Filed under: gay rights | Tags: jon stewart, gay marriage, ben and jerry's, ben jerry, chubby hubby, marriage equality
Oh, Ben and Jerry. The infamous (and infamously liberal) ice cream company celebrates the legalization of same-sex marriage in their home state of Vermont by renaming their popular “Chubby Hubby” flavor to “Hubby Hubby”. This has been my favorite ice cream flavor–the pretzels and peanut butter perfectly mixed with vanilla ice cream–even before its spanking new name.
In April, Jon Stewart joked about Ben & Jerry’s renaming the flavor in a monologue. Instead of “Chubby Hubby” it would be called “Chubby Hubbies”. Apparently, the B & J folks didn’t go for that one.
Filed under: entertainment, gay life | Tags: camilla taylor, carson kressley, creationism, darwinism, gay marriage, iowa, joy behar, queer eye, straight talk, the view
Carson Kressley, that queen of comedy, has a hilarious how-to video (lots of alliteration in this post) about “How to Talk Straight Talk” on Funny or Die. I was chuckling over my left-over pizza this morning. Click on his photo to watch.
And how about props to legislators in Maine yesterday?
In case you missed it, there was a fantastic interview with Camilla Taylor, the lead attorney (who happens to be straight), in the Iowa lawsuit on behalf of GLBT folks on NPR’s Fresh Air.
An unrelated but thought-provoking video from yesterday’s media is from the women on The View (don’t laugh–I have an unhealthy admiration of this show–maybe it’s my Filipino heritage and its matriarchal society). In this clip, they’re debating whether to teach Darwinism in public schools. A frightening thought that the science of human life would not be taught in public schools.
My favorite part is when Joy Behar says that the absence of Darwinism in schools is “child abuse, in my opinion.”
Filed under: gay rights, government, homophobia, media | Tags: controversy, gay marriage, joe the plumber, melissa harrison, olbermann, prejean
I hate to give more publicity to Miss California, Carrie Prejean, and her discriminatory ideas. Like a car crash, I can’t help myself.
The twists and turns of Prejean’s strange saga are laid out in full on Towleroad, including the breast implants, the nude photos, the Bible-thumping. Many folks have referred to Prejean as the new Anita Bryant–a parallel that I would be saddened to be saddled with. I think it’s important to note that all of these potentially damaging items about Prejean are important not because individuals wish to slander or demonize Prejean; her actions and behavior have relevance because she has taken on the role of public spokesperson for “opposite marriage” (whatever this means).
As a spokesperson, Miss California’s behaviors and actions as a self-proclaimed person of faith must include a discussion of hypocrisy. How can a person repeatedly speaking against (in her opinion) immoral behavior cast the first stone?
Above, Keith Olbermann provides an incisive critique of the whole mess in his conversation with Melissa Harrison. He also throws in a few reasoned words about Joe the Plumber’s latest inanities about, as Olbermann puts it, “catching The Gay.” Interesting word that arises in Olbermann’s discussion: Opportunists.
Filed under: gay rights, politics | Tags: civil right, dr. laura, frank rich, gay marriage, gene robinson, paterson, rick warren
In yesterday’s Times, Frank Rich wrote a reasoned, “over it” commentary on the Right’s lackluster response to the marriage equality victories in Iowa and Vermont. Rich begins with a critique of NOM’s spoof-ready commercial against gay marriage, and then builds his argument to include the lack of media attention from conservative outlet Fox news and the abrupt about-face of religious leaders like Rick Warren and conservative talking head, Dr. Laura Schlesigner.
It seems to me that the debate is shifting from “Should gay marriage be legalized?” to a larger dialogue about the separation of church and state. Beneath all the strong emotions of both the most liberal folks and the most conservative ideologues has been a resistance to disseminate the real meat of the debate: that marriage is a civil right, separate from the religious institution so narrowly focused upon.
Episcopal bishop Gene V. Robinson invoked this argument today. As did Governor Paterson in the legislation he put forth last week.
Reminds me of the recent words of Sean Penn at the Oscars, chiding the bigots who continue to rail against gay marriage. ”For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight,” said Penn, “I think it’s a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that support.”
Here’s his speech in case you want to view it again (it’s really moving, as is Milk screenwriter Lance Black’s acceptance speech):
Filed under: gay rights | Tags: carrie prejean, gay marriage, miss california, miss usa, pageant, perez hilton, same-sex
Here’s one Californian who we can assume voted for discrimination in her home state.
In last night’s Miss USA Pageant, Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked her opinion on same-sex marriage. Needless to say, she’s not a fan.
Prejean says, “We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offence to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.”
What troubles me most about Miss California’s response is that she implies that we–and I believe that with “we,” she’s referring to all U.S. citizens–have the choice to marry someone of the same-sex. Unfortunately, this is not true for all U.S. citizens: only those in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont have the choice.
In the rest of the 46 states, no “choice” for marriage is offered. And in her home state of California, marriage for same-sex couples is illegal.
Filed under: entertainment, gay rights, iowa | Tags: commercial, gay marriage, stephen colbert
Stephen Colbert satirizes the anti-gay marriage ad by the National Organization for Marriage. As he puts it, the ad is “like watching The 700 Club and The Weather Channel at the same time.”
One of my favorite lines from Colbert–on Iowa’s sanction of gay marriage and its domino effect to New York’s gay marriage legislation introduced by Gov. Paterson: “The same-sex chickens have come home to gentrify their roost.”
Filed under: gay rights, social justice, united states of america | Tags: civil rights, gay marriage, iowa
Today, Iowa became the third state in the nation to legalize gay marriage and the first in the nation’s heartland. Hooray!
The state government protection of civil rights in Iowa for all is particularly meaningful for me. I was born in Des Moines, attended public schools in Council Bluffs, and still have family and friends there. Only after I moved to the East Coast did I feel welcome–and safe–enough to come out while an undergrad at Boston University nearly 20 years ago.
I’m in awe and admiration of the good people of Iowa.
Filed under: politics | Tags: black, gay marriage, mormon, prop 8, slate
Many in the media have pointed toward two groups of voters who defeated gay marriage in California: members of the Mormon church and African Americans.
This first group, Mormons, I agree with–the church encouraged its members to contribute to the campaign, resulting in $22 million to end gay marriage (the most spent on any social issue in the United States).
The second group, however–African Americans–I’m not so sure I agree with.
The thrust behind this antagonism toward African Americans largely comes from exit polls that cite statistics such as this one about Prop 8 in California:
Whites and Asian-Americans, comprising 69 percent of California’s electorate, opposed Proposition 8 by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent. Latinos favored it, 53-47. But blacks turned out in historically high numbers—10 percent of the electorate—and 70 percent of them voted for Proposition 8.
Drawing inferences from these numbers can be elusive. For example, African Americans are not a homogeneous group–they possess a variety of beliefs, morals, politics, and sexualities. Unlike Mormons, who possess a similar belief system, politics, and sexuality.
A surprising article in Slate this morning tries to break down why African Americans believe that homosexuality is a choice. Slate’s editors have chosen to analyze the loss of gay rights through the lens of African American prejudice. In his article, William Saletan cites the victory of Barack Obama and the confirmation of gay prejudice on election night. He then asks:
Why, then, are the people targeted by those laws supporting bans on same-sex marriage?The answer is: They think sexual orientation is different from race. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of a nation in which individuals would be judged not “by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
This kind of rhetoric–the choice of discourse itself–attempts to divide both the African American community, as well as African Americans and other ethnic groups. It’s a topic that encourages blame toward one ethnic group rather than finding those African Americans who support civil rights for all. It’s the same kind of institutionalized racism that pits minority groups against one another instead of encouraging them to unify, to collaborate, to strengthen their power through caucus rather than division.
Filed under: politics | Tags: civil rights, gay marriage, mormon, new york, prop 8
More footage of last night’s Manhattan protest of the Church of Latter Day Saints, from the steps of the Mormon temple to Columbus Circle. AP estimates now say that the crowd numbered 10,000 marchers. In this video the fervor in the air is palpable.
Filed under: government, politics | Tags: gay marriage, mormon, new york, prop 8, protest
Last night, thousands in New York City showed up to protest the passage of Prop 8 in California, a law that prohibits gay marriage. There’s been lots of stirring commentary on the elimination of these civil rights, by, among others: Dan Savage on The Stephen Colbert Show (I didn’t know that Colbert was pro-gay but anti-gay marriage–which seems like an oxymoron) and Keith Olbermann in a moving commentary that crossed boundaries of sexuality.
Screaming from the Rooftop posted pictures and rough video, and notes those in attendance:
Among those marching were Larry Kramer, Whoopi Goldberg, Jake Shears, Dan Savage, Andy Towle, Jefferey Self along with sidekick Cole Escola.
Looking forward to the Boston rally on Saturday at City Hall. Mark your calendars for the protest that begins at 1:30 pm, gather your friends, sign up on Facebook, and show up! If hatemongers like the Mormon church (who contributed more than $20 million dollars to fight gay marriage) want to prohibit our civil rights, it’s up to each of us to voice our opposition and support for everyone to love.
