Chicago Protest TONIGHT Against Prop. 8 Leader James Dobson

Focus on the Family's James Dobson spent $800,000 on Proposition 8 to stop gay people form marrying in California. Tonight, this dangerous ideologue will be inducted into the Museum of Broadcast Communication's Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago.

He will be met with a protest this evening from LGBT organizations at 5:30 PM, outside of the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive (corner of Wacker & State).


Focus on the Family's James Dobson

It truly is mind-blowing that the Radio Hall of Fame would honor a leader of Proposition 8 on the same week he played a key role in helping the amendment pass. Dobson put his Media Empire and vast amounts of money into the service of denying equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. And, the Radio Hall of Fame reacts disgracefully by giving this demagogue a trophy.

If you live in the Chicago area, join us tonight and participate in our demonstration. If you cannot actually be with us, please be there in spirit by giving a generous contribution. We are only able to make our voices heard with your help.

Wayne Besen"
wbesen@truthwinsout.org

kelli Busey
Planetransgender
kellibusey@yahoo.com

Protest set Sunday over anti-gay sermon at First Baptist Dallas

"Not ok to be Gay" says First Baptist senior pastor, the Rev. Robert Jeffress.

Rev. Jeffress is known for his failed effort to ban books books from the Wichita Falls TX library which resulted in the public donating hundreds of copies to replace those that Rev. Jeffress refused to return.

Many who people have been upset by the Mormons November 4th interference in California's civil rights efforts are equally disturbed to learn that right here in our beloved Texas religious demagogues are seeding homophobia and bigotry.


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A street demonstration is scheduled across the street from the church entrance on San Jacinto Street at 10 a.m. Sunday. Those attending are encouraged to bring signs.

For more information about the protest, e-mail Fulcher at samblade8@yahoo.com.

By kelli Busey
Nov.08, 2008
planetransgender

Queer UK protests Stonewall's Julie Bindel at Victoria and Albert Museum

By kelli Busey
Nov. o7, 2008
planetransgender

The Awards ceremony in which unapoligetic transphobic Julie Bindel was awarded the writer of the year award from the UK's inappropriately named "Stonewall" group was protested by a large group of mainly young and disenfranchised Transgender, Queer and Allies.

London as reported by Loz Flowers

"Stonewall, despite naming itself after an event in which trannies took part, has never made any bones about being an organisation that does not represent transsexual people. However, for it's 2008 awards it decided to accept a nomination for best journalist for Julie Bindel, a writer with a history of transphobic opinions and writing.

So a group of about 150 pissed-off transsexual people and their allies held a fun and trouble-free protest outside of the Stonewall Awards at the Victoria and Albert Museum on the evening of the 6th of November 2008 to remind them of what they seemed keen to forget or ignore."

Californian Gay's Protest Mormon Church Intervention in Constitution

By kelli Busey
Nov. 07, 2008
planetransgender

What do we want? Equal Rights Now.

The battle cry of the GLBT community began resounding throughout California after the passage of Prop 8. Many in the GLBT community found the Mormons contribution particularly offensive and gathered at Tabernacles to make it known.



Mormons have since have defended there participation and made calls for calm claiming that while the leadership of the Mormon Church did ask for members to donate for the passage of prop.8 technically the Church did not directly contribute monetarily.

Ten Questions for California United Methodists who voted on Proposition 8

Ten Questions for California United Methodists who voted on Proposition 8
By Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell

cross posted directly from the Reconciling Ministries Network Blog (RMN)

Full Disclosure: I am a 75 year old, African American United Methodist clergyman who was first ordained in 1956. I am straight and have been in a heterosexual marriage for almost 51 years. If I had been a resident of California, I would have voted No on Proposition 8 that defined marriage as being limited to one man and one woman.

1)Was your vote determined by your understanding of Scripture and/or legislation in the United Methodist Book of Discipline?

2)If Proposition 8 had read: "Marriage should be limited to one man and one woman of the same race/ethnicity", would your vote have been the same?

3)Do you believe that in our democracy, numerical majorities have the right to vote to limit the civil rights of numerical minorities?

4)Do you realize that while the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 1954 that the practice of racial "separate but equal" public schools was invalid, the United Methodist Church did not eliminate its "separate but equal" racial Central Jurisdiction until 1968? Does this not suggest that there is a history of the state proclaiming equality before the church? Why did a majority of the voters of California support the "same old, same old"?

5)How are heterosexual marriages in California enriched and enhanced because of the majority vote to deny same gender marriage?

6)Do United Methodists of Color and others who voted to support Proposition 8 realize that the Biblical and Church rationale that some of its initiators professed, was the same rationale that once restricted the rights of people of color? If they now develop a Proposition to limit the civil rights of persons of color, would you support it?

7)Some persons who are against same gender marriage did not vote for Barack Obama because his father was black and his mother was white and "The Bible forbids interracial marriage". Was a vote to support Proposition 8 on Biblical grounds a vote to support those who "use" the Bible to justify their resistance to interracial marriage?

8)I am disappointed as are others because many people of color who were strong supporters of Barack Obama were also supporters of Proposition 8. But, my disappointment is made more moderate because of the history of white majority decisions that limited the rights of people of color. Is it helpful for us as United Methodists to acknowledge the linkages between all of the actions to restrict the civil rights of persons whether because of race/ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation?

9)Do you agree that it would be un-democratic, un-civil, unreasonable and unfaithful to allow the majority vote to support Proposition 8 to make invalid the thousands of same gender marriages that were performed when they were legal? If ever a "grandfather clause" was in order, it is now in order in California

10)The tears of joy that many of us shed in response to the election of Barack Obama were a response to our acknowledgment of the utter foolishness of the attitudes and actions that once made impossible the election of an African American President. When same gender marriage becomes legal in California and the rest of the nation, we will again shed tears as we remember the foolishness of the vote to support Proposition 8. Regardless of how you voted, do you now dare admit how tragic it was to even consider a Proposition 8 in the 21st century?

7 Arrested In L.A.-Area Prop. 8 Protest

by Kelli Busey
Nov. 6, 2008
planetransgender

WKSBW Channel 8 : 7 Arrested In L.A.-Area Prop. 8 Protest One protester after dancing on a police car was brutally taken down WKSBW reports high state of tension between opponents and proponents of Prop. 8. Police have riot gear at the ready and even worn in some instances.

Find a Mormon Church

It's one of my habits. I do this all the time. Let's go to Church. This week lets go find a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and pray. I love Church.

From:Queers United Prop 8 Rally at Mormon Temple

Queers United next door has a very active No on 8 conversation going.

Father Geoff Farrow ; Equal Rights the Chants filled the night!

Father Farrow writes from the corner of San Vincente and Santa Monica Blvd. "Thousands of people gathered and marched up to Sunset Blvd. Equal Rights the chants filled the night!"

Father Geoff Farrow a Catholic Priest, who when asked in October to speak in favor of Prop. 8 followed his conscious and spoke against Prop 8. This is a true American patriot, a man of incredible faith who as a straight man stands with us even when his existence is questioned. I am no theologian but I think Jesus would be pretty proud of a soul who is willing to sacrifice all for you and I.

CA: NO ON Prop. 8 Rally Calls to March on Mormon Temple in Los Angeles Nov. 6th

by Kelli Busey
Thursday Nov. 6, 2008
planetransgender

During the Prop 8 debate the Mormon Church contributed monetarily to embed it's views of human rights into California's state constitution. Frustration over a church buying its way into the personal lives of Americaian citizens will be demonstrated at a protest Thursday Nov 2, 2008 at the Mormon Temple 10777 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles

Reposted directly as reported by p.Johanna from Santa Monica, CA November 5, 2008;

Lez Get Real's own contributors were at the Prop. 8 Protest Rally held in Santa Monica, CA earlier tonight.

Streets were closed in the area to accommodate the gathering. Here is what happened at that rally, as reported to me via text message from p.Johanna:

"There was a reverend speaking and also another woman, who said this is a human rights issue. The crowd was really hyped. They said we need to stay angry! We need to keep going against Prop. 8 and towards civil rights and equality in the U.S. The crowd cheered in unison 'Yes we can! Yes we can!' They said we shouldn't be violent, but that we should work together to not be at the back of the bus anymore. The crowd yelled 'Equal rights! Equal rights! News channels began to arrive and it seemed like they didn't know this event was happening. A call was issued to march on the Mormon Temple at 10777 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles at 2pm tomorrow November 6th. Bring your signs and video cameras.

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Jerry Brown the State Attorney spoke saying that the marriages performed between June and yesterday are still valid. They are fighting for us and it's a legal mess. They are working around the clock on this. Jerry Brown says that we need to walk together, to walk in solidarity. The crowd yelled together 'Yes we can! Yes we can!'.

Javier Angulo called for a Chicano clap. The crowd yelled 'Si se puede! Si se puede!'. A helicopter flew overhead, and the crowd cheered at it. Javier Angulo quotes Martin Luther King Jr. saying that he had a dream and Obama made part of that dream come true. He says that now our fundamental rights have been infringed upon, but hold onto hope - all the votes have not been counted. Regardless, he said to take pride in achieving social justice. He said that the Latino community is often overlooked, and that Latinos value social justice. He says we have an ally. At that point everyone, even other nationalities chanted 'Si se puede! Si se puede!'. The helicopter shined its light on the crowd. He said they were shining the light on discrimination.

At that point, the woman began to speak again and said that bigotry is not only here, but in Arkansas, Arizona and Florida, but said that years to come the people who voted Yes on Prop 8 and in the other States will be ashamed of themselves. The crowd cheered 'Shame! Shame!'. She said that we are on the right side of history. Now, we're mad. And when we get mad, we work harder and we work smarter. The opposition will wish they didn't mess with us. At that, the crowd went crazy. I would often hear, 'TAX THEM! TAX THEM!'

She continued by saying that if we look at Prop. 22 we lost by a higher margin. This time we were within 5 points. That is enormous progress. The crowd yelled 'Not enough! Not enough!'. They were very angry! She went on to say that we make a promise to our opponents that we will gain our rights back, and we will crush discrimination. She said don't lose heart; use this as a push; don't give up... vow to continue the fight. She said to talk to everyone you know and tell them why the vote was wrong and how it was wrong from the start. Tell them how the majority was tyrannical to the minority, she continued. Tomorrow we will march on the Mormon Temple. The crowd cheered. The emphasis seems to be against the Mormons, and to fight against them. The crowd cheered in unison 'Equal rights! Equal rights!' There was a sign next to me that said 'You can't amend love.'

At that point she told us the rally was over. She said that tonight do not take it to the streets. We aren't taking it to our streets, she continued, tomorrow we take it to theirs."

***Please Re-Post This Message and Stay Tuned for More Info***

Walking With Integrity: Press Release: Bishop Of New Hampshire To Meet with Dallas Transgender Advocates

Walking With Integrity: Press Release: Bishop Of New Hampshire To Meet with Dallas Transgender Advocates

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies now affiliated with the United Kingdoms Queer Youth Network

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies a member of the US's Queer Today.com is now affiliated with The Youth Queer Network, UK's National LGBT Youth Organisation.

In a show of solidarity which reaches across the planet two queer organizations from separate continents have joined together to secure a better world for the gender diverse.



In a remarkable set of "coincidences" a GLB organization in the United Kingdom called the "Stonewall" has adopted an agenda identical in results of the United States Gay and Lesbian organization the "Human Rights Campaign."

Both organizations claim full inclusiveness in fundraising while simultaneously engaging in discrimination against and removal of Queer folk from consideration in human rights.

The shock wave that follows exclusionary actions taken by nationally recognized Gay and Lesbian groups results in the increases of horrific murders of young queer folk.

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies adamantly and LOUDLY OPPOSES ANY agenda from any group who's actions result in the death of queer folk.

By kelli Busey
Nov 6, 2008
planetransgender

email version of steping up

Bishop Robinson Stepping UP/an Invitation

Letters and petition were sent to the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop, New Hampshire, the only openly gay Bishop in the Anglican communion, asking him to consider how his attendance at certain social organizations fund raiser might affect transgender people. It is the belief of many transgender people that the exclusion from the national human rights movement was inhumane and his attendance would validate a sense that Transgender people were somehow less than Gays and Lesbians.

Our petitions and protests are without constraint from political and religious influence.

The response we received from Bishop Robinson took us completely off guard. Bishop Robinson asked to meet us, anywhere anytime! Well, how dare he? A religious leader of the Anglican communion willingly stepping up and taking this risk to meet? I was astounded and had to rethink how could we best respond to such a offer.
I went back to my roots at the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), and what I have learned of philosophy and faith. I considered what could be the most important out come of such a meeting?

In response to Bishops Robinson's invitation we formed the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies from previously friendly but separate people.
We all realized our need to be cohesive yet diverse and to respect each other for our common goal of lifting up the Transgender, Queer, Intersexed, Asexual and Questioning people from the sense of despair, frustration and anger we have found ourselves in since our exclusion from the national Gay and Lesbian human rights movement.

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies are now extending our hand in friendship and welcome to all. We are everything, from radical to conservative and there are no guarantees. It is a leap of faith.
Come and be part of the Conversation with Bishop Robinson on November 22 in Dallas Texas.

We are so different yet so much the same. This realization of our humanity is due to Bishop Robinson "Stepping Up"

By Kelli Busey
Nov. 3,2008
planetransgender

Petition to End Spiritual Violence
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Endspiritualviolence/

Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire
http://www.nhepiscopal.org/contact.html Rt.

Reconciling Ministries Network
http://www.rmnetwork.org/

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies
http://dallastaa.ning.com/

Exclusion from the national Gay and Lesbian human rights movement.
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h3686/blogs

Conversation with Bishop Robinson
http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/2008/09/press-release-dallas-transgender_30.html

planetransgender Rambling to a Far Lef T/an Invitation
http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/2008/11/rambling-to-far-lef-t-invitation-to.html

Rambling to a Far Lef T/ Invitation to Step Up

Bishop Robinson Stepping UP/an Invitation

Letters and petitions were sent to the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop, New Hampshire the only openly gay Bishop in the Anglican communion, asking him to consider how his attendance at certain social organizations fund raiser might affect transgender people. It is the belief of many transgender people that the exclusion from the national human rights movement was inhumane and his attendance would validate a sense that Transgender people were somehow less than Gays and Lesbians.

Our petitions and protests are without constraint from political and religious influence.

The response we received from Bishop Robinson took us completely off guard. Bishop Robinson asked to meet us, anywhere anytime! Well, how dare he? A religious leader of the Anglican communion willingly stepping up and taking this risk to meet? I was astounded and had to rethink how could we best respond to such a offer.

I went back to my roots at the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), and what I have learned of philosophy and faith. I considered what could be the most important out come of such a meeting?

In response to Bishops Robinson's invitation we formed the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies from previously friendly but separate people.

We all realized our need to be cohesive yet diverse and to respect each other for our common goal of lifting up the Transgender, Queer, Intersexed, Asexual and Questioning people from the sense of despair, frustration and anger we have found ourselves in since our exclusion from the national Gay and Lesbian human rights movement.

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies are now extending our hand in friendship and welcome to all. We are everything, from radical to conservative and there are no guarantees. It is a leap of faith.

Come and be part of the Conversation with Bishop Robinson on November 22 in Dallas Texas.

We are so different yet so much the same. This realization of our humanity is due to Bishop Robinson "Stepping UP!"

By Kelli Busey
Nov. 3,2008
planetransgender

Georgia becoming transgender friendly (one municipality at a time)

By Kelli Busey
Nov. 2, 2008
planetransgender

The Southern Voice in a article by Matt Schafer reports that Doraville Georgia is taking steps to join Atlanta and Decatur in extending their non-discrimination statements to include transgender municipal employees.

According to the article both Cole Thaler, national transgender rights attorney for Lambda Legal and Jeff Graham, the executive director of Georgia Georgia Equality are instrumental in moving this forward.

Thou Shalt Not Lie: Tell Mormon Church President-Prophet Thomas Monson to stop funding Prop 8

Fight back against the lies and protect the fundamental rights of Californians
It's time for Californians to fight back against the dishonest attacks of the "Yes on 8" campaign funded by the Mormon Church.

'Zack and Miri make a porno' Banned in Utah (the worst porno I ever seen)

Jonathan Crow's humorous candid review appearing in Yahoo Movies of the latest production of Kevin Smith who brought us 'Clerks' and 'Dogma';

"If you're looking forward to seeing Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks in director Kevin Smith's new R-rated comedy "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" this weekend and you live in Salt Lake City, you might be out of luck. Utah Jazz and Megaplex Theaters owner Larry Miller has refused to book the film. The chain's spokesman Cal Gunderson expressed concerns about the film with The New York Post, citing the film's "graphic nudity and graphic sex" and that it was "too close to an NC-17."

"The company's standards seem a little odd considering that the chain had no problems screening ultra-violent fare like "Saw V," which features beheadings and explicit self-mutilation. When asked why Megaplex Theaters did not object to the gory horror sequel, Gunderson had no comment."

I loved this movie!! A lovely, sensual, offbeat, explicit, gratuitous nudity, very funny love story, but a really, really bad porno!!!

Riders Arrested Attempting to Attend Chapel at Southwestern Assemblies of God Univ.

By Kelli Busey
Tuesday October 30, 2008
planetransgender

The Dallas Voice reports that Three more Soulforce riders were arrested after attempting to attend a chapel service this time at the Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX.





It is unclear to this writer why these Christian Universities find it incumbent upon themselves to keep young Christians separated. Is it a fear that homosexuality is contagious or maybe that freedom of thought may induce enlightenment?




******************************************
SOULFORCE PRESS
RELEASE: October 29, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Caitlin MacIntyre, Equality Ride Media Director
Cell: 612-715-6138
caitlin@equalityride.com
******************************************

(Waxahachie, TX) -- Today, Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) pressed trespassing charges against three young adults who entered the campus to begin a dialogue about faith and fairness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students. The young people were members of the Equality Ride, a national bus tour that promotes safety and inclusion for all students on faith-based campuses.

Upon arriving at SAGU, all 16 of the Equality Riders tried to attend chapel services on campus. However, they were stopped by security who told Riders that they would not be allowed to participate in worship. Riders were escorted by guards to a parking lot on the periphery of campus. As Riders got off the bus, they were promptly met by a campus spokesperson who provided an official warning not to come onto the campus property. Once more, Equality Riders expressed their desire to join students in chapel, and were told that was not possible. Three Equality Riders, all of whom identify as Christian, moved forward anyway and were summarily arrested. The three Riders arrested were Manny Lampon, 22, of New York, NY; Zak Rittenhouse, 21, of Frankfurt, OH; and Nicholas Rocco DeFinis, 22, of Philadelphia, PA.

Equality Riders remained at the edge of campus in silent vigil until the Dean of Students, Scott Camp, began to address them. He was soon joined by student leadership and some university staff. Camp led the group in prayer in which he expressed the hope that "the love of Christ would be felt in this circle." In actuality, Equality Riders were forced to remain standing along the boundary that administrators had created while members of the SAGU community gathered freely on the other side.

"It was important for us to acknowledge that there had been a clear line drawn, one that divided Riders from Southwestern representatives. Our hope was that for one day we could erase that line and come together for a genuine and transformational exchange," said Jarrett Lucas, Co-director of the Equality Ride.

Camp indicated that he could understand the feelings of exclusion experienced by Equality Riders, but insisted there was no alternative to the setup, repeatedly saying, "This is where we're at." Unfortunately, very soon after the conversation had begun Riders were told that it was time to wind down. Then, most of the people from SAGU walked away, leaving Riders outside.

Riders will stand vigil throughout the day on Sycamore Street in hopes of continuing dialogue with students. In addition, they are trying to organize an off-campus event where students can feel comfortable discussing issues that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

"It's sad to see that Southwestern Assemblies of God University did not welcome us as other schools here in Texas have. In our experience we've seen the value of open discourse and hope that in the future SAGU will embrace the opportunity to allow an affirming voice on campus," shared Katie Higgins, Co-director of the Equality Ride. The Riders recently met with faculty and students at Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Equality Ride bus is on the road through November 13, 2008. Future stops include:

Nov. 5 Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR
Nov. 7 Central Baptist College Conway, AR
Nov. 10-11 Union University Jackson, TN
Nov. 13 Simmons College of Kentucky Louisville, KY

Soulforce Q is the young adult division of Soulforce, a social justice organization that works to end political and religious oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through relentless nonviolent resistance. For more information, go to www.equalityride.org.

India's police response to LGBT activists cries for mercy “Stop us if you can.”

According to the Human Rights Watch there is a crisis in India's Girinagar neighborhood of Bangalore. GLBT activists are being detained without being allowed to rest, access to food, water or the use of bathrooms. GLBT activists are being verbally, physically and sexually assaulted by police.

On October 20, 2008, police arrested five hijras (working-class, male-to-female, transgender people), detained representatives of a nongovernmental organization trying to negotiate their release, and subsequently attacked a group of peaceful demonstrators protesting the arrests. A total of 42 people were detained. The negotiators later informed Human Rights Watch that police officials told them higher-level authorities had ordered a campaign to arrest hijras on serious charges.

The response by police is "Stop us if you can"

We will stop you.
Girinagar Police Station phone 6721016

bangalore police stations

Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations
235 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 490-9660/9661/9662/9663/9664/9665
Telefax: (212) 490-9656/9658
E-mail: india@un.int, indiaun@prodigy.net