Topic: Gay Rights

Anarchist group disrupts Michigan church

By David W. Shelton | November 18, 2008 |

An anarchist gay activist group disrupts a Michigan church service – shocking gays and Christians across the country

When news of a violent disruption by a militant gay activist group at a former Assemblies of God church in Lansing first emerged, I was skeptical to accept it at face value. Like any volatile situation, it’s necessary to ask whether or not such an event is worth mentioning, and even more, if it’s at all relevant to those of us in Tennessee. Lastly, I have to face some pretty nasty realities, especially the reality that some activist groups just aren’t doing anyone any good.

According to a press release from Mount Hope Church in Lansing, MI, it all started last Sunday morning during the 11:30 AM services. During which, “…the people of Mount Hope Church were  shocked by an unwelcome violent demonstration by a homosexual/transgender anarchist group  based in Chicago, IL. The group threw fliers at churchgoers and shouted sentiments such as, “It’s  okay to be gay” and “Jesus was a homo” during a Sunday morning service. The Eaton County  Sheriff’s office was called and the illegal demonstration ceased.”

The church’s website provides a direct link to their press release, which goes on to say that “Mount Hope churchgoers were unclear as to what the purpose of the demonstration was. One churchgoer commented on the “lack of civility” in the demonstration and said, “There must be a better way for this group to advance their perceived cause.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | No Comments

“Letter from 2012″ scrapes the bottom of the hate barrel

By David W. Shelton | October 28, 2008 |

Focus on the Family Action sends out a letter from the viewpoint of 2012 — is it future history — or just more hateful rhetoric meant to strike fear in the conservative base?

With the new “Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America” that has been released by Focus on the Family Action, an activist wing of Dr. James Dobson’s rightwing organization, we’re reminded of just how hateful such groups are when faced with the prospect of losing an election. I’ve often said that this election is literally between hope and fear, and I’ve never been more convinced of that than I am right now. With just over a week to go, the “fear” camp is pulling out all the stops.

Since it was released to the public last Wednesday, the now-infamous letter has stroked the breast of fear like no other document in recent months. The letter’s writer is unidentified (after all, who’d want to actually put their name to such garbage?). It is nothing more than one “horrible” example of “liberal policies gone wrong” after another.

It shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone that the first three paragraphs of the actual “results” of an Obama presidency point to the very core of Reich-wing fear: national gay marriage and gay men serving as scoutmasters. The very possibility of these two things is so frightening that they must be the first to rattle the cage. First on the list of possible liberal-stacked supreme court rulings would be the legalization of gay marriage: «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics, Spirituality | 5 Comments

Gay marriage wars: here we go again

By David W. Shelton | October 22, 2008 |

After nearly two years of barely a peep from the lips of both Republican and Democratic campaigns on the issue of gay marriage, it appears to be roaring back with a vengeance. Just when I had the (rather ignorant, it seems) hope that the American public would finally be over their need to use the gay community as political target practice, alas.

The often-fiery debate of gay marriage isn’t back by accident either. After dual court wins in California and Connecticut, gay couples have two more states in which they can exchange vows. Those same rulings, however, have brought with them the extra baggage of rage and irrational paranoia — usually from those to whom the issue should matter the least.

Let me say one thing perfectly clear. Senator Obama, Senator McCain, Senator Biden, and Governor Palin — I am not your pet little issue that you can pull out of your political backsides just so you can score with your base. Yes, I’m gay. Yes I would very much like to be able to marry my incredible partner one day. But I have no intention of sitting idly by while you and your campaigns use me and millions of other gay and lesbian people across the country for your little pet issues. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 2 Comments

Palin: muzzle it!

By David W. Shelton | October 13, 2008 |

For a brief moment, I had a glimpse of hope that maybe, just maybe, the McCain campaign would put a muzzle on its pit bull in drag … er … hockey mom governor. After rallying her attendees last week into a frenzy of death threats and false accusations against Senator Barack Obama, Sarah Palin should have gotten that much-needed order to chill out.

Not so, it seems. With McCain himself now saying he’ll kick Obama’s “you-know-what” in the upcoming debate (of course, it’s been the opposite at all of the debates so far), Palin has gotten the blessing to keep on blathering about things she clearly does not understand.

ABC News says that Palin “tones it down a notch,” but a “notch” down from the fever pitch of accusing the Democratic nominee of “pallin’ around with terrorists” and insinuating that he’s a terrorist himself, is, well, not much of a notch at all. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 4 Comments

Tennessee Equality Project: It’s time!

By Todd Hughes | September 18, 2008 |

Today, I’m ready to shout. I’m not shouting because I’m mad, I’m shouting out to every single reader of Clarksville Online. It’s an open call especially to the GLBT readership, but I’m also including every single ally that reads this article. How many are you? I would suppose that you’re hundreds, perhaps thousands. That’s a lot of people that I’m shouting to. My call is for you to show Clarksville that you care about your rights as a citizen in Tennessee. I’m a facts-based type of guy, so let’s start by looking at some facts.

• Did you know that a Tennessee State Constitutional amendment was devised and passed which took away your rights of marrying the person of your choice? These rights were written into our constitution and taken away from us. When I say “us,” I mean all of us. We are now constitutionally restricted as to whom we can marry. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

The tyranny of the majority

By David W. Shelton | June 17, 2008 |

I recently read an article by Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle on Chief Justice Ronald George, who wrote the decision which granted same-sex marriage for California gay couples. It was an in-depth story on the life of this man, and what led to his ultimate belief that equality for all people is a fundamental, constitutional right. One particular segment stood out to me.

In the article, Egelko outlines how George and three other California Supreme Court justices pulled from another marriage quality issue from history, interracial marriage:

George’s same-sex ruling relied heavily on the court’s 1948 decision on interracial marriage, written by a renowned liberal, Justice Roger Traynor. No other state’s court had ever recognized a constitutional right for interracial couples to marry, and the U.S. Supreme Court did not do so until 1967.

A lesson from that case, George said in the interview, was that laws denying “certain basic rights could not be justified just because of history and tradition.”

He recalled a trip with his parents to the still-segregated South as a teenager, when he was shocked to see whites-only signs on drinking fountains and restroom doors.

“It sensitized me to the fact there are minorities of all sorts of types who can be victimized by the majority,” George said. Protecting vulnerable minorities, he said, is “one of the purposes of the courts and of our Constitution.”

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | No Comments

TEP schedules organizational meeting

By Todd Hughes | November 11, 2007 |

Organizers for the Tennessee Equality Project will be in Clarksville on November 12 at the Borders Bookstore Cafe at 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. at 7:00 PM.

This will be our first organizational meeting for TEP Montgomery County. We’ll discuss formation strategy, things that we can do to help bring about equality in Montgomery County and some future activities!

To find out more about the Tennessee Equality Project, visit us at www.tnep.org. If you have any questions, contact Todd Hughes at .

Sections: Events | No Comments

An Open Letter to Senator Bob Corker regarding the Matthew Shepard bill

By David W. Shelton | May 21, 2007 |

Dear Mr. Corker (And staff):

I’m extremely disappointed to know that your office is more concerned about protecting your image than in protecting those that have been abused, beaten, and even killed. Your refusal to support Senate Bill 1105 is as heartbreaking as it is wrong.

You already know of the events surrounding the death of Matthew Shepard, after which this bill has been named. You might also know of the murder of Alabama teenager Scotty Joe Weaver, who was killed by his own friends because he was “a faggot.” Mr. Corker, this isn’t a rare thing at all. In fact, there have been people in your own state that have been killed just for being gay. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

Three bills for gay equality should be passed

By David W. Shelton | April 25, 2007 |

Three bills that would put an end to serious injustices against GLBT people have been filed over the last few months in Washington, DC. The first, a bill that would repeal the failed “Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell-Don’t-Pursue” law that bans openly gay people from serving in the military, was filed a few months ago. The second is a bill that would add sexual orientation to hate crime laws. The third, a sweeping Employment Nondiscrimination Act which includes “sexual orientation” was just filed yesterday by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA).

All three of these bills should be passed. These are basic issues on equality which address some much-needed protections for GLBT people across the country. The sad reality is that every one of them has been filed before, and either held up or stymied by a Republican-controlled congress. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Tennessee Equality Project Foundation

By Debbie Boen | January 29, 2007 |

The Tennessee Equality Project Foundation presents the following Lobbying 101 event to prepare you to advocate for equality. We need you at these events: Lobbying 101 in Clarksville & Advancing Equality Day on the Hill!

Lobbying 101 in Clarksville

Thursday, February 1, 7-9 pm
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clarksville
3053 U.S. 41-A

Advancing Equality Day on the Hill

Tuesday, February 20 at 8:30 a.m., the Tennessee Equality Project presents the 3rd annual Advancing Equality Day On The Hill, a day in Nashville meeting with your legislators to express your views on proposed legislation affecting the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

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