Majority Of Australian Christians Support Marriage Equality

By Brody Levesque | SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA — A national opinion poll conducted by the Galaxy research group released Monday, ahead of a rally against same-sex marriage in the Australian capital city Canberra, finds a majority of Australian Christians support same-sex marriage.

The results showed that 53% of Australians who identify as Christians support same-sex marriage, while 41% oppose. 67% of non-Christians support it.

Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson, Malcolm McPherson, himself a Christian, said the poll shows church leaders and Christian lobbyists who oppose same-sex marriage are not representative of the feelings of most Australians on the subject of same-sex marriage as evidenced by the poll’s results.

The Galaxy poll found overall support for allowing same-sex marriage to 60%, which is unchanged from an identical poll conducted by Galaxy in October last year (the result of the October poll was 62%, which is within the margin of error of +/- 2%).

However, there has been a marked shift in how strongly views on the issue are held. Since October last year 5% of supporters of equality have shifted from “agree” to “strongly agree”, with a similar shift among opponents of reform from “strongly disagree” to “disagree”.

Religious leaders who have given their support to the campaign for marriage equality come from Uniting, Anglican and Baptist churches across Australia, and include Sydney minister and 2GB radio host, Reverend Bill Crews who said in an interview:

Today in Australia we all live in a secular non discriminatory society. Churches and other spiritual institutions exist within this society. It seems to me that in a secular and non-discriminatory society gay couples should be as free to marry as any other human couple. If people wish to be married within a religious or spiritual institution’s framework then they should accept the rites and rules of that institution. However it is the state that legitimises all marriages.

A Melbourne Baptist pastor, Matt Glover, said allowing same-sex marriages will benefit marriage as an institution:

When a couple want to be part of the institution of marriage, when they fully accept the same rights and responsibilities of marriage and treat marriage with the respect it deserves, why should they NOT get married? As a Christian minister, I believe that marriage is under threat from many angles, but also believe that recognizing same-sex unions will help return marriage to its rightful place in society.

An Anglican parish priest in Sydney, Rector David Smith was blunt in his assessment:

From a Christian point of view, marriage is an institution designed to serve two social needs:

1) contribute broadly to social stability

2)provide a stable environment for the nurturing of children.

If this is the case then the only questions Christians need to concern themselves with when it comes to the issue of gay marriage are these two:

1) Would gay marriage lead to greater social stability?

2) Would a married gay partnership be likely to provide a more secure environment for the nurturing of the children of a gay couple than an unmarried one?

I think the answer to both these questions has to be ‘yes’.

Buoyed by the poll results, Australian Marriage Equality has launched a Christians 4 Equality letter-writing campaign which has the endorsement of a wide range of Christian leaders and has already seen almost 10,000 letters sent to MPs from Australian Christians since the site went live last Friday afternoon.

The PinkNews UK reported that during a rally held yesterday in Canberra, the so-called ‘National Day for Marriage’ rally, an American anti-gay activist told the audience during her speech that gay marriage would lead to paedophiles marrying children. Rebecca Hagelin, a columnist for the right wing tabloid World Net Daily, also added that there is “no greater evil” than gay marriage supporters and that Christians are in a “war for the future of the human race”.

Australian Marriage Equality’s McPherson responded telling the PinkNews:

Christian groups that oppose marriage equality like the Australian Christian Lobby are entitled to their view, but they do not represent the majority of Australian Christians.

Clearly, most Australian Christians believe same-sex marriage is consistent with Christian values like justice, love, compassion and fidelity, not opposed to these values.

Bullied Youth Proposes LGBT Youth Advisor To President Obama

Aug17 by D Gregory Smith

Photo courtesy of Brody Levesque

An inspiring story for going back to school….

You may remember me writing about Caleb Laieski, a 16 year old bullied youth from Arizona. Caleb was revently invited to the White House to share his experience as a bullied teen. Laieski was one of a few youth chosen to meet with President Obama for a photo opportunity. When they met, he proposed to President Obama that the administration appoint an LGBT youth advisor to the President. The advisor would serve as a liaison between the Obama Administration and our nation’s LGBT youth population to specifically address anti-LGBT bullying and other major issues that LGBT youth face and seek appropriate and immediate solutions.

Laieski refused to accept bullying as a rite of passage for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teens. Raising funds and creating awareness, he took his passion to Washington, DC where he used his personal experience to lobby Washington lawmakers on the Student Non-Discrimination Act. After meeting with almost 200 different legislators and various administrative offices in just 22 days, Laieski worked on Capitol Hill to promote a safe schools bill; The Student Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 998 – S. 999).

With his personal experience on bullying, he was invited to speak with the Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, to discuss the effect that bullying has on today’s lesbian and gay youth and the dire situation bullying creates for at-risk youth. The story stuck with Secretary Sebelius – a few days later, Laieski was included in the Secretary’s speech at the first-ever Federal LGBT Youth Summit that was held by the Department of Education.

Bullying has taken many at-risk LGBT youth and a recent study shows, that LGBT youth who come from “highly rejecting” families are more than 8 times as likely to have attempted suicide than LGBT peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection. In a tragic event that struck too close to home, Laieski lost a close friend his age to suicide last year. This friend had endured similar bullying- and Caleb has had several other close friends attempt suicide due to the same systematic and sustained harassment in public schools.

Reluctant to create more pain from his experience, Laieski has begun channeling his inner pain in a positive way by becoming a strong personal advocate for bullied LGBT Youth- an inspiring story, especially as students head back to school.

We’ll keep you informed about the LGBT Youth Advisor to The President….

More about Caleb here.

Charlotte Pride and “God Has A Better Way”- Competing Messages

Aug16 by D Gregory Smith

From CanyonWalker Connections:

On Saturday, August 27, two events are planned in Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Gay Pride and “God Has a Better Way”.

The goals of Charlotte Gay Pride are to:

Celebrate LGBT families from the Charlotte area
Provide LGBT individuals with a place to celebrate without harassment
Advance LGBT rights and visibility in the Charlotte community
Enpower individuals to be themselves in a relaxed and accepting environment

Also planned for August 27th is “God Has a Better Way” (GHABW) a joint effort of the Charlotte based Coalition of Conscience and The Speak Truth Project. The goals of GHABW are to:

Gather hundreds of “worshipers, intercessors, musicians, soul-winners, walkers, talkers and believers of every age, color and size to stand together”
To “walk through or surround the (Charlotte Gay Pride) event to evangelize, sing, pray, hand out water and reach out with love to those in attendance while resisting the (gay) agenda.”
And, they “expect this to be a challenging day as sexual immorality, wickedness, and rejection will abound, nevertheless, into the battle (they) must go-and (they) have a plan.”

Sign the call to halt the action here.

What’s It Really Like At Fox News?

Aug15 by D Gregory Smith

I often wonder at the culture of particular institutions-what makes them tick? Every institution has a culture, a dominant mindset that shapes thinking and behavior and performance. It’s a natural part of institutional existence.

It’s also often carefully controlled and managed. And I am the sort of curious human that loves to know what things are like on the inside- because they’re often very different from what we’re meant to see- thus my fascination with secret societies like Scientology.

But as a therapist, I’m interested in the integrity of a person or institution. Do they have to hide what they truly are in order to get what they want? Do they have to resort to subterfuge and game-playing in order to succeed? Is what they do in the dark shameful in the light? Healthy people, institutions and relationships work toward integrity and away from shameful and deceitful behavior. Health is about honesty.

So enter my fascination with Fox News. I honestly find the rhetoric maddening and simplistic and self-serving- but I still want to know: What’s it really like behind the scenes? Are they serving the Kool-Aid all day long?

The Guardian’s Tim Dickinson gives us some insight:

At the Fox News Chrismas party the year the network overtook arch-rival CNN in the cable ratings, tipsy employees were herded down to the basement of a midtown bar in New York. As they gathered around a television mounted high on the wall, an image flashed to life, glowing bright in the darkened tavern: the MSNBC logo. A chorus of boos erupted among the Fox faithful. The CNN logo followed, and the catcalls multiplied. Then a third slide appeared, with a telling twist. In place of the logo for Fox News was a beneficent visage: the face of the network’s founder. The man known to his fiercest loyalists simply as “the Chairman” – Roger Ailes.

“It was as though we were looking at Mao,” recalls Charlie Reina, a former Fox News producer. The Foxistas went wild. They let the dogs out. Woof! Woof! Woof! Even those who disliked the way Ailes runs his network joined in the display of fealty, given the culture of intimidation at Fox News. “It’s like the Soviet Union or China: People are always looking over their shoulders,” says a former executive with the network’s parent, News Corp. “There are people who turn people in.”

It ain’t pretty, people, but it’s impossible to not read this article. So read the whole, fascinating story here. And pass it around.

ADAP Waiting List Passes 9,000

Aug13 by D Gregory Smith

As of August 4th – and for the first time ever – the number of people lingering on AIDS Drug Assistance Program wait lists passed 9,000. A total of 9,039 people in 13 states are now unable to access their medications via the programs, which provide drugs to under and un-insured individuals who are not eligible for other programs such as Medicaid. What’s more, Alabama, which already had a wait list, has reduced its program’s formulary, while Illinois, which already had expenditure caps, has lowered its program’s financial eligibility to 300% the Federal Poverty Level. This brings the total number of states that have enacted “cost-containment” measures to eighteen, plus Puerto Rico.

For more information on the nation’s ADAP crisis, visit www.ADAPaction.org.

Calgary Food Tour

Aug11 by D Gregory Smith

Spending time with Nicole in Calgary means fantastic food. Not a bad meal in the bunch. So if you go to Calgary and want some recommendations, here are a few highlights:

The first night out, we went to The Living Room and sat on the patio to catch up. JJ was our server, and he helped us through a fantastic menu, which included one dozen assorted fresh oysters (gorgeous), Duck Confit & Foie Gras Spring Rolls (off the hook), and then I had the duck breast (tender and flavorful) with an assortment of white wines which was beautiful (Nicole and I always order different ones and then taste). A great meal.

Lunch the next day was at The Cassis Bistro, where our server was JJ from the night before! Besides the amazing Kismet, the food was fresh, French and delicious. We shared the Nicoise Salad and the Croque-Madame- a perfect cap to the morning.

We also enjoyed The Home Tasting Room. The experience began with a glass of champagne, freshly smoked oysters and continued with ricotta gnocchi, foie gras, mussels, chorizo octopus and ended with a gorgeously prepared rhubarb berry tart. It was simply fantastic!

We also went to Blink one night. Words fail, but I’ll try.

This was without question the best food I’ve had in years. From the reception, the starters, the wine and the service- the experience was perfect. The food was perfectly prepared, presented and paired. I couldn’t have asked the Make-a-Wish Foundation for a better experience.

We tasted albacore tartare- delicate and fresh; heirloom tomato torte- sweet and fresh; zucchini blossoms-light and tasty. Dungeness crab souffle which was light , sweet and perfect. And the beef tenderloin! Fantastic! It was so hard to choose form a scintillating menu, but we did our best. Chef Andrew Richardson prepared everything with elegance and verve- leaving nothing out. Everything was beautifully seasoned and the temperature of each plate was perfect. The staff made it especially worthwhile and fun- even a thunderstorm and a move indoors from the elements were handled with grace and charm. The knowledge of the menu, the wines, and the atmosphere makes Blink one of my all time favorites. Top Three. Easily.

I’ll be back. And God help you if you go to Calgary looking for a fine dining experience and miss Blink. That would be a sin.

From Greg’s Vacay…

Aug7 by D Gregory Smith

…a photo before we went out last night.

Having a ball!

Joint Statement Regarding HIV Prevalence, Urgency For Gay/Bi Men

Aug5 by D Gregory Smith

NEW HIV INCIDENCE ESTIMATES CONFIRM URGENCY TO ADDRESS CRISIS AMONG GAY MEN OF ALL RACES AND ETHNICITIES

Washington, DC – New HIV surveillance data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that while the overall number of new HIV infections has remained fairly stable from 2006–2009, there continues to be cause for great concern about increasing numbers of new infections among gay men.

While the new HIV incidence estimates, published in the Public Library of Science Medicine, show that prevention activities in the United States have successfully held the number of new infections steady, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)i and National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD)ii, remain alarmed about the continued disproportionate impact of HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections among gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities in this country. New estimates indicate that the top most impacted populations include white gay men, Black gay men and Latino gay men, followed closely by Black women.

“An unacceptable increase of HIV incidence among gay men, particularly young Black gay men ages 13-29, requires an honest and critical examination of our prior efforts and a sharpening of our prevention-focused activities among gay men,” remarked Julie Scofield, NASTAD’s Executive Director. “We need to strengthen our communities by breaking down the silos across program and sector and by investing in targeted and innovative programming that promotes the health equity of gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities,” she added.

“Increasing HIV rates, coupled with increasing incidence of syphilis and a frequent neglect of rectal STD infections, underscore that we are not doing enough to prevent all STD infections and reduce their role in HIV acquisition,” said William Smith, NCSD’s Executive Director. “NASTAD and NCSD will continue to work with state and local health departments and other partners to develop and implement effective tools and initiatives to address all STDs among all gay and bisexual men,” he continued.In this peer-reviewed article, the CDC estimates 48,100 new infections occurred in the U.S. in 2009, with gay and bisexual men remaining the population most severely impacted by HIV and the only population in which new HIV infections have been increasing steadily since the 1990s. New infections among gay men of all races and ethnicities continue to increase as a proportion of all new infections, with those among young Black gay men ages 13-29 increasing by 48 percent since 2006. This new HIV surveillance data closely follows data released by CDC last month that showed a growing resistance of gonorrhea to antimicrobials, particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM). Gonorrhea is an STD that can facilitate HIV transmission.

In June 2010, NASTAD and NCSD released a Statement of Urgency expressing concern regarding the HIV and STD crises among gay men and other MSM of all races and ethnicities in the United States. Pursuant to the recommendations made in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (the Strategy), the joint statement calls for greater investment (financial and human) and leadership to address the epidemic among gay men. Given CDC’s decision to cut $20 million from core HIV prevention funding, our federal partners must continue to work with state and local health departments to ensure that all existing resources are leveraged to improve HIV prevention and care and treatment.

NASTAD and NCSD, with support from MAC AIDS Fund, will soon launch a series of targeted activities within HIV and STD programs that will examine and address stigma in public health practice. These efforts will aim to increase comprehensive and appropriate access to prevention, care and supportive services for young Black and Latino gay men, particularly those at-risk for STD transmission. Additionally, these efforts will target social and sexual networks to promote positive sexual health messages and reduce stigma. NASTAD and NCSD will work with their respective members to establish and promote evidence-based practices and tools to educate state and local health departments, service providers and other key community stakeholders about the sexual health of gay men.
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i- Founded in 1992, NASTAD is a nonprofit national association of state and territorial health department HIV/AIDS program directors who have programmatic responsibility for administering HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis health care, prevention, education, and supportive services programs funded by state and federal governments. For more information, visit www.NASTAD.org.

ii- The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) is a partnership of public health professionals dedicated to the prevention of STDs. NCSD provides dynamic leadership that strengthens STD Programs by advocating for effective policies, strategies, and sufficient resources and by increasing awareness of their medical and social impact. For more information, visit www.NCSDDC.org.

Adventures in the Molly House (or what I didn’t learn in History)

Aug4 by growlingmutt

Not to knock my Central-Montana public education, but I think we skipped over some of the juicer parts of history.

Either that, or I nodded off when we learned of Princess Seraphina. An 18th Century Molly House Lady who brought a thief to court for stealing her clothes. Ahh, queerness in the 18th century. The complete transcript of a trial in 1732 offers a peek at a character who knew how to work it. In an act of sheer extravaganza eleganza, Princess Seraphina, having been robbed at knife point, bloody and bruised, didn’t back down or cower. Girlfriend sued Thomas Gordon for ” putting him in fear, and taking from him a Coat, a Waistcoat, a pair of Breeches, a pair of Shoes, a pair of Silver Shoe-buckles, a Shirt, a Stock, a Silver Stock- buckle, and 4½d. in Money…”

The adventure of the Chevalier d’Eon was also skipped. You’d think in a county named Chouteau (with two “U”s, thankyouverymuch) the story of a spy who sported elegant gowns, who fought and fenced like a man yet walked like a woman would have been a great educational opportunity to spark some farm kid’s imagination and get her to learn more about French history…and transgender politics.

Yep. It’s history lessons like this that certainly would have rounded out my education. But, Mr. H, bless his basketball coach’s heart, never ventured into this territory.

Oh well, there’s always wiki on the interwebs.

ACLU Appeals MT Same-sex Partnership Dismissal

Aug4 by D Gregory Smith

HELENA, MT — The American Civil Liberties Union today appealed a Montana District Court decision dismissing the same-sex domestic partnership case,Donaldson and Guggenheim v. State of Montana, to the Montana Supreme Court.

The Montana Constitution guarantees that all people, including gay and lesbian couples, should be treated equally and fairly, the ACLU said. This case presents fundamental issues of privacy and equal protection that need to be resolved by Montana’s highest court.

“The couples we represent knew there might be some bumps along the way, but they are committed to seeing this case through so that they and all same-sex couples and their families can get the protections they need but are currently denied to them in Montana,” said ACLU of Montana Legal Director Betsy Griffing. “Our constitution requires that the state treat couples in committed relationships fairly and equally regardless of whether they are same-sex or different-sex couples.”

A recent poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research for the American Civil Liberties Union, found that 53 percent of Montana voters favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into domestic partnerships which include the same rights given to married couples. Only 40 percent oppose such partnerships.

The poll shows that Montanans understand that the lack of legal recognition of same-sex relationships leaves couples and their families extremely vulnerable — which is precisely what the evidence presented to the district court showed. One plaintiff was denied bereavement leave when her partner’s father died, and another lost her home because she was ineligible for worker’s compensation death benefits when her partner was killed in an accident.

Recently released 2010 U.S. Census numbers show 2,295 Montana same-sex households – a 54 percent jump since 2000. All are at risk without the legal protection of domestic partnerships.

“Right now gay and lesbian people can be kept from their partners in hospitals, denied medical leave to help their partners and even be left with nothing if those partners die without valid wills,” said Griffing. “This case is about treating people fairly and humanely, and allowing them to protect their family and loved ones.”

Plaintiffs in the case Donaldson and Guggenheim v. State of Montana are Mary Anne Guggenheim and Jan Donaldson of Helena, Stacey Haugland and Mary Leslie of Bozeman, Mike Long and Rich Parker of Bozeman, MJ Williams and Nancy Owens of Basin, Rick Wagner and Gary Stallings of Butte and Denise Boettcher and Kellie Gibson of Laurel.

In addition to Griffing, the couples are represented by Elizabeth Gill, a staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project; James Goetz and Ben Alke of the Bozeman, MT, law firm Goetz, Gallik & Baldwin P.C.; and Ruth Borenstein and Neil Perry of the law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP.

Additional information about the case, biographies of the plaintiffs and links to videos of the plaintiffs can be found at www.aclumontana.org andwww.aclu.org/mtpartnerships.