Seattle, WA – Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Speaks Out against Boy Scouts’ Homophobia – 7.20
Rob McKenna, Washington State candidate for governor, who is the state attorney general and an Eagle Scout, disagrees with the Boy Scouts’ recent decision to maintain its ban on gay scouts and LGBTQ leaders. McKenna, who currently serves on the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America, has discussed with some Boy Scout volunteers in the state how “at least locally, the leaders out here could encourage the national organization to reconsider the national policy.”

Given his belief that LGBTQ people should not be discriminated against in the Boy Scouts, it makes one wonder why McKenna opposes Washington’s marriage equality law and wants to deny same-sex couples the opportunity to marry. McKenna’s Democratic opponent, former US Representative for eight terms and marriage equality supporter Jay Inslee, also said he was disappointed in the Boy Scouts: “Our state and our country have moved ahead rapidly with eliminating discrimination. We’ve done it in the military; we’ve done it in education; and we ought to be able to do that in the Scouts, as well. So I’m hopeful this will be revisited as soon as possible.”

We salute McKenna and Inslee, who join the growing list of Americans who have spoken out against the anti-gay policy.

Source: GLAAD.org

Indianapolis, IN - Indianapolis Gay Bar Possible Target of Drive-by Shooting – 7.22
Police are investigating a possible drive-by shooting at an Indianapolis gay bar, and the bar’s owner said he is certain the blown out window is more than a random act of violence and may be a hate crime. A large picture window at Gregs, a gay bar on East 16th Street, was shattered Saturday night by what police say was “possible gunfire.” But the bar’s manager is certain it was gunfire, and certain, too, his place was targeted because it caters to gays.

“It was obviously a bullet,” said Phil Denton, the manager who was working at the time. “We’ve had rocks thrown at us, and names shouted at us, but never before a bullet.” Denton said that based on his discussions with bar patrons, he believed a shot was fired from an eastbound car, “a Mercury or a Lincoln.” He noted that gay bars traditionally covered their windows “to protect peoples’ identities and to protect against rocks.” Many years ago Gregs - and several other local gay bars - uncovered its windows. “The times being what they are, and the acceptance coming around, we decided it was time,” Denton said. Sadly, now one of the windows is boarded up.

Source: IndyStar.com

Aurora, CO - AFA News Director Blames Queers for Colorado Shooting – 7.20
Fred Jackson, the American Family Association’s news director, while discussing the recent senseless, tragic Colorado movie theater shooting, said that liberal Christian churches and liberal media helped contribute to violent incidents by supposedly deemphasizing the fear of God, hell and the Bible. Alas, it was only a matter of days until some crackpot like that would put the blame on queers and not the National Rifle Association. Jackson and radio co-host Teddy James of AFA Journal said the shooting is a sign of God’s judgment for the failings of the public education system and liberal, mainline Protestant churches that affirm gays and lesbians.

“We’ve been dealing, Teddy, and I know the AFA Journal has been dealing with denominations that no longer believe in the God of the Bible; they no longer believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation; they teach that God is OK with homosexuality,” Jackson spewed. “This is just increasing more and more. It is mankind shaking its fist at the authority of God.” (I’ll tell you where that fist can go!) Jackson concluded, “We are seeing His judgment. You know, some people talk about ‘God’s judgment must be just around the corner;’ we are seeing it.” We are also seeing hateful, harmful bigotry.

Source: RightwingWatch.org

Nashville, TN - Top Tea Partier Demands Obama Prove He Doesn’t Smoke Crack and Have Gay Sex – 7.20
If ever you thought the Tea Party might have flipped its teapot lid, this should surely convince you. Judson Phillips, president of Tea Party Nation, declared that if Mitt Romney is to release his tax returns, President Barack Obama should release medical records to prove he’s not a drug addict who has smoked crack and had gay sex with a lifelong con-man. Phillips also sent a mass email to his followers that the American people must know whether the President had secret financial support in college due to his status as a “foreign student” — and dredged up a long-disproved story of Obama’s alleged encounter smoking crack and having sex with a gay prostitute.

“A man named Larry Sinclair claims that in 1999, he and Barack Obama had sex and then smoked crack cocaine,” Phillips wrote. “This is 1999, nine years before Obama would run for President. Crack cocaine is very addictive. It is very destructive. Addiction specialists will tell you that a crack addiction is very tough to break.” So is, I would deduce, gay sex. He questioned, “Is Obama an addict? Why is Obama hiding these records, and why isn’t the … media asking these questions?” Why? Because they are intelligent - is why!

Source: RawStory.com

Atlanta, GA - National Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A Scheduled – 7.23
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have noticed that Chick-fil-A restaurant company has officially come out against the LGBTQ community. From his headquarters in Atlanta, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy said same-sex marriage activists are “inviting God’s judgment on our nation.” In honor of their support for love, equality and the real definition of family, activists are holding a national Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A’s around the country on Aug. 3, say organizers against CFA’s anti-equality stance. They urge: “Grab a friend (or 20) and head out to your nearest Chick-fil-A, and don’t forget to post photos/videos of it for all the world to see!”

They would also like to clarify that this event was NOT created as a response to Fox News’ rightwing-nut Mike Huckabee’s CFA appreciation day, since this event was created on July 19 - several days before Huckabee announced his plans for Wednesday, August 1. Bad news: CFA has its chicken claws out for the Bay Area for more of their chicken-poop cafés. I foresee scores and scores of creative queers dressing up like chickens and clucking their protests.

Source: Facebook Entry

Feds Protested Regarding Medical Marijuana Busts
President Obama landed at Oakland International Airport on July 23, greeted by Mayor Jean Quan and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and later by over 100 rowdy medical marijuana advocates rallying at Oakland’s Fox Theater where the President held a fundraiser. Some activists held placards stating, “Save Harborside” and “Bust Crime, Not Cannabis!” in reaction to recent Fed crackdowns on local medical marijuana dispensaries, which are perfectly legal in California via Proposition 215. The protest called on the President to uphold policy in respect to state laws by freezing all enforcement actions until it is determined they are consistent with administration policy not to target those organizations in compliance with state law.

On July 10, one of the nation’s model dispensaries, Harborside Health Center, received property forfeiture notices from US Attorney Melinda Haag at its Oakland and San Jose locations. “We’re not trying to embarrass the President or confront him,” said Steve Deangelo of Harborside Health Center. “Many of us continue to be supporters of the President and are really looking to him to fulfill his campaign promise he made to us.”

With 17 states and Washington D.C. passing medical cannabis laws, the Federal government has in past months deployed multiple Federal agencies to interfere with state law and restrict safe access for patients. This attack has occurred in several states, so activists and advocates joined together in national protest. Oregon, Washington and Colorado held actions in their respective states, joining with California in solidarity. 

Source: Story by Dennis McMillan

Save the Eagle Bar as Sacred Space
In 2010, a new landlord inherited the Eagle property in a trust. Since then there have been four attempts by queer people to buy this space.

The landlord deliberately dropped the potential gay business owners in order to pursue business with five straight men. “This is the third or fourth time that the landlord has purposefully dicked around with gay business owners,” says activist Kyle DeVries. “Could this be a pattern of homophobia?” He says these men want to open up a high-end restaurant where our beloved Eagle used to be.

 “Why is this space sacred?” asks Milk Club President Glendon “Anna Conda” Hyde, who states that queers who did not live through the AIDS epidemic have ashes scattered there; The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have blessed it as sacred queer space; it has raised over 50 million dollars for charity in its 30 years; it was a place that any economic social class could go; it was our community center when we didn’t have one.

A hearing is scheduled for 10am, July 31, City Hall, regarding the transfer of the liquor license. “We have been told the only way to save this space is to show community support and turn out numbers,” says Hyde. “I hope we can get behind this and do just that!” Activists are also urged to write a letter to their City supervisor expressing how important the Eagle was to our community and how upset they are that the landlord has shut out queer business owners.