Chick-fil-A Tied to Anti-Gay Funding Campaigns

U.S. fast food chain Chick-fil-A has been receiving LGBT media attention over its ties to anti-gay groups and sentiments. Through its foundation the company has been sponsoring anti-marriage events and organizations throughout the country.

Chick-fil-A's charitable arm, the WinShape Foundation, has been particularly active in the fight against marriage equality. They've hosted conferences with some of the leading opponents of gay marriage in this country. A higher up at WinShape has even praised the efforts of anti-gay activist David Blankenhorn for working against marriage equality, and for articulating a solid reason why American culture should reject same-sex couples (Change.org)

But there's more...

WinShape Foundations Retreat Center does not cater to LGBT people!

"WinShape Retreat defines marriage from the Biblical standard as being between one man and one woman. Groups/Individuals are welcome who offer wholesome, educational conferences and programs that are compatible with Biblical values and WinShape's purpose."

"We do not accept homosexual couples because of the statement in our contract." (Good as You)

Sign the petition demanding Chick-fil-A pull its sponsorship of anti-gay events.

Urge U.K. Prime Minister to Denounce Anti-Gay/Anti-Trans MP

Roger Helmer a conservative member of the British Parliament has made a controversial tweet defending so called "reparative therapy" for gay, lesbian and bisexual people. He ignorantly compares sex-change operations to sexual orientation an offense that should be taken by the entire LGBT community being that sexual orientation and gender identity are not the same thing.

In his tweet he says:

"Why is it OK for a surgeon to perform a sex-change operation, but not OK for a psychiatrist to try to "turn" a consenting homosexual?"

His remarks not only show that he believes sexual orientation can be altered but it also goes to show that he considers a sex-change operation to be a choice. While electing for surgery is a choice in the respect that one is not forced to undergo the procedure, it is often a life-saving procedure for transgender people who would otherwise not want to live in a physical body that does not correspond with their gender identity.

Urge Prime Minister David Cameron to reject MP Helmer's controversial and dangerous suggestion that "conversion therapy" works.

camerond@parliament.uk

You can also contact the representative himself at roger.helmer@europarl.europa.eu

Tell Apple iTunes Store to Remove Anti-Gay App

Apple's iTunes store which provides applications for download on its popular mobile devices has approved an anti-gay application. The Manhattan Declaration is a statement of principles endorsed by fringe rightwing Christian groups that fights civil liberties and wants to tear down the barrier of separation of church and state. The Manhattan Declaration is an application designed to spread and mobilize homophobia in the name of religious liberty.

Spelled out in the Manhattan Declaration are a set of principles that boil LGBT people down to little more than deviant cretins. According to the Manhattan Declaration, society should refer to gay relationships as "immoral sexual partnerships," and all people of faith should adopt a belief that "LGBT people erode marriage." Colson, as the Declaration's author, even went so far as to say that gay people will destroy the family unit, and could bring down civilization as we know it. (Gay Rights - Change.org)

Sign the petition to demand Steve Jobs and Apple Media Relations pull this app immediately!

Gay Liberation Network to Protest Anti-Gay "Truth" Academy

The Chicago based Gay Liberation Network is scheduled to protest the first ever three day seminar held by the anti-gay hate group 'Americans for Truth About Homosexuality'. Several fringe extremists from right-wing family organizations, and "ex-gay" organizations will be speaking on a range of issues from fighting gay rights legislation, to promoting "conversion therapy" and countering progressive queer theology.

The protest is to take place at 7:30 PM sharp, Thursday, August 5 in front of the Christian Liberty Academy, 502 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights, Illinois.

For those of you traveling from Chicago to the protest, the group will be meeting at 6 PM sharp, Thursday, August 5th in front of the Ogilvie Transportation Center, 500 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, to take the Metro train to the protest – just look for the rainbow flag!

For more information, email the Gay Liberation Network at LGBTliberation@aol.com

Mike Huckabee Ties Marriage Equality to Gay Sexual Acts

Former Governor of Arkansas and Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee continues his attacks on the LGBT community. In referring to gay marriage the politician talked of the "ick factor" because the thought of two men or women having sex troubles him.

Huckabee has been called out for these and other outrageous remarks but continues to shrug them off. He insists that the LGBT community is hypocritical because one of our used the term "ick factor" and thinks if we can use it so can he. He also maintains that we want to "talk about the issues" at our convenience but not when the opposition brings them up.



Tell Mr. Huckabee discussion of marriage equality has nothing to do with gay sex his interest/or disinterest in it and his effort to tie the two together is irresponsible and down right icky.

Mike Huckabee can be reached at:

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/contact?p=contact-us

http://twitter.com/govmikehuckabee

Word of the Gay: "Aunt Anita"

"Aunt Anita" is a newly proposed term to refer to anti-gay closet cases. It is a play on the anti-gay figurehead Anita Bryant of the 1970's.

Tell KISS 108 to Pull the Plug on Anti-Gay Dawson McAllister

Top 40 radio station KISS 108 airs Dawson McAllister every Sunday night. The show is billed as a place for “those 25 and younger to call in and talk about their lives, deepest needs….broken families…depression, addiction, …” etc.

When young LGBTs call in and speak off air to one of McAllister’s representatives, they are told that their homosexuality is no better than drug addiction, prostitution and murder; that being gay will condemn them to hell; and that the only solution is for them is to be “cured” of their homosexuality through God.

Vulnerable young callers are then directed to Exodus International where they ‘will receive the help they need’. Exodus International is the ‘Ex-Gay’ ministry that claims to convert LGBTs into being straight. Exodus’ conversions are universally discredited by mainstream psychiatrists and psychologists.

Call KISS 108 and Clear Channel to demand they “clear the channel” of homophobes poisoning the minds of LGBT youth. We deserve better. LGBT youth deserve better.

Marc Mays, CEO, Clear Channel
Executive Assistant: Carole Adamek, 210-832-3306

Lisa Dollinger, Communications Director, Clear Channel
lisacdollinger@clearchannel.com
Executive Assistant: stacieiverson@clearchannel.com 210-832-3348

Jack McCartney, Program Director, KISS 108: 781-396-1430

Crossposted via Truth Wins Out.

Committee to Unseat Anti-Gay NJ Senator Sean Kean

The Committee to Unseat Sean Kean campaign has begun against the New Jersey Republican Senator who voted against marriage equality. The Senator represents heavily gay sections of the state including Asbury Park and the Ocean Grove section of Neptune.

LGBT constituents are outraged at the way the Senator presented his argument before the Senate and his ultimate vote against equal rights.

Below is audio of his anti-gay tirade before the floor:


Contact Senator Kean directly and let him know that his vote was unacceptable and will not go unnoticed in his reelection bid.

Senator Sean T. Kean
11th Legislative District Office
1955 Route 34
Bldg. 2A
Wall, NJ 07719
Phone: 732-974-0400
Fax: 732-974-2564
senskean@njleg.org

The campaign has not yet endorsed an opponent but is seeking contributions and volunteers to assist in unseating Kean.

Please visit the website and email them at info@unseatseankean.com

Senator DeMint: "Gay President Would be Immoral"

Social conservative Republican South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint has made outrageous remarks about how he thinks the election of a gay president would be "immoral". He also restated his opposition to marriage equality both federally and locally.

“It would be bothersome to me just personally because I consider it immoral. Marriage is a religious institution. The federal government has no business redefining what it is DeMint told Hunt, adding that even state governments should not have the right to permit same-sex marriages. Governments should not be in the business of promoting a behavior that’s proven to be destructive to our society” (The Advocate).

This type of divisive and homophobic language is dangerous coming from a U.S. Senator. Demand he apologize for these outrageous remarks.

Senator DeMint can be contacted through his e-contact form, guestbook, and Twitter.

Rapper Eminem Resorts to Anti-Gay Lyrics

Rapper Eminem cleverly avoids using the word "faggots" in his new song "Elevator" when referring to Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken, replacing it with the words "fake it's":

"Eminem Sorry Lance, Mr. Lambert and Aiken ain't gonna make it
They get so mad, when I call them both fake it's
All these f@#king voices in my head I can't take it
Someone shut that f@#king baby up, 'for I shake it
You're standing adjacent to Jason's last slut, they're facing
Together makes 'em, a f@#king bad combination
I lashed at the doctor in my last operation
Shoved the weiner snitzel up his ass, hopped away some-
body please stop the patient, get the cops to mase him"



Phonetically, it sounds just like "faggots" and considering his anti-gay troubles in the past, there is no doubt in most peoples minds what the intention was, and that's to stir publicity and pr drama at the expense of the gay community.

These lyrics peretrate hatred, fear and violence against sexual minorities and cannot be tolerated!

Eminem can be contacted via Twitter and Myspace

Crossposted via Towleroad.

Dr. Phil Agrees to Pull Transphobic Show

7/28/09: "Monday evening the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) heard back from the Dr. Phil Show producers. They told them they were pulling the show titled, “Gender Confused Kids” and instead reairing their other program on transgender children. That show, which originally aired in January, includes GLAAD's trained spokesperson, Dr. Michele Angello, an expert on transgender children" (GLAAD).

While it is great that we have been succesful at getting him to pull this show and his earlier biphobic show, there is still a lot of work to be done. We cannot rest until we are assured no more anti-LGBT programming will air and that there will be fair and positive coverage of our community. Queers United remains committed to holding Dr. Phil accountable on issues of sexuality and gender identity.

---

7/26/09: Our campaign to get Dr. Phil to stop his anti gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender programming has been going on for several months. His shows continually promote topics such as "gender confusion", "rebellious bisexuals" and "discussion on ex-gay therapy".

Hundreds of people through this blog have joined in demanding Dr. Phil stop this anti-queer programming. Nonetheless this Wednesday July 29th another transphobic show is set to air titled "Gender-Confused Kids"

Dr. Phil tackles the sensitive topic of children who identify more with the opposite sex. What do you do if your son wants to wear dresses and play with dolls? Or if your daughter tells you she wants to be a boy? Should parents chock it up to be a phase that their children will grow out of, or should they intervene right away? Meet Melissa and Tim, whose 8-year-old son declared himself to be a girl when he was just 3 years old. Now, they allow their child to live as a girl and wonder if and when they should begin hormone therapy. Then, when Mary’s son was 8, he told her he felt like a girl, and Mary allowed him to experiment with dressing as a female. Now a teenager, her son is more comfortable living as a male -- but Mary wonders if she caused his confusion. Joining the discussion are experts with different points of view: Dr. Dan Siegel, professor and clinical psychiatrist at UCLA School of Medicine, and Glenn Stanton, author and research fellow with the organization Focus on the Family. Is gender identity something we’re born with, or is it influenced by parents and environment? Don’t miss this heated discussion. (Dr Phil).

Dr. Phil has some nerve to say this is a "sensitive topic", while continually referring to these children as "confused" and bringing anti-LGBT speakers such as Glen Stanton of the notorious hate group Focus on the Family. Another problem is that he mistakenly mixes up the terms "sex" and "gender."

Send your comments to Dr. Phil demanding he stop his anti-LGBT programming.

Sign our twitter petition demanding positive coverage now!

Dr. Phil show
5482 Wilshire Boulevard #1902
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Exxon Mobil Continually Refuses to Recognize LGBT Employees

Shareholders at Exxon Mobil have once again voted down a proposal to add protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity to the company policy.

Exxon Mobil's leadership maintains that they are not required to pass anti-discrimination laws or support domestic partners and say that activists should focus on the federal level for such change.

The Human Rights Campaign has been persistent in trying to get the mega oil company to changes its policies over recent years and will continue to put pressure on them. Other companies such as British Petroleum, Chevron and Shell, score a 100% rating.

Let Exxon-Mobil know you won't support them until they put an end to their corporate-sanctioned discrimination.
E-contact Form for Exxon-Mobil

South Carolina Anti Violence Bill Amended to Exclude Gay Teens

Evangelical anti-gay lawmakers in South Carolina have amended a bill originally intended to stop teen dating violence, so that the legislation excludes gay teens.

The bigots’ reasoning: Any effort to discourage domestic violence in gay teen relationships would implicitly acknowledge the existence and dignity of gay teens and would lessen the pressure upon teen-agers to pretend to be heterosexual or 'ex-gay'.

Exodus International has two activist organizations and two member churches in the state — none of which have protested the exclusion of gay teens from antiviolence legislation, and none of which support antibullying programs in the state’s schools.

If you live in South Carolina, please let these activists know, politely, that those who tolerate or affirm violence against gay youth in your state betray fairness, justice, morality, and Christian values.

Contact New Song, the so-called Truth Ministry, Christian Assembly of God, and Westminister Presbyterian Church.

Crossposted via Truth Wins Out.

Word of the Gay: "NOMbie"

"NOMbie" is a new word used to refer to people who subscribe to the views of the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM). "NOMbies" commonly infiltrate pro-equality message boards, blogs, and air waves to spread their views of hate and aspirations for a country where gays have no rights.

Schubert Flint Public Affairs Continues Anti-Gay Marriage Ads

Schubert Flint Public Affairs is an advertising agency that created many of the ads that helped proposition 8 pass in California, leading to same-sex marriage rights being taken away in the state.

The "National Organization for Marriage" an anti-gay think tank, is continuing their relationship with the ad agency in an attempt to further erode marriage rights for same-sex couples.

I will not give NOM the pleasure of linking to their videos but I can tell you that they are using the typical fear tactics in their messages such as:

“Legalizing gay marriage has consequences for kids.”

Another ad is backed by an unnerving repeated beep that sounds like an EKG on the fritz in an ICU. Someone could die! The ad warns that if legislators pass a marriage equality bill, soon children “will be thinking the unthinkable.”

Join The Power in telling Schubert Flint Public Affairs to stop profiting off of hate.

Frank Schubert - frank@schubertflintpa.com

Jeff Flint- jeff@schubertflintpa.com

Hold Jamaica Accountable for Anti-Queer Violence and Hate

Please contact government officials and tell them you will be boycotting Jamaican tourism and goods, and demand that they enact laws safeguarding their LGBT citizens.

The following link enables you to send an email to the Prime Minister, his cabinet, the Ministry of Tourism, and other important officials.

Click Here to Contact Government Officials!

Jamaican Tourism E-Contact Form

The Most Honorable Bruce Golding
Prime Minister
Jamaica House
Kingston 6
Jamaica

Queer Buycott - Campbell's Soup

The anti-gay hate group, the American Family Association has called for a boycott of Campbell's Soup over their recent ads featuring LGBT people and families.

So, in response we are calling for a buycott and are urging pro-equality consumers to praise the company for showing a commitment to diversity. Your calls, letters, and emails are needed in the face of the thousands who have called the company with disapproving words.

I re-worded the call to action sent by the AFA:

• Send an email to the Campbell Soup Company President Douglas Conant. Tell him you want his company to continue their commitment to diversity and support of LGBT people and families.
  

• After sending your email, please call Campbell Soup Company (800-257-8443) and their Swanson division (1-800-442-7684) and let the company know you will continue to support them because of their gay and lesbian ads.

• Forward this e-mail to your friends and family so they will know about Campbell's support of equality and LGBT issues.
  

Anti-Gay Principal Reneges on his Decision to Resign

Back in May we discussed the Columbia, South Carolina Irmo High School's vote and rally on whether to allow the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance. In light of the fact that the school voted to allow a GSA principal Eddie Walker had announced he would resign since the club "conflicted with his values" and he felt it was inappropriate for a club to discuss things of a "sexual nature."

Now according to CountOn2News:

"Lexington-Richland District 5 spokesman Buddy Price told The State newspaper Thursday that interim superintendent Herbert Berg got a letter from Walker that said he wanted to stay."

The anti-LGBT principles contract is up for renewal in the Spring. If you aren't in favor of this homophobic principle keeping his position please join us in contacting the interim superintendent and members of the board in the district.

Berg, Herbert
Position: Superintendent
Email: HBerg@lex5.k12.sc.us
(803) 476-8116

Contact Members of the Board!

Violence Inciter "Bounty Killer" Granted Visa by U.K.

Anti-gay reggae artist Bounty Killer is seen below saying violence inciting homophobic commentary. He says such things as "faggot, I kill every one of them", and "queers must die."

The U.K. has granted him a temporary visa and he is set to perform a show this Sunday at The Stratford. The police say the show will go on unless there is a riot which puts the public in danger, gay activists are afraid to protest the show due to unforeseen violence.

Human rights activist Peter Thatchell has been arguing against hate inciting violence for years now saying that: "There is a clear correlation between murder music and homophobic violence, especially in Jamaica, where the release of anti-gay tracks often coincides with a rise in queer-bashing violence." (Pink News)



Mr. Thatchell is urging us to contact the Jamaican High Commission in the United Kingdom.

Address:
1-2 Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BZ
Tel: 44-(0)-207-823-9911

Androgynous Musician "Prince" Makes Anti-Gay Name for Self

The always androgynous, sexually ambiguous Prince has come out with his anti-gay sentiments. In an interview with a Christian businessman he made an inference to the biblical cities "Sodom & Gomorrah" indicating that God wiped out those cities due to widespread homosexuality.

"He pointed to a Bible. But there’s the problem of interpretation, and you’ve got some churches, some people, basically doing things and saying it comes from here, but it doesn’t. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right.” When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough." (JMG)

Prince may be androgynous and helps breaking down label barriers, but he is far from royal when it comes to issues of diversity, boycott Prince!