10/5/10

Texas Breakaway Episcopal Groups newest ally against LGBT people "Exodus International"

The same people who are attempting to abscond with the one true Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth Texas property have a new ally in there misguided mission to "fix" or exclude LGBT people and women from priesthood. A link to Exodus International was recently added to the breakaway groups home page.

The link will bring you to a letter to Iker in which Exodus International spends much time defending itself and placing it's lot with Iker's breakaway congregation.

Exodus International conducts 'reparative therapy', a discredited proccess in which a counselor attempts to convert a LGBT person making her or him 'straight'. According to the American Psychiatric Association:
"The potential risks of “reparative therapy” are great and include depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient."
My question is this. Why would Iker and his misguided Christians align themselves in the name of god with a organization who's methods have been proven dangerous and even fatal to LGBT people. Why would Iker position his congregation with a radically dangerous group that believes only straight people are beloved of Christ and all others are the adversary of god.

10/3/10

GLN to PROTEST "BURN qUEERs" Performer Capleton

Breaking News!Kinetic Playground Nightclub announces Capleton is CANCELED
Source GLN: In an anti-gay social climate that has led several young LGBTs to commit suicide in recent weeks, Kinetic Playground Nightclub has persisted in going forward with its booking of notorious "Kill Gays" performer Capleton next Saturday night.

A few weeks ago the Gay Liberation Network (GLN) politely contacted Kinetic Playground owner Jim Gouskos to inform him about Capleton's history and attempt to persuade him to cancel the concert.... Gouskos claimed that he was locked into a contract which prevented him from canceling, to which we replied that many other venues, such as Chicago's House of Blues, have successfully canceled other "kill gays" performers.

In a follow-up conversation, GLN organizer Roger Fraser said that in the event that Kinetic Playground refused to cancel Capleton, there would be a protest. Gouskos replied, "Don't threaten me because I can get a bunch of goons outside to throw eggs at you guys."

Goons or not, the protest is now on --

10:30 PM, Saturday, Oct. 9
In front of Kinetic Playground
1113 W. Lawrence Avenue
Chicago

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Background --
WHO IS "CAPLETON"?

Capleton is a performer in the Jamaican "dancehall" tradition who promotes violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) communities in his lyrics. One of his songs is entitled "Bun out Di Chi Chi," which translates to "Burn the Queer," and an example of one of his lyrics is the noxious:

"Shoulda know seh Capleton bun battyman,
the same fire apply to di lesbian"
("[you] should know that Capleton burns queers,
[and] the same fire applies to lesbians").

In 2004, Capleton's scheduled concerts in three venues in California were canceled after LGBT pressure was applied because of his calls from the stage to kill gays.

Losing lots of U.S. dollars because of cancellations, Capleton and a few other anti-gay reggae singers finally in 2007 felt compelled to sign a document known as the Reggae Compassionate Act, which is a pledge no longer to sing or otherwise profit from songs that promote violence against LGBT people. However, Capleton quickly violated the terms of the agreement. As a result, his tours in Switzerland and France were canceled in 2008.

As recently as last Christmas in a Jamaican concert, Capleton again loudly proclaimed to his audience: "All who a bun battyman and sodomite, hand up!" ("All who have burned queers and sodomites, put your hands up!") This outrageous call to celebrate murder caused LGBT activists in Long Beach, California, to mobilize, and promoters cooperated by canceling Capleton's invitation to participate at the prestigious Reggae Muffins Festival last February.

Our current protest has already generated substantial coverage in the reggae music press, and one of Jamaica's most prominent newspapers, The Gleaner, has given the protest surprisingly favorable coverage:
This Saturday night, please help stand up to the hate that promotes violence against young and old in our LGBT community.

Facebook page PROTEST "Kill Gays" Performer in Uptown!