Dan Savage tells CNN to stop giving haters equal time, calls for "a cultural reckoning" on gay rights. (video)

Columnist/LGBT Rights Activist/It Gets Better founder Dan Savage appeared on CNN Tuesday morning with Kyra Phillips to discuss a recent report that gays and lesbians are the most frequent targets of hates crimes. The pair discussed the study results released by The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which compiled 14 years worth of FBI hate crimes statistics

The report shows that gays and lesbians are more likely than any other minority to be the target of a hate crime, 2 times more than African-Americans, 4 times more than Muslins and 14 times more than Latinos.

Phillips said, "You know, it's difficult to say what would be a solution [to anti-gay hate crimes]. But, could we start with more hate crimes legislation where bullies are prosecuted more severely?"

Savage responded, saying,  

"We can start with that, we can also start with… really, we need a cultural reckoning around gay and lesbian issues. There was once two sides to the race debate. There was once a side, you could go on television and argue for segregation, you could argue against interracial marriage, against the Civil Rights Act, against extending voting rights to African Americans and that used to be treated as one side, you know, one legitimate side of a pressing national debate and it isn't anymore. And we really need to reach that point with gay and lesbian issues. There are no ‘two sides’ to the issues about gay and lesbian rights."

"And right now one side is really using dehumanizing rhetoric. The Southern Poverty Law Center labels these groups as hate groups and yet the leaders of these groups, people like Tony Perkins, are welcomed onto networks like CNN to espouse hate directed at gays and lesbians. And similarly hateful people who are targeting Jews or people of color or anyone else would not be welcome to spew their bile on networks like CNN and then that really -- we really have to start there. We have to start with that type of cultural reckoning."

Related articles

• Dan Savage Appears On CNN To Discuss Hate Crimes, Hate Groups (lezgetreal.com)
• During Live CNN Broadcast About Hate, CNN Criticized For Giving Hate Leaders A Platform (queerty.com)
• "Karl Frisch: Savage jabs CNN on CNN for giving anti-gay hate group leaders a platform" and related posts (mediamatters.org)

Two Charged with Hate Crime for Stonewall Inn Attack

Image via WikipediaTwo men who assaulted a patron in the men's room at New York's historic Stonewall Inn during an attempted robbery over the weekend have been charged with a hate crime. The attack at the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement prompted a protest rally Wednesday night in front of the landmark bar.

According reports, the victim was standing at a urinal in the mens room when he was approached by 21-year-old Matthew Francis and 17-year-old Christopher Orlando. Francis asked the victim if he was gay. Why would you ask such a question in the most famous gay bar on the planet, unless you wanted to attack someone and use the "gay panic" defense?

CNN reports, “When the victim responded yes [the defendant] allegedly yelled, ‘Get away from me, faggot. I don’t like gay people.’ He then asked for money saying, ‘Give me a dollar. Give me a 20.’

“The victim refused and Francis allegedly pushed him to ground and punched him several times in the face and chest. The other defendant Christopher Orlando, 17, stood in front of the exit preventing him from leaving."

Related articles by Zemanta

• Hate Crime at the Historic Stonewall Inn (pinkbananaworld.com)
• Meanwhile, The Stonewall Inn Let Gay Bashing Suspect Christopher Orlando, 17, Into The Bar (queerty.com)
• Lawyer: Stonewall Inn Attack Not A Hate Crime (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• Stonewall Inn Hate Crime Attack: Gay Man Assaulted In New York (nowpublic.com)
• Rally for unity, safety outside famed Stonewall Inn (nydailynews.com)
• 2 Arrested In Anti-Gay Beating At Stonewall Inn (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• 2 arrested in anti-gay beating at famed NY gay bar (sfgate.com)

Roanoke's LGBT Community Remembers

A crowd of about 50 to 60 people turned out tonight to take part in a candle light vigil to remember the tragic hate crime committed at the Backstreet Cafe on Salem Ave. in Roanoke ten years ago tonight. The event was organized by Roanoke Equality's Frank House and Rev. Joe Cobb of MCC of the Blue Ridge.

Ronald Gay, had started the evening at a downtown bar a few blocks from the Backstreet and asked an employee where he could find a gay bar. The employee told him about The Park, a popular dance club on Salem Ave. Gay told the employee he was going to waste some faggots. The employee called police, who alerted managers at the Park and headed there hoping to stop the shooter.

According to someone who was at the Backstreet that night, who spoke to me on condition of anonymity,  Ronald Gay entered the bar and sat down for a drink to gather his courage before heading to The Park. When he realized he was in a gay bar, he pulled out his gun and opened fire, randomly targeting patrons.

Danny Overstreet had been celebrating a birthday with friends. He laid on top of another shooting victim to protect him and was shot and killed.

Ronald Gay is currently serving four consecutive life terms. The first video below video comes courtesy of WDBJ-7, the 2nd is from WSLS NewsChannel 10.

 

What if you had a hate-fest and nobody came?

In a follow-up to yesterday's post, as I predicted, the planned anti-gay protest in front of the Justice Department, which promised us acts of civil disobedience, masses of Christians swarming the streets of DC in numbers not seen since Exodus, was a bust. The friendly folks at the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission (CADC) held a press conference instead, but the apparently press didn't get the memo either, that is accept for the folks at Pro-Life News. Go figure.

There was no mainstream press coverage of the non-event at all, not even the folks at Faux News showed up and this should have been like chum in the water for them.

It was hard to find any online coverage of the defenders of free hate-speech, accept for the Christianist's favorite new target, Courage Award winning blogger, Joe Jervis at Joe.My.God. Joe posted the Pro Life News videos of the unevent. You can see them on his site. I won't waste the server space. 

In the video, wing-nut/propagandist/author Janet Porter gave a rambling speech about how Christians are already being jailed for expressing their message of hope to homos in Europe and Canada. What she left out, was that European countries, who barely survived the Nazi War Machine during World War II, have very strict hate crimes laws because they know first hand where bigotry and intolerance and lead. Unlike the U.S., when Europeans say "never again", they mean it.

It's interesting to note that there were more pro-gay protesters in the video than anti-gay. You can see them right over Porter's shoulder. I'm glad they were able to fight their way through the crowd.

So why the low turnout? Maybe its because it was held on a Monday, when most Americans have something better to do, like go to work. Maybe it's because the CADC folks were hoping to push the limits of free speech and get arrested. Or maybe it's because, like most bullies, homophobes can't walk the walk.

It's easy to carry a protest sign with anti-gay rhetoric, or yell "Faggot!" at someone's house as you drive by (as has happened here), but when you start talking about going to jail for your principles, that's when the bigots loose their enthusiasm. They lack the courage of their convictions that has been the hallmark of every civil rights movement. That's why we will win.

Who Would Jesus Hate? Anti-Gay Rally Today in DC

When President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act into law earlier this month, it was apparently too much for the "Jesus is Love" folks, who think their constitutional right to practice their faith through hate speech will be taken away. On the news of the bill's passage, the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission (CADC) immediately called on it's intolerant  followers to join them at a rally, scheduled for later today, in front of the Justice Department.

The group intends to test the limits of free speech by ramping up their homophobic lies and daring the law enforcement officials to arrest them.

It remains to be seen if this little hate fest has any real support. Some sites I've read say there is, but those are mostly gay blogger sites. Maybe I'm missing something, but I haven't seen much reporting of it any where else. I think I may have found the possible reason.

The CADC web site has mentioned their martyrdom marketing effort only four times since the Hate Crimes law was passed, including the first post on November 3rd. In each article, they mention the date and location of the planned event, but only in their first post does it mention what time to be there. For the record guys, it's 1:30 pm.

From my limited experience in protest planning, I can tell you that they're doing it all wrong. And as anyone who has ever thrown a dinner party can tell you, if you want 20 people to show up at your soiree, you send out 60 invitations. Similarly, if you want to make a statement of hate and intolerance in order to show your Christian love, than getting the word out to anyone who will listen and talking about it 24/7 is key.

Of course, it's entirely possible that the CADC public relations machine has been spreading the word like manure, but real Christians (and there are some) can't get past the stench.

For mainstream Christians, having the homophobic, extremist right wing speak for you must be very embarrassing. It's kind of like going to church with your mom who wears a goofy bespangled hat pulled down over her sinuses while singing the wrong words, off key and clapping her hands and swaying her humongous hips back and forth to a rhythm that has nothing to do with what the musicians are playing. (Sorry. My shrink told me I was over that particular childhood trauma.)

My point is that we all know that there are a growing number of LGBT-friendly Christian churches and church goers who truly understand the teachings of their savior. But when those folks keep quiet, it only serves to turn up the volume on the hateful message coming from the lunatic fringe. It's time for our Christian allies to stand up for fairness and equality under the law for all Americans.

One final note to CADC founder, president and CEO, Rev. Dr. Gary L. Cass on planning your next event, as Martha Stewart will tell you, be sure to mention what time your party is starting and what time you want your guests to leave. It's just good manners. And by the way, you're the one in the goofy hat.

Obama Signs First LGBT-inclusive Hate Crime Bill into Law!

Wow! This must be what it feels like to be an American. For the first time in the history of the U.S., the legislative process has been used to protect our rights and not take them away. Let's keep up the pressure and keep the momentum moving forward. The homophobes of the world are soon to find themselves on the trash heap of history.

Judy Shepard posted the following message on the Matthew Shepard Foundation web site:

When Dennis and I started calling 10 years ago for federal action to prevent and properly prosecute hate crimes against gay, lesbian and transgendered Americans, we never imagined it would take this long.

The legislation went through so many versions and so many votes that we had to constantly keep our hopes in check to keep from getting discouraged. But with President Obama’s support and the continually growing bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate lining up behind the bill this year, it became clear that 2009 was the year it would finally happen.

We are incredibly grateful to Congress and the president for taking this step forward on behalf of hate crime victims and their families, especially given the continuing attacks on people simply for living their lives openly and honestly. But each of us can and must do much more to ensure true equality for all Americans.

Campaigning for hate-crimes legislation may be what I am known best for, but our family and the Matthew Shepard Foundation will continue to push for true equality for every American until the work is complete. Too many people face the threat of losing their jobs or their homes due to their sexual orientation. Too many same-sex couples lack legal protections for their property, their health care decisions, and their children. Too many devoted and dedicated servicemembers are being turned away by our armed forces.

I hope, as you reflect on the success of the hate crime prevention bill, that you also take the extra step of contacting your state and federal elected officials in support of full equality for all citizens, regardless of difference.

Be open about who you are and who you love. Dispel stereotypes and assumptions. Tell your stories. And support the continued work of the Matthew Shepard Foundation to "Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion, and Acceptance."

Thanks to all who helped us achieve this success today. You are making a difference.

Sincerely,
Judy Shepard
President, Board of Directors, Matthew Shepard Foundation