hard for their right to serve their country, and now that fight is being taken up by the tens of thousands LGBT people in the military.

Article here (warning, may make you want to bang your head against the wall and scream):

"The Pentagon has honorably discharged a decorated Army sergeant, Robert Stout, awarded the Purple Heart for combat wounds received in Iraq, apparently not allowing the soldier to re-enlist because he is gay.
During his recuperation at an American medical facility in Germany this past April from his battlefield injury.

Stout, of Utica, Ohio, publicly disclosed his sexual orientation to the Associated Press, indicating his desire to continue to serve, but not willing to re-enlist because of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban. “I know a ton of gay men that would be more than willing to stay in the Army if they could just be open,” Stout said in the news interview. “But if we have to stay here and hide our lives all the time, it’s just not worth it.' "

Homophobia is so widespread PRECISELY because people FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE how much LGBT people can love their country, communities, and families so much that they would die for them. This soldier should not be discharged, but honored and be allowed to stay IN the military.

The military also continues to worsen its recruitment shortages by scaring away LGBT people interested in serving.

NEWS FLASH

Gay Southern child is being forcefully held against his will because he is gay. Janus Online has the story. We will have more on this later. This next story warrents an entirely new post.

Gays OK in Swedish Military (Now if only in America...)

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 00:39:00 +0000

Welcome all. "Common Sense New Yorkism" has changed in that it is now a blog dedicated solely for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) news. We had a wide readership base on our former xanga blog, however we are pretty much starting from scratch on this website.
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Well I guess I should a quick little introduction of who I am. My name is Kevin and I am a gay high school age New Yorker. I have been an activist in the LGBT movement for a good year now, and I am now beginning to experiment in setting up a blog to promote the LGBT movement. I sincerely hope that you enjoy my blog, and be sure to visit again and again.
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This week I found a story which should be a breath of fresh air for all opponents of the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy." This policy has found new ways to piss us off here at "Common Sense New Yorkism" every week. The policy basically allows LGBT people to serve in the military, as long as they conceal their sexual orientation. What kind of crap is that? As if LGBT people need to hide their sexual orientation? Would it make the terrorists hate us more?
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Gays OK in Swedish Military (Now if only in America...)
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The actual story was about a delegation of LGBT Swedish soldiers who paid a recent visit to the White House to discuss the importance of allowing LGBT people to serve in the military.

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Sweden lifted its ban on openly gay and lesbian soldiers in 1979. Together, with almost all of our closest allies- Great Britain, Australia, Israel, Germany, Japan, and Canada and 123 other countries- the movement for LGBT people to serve in militaries all over the world has progressed. Even in America, where conservatism is the dominant political thought on K Street, public support for allowing LGBT people to serve openly has grown.
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For instance, American public acceptance of gays in the military grew from 51% in a 1977 Gallup Poll to a 2003 poll which found that 78% of Americans believe that gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military.
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Given such strong public support for a repealment of Don't ask Don't Tell, why has it not already been repealed?

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Is it because that there aren't that many gays in the military, so it really doesn't matter?
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Hardly so, since there are an estimated 50,000+ gay soldiers currently serving in the American military.
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Is military recruitment doing so well that they do not need LGBT people to apply?
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Over the past 4 months, the military has consistantly missed its recruitment goals, causing the greatest military recruitment crisis since the draft was repealed in 1973. Even with this crisis, the military has had no problem dismissing 10,000 gay service members- three to four every day- since the enactment of Don't Ask Don't Tell in 1994.

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A core argument for Don't Ask Don't Tell is that having LGBT people out in combat with straight servicemembers would hurt troop morale. These proponents fail to point out that American soldiers have been serving side by side with gay British, Canadian, Australian, Spanish, and German soldiers in Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, all with no detrimental effect to combat performance noted.
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The rationale for keeping Don't Ask Don't Tell simply does not exist, especially when our military is facing its worst recruitment problem in 33 years. Don't Ask Don't Tell is a policy that hurts America in its War Against Terrorism, by denying our military thousands of patriotic LGBT gay citizens who would be honored and proud to serve in our military.
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The time is long overdue for a repealment of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:32:00 +0000

COMMON SENSE NEW YORKISM

Will Democrats fight nomination of Bolton?

Web analyst “The Washington Note” reports on the John Bolton nomination hearings:

“The time line just got pushed up. This just in from a very well-placed source:
FYI, I'm hearing that they are trying to move this nomination very quickly because the longer it hangs out there, the more time opponents have to mobilize. The State Department's material for the confirmation hearing (Q&A, etc) is due by COB today; they hope to schedule his hearing for next week.

This person also said that at State, you can feel the "nervousness in the air" about Bolton's nomination. The powers-that-be there want to push this fast next week and catch the opposition off guard.”

- “Common Sense New Yorkism” calls on Democratic leader Harry Reid to rally Democrats and Common Sensed Republicans to speak out on Bolton’s past record of slandering the United Nations.

“Common Sense New Yorkism” welcomes criticisms of any ideology, way of life, or organization, but there comes a time for compromise and diplomacy, something Bolton has not shown with past comments on te United Nations.

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As if America isn’t alienated any more at the moment, our allies are horrified that a man such a Bolton was actually nominated.

Even besides that, “Common Sense New Yorkism” believes that nominating Bolton is a bad idea for other reasons, in particular whether an avid critic of the U.N. really is open to working positively with the organization.

“Common Sense New Yorkism” signing out for now.

My first post

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Ballie) — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 18:58:00 +0000

COMMON SENSE NEW YORKISM

Well guys I have departed from xanga in favor of a blogspot. Reason why? Only people who have xangas can comment on xanga, which is why I have created a blogspot.

For new readers HEY ALL!

This is going to be a liberal leaning political blog. I hope to expand this first to the traffic level that I had on xanga (160 visitors a day) and then expand my readers base.

Whatever you hear on here is not necessarily liberal or conservative, it is New Yorker; Plain and simple Common Sense New Yorkism. The facts will be supported, so that you will see the common sense.

New York is deeply rooted in openess, alternative lifestyles, inovation, diversity, food, and so much more. With all of these influx of ideas, there are always bound to be differences.

In New York, different approaches are used to make sense of the politics of our country. Common Sense

New Yorkism was created to lay out common sense, plain and simple.

Liberals and conservatives, as well as moderates, WILL be attacked, demeaned, and disproved... through evidence and not propaganda. That is just the goal of Common Sense New Yorkism, laying out the facts, for the world to read.

Common Sense and New York go hand in hand, simply tune in every now and then for your daily update.

New York Liberalism signing out for now~