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The other night I went to the Here! films premier of "Shelter." It was a nice film of two surfers who fall in love. It was very well done. When you get a chance, check out the movie.
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The Tulsa World reports that the son of a state lawmaker
who has condemned homosexuality as a worse threat to the U.S. than "terrorists or Islam" said Friday he wants it known that he is "straight and not gay."
Jesse Kern, son of Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said information purporting that he is gay, which has appeared on several blogs, is damaging to himself and his family. Kern, 31, said he feels the media has a responsibility to seek out the truth, then report it. Kern, who said he is affiliated with the Des Moines School of Metaphysics, said that he chooses to be celibate, but he is not homosexual. He also claims that his mother's statement was taken out of context.
One has to be in serious denial to say that Kern was taken out of context. That is just the most idiotic and profoundly moronic statement I have heard in quite some time. Grow up Jesse and live your life and stop being a Momma's Boy. We have ears and know that her statement was in the context in which we heard it.
To his credit, however, Kern did say that what is more important than whether it be a relationship with someone of the same sex, is that there "needs to be honor in any relationship whether it is a straight or gay relationship."
At least there is something we can agree on.
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Ellen DeGeneres confronted Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, who claimed homosexuality is worse than terrorism and also claimed societies that have embraced homosexuality don't last more than a few decades. This last claim always baffles me, as it was the powerful Roman Empire that actually collapsed soon after it adopted Christianity. Indeed, religious fundamentalism is what usually signals the end of empires, not gay rights. It seems these wackos are projecting what they know deep down - their nuttiness is harmful to civilization because they replace rationalism with superstition.
A state lawmaker who declared that homosexuality is a greater threat to the United States than terrorism said Monday that she received a standing ovation from her fellow Republican legislators Monday.
Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said she has been barraged with more than 5,000 e-mails since she made national headlines over the weekend. Most of the communications were critical, and several contained language that Kern said she has never heard before.
The lawmaker related some of the e-mails to Republican caucus members in a closed meeting Monday. She later said the group gave her a standing ovation.
This is all you really need to know about the Republican Party. Now, think about this incident when you hit the voting booth in November. And, for all of you who think the parties are the same - remember that the Republican Party is the party of standing ovations for bigots and hooker customers who espouse family values, such as Sen. David Vitter. If Gov. Spitzer were a Republican, I suspect they would be cheering for him too.
UPDATE: A new report suggests that bitterness, not Bible-thumping may explain Kern's conspiratorial, lunatic fringe remarks. Queerty reports that Kern may have a GAY SON that she has disowned. If this is true, it shows what an awful mother she is and how family values mean nothing to her. She should join PFOX, so she can plot with other angry, jilted parents on how to reject their gay children on the name of religion and love.
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Spitzer Sputters: Republicans, it seems, account for the majority of sleazy sex scandals, but the Democrats do the illicit affair with theatrical flare. Who will ever forget presidential hopeful Gary Hart on the yacht "Monkey Business" with Donna Rice sitting in his lap or Bill Clinton taking it too far with the cigar?
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer provided the latest Democratic doozie after it was revealed that he was "Client Number 9" in a prostitution sting. Trying to slither out of his role in the "ho-ring" he dragged his forlorn wife by the wedding ring on-stage for his press conference. This exploitation of his family was hardly a way to win sympathy and only exacerbated public disgust with a man who was once viewed as "Mr. Clean."
It is clear that Spitzer must immediately resign. What bothers me most about the incident is the extreme hypocrisy. The New York Times reports that as state attorney general, he prosecuted prostitution businesses with fervor. He grandstanded and raged that this industry was exploitative, involved in human trafficking, drug dealing and money laundering. On Staten Island, in 2004, Mr. Spitzer expressed particular indignation over 16 people arrested for upscale prostitution. There is simply no place in government for officials who badly abuse the public trust and apply a double standard to their own behavior.
Jamaica Boycott: Jamaica's anti-gay climate was "strongly condemned" this week by The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). However, they offered a toothless response and failed to call for a much-needed boycott.
"IGLTA is in complete solidarity with Jamaica's own LGBT leadership, J-FLAG. Therefore, like J-flag, it is not our intention to provoke reprisals or political condemnation in Jamaica by supporting a global tourism boycott. We understand this step could be counter-productive to making true progress in that Caribbean nation, and instead we will focus on education, publicity and market competition to highlight and help curb these terrible abuses."
This was an abdication of leadership and the Jamaicans are likely laughing in their faces. If IGLTA hasn't noticed, reprisals are already happening on the island and political condemnation against homosexuality is frequent. Doing essentially nothing is rarely the answer. While cruising into the sunset may be good for business, it is no way to succeed at activism.
It is also disappointing that IGLTA is hiding behind J-FLAG - a Jamaican gay rights group. I do understand that JFLAG has an incredibly difficult job and I admire the courage of the group's leaders. But choosing to not place real outside pressure on Jamaican officials won't help the situation of gays on the island. Trading lasting change for the short-term illusion of peace has not traditionally worked and creates a mirage of progress.
From the civil rights movement to Stonewall to ACT-UP - conflict is often the best means of changing the social dynamics in society. I wonder if IGLTA would have scoffed at boycotting South Africa a few years ago because it would have created a tense situation?
To its credit, IGLTA announced it will "highlight the degrading situation in Jamaica, and call on all global hospitality industry leaders to unite in condemning this and any hostile and violent climate towards our community" at its upcoming 25th Anniversary Convention.
Unfortunately, this is not enough. The only way things will change in Jamaica is a full boycott that will hit Jamaica's elite in their pockets. IGLTA is basically endorsing the status quo because it is skittish about rolling up its sleeves, getting its hands dirty and engaging in real advocacy that will have a lasting impact.
Outrageous In Oklahoma: In an ominous sign for the GOP, Democrat Bill Foster won the reliably Republican seat that was previously occupied by House Speaker Dennis Hastert. The Democrats also now occupy former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's seat.
If you wonder why the GOP is collapsing, one just has to look at the bigoted comments made by Oklahoma House Rep. Sally Kern. In a speech to 50 supporters - and one person with a concealed tape recorder - Kern portrayed homosexuality as the largest threat to this nation - even more dangerous than terrorism.
Like a crazed, self-important martyr, Kern stepped-forward to defend her views. Earnest in her ignorance and defiant in her arrogance, the wild-eyed legislator appeared backwards and brainwashed. On a day when a bomber killed five U.S. soldiers in Baghdad, a week dominated by fears of recession and a month with painfully high gas prices, Kern was obsessing about gay people. This made her - and the GOP - seem freakishly out of touch with the bread and butter issues facing American families.
No matter what America's real problems are -- all the religious right seems to do is yell "ABORTION" and "HOMOSEXUALITY." The nation, including some younger Evangelicals, has grown weary of these two-note nags. If they don't change their tired tune, America may finally tune them out. At this point -- the right may finally accomplish its dream as we all scream Amen and Hallelujah!
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Oklahoma House Rep. Sally Kern is a fundamentalist whose obsession with gay people is kooky and bizarre. She actually called homosexuality a cancer and said it was a bigger threat than terrorism.
"The homosexual agenda is destroying this nation," opens a candid Kern to who she thinks is a private audience of fifty Republicans.
"Not everybody's lifestyle is equal," she charges, "just like not all religions are equal."
"According to God's word," Kern continues, "that is not the right kind of lifestyle. It has deadly consequences for those people involved in it. This stuff--it's deadly and it's spreading, and it will destroy our young people. It will destroy this nation."
And you wonder why the GOP is losing traction? We are stuck in Iraq, gas prices are rising and we may be in a recession - but they think gay people are the problem. It is time to get out the butterfly net and put these lunatics in a padded room. Brainwashed People like Kern live in a dream world devoid of rational thought. They are the true threats to this nation and not too different than the Islamic fundamentalists they abhor.
