Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

First, there is the "A Day Without Gay," which calls on people to "call out gay" from work. Organizers also want us to avoid spending money and do volunteer work. Can I still get Chinese take-out?

Your thoughts on "A Day Without Gay?" Any of you taking off from work? Let me know.

In this spirit, the New York Times wrote about a new generation of gay activists, that noted writer Rex Wockner calls Stonewall 2.0.

In Iowa, the State Supreme Court considers overturning the gay marriage ban. If Iowa lifts its prohibition on allowing same-sex couples to marry, it would be the first Midwestern state to do so.

Jon Stewart decimates former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on The Daily Show over gay marriage. It is well worth watching.

Finally, Newsweek's Lisa Miller writes a splendid article on same-sex marriage.

6 Comments:

Hey Wayne!

I had planned to softly participate in the "Day without Gay" until watching Jon Stewart shred Huckabee into artificial cheese last night. Well, I watched it this morning, not last night.

I decided after watching Jon Stewart send Huckabee's intellect whimpering into the weeds that I would FULLY participate.

So, today I'll communicate with people I know to be out homos (including my LBTI m-o-u-s-e brethren) but I'm not answering the phone, email, IMs, nothing. I've left an away message inviting people to think about what their lives would be like if I or any gay people they every knew were never here.

I believe that this themed day, effectively utilized, could really open some eyes.

Best line from Jon Stewart last night - "Religion is far more a choice than homosexuality, and we defend your right to your religious beliefs."

(stammering ensues, and then Huckabee compares being homosexual with burning people at the stake. In a daft, unintentional sort of a way.)

So, I'm out. Until 12:01 tomorrow, that is. That's my thought. Have a great Day without Gay, Wayne, I'll read what you have to say as the day goes on =)
posted by Douglas, at 12/10/2008 9:53 AM

I can't afford to miss work, maybe I'll just be really rude to all my customers or something.

...

Oh Jon Stewart, you ROCK. Almost every argument I've been wanting people to make. THANK YOU for not letting that idiot get away with the "marriage hasn't changed for 5000 years" bullshit, or "homosexuality is a behavior" bullshit, or "a minority needs to convince the majority why they deserve equality" bullshit.

It is super creepy that Huckabee stays so calm. He is the epitome of the modern bigot: his hate is buried beneath a thousand miles of thick, dumb pleasantness. He's like a dog smiling stupidly up at you wagging its tail, and you think "awww how cute", until you look around and notice it shit on your rug, chewed up your video game controller cords and ate your baby.

Well that was until he got flustered and compared marriage equality to burning people at the stake, actually that was quite a revealing slip-up for Mr. Nice Guy.

I have a feeling the more he gets drawn out, the more atrocious statements he will make.

Tee hee hee.
posted by Ryan Grant Long, at 12/10/2008 1:55 PM

Eshto,

Speaking of dogs, didn't Huckabee's whale of a son get in trouble for torturing and killing a dog? If that's true, the apple likely doesn't fall far from the tree. People need to get to know Huckabee a little more, because he's about as sweet as Falwell.

As for today, I've already been to Walgreens for washing detergent. Oh yeah, and I've been having a weird craving for Jelly Belly jellybeans, so I got one of those little assortment bags. Spent less than $10, oh well. If I'm going to be home, I gots some clothes I need to catch up on LOL

But at least Walgreens is gay-friendly, so it's not like I gave my money to assholes.
posted by S., at 12/10/2008 2:04 PM

Yes, the son was busted for cruelty to animals and I think daddy huck was too when he was younger (the cess doesnt spread far from the tank). Eshto: LOL--that dingo's got your baby!
posted by Anonymous, at 12/10/2008 3:14 PM

And why is it that religious cult ministers are allowed to be politicians? Huckabee is a minister. Isn't that a direct conflict between church and state? Maybe we should be making noise about that too?

Huckabee and his ilk constantly chant that we're redefining marriage. Really? Since when does expanding a right, not contracting it redefine any right? Its like saying that allowing interracial marriage is redefining it since antimiscegenation laws were the norm at one time I don't hear him call that redefining marriage. What is it about these rethuglicans? Why are they so hungup on same-sex couples having the same rights as everybody else amidst all the really serious problems going on? We're not asking for a religious cult marriage but a civil marriage which has absolutely NOTHING to do with his interpretation of marriage, they are two different things. He's a moron.
posted by Anonymous, at 12/13/2008 2:17 PM