Author Archives: D Gregory Smith

A Reminder

by D Gregory Smith

That Todd Akin isn’t the freak-of-the-party Republicans are claiming he is:

Red Ribbons And Mosquitos

by D Gregory Smith

Yesterday, a friend sent me the following:

“Today I saw this headline:

West Nile Outbreak Largest Ever, 41 dead

and it made me think of this:

Rare Cancer Seen In 41 Homosexuals

…and wondering about what makes a disease a crisis versus a judgment. The number of victims was the same.”

Indeed.

And to further the irony, the famous speech given by Mary Fisher to the Republican National Convention in 1992- 11 years after the rise of “gay cancer” was highlighted in a feature by the New York Times today:

TWENTY years ago this month, Mary Fisher took the stage of the Republican National Convention at the Houston Astrodome and delivered a 13-minute prime-time speech that was seen by many as a sharp rebuke of her party’s negligence in the face of the growing AIDS epidemic.

Mary Fisher in 1992 made what is considered one of the best American speeches of the 20th century.

Ms. Fisher, a mother of two young children who had worked in Gerald Ford’s White House, addressed the delegates as someone who was H.I.V. positive herself. “Tonight, I represent an AIDS community whose members have been reluctantly drafted from every segment of American society,” she said. “I am one with a black infant struggling with tubes in a Philadelphia hospital.” She added, “I am one with the lonely gay man sheltering a flickering candle from the cold wind of his family’s rejection.”

It was a speech that was both surprising and poignant. Few, including Ms. Fisher herself, expected that she would survive a disease that had already killed more than 150,000 Americans by the summer of 1992.

But Mary Fisher is still alive — and still taking issue with her political party.

As she should. The discrimination and loathing that prevented government intervention is still with us. It’s made itself known in issues of women’s health, gender inequity, transgender rights and the House defense of DOMA.

However, West Nile will probably not become the epidemic that AIDS did. Because mosquitos don’t discriminate.

They bite everyone.

 

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…And Rehberg Still Wants To Defund Americorps

by D Gregory Smith

Rep Rehberg wants to deny over 1400 students and volunteers who want to give service to America the chance to make Montana a better place. He doesn’t think it works.

Well, I know the Congressman has been baffled by facts before, but here are a few (with pictures) to help clear things up.

Look what Americorps has done in Montana:

(click the pic for a way to make a difference )

 

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Flathead Valley Gay Community Center Opens

by D Gregory Smith

A new community resource center aimed at meeting the needs of the Flathead Valley’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) population opened in June downtown at 17 Second St. E., Ste. 205.

The center is a labor of love for the Flathead Valley Gay Alliance, Inc. (FVGA), a newly reorganized social group that has met for 20-plus years in the area but recently applied for its 501c3 nonprofit status. They are open 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays, with many evening events.

“FVGA’s opening of the community resource center has given the local GLBT residents and area visitors a volunteer-staffed one-stop location for information and referral services, as well a meeting location and activities center for organizations that serve the Flathead Valley community,” says Roger Blair, Secretary of the FVGA Board.

Game nights, family movies, and discussion groups for men, women, and transgender people, including support and information services for health needs, are among the center’s offerings. Events are posted at the center’s website and Facebook page.

Founded in 2011, Flathead Valley Gay Alliance, Inc. provides information, resources, and social support to the GLBT community, friends, and family in a safe, confidential, and inclusive environment respectful of all, serving Northwestern Montana. To learn more, visit www.flatheadvalleygayalliance.org or e-mail fvga.info@gmail.com.

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National Gay Men’s HIV Testing Awareness Day

by D Gregory Smith

(click for more info)

Villain KIKI!

by D Gregory Smith

For Disney fans. Must be seen. Srsly.

Baucus And The Koch Bros.

by D Gregory Smith

From The Montana Cowgirl:

Kochs

Kochs (Photo credit: Truthout.org)

“I just learned this a few days ago, but Koch industries is listed as one Max Baucus’s largest donors.   The company is listed as having  contributed$40,000 to Baucus since 2005.  That puts him in an exclusive club: with Paul Ryan, Michelle Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and Eric Cantor–who have all taken more than $30,000 from the Kochs during the last four campaign cycles.

And it’s eight times what the Koch’s have given to Denny Rehberg, according to FEC reports.

This is a highly disturbing state of affairs and Baucus should promptly return the money.”

All I can say is this (and you may quote me): “Ick.”  

Read the rest here

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Agreed

by D Gregory Smith


(found on Facebook- if you know the source, leave me a comment)

Church Backs Off Drag Queen Ban

by D Gregory Smith

From New Ways Ministry Blog:

Just a week ago, we reported that Most Holy Redeemer parish in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco had banned an annual fundraising event because it featured drag queens.

The San Francisco Examiner is now reporting that the ban on drag queens has been lifted:

“Although a gay-friendly Catholic church in The City’s Castro neighborhood is receiving heat for allegedly banning drag queens from all future events on its premises, church officials are saying that while they opposed the idea at first, they quickly changed their minds.”

The event is a fundraiser for the Castro Country Club, a neighborhood 12-step recovery organization, which has used the church’s hall for several years.

The news report suggests that the new pastor received some education about drag queens before announcing the new decision:

“. . . “[C]hurch Business Manager Michael Poma acknowledged that Pastor Brian Costello did tell members of the Castro Country Club that they could not hold their event if drag queens were scheduled to attend, Poma said he quickly reversed his decision.

“ ‘Father Brian wasn’t educated about the importance of drag queens in the gay community,’ Poma said. ‘Once it was explained to him, he said they were welcome to attend as long as their behavior was church-appropriate.’ ”

Most Holy Redeemer says that there was a different reason for the ban:

“Church officials now say the new policy is not a prohibition against drag queens, but rather an end to all one-time events that do not originate at the church. Poma said the ban applies to all outside events — gay or straight — including weddings, parties or fundraisers. The church is still planning to hold its own events, including 12-step programs, suppers for the homeless and AIDS support groups.

“ ‘This is not a ban on drag queens or an insult to the gay community whatsoever,’ Poma said. ‘In the church hall there have been issues with weddings and other groups, so we decided to put an end to them altogether. We are part of the community here and to think that we’re banning drag queens is obnoxious and ridiculous.’ ”

More here.

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