Anchorage Non-Discrimination Ordinance. (Photos)
The mood was different outside last night’s Assembly meeting. Once again, public testimony was being taken on ordinance 64, which would add the words “sexual orientation” to the city’s non-discrimination policy that addresses housing, employment, education and public accommodations.
As I pulled up to the library which houses the Assembly chambers, the “red shirts”, members of the Anchorage Baptist Temple were out on the corner.
But this time, there were also lots of “blue shirts,” those who support the ordinance. They carried hand made signs, had music playing, and seemed to be having a great time. There were rainbow flags, and hula hoops and frisbees, and lots of smiling people.
As I walked along the ribbon of blue, I noticed a sign that looked familiar… It was the title of one of my previous posts! I got a huge smile out of that one. I ran to find Spouse and said, “Look, did you see?” Thanks to the Mudflatter behind the project!
I was very surprised at how many honks and cheers there were for supporters of the ordinance. The number of red shirted people was disheartening, and it became very clear as cars drove by that the population of Anchorage as a whole seemed to be pretty supportive of equality.
I liked all the homemade signs. There were some pretty good ones.
The sea of professionally printed “Truth is Not Hate” signs didn’t seem nearly as personal. Then again, I’m sure that if they had encouraged people to make their own, they’d have gotten a lot of them that looked like this.
So, it was probably in their best interest to keep people with the printed signs as much as possible. It’s kind of hard to hold signs like the one above and then say, “This isn’t about hate.” I noticed that the red shirts seemed defensive. There were a couple signs I wanted to photograph that people turned aside so I couldn’t take a picture. There was also scowling, which was strange, since I was wearing a neutral color. The red end of the block seemed a lot more stressed out than the blue end.
There were dozens of teens, and young children wearing red. Even dogs were brought into the act. The red dog made me think of the gay penguin couple that raised a chick. Do animals “choose” to be gay?
There were “blue dogs” too, although nobody actually went after them with a bottle of dye. Perhaps open-minded people can celebrate their dogs just as they are, in all their diversity….regardless of their color or sexual orientation.
It was interesting from a sociological point of view to stand back and look at the crowd. One side was so very much the same. Same shirts, same signs, same message, same sexual orientation, same church. The other side was wildly diverse in every possible way.
It’s strange, not only that minority groups that have traditionally suffered discrimination were represented on the red side, but also that the discarding of science in favor of erroneous messages that simply support pre-existing ideas is so rampant. Many who testified cited the fact that homosexuality is a choice. I have to believe that most Alaskans who have a strong libertarian bent wouldn’t care either way, and would argue that what consenting adults do behind closed doors is nobody else’s business.
I recognized many of the children from last week. Will this little girl always feel this way? What will she discover that someone in her family is gay? Will she be gay? Will one of her children be gay? What will she think about that?
I hope she grows up to think like this.
This was by far the strangest sign of the night. Looks like we became a theocracy while nobody was paying attention. This is one of the reasons that the Assembly needs to support this ordinance. One branch of one religion cannot claim Alaska’s law.
Children, the age of the one above were present during the public testimony, while people in red shirts talked about men dressed as women entering public bathrooms and watching men at the urinals, and pedophilia, and necrophilia, and bestiality. I feel like I do when I see parents who bring children into a Rated R movie because they couldn’t get a babysitter.
After a couple hours of listening to heart wrenching stories, then strange bathroom-obsessed speculation, then scientific and sociological research, then tales of men and donkeys (not the political kind), and religious debate, and ramblings about “hidden liberals” and a “gay militia” that wants to turn this into a marriage issue…escape time came. My brain hurt.
Ahhhh….. bruschetta and calamari. These Assembly meetings have been absolutely exhausting, and mentally draining.
There’s another one today. Six more hours of testimony. Jerry Prevo has cancelled Wednesday night services at the Anchorage Baptist Temple so everyone can come “overwhelm” the Assembly meeting. I’ll put up a thread when the time comes for those who want to tune in. Testimony will begin at 4pm Alaska time (5pm Pacific and 8pm Eastern).
Here’s an excerpt from Prevo’s letter to his congregants:
I am calling off our regular church service Wednesday so we can overwhelm them again on Wednesday night. This is how important this issue is to defeat.
Below is some general information and BE SURE TO WEAR SOMETHING RED. (blue is their color) – Pastor PrevoGeneral Information: The public testimony concerning the proposed homosexual ordinance continues Tuesday and Wednesday nights. We need everyone to attend the Assembly meeting at the Lousacc Library. We need to fill up the Assembly Chambers with people wearing red shirts showing their opposition to the proposed ordinance. If you can arrive by 3 p.m., take a seat in the Assembly Chamber Hall. Bring something to eat or drink and a good book to read. Arriving early is important but coming when you can and being present, even outside, is just as important. We need to show the Assembly Members the voters of Anchorage will not tolerate this scourge.
I hope that the “voters of Anchorage” who don’t want the red shirts to speak for them will continue to be a presence supporting the civil rights of ALL Alaskans.
Awesome pictures. Left me with tears in my eyes for thinking about the fact that a disagreement over the right to love someone can split us apart. It happens in my own house every time the phone rings and it’s some automated question about whether we should have the right to vote on gay marriage or not because it was passed (Iowa) without the voters having a say.
Anyways, I’m curious, what color was Palin wearing that day? Anybody know?
Surely she wouldn’t dare, would she?
“Actually, it was pretty cool because whoever bought it never did any real renovations except to split it up in to less than 20 lofts…mine included part of the sanctuary and 2nd floor balcony with ceilings 30 feet high! Awesome.
A downtown dj lived down the hall from me and had the preacher’s pulpit and the baptismal in his loft.
We held ‘Midnight Mass’, frequently. Red shirts not welcome…lol”
Outside of Lynden, Washington is a Baptist church-turned-tavern (or it was in 1995 when spouse and I made our cross-US motorcycle trip) – called “Holy Smokes! It’s a Tavern”
One of the most fun places we visited in the Lower 48!
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Well, at least God doesn’t think he’s Jerry Prevo.
Good luck, Anchorage – Fairbanks hasn’t progressed even this far yet.
I haven’t had time to read comments so please forgive me but I feel a need to vent –
To people who state ‘You choose to be gay’ that implies that they choose to be ‘straight’. So if they believe it is truly a choice then apparently they are sexually attracted to both sexes and had to make the choice between homosexuality and heterosexuality (or bisexuality?) and are apparently proud of themselves for giving up their desire for the person of the same sex. Guess they don’t realize what they are actually saying about themselves. Most of the world doesn’t get a choice – we are sexually attracted to either male or female.
I’m female and only desire men. I call foul – I didn’t get a choice!
…bring a good book….? So you don´t have to listen to your opposition and have to fear they actually might make sense to you….
Anchorage Baptist Temple, eh? Made me smile cuz I used to live in a Baptist church in the lower 48 though I doubt they would have approved. It was all Sodom and Gomorrah all the time 😉
Actually, it was pretty cool because whoever bought it never did any real renovations except to split it up in to less than 20 lofts…mine included part of the sanctuary and 2nd floor balcony with ceilings 30 feet high! Awesome.
A downtown dj lived down the hall from me and had the preacher’s pulpit and the baptismal in his loft.
We held ‘Midnight Mass’, frequently. Red shirts not welcome…lol
The red works for the hatemongers – goes with their thick necks.
86 The Right Reverend Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 6:42 PM
What’s funny is that the real message behind Sodom and Gomorrah wasn’t based on sexual practice at all. Rather, its message can be seen as a good argument for charity, which Repubs call “socialism.”
Ezekiel 16:49-50 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.
It was a lesson against greed and selfishness.
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Holy Toledo! This sounds just like SP and her daughters!
AKM, thanks for braving the throng of Red Shirts again. I just don’t get why they have a voice if they don’t live in Anchorage.
Regarding all those intolerant a-holes…I’ll sleep well knowing that those nutcases have been wasting years of their lives learning to hate, in church! Good luck at the pearly gates!
I hit “submit” before I added this question:
Does anybody have an estimate of how many red shirts vs. blue shirts were there? If it’s written somewhere, I must have skipped it.
What’s funny is that the real message behind Sodom and Gomorrah wasn’t based on sexual practice at all. Rather, its message can be seen as a good argument for charity, which Repubs call “socialism.”
Ezekiel 16:49-50 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.
It was a lesson against greed and selfishness.
‘anti-Christians’ – you’ve defined it perfectly there.
Marnie (4:01pm): “Ironic too, red -the color of satan? evil? hookers? Is that their point?”
Psychobabblicly speaking, red is an aggressive color that provokes intensity in the viewer, whereas blue and green is soothing and passive. That’s why STOP signs and EMERGENCY EXIT signs are in red, highway direction signs are in green, and the signs directing you to the nearest highway rest stop are in blue.
55 mlaiuppa Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
At our city council you must provide your legal name and residence. So it’s easy to see who is from out of town. Their “say” doesn’t count for much since they can’t vote.
And the city council could use the voter registration lists to double check.
54 Maria Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 1:19 PM
“I always find it interesting when they invoke Sodom and Gomorrah, places which superstitious people way back then presumed deserved the destruction they received:”
When something bad happens to people who the conservative anti-Christians don’t like, it God’s”punishment”.
But when something bad happens to one of their own it God’s “will.”
Then they all gather around and pray for that person’s recovery or their soul.
Total blind stupidity and hypocracy.
And as Shannayn pointed out not New Testament Christianity, but Old Testament not Christianity and not even Judahism.
Regarding the African Americans sign that says that he was born black and you chose to be gay. Al Franken once asked the question, which is harder being black or being gay. And the answer is being gay, because you never have to tell your parents that you are black. That young should go back and look at the marches and see how people of all colors rallied to the side of African Americans in the South. I remember seeing film of one march where there were priests, and nuns and rabbis and ministers standing with Martin Luther King. Those people of faith stood for equality, for dignity, for human rights. The gentleman from the ABT fades in their shadows. If he and his followers think that those in the gay community should not have equal rights because they chose to be gay, then lets get rid of the protections for religion. That is a choice. You don’t have to be a christian or Zoro Astrian or whatever. I can’t understand how the people in red would think that someone would choose to be ostracized not just by society by possibly by their own families. And how many of those gay young people who unfortunately commit suicide have come from homes like those of the people who have their kids out there with signs and red shirts
31 Paula Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Ironic too, red -the color of satan? evil? hookers? Is that their point?
Also the color of several brutal dictatorships that conservatives SAY they hate.
it is soooo sad about the number of african american speakers who were against the ordinance, calipat.
it made me sad.
and curious as to why.
1 deist Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Where can I learn more about the gay penguin couple?
And the children’s book about the gay penguins has become a political issue.
Like this country doesn’t have serious issue to deal with?
As an African American person, I wondered how long the African American young man who has the sign, ” I was born black, you choose 2 B gay”, has lived in Alaska and if he attended the churches and were taught to be intolerable and bigoted? If he was born and raised there then he may have the same prejudices that some of the other people have. I also wonder if he has learned about the history of African Americans? If he has, then he should know that descrimination is discrimination whether it is due to race or sexual orientation, and that it is wrong in any case. Ignorance comes in all colors and he is just one of the sheep. So sad.
74 weaver57 Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 2:49 PM
I absolutely do not understand why people who do not reside in Anchorage are allowed to speak. It makes no sense. They are not allowed to vote on Anchorage matters, so why are the allowed to spew? And yes, wear lots of colors.
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Exactly. Every speaker should be required to show either their D.L. or Voters Registration Card. Oops , don’t live here , write a letter to the ADN…….
you must dig that layer cake wine – that’s the second time i’ve seen it or is that the same meal??? lol – we must try it!
ironic the black man with the sign saying he was born black but you choose to be gay. i guess he’s not old enough to remember what it was like to be forced to the back of the bus, refused service due to color of skin or treated like sh*t.
akgrrl and justafarmer – Yeah , we would not get much done tonite. We’d be doing shots the whole time. Hm-m-m-m…..ok , how ’bout every time we hear “the fart” ??
I absolutely do not understand why people who do not reside in Anchorage are allowed to speak. It makes no sense. They are not allowed to vote on Anchorage matters, so why are the allowed to spew? And yes, wear lots of colors.
@LilLadyNY:
My favorite verse is Matthew 25: 34-45, with 40: “Truly, I say to you, as you did to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me” and then curses the hypocrites into eternal punishment.
#67 Judy5cents
I absolutely love how you explain someone being left handed or gay to your daughter. You put it so simply that there is no way to see something wrong with it. I only wish more people could see it that way.
After reading all this it makes me very happy to live where I do. Who would ever have thought a mostly catholic, albiet “live and let live”, small town would be more progressive than Anchorage?
LiladyNY–thank you for bringing this to everyone’s attention.
Someone, tonight, should read this and the relevant Bible passages. Maybe some people could be educated.
http://twopaths.com/faq_homosexuality.htm
Sexual Orientation is not a Sin
There is a tendency to confuse homosexual tendencies and feelings with acts of homosexual intercourse, because the English word “homosexuality” is often used to describe both.
However, regardless of how we interpret the Bible’s teachings about homosexual acts, it is important to note that the Bible does not condemn people for having homosexual tendencies. It is certain actions that are prohibited by Bible teachings, not tendencies or feelings.
A homosexual man or woman is presented with great challenges, and great strength is often achieved by learning to deal with great challenges. Perhaps God has some special mission in mind for that person that is best accomplished outside the restrictions imposed by marriage and family duties.
Avoiding Self-righteousness
Ironically, homosexuality also poses a challenge for heterosexual Christians. We may let feelings of contempt or fear lead us into the sin of self-righteousness. But Jesus and other New Testament leaders taught by word and example not to be self-righteous or discriminate against those we consider to be “sinners” (Matthew 9:10-13, Luke 7:36-48, 18:9-14).
Further, Jesus told us to eliminate the sins in our own lives rather than passing judgment or looking down on others. For if we judge other people harshly, we will, in turn, be judged harshly:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV, Matthew 7:1-2)
Christians have a responsibility to correct matters of wrongdoing among themselves (Matthew 18:15-17), but this should always be done fairly and with compassion. We are never to take upon ourselves the task of judgment that belongs to God alone (Hebrews 10:30, Romans 14:10-13, 1 Corinthians 4:5.)
James makes it clear that we must treat others with mercy, not with judgment or partiality (prejudice):
You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. (NRSV, James 2:8-13)
As Christians, we must remember that all of us are sinners in our own ways (Romans 3:21-24, 5:12). Despite that, God loves all His children (Genesis 1:31, Psalms 145:9, Matthew 5:43-45, John 3:16, Romans 5:8). We cannot afford to let our feelings or fears about homosexuality blind us to Jesus’ commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-39).
Of course, society has a legitimate right and duty to take legal action against those sexual offenders, homosexual OR heterosexual, who use coercion or who prey on children or the disabled.
As always, thank you all at Mudflats for your kindness, your gentleness, and your unwavering support. Our community was stunned by the despicable defense of DOMA brief filed by the Dept. of Justice on 6/12/09 and to see and hear from so many people who believe in equality gives many of us the extra boost of energy we need to get right back up and carry on the fight. (((Hugs))) to all of you.
I keep telling my daughter that being gay is like being left handed. The percentages work out the same-90% of us write with our right hand, the rest use the left hand. It’s different, it’s not a choice, and there’s nothing wrong with it.
I’ve never understood the connection between gay marriage and bestiality, other than the insane logic of “where will it stop?” I also don’t understand how allowing gays to live their lives in peace affects The Sanctity of The Family. I see unemployment and lack of affordable health care as dangers to my family. Gays pose no threat at all. What exactly have they done to these people to make them so angry?
How do people who obviously are residents outside the jurisdiction of Anchorage have the right to dispute this ordinance? Do Anchorage residents then have the right to dispute ordinances in other towns and localities?
Anyone else notice that the Alaska flag is blue? Hmmmm……
#46, June 17th, 2009 at 1:06 PM, Irishgirl Says: “””re: gay animals: Biochemistry was my speciality a few years ago..and I firmly believe that your sexuality is linked to your DNA. It is not a choice…that is the way you are born. It is GENETICS. “””
Approximately ten percent of the human population is strictly homosexual and ten percent is strictly heterosexual. Everyone else (80 percent) is on the spectrum between.
My source for this is over 20 years old … I will endevour to find it.
It’s strange, not only that minority groups that have traditionally suffered discrimination were represented on the red side, but also that the discarding of science in favor of erroneous messages that simply support pre-existing ideas is so rampant. Many who testified cited the fact that homosexuality is a choice.
As a Canadian and a man who married a African Canadian woman, I find this picture of an African American to be unbelievably astounding. My beautiful wife must be turning in her grave. Why this man would ever choose to support a group discriminating against other makes me wonder what kind of education he has. Of all people who should know what discrimination is all about, he surely should be one. Ignorance is no excusse. To even imply that homosexuality is a choice, is showing the entire world how ignorant and uneducated people are. If this man actually thinks they will stop at homosexuality, then your are truely uneducated. Be careful what you support sir, it maybe that you will be next in line as to having your rights taken away from you, or have you forgotten it wasn’t very long ago that African Americans had less rights than gays have today. Martin Luther King would be ashamed of you Sir.
This is all quite astonishing to me. These ‘red’ people sound as mad as sacks of ferrets. Why do they feel so threatened?. Why do they think it is God talking to them? How do they know it is not the devil in disguise?
BTW, I just finished reading all 22 pages of last night’s blogging.
Oh my! And AKM had to actually sit through all of it!
Great pictures, AKM (I forgot to mention that earlier).
@austin: “Should we all take a shot every time we hear “bible” or “bathroom” ??”
I think I did that last night. DH found me to quite amusing by 3 am!
austintx Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Should we all take a shot every time we hear “bible” or “bathroom” ??
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I think we need to make the game a little more challenging, otherwise we’d all be passed-out drunk after the first three minute “red” testimony.
I know of a certain legislator who thinks no one outside the jurisdiction deserves an opinion. Who are the the people making the decision. Will they see the hate and discrimination, and the need for an ordinance, or is it a big show for nothing. Can the new mayor overturn it if it is already passed.
If we add up all the children who’s mothers claimed they were supposedly in the lady’s room with two men, it had to be at least 40.
At our city council you must provide your legal name and residence. So it’s easy to see who is from out of town. Their “say” doesn’t count for much since they can’t vote.
I always find it interesting when they invoke Sodom and Gomorrah, places which superstitious people way back then presumed deserved the destruction they received: ‘They must have done something awful for God to do that to them. They deserved it.’ The truth of the matter is simpler and more devastating: like Mt. St. Helens, like Pompeii and Herculaneum at the mercy of Vesuvius, and the highly civilized Minoan peoples living near the civilization killing volcano Thera, Sodom and Gomorrah were also victims of a catastrophic volcano – nothing more. They were literally in the wrong place in the wrong time. But that person with that particular sign doesn’t read and therefore would never pick up a book like Ghosts of Pompeii and find out about reality.
51 Closet Mudpup Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 1:17 PM
austintx — A big part of what made it so funny for me was that the guy just kept going on — by the end he had disclosed having being hit on from coast to coast!
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Bet he was in a gay bar everytime !!
Should we all take a shot every time we hear “bible” or “bathroom” ??
austintx — A big part of what made it so funny for me was that the guy just kept going on — by the end he had disclosed having being hit on from coast to coast!
Layer cake in a bottle. Sounds perfect.
AKM, do you have details of the changes that have been made to the ordinance since last week to placate the haters? I understand they’ve succeeded in delaying the vote already. I believe it was something about providing proof of discrimination?
*Ireland*
37 Closet Mudpup Says:
I’m still laughing about Mr I’m Not Available from last night — something tells me that “I’m Not Available” does not describe the vibe gay men got from him. lol
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I know , he said it about 4 times. There were some goofy-ass people to be sure. The retired military guy with the laptop talking about necrophelia and donkey sex was a piece of work.also.too. I told some gay friends today about last nite and they thought I was pulling their chain. Guess I’ll pop another bottle of vino for tonite……..
lol InJuneau!
I didn’t have time to read all the comments. I have heard about the gay penguin couple in Germany. Biochemistry was my speciality a few years ago..and I firmly believe that your sexuality is linked to your DNA. It is not a choice…that is the way you are born. It is GENETICS. I hope you’ll get cross with the naysayers…and tell them in good old-fashioned Irish…Feck off!! (This is not considered a curse word or swear in Irealnd). 🙂
The one I loved from last night was a red shirter who said.
I has nothing to say, no one cares what I think, so let me speak for God.
I agree with WakeUpAmerica regarding letting out of towners speak at these meetings. Considering that there are so many who want to testify, the assembly should limit it to residents only.
austintx Says:
What color is the Scotch tumbler ??
Why, plaid of course, in all the colors of the rainbow!
I strongly recommend some signs that say End Tax-Exemptions for Prevo, Uphold separation of church & state.
The artistic talent via posters and signs is much better than at the for Letterman rally, for sure.
Good luck all, I’ll check the updates Thursday.
Nice report, AKM, and I like your pictures. I had to leave the assembly room and join the young “rainbow” people outside who were having a much better time when the guy was going on about the necrophilia and bestiality. He was really making me quite ill and I didn’t see how I could stay in the same room with such hate. As with the testimony last week, these rantings make it ever more clear why this ordinance is necessary.
On another note, I was glad to finally meet you and Shannyn face-to-face since I feel like I’ve known you both for quite some time now. 🙂
Prevo and his ilk are an embarrassment to the ministry. These folks preach a gospel of division, a gospel of hate, a gospel of fear. How small is their god after all that these people live in such tremendous fear of the world G_d has made and all the wondrous people and things in it? How small is their god that these people must revere a gospel of hate over a gospel of love? No wonder Jesus wept.
Why is the issue not raised as to the allowing of outside area speakers. If they have over 500 speakers now, the outside area should be stopped. Do they allow those from outside to speak to any other issues in their meetings — I doubt it — so why now.
Someone should raise this question.
Doggonit — That’s a whole bunch of hate and fear going on there at Prevo’s church. And I guess Palin learned how to tap into that ignorance.
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Considering the many years Palin spent associated with that Assembly of God Church in Wasilla, I strongly suspect she lacks the ability to disconnect from the kind of ignorance we’re seeing around the issue.
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I’m still laughing about Mr I’m Not Available from last night — something tells me that “I’m Not Available” does not describe the vibe gay men got from him. lol
from SMR: “Uncle (in-law) went bat-sh*t crazy in the middle of service to call his daughter a whore (teenager) cuz she’d been sexually active.”
I hope he was just as bat-sh*t crazy when Bristol Palin’s sex life became the subject of national news.
Something tells me he was probably ok with it. Cuz you know…..”family values” and all that.
I’m sorry for the drama in your family. My cousins-in law are also gay and one was confined to house arrest during his senior year in HS (he’s now graduated and living out of home) and one was told not to tell the other family members (parents were ashamed). The third? His parents live in denial. It’s too bad these so called Christians can’t show a shred of compassion and are so quick to judge and condemn.
Why our people who are not living in Anchorage allowed to speak? It isn’t allowed in our town. Also, when we have a hot issue with lots of people who want to speak, our city council gives a specified amount of time, and then it is cut off. Our school board operates the same way. It is ludicrous that people outside of anchorage are allowed to bog down the process.
Oh I remember all this hate here in New Zealand, but that was 20 years ago !
I guess all that ice and snow in Alaska slows the rate of evolution….. Your fight is a good one and once the hate has subsided. I watched this growing acceptance in a friend of mine after her son ‘came out’. This September both her sons are to marry in a joint celebration, one gay one straight – a true triumph of love over bigotry.
“……proposed homosexual ordinance”
Interesting description. Misleading, but interesting.
It’s an ordinance against discrimination. Whether you are black, white, gay, straight, bisexual, transexual, man, woman, old or young – the proposed ordinance aims to protect your civil rights and liberties. It isn’t just about gays.
Why do these so called Christians persist in spreading lies and misinformation? Would Jesus do that? Certainly not.
As an asian woman – I cherish my right to live, work and go to school where I choose. I support this ordinance – both as a minority and a Bible believing Christian. My christian beliefs do not give me the right to strip others of their basic human dignity.
SMR – I have a good friends whose brother-in-law & that side of the family are the same. 23 year old gay son/grandson overdosed (killed himself???) a short while back. Broke my friends heart wondering what might might have become of him had he not been so disgusting and an embarrassment to his own family.
Pro-life my a$$
Unfortunately, I’m wearing red today. There’s a rally today at the board of education and our teacher solidarity shirts are red. It does say “Together we are stronger.”
Just when I was ready to vomiy from the kids in red and the Jesus Alaska flag and the black/native keepers of the unscientific faith I saw the food and wine and remembered, yes, all those blue folks, they are civilized in Alaska.
Ironic too, red -the color of satan? evil? hookers? Is that their point?
You guys go, proud of every one of you.
My family’s experience with Baptist Temple:
Uncle (in-law) went bat-sh*t crazy in the middle of service to call his daughter a whore (teenager) cuz she’d been sexually active.
Wife (too bad, have to claim her as blood) does nothing.
Youngest son flagrantly flagrantly gay, unless you were/are in denial about that stuff, parents still going to hater BTemple church, talking smack about gays, in spite of gay brother (uncle-in-law’s bro) and sis (same).
Once my cousin graduated from high school he LEAPT out of the closet into an apartment with his boyfriend at which point the parents had to choose between their church and their child. Fortunately they chose their child.
I still consider the uncle-in-law crazy as heck, but am glad that my aunt finally decided that her son was more important than her church (better late than never).
I suspect that many people have had and will continue to have that experience with Prevo’s house of horror, I wish they’d testify.
Churches have become tax-free havens. This has become lucrative. They can take their tax-free income and mobilize busloads of redshirt activists to smother objective democratic processes like Assembly meetings.
Look at the Anchorage sports dome. Tax free religious enterprise has become perhaps the biggest business tax dodge in the United States. Tax free Church business may cause our Federal deficit to grow. Fewer and fewer religious folks are paying federal taxes. They’re figuring all kinds of ways to get around it.
Here is a great example: Did the blue shirts use tax exempt funds to make their shirts? I doubt it. I think the Blue Shirt Patriots paid their federal taxes. But how about those red shirts? Did some church use tax fee funds to produce all those red shirts? Is this fair?
As Prevo knows, if you don’t want to pay taxes, all you have to do is organize a group of people to pray and acknowledge you as their leader. When was the last time Prevo paid federal income tax?
I’m not sure if the tax exemptions Alaska has provided Prevo’s crowd is constitutional, but no one has challenged this in federal court. Personally I wonder if the RedShirts are leveraging tax free funds to manipulate democracy, starting with the printing of their tax- free red shirts.
Wow, I think I’ll take the blue pill today. The differences between the messages/signs are quite telling.
Thanks for capturing all this.
It is hard to believe people go to listen to this jerk-off preacher but then again it reminds me of the observation: “Not all conservatives are stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives”
“Blue is their color”. Yea for the Blues. You are on the side of humanity. Thanks.
“There is nothing to hate except hate itself”….And TAKE AWAY THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS!!!!
The majority of reef fish change their sex throughout their lifetime. Lucky for them they can just pee in the ocean. 🙂
I’m not making light of this. Sometimes, it all gets so oppressively hateful, ignorant and downright sad. I cringe to look at these poor children.
23 justafarmer Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 12:11 PM
and I’ve got a special liveblogging wardrobe selected for tonight:
BLUE jeans
GREEN shirt
BLUE hat
BLUE scarf
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What color is the Scotch tumbler ??
and I’ve got a special liveblogging wardrobe selected for tonight:
BLUE jeans
GREEN shirt
BLUE hat
BLUE scarf
I’d strongly recommend that people in support of 64 wear any color, wear all different colors!
It’s not a good sign for one side to be universally blue. After all, we are trying to make a statement about the strength of diversity.
Let the mono-thinking brainwashed fall in line with their red shirts. For everyone else, wear what you want, wear what feels good!
And I’ll try to listen in and add comments here again tonight for as long as I can stand it… :p
Just wonder if the schools in Alaska teach world history. So many seem to not know about the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Renaissance and the Golden Age of Enlightenment.
The Red Shirter seem ready and willing to re-enact the Spanish Inquisition.
That’s a whole bunch of hate and fear going on there at Prevo’s church. And I guess Palin learned how to tap into that ignorance.
http://www.amazon.com/Tango-Makes-Three-Peter-Parnell/dp/0689878451/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245269862&sr=8-1
*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 2. Roy and Silo were “a little bit different” from the other male penguins: instead of noticing females, they noticed each other. Thus penguin chick Tango, hatched from a fertilized egg given to the pining, bewildered pair, came to be “the only penguin in the Central Park Zoo with two daddies.” As told by Richardson and Parnell (a psychiatrist and playwright), this true story remains firmly within the bounds of the zoo’s polar environment, as do Cole’s expressive but still realistic watercolors (a far cry from his effete caricatures in Harvey Fierstein’s The Sissy Duckling, 2002). Emphasizing the penguins’ naturally ridiculous physiques while gently acknowledging their situation, Cole’s pictures complement the perfectly cadenced text–showing, for example, the bewildered pair craning their necks toward a nest that was “nice, but a little empty.” Indeed, intrusions from the zookeeper, who remarks that the nuzzling males “must be in love,” strike the narrative’s only false note. Further facts about the episode conclude, but it’s naive to expect this will be read only as a zoo anecdote. However, those who share this with children will find themselves returning to it again and again–not for the entree it might offer to matters of human sexuality, but for the two irresistible birds at its center and for the celebration of patient, loving fathers who “knew just what to do.” Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
then…..I’m gettin’ edgy about tonite.
I’m ready for tonight.
Tried to get a photo of the two mommy hens and the three babies, but they’re hiding today.
The only ‘scourge’ in this story is Jerry Prevo and his ilk. Somebody needs to remind them that this is NOT what Jesus would do. Wonder what G-d thinks about Jerry perverting His message.
Plus and also, I just betcha Jerry’s got some really ugly skeletons in his closet. 😉
And than you can read how Billo feels about gay penguins. What a gooftard he is.
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/11/oreilly-fox-news-lgbt/
The book is:
And Tango makes three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
It’s been on the top 10 challenged books compiled by the American Library Association since it was published in 2005.
1 deist Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Where can I learn more about the gay penguin couple?
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Here ya go.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1190747/My-dads-Gay-penguins-parents.html
If anyone questioned if there is discrimination or whether there is a need for the ordinance, all they need to do is listen to the Red Shirters. They are self incriminating themselves in their testimonies.
Inherent in the principle of freedom of religion, is not forcing it on others.
Prevo must give some really whack-o-doodle type sermons to have his congregation so frightened of equal rights. Just have to wonder what is going on in his church.
Anybody know if/where Sullivan goes to church?
I am reposting this from end of last thread, because I think it is important.
STALL TACTICS are firmly in place – redshirts want to drag this out until Mayor Sullivan is installed. What, if anything, can be done?
I just read that hundreds more redshirts are signing up to testify at the hearings. We already know that they have been bused in not only from MatSu, but even from the lower 48 (”Christian” churches). The game plan, it seems, is to drag this out until Mayor Sullivan takes office, because they are sure he will veto ordiance (if passed).
Wow, what a shame, but there is still pockets all across the united states that feels this way. I guess that so many have forgotten the Golden Rule. What a better place the world would be.
oops GLBT (mild dyslexia)
Also:
Humans are of nature, therefore humans in all forms are of nature. Religion is the unnatural variable here. Animals don’t have asshole property tax exempt Baptist preachers either.
i have to say last night, with 19 pages of comments, that i was completely and totally impressed with the good blue folks of anchorage. i have always always always been highly favorable of complete rights for LBGT. Maybe that comes from my parents who didn’t cram my head with religion or maybe from just having great friends that happened to be gay.
today i wear green AND blue.
I think Jerry Prevo should cancel all church services and mobilize his flock to help the exploding homeless population in Anchorage. If they do something now they may be able to avoid dozens of hypothermic deaths next winter. Just Sayin!
InJuneau: I realized I should have googled. Thanks. This just touches my heart.
To anyone who claims gays are against nature, I’d ask: are gay penguins against nature?
well, this is not quite “first” but close
deist–there were news stories over the past week about a pair in a German zoo that were raising chicks that had been abandoned by their opposite parents. I think I read that the zoo actually has three such penguin pairs. try Google?
Looks like an interesting experience. Wish I could have been there in support!
Where can I learn more about the gay penguin couple?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/06/gay-penguin-dads-in-german-zoo-hatch-chick.html There are others too. Just google “gay penguins.” AKM