A killer of a different color

Because I tend to read a lot of "alternative" news sources, it took me a little while to realize that the MSM has not been giving much coverage to the recent killings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist church on Sunday. That is to say, they covered the event, and moved on.

But what if the killer was not named "Jim" but was instead named, oh, I don't know -- Abdul? Kamal? Hussein? I suspect we would be seeing stories nightly about how this shooting spree was planned and carried out. We would hear about every move the man made.

Instead, this is what we get from the Washington Post:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 28 -- An out-of-work truck driver accused of opening fire and killing two people at a Unitarian Universalist church apparently targeted the congregation out of hatred for its support of liberal social policies, including its acceptance of gays, police said Monday.

A four-page letter found in Jim D. Adkisson's SUV indicated that he targeted the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church because "he hated the liberal movement" and was upset with "liberals in general, as well as gays," according to Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen IV.

Oh, well then. And at the end of the story:

Court records from neighboring Anderson County indicate Adkisson threatened violence against his spouse several years ago.

Instead of simply reporting this case as one deranged individual and moving on, the MSM needs to look at what makes a white man in America feel oppressed. Rather, who makes this member of the most privileged sector of society feel oppressed. But perhaps that is asking too much, given the shades and genders of MSNBC, CNN, FOX, CBS, and ABC. We all saw how threatened the white male anchors were by the successful primary run by Hillary Clinton -- people like Jim Adkisson are listening and reading, and believing these people.

I believe in free speech. But I also believe in responsible speech. And when the hatemongers of the right wing feed on sick and distraught individuals like Jim Adkisson, they have lost their right to free speech. IMHO.

From the Christian Science Monitor:

"There's a whole category of mass killers who are seeking vengeance against a group of people who they feel are taking away their birthright, their opportunities, and making it difficult to succeed," says Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox, author of "Extreme Killing." "They don't see themselves as criminals, but ... as striking a measure of justice, winning one for the little guy. This case may show that [Jim Adkisson] perceived that society has been bending backward to favor disenfranchised groups so they're trying to get some justice for their own victimization."

Why I need to "be there"

The horrific news of the killings at a Tennessee Unitarian Universalist church has hit me hard. Clearly the man who did the shooting was desperate and unbalanced, but why did he choose this place to begin shooting? According to the New York Times:

A man who the police say entered a Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sunday and shot eight people, killing two, was motivated by a hatred for liberals and gay people, Chief Sterling P. Owen IV of the Knoxville Police Department said Monday.

So, was this a "gay" church? No. But according to Out & About, it had just put up a sign recently "welcoming gays to the congregation."

Yes, "welcome" as in the "we are all God's children" kind of welcome. Do you remember what I wrote on Sunday about the Episcopal church I've been attending?

However, the congregation at this church is a little bi-polar. On the one hand, the inside of the bulletin proclaims that "We welcome all ages and abilities, classes and cultures, races, genders, and sexual orientations." Yet, in the monthly newsletter it's reported that a group of 20 met to discuss questions of division and exclusion. The article says "All answers and/or experiences were positive. However, we did not commit to being included on the list of friendly churches for persons of other orientations."

What will my neighborhood church do now? I mean, if they didn't want to advertise being gay friendly before, they're sure not going to be happy about it now. Probably, they'll want the gays of the congregation to keep a low profile, not call attention to this church. You know, step back into the closet. Except the problem with that attitude is that we give up an important piece of who we are, while these hateful people still rule the airwaves:

Rush Limbaugh: "I tell people don’t kill all the liberals. Leave enough so we can have two on every campus -- living fossils -- so we will never forget what these people stood for."

Melanie Morgan: "A great deal of good could be done by arresting Bill Keller having him lined up against the wall and shot."

Ann Coulter:
LINDA VESTER (host): You say you'd rather not talk to liberals at all?
COULTER: I think a baseball bat is the most effective way these days.

"Sock" Sokolowski, to Stephanie Miller:
As with Cindy Sheehan the best thing that could happen to you would be seeing some WONDERFUL activist sticking an AK-47 up your Glory Holes and sending you into eternity.

(List from Orcinus)

Don't think these words have no effect:

Investigators said they found copies of "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder" by radio talk show host Michael Savage, "Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty over Liberalism" by radio and TV host Sean Hannity, and "The O'Reilly Factor," by radio and TV host Bill O'Reilly.

On Sunday I wrote a long post about trying to decide whether I would continue attending this particular church now that the gay-friendly rector has left. I also wrote about the strange phenomenon wherein you seem to be in a place and time for a purpose. I think I'm beginning to understand it now.

Newsweek stoops to new low, prints tabloid coverage of murdered 15-yr old Larry King's life

I was planning to write about the downright horrific journalism displayed by Newsweek this week in their story on Lawrence King, the 15-year old boy who was shot in school by a fellow classmate, but it turns out that Sara Whitman has already done an excellent post on this subject. So I'll let Sara's words tell the story:

I am stunned by an article put out by Newsweek, Young, Gay and Murdered. At best, it is poor journalism, at it's worst, it is a hate crime in itself, paving the way for a "gay panic" defense for the kid who pulled the trigger.

Remember? Larry King was killed? Shot point blank in the head?

Read the article and you'll be informed that in fact, Larry was the problem. He was always the problem. And while kids are experimenting with sexuality at younger and younger ages overall, being gay is dangerous. Heterosexual play is fine but, "Kids may want to express who they are, but they are playing grown-up without fully knowing what that means."

What does that mean?

Please read the rest of her post here.

Hate crimes in Michigan up 133% in the last year

Yes, while some states creep forward (California, New York), others remain a dangerous place for gays and lesbians. Blogger Sara Whitman of Suburban Lesbian Housewife, gives some personal insight into the realities of life for LGBT families:

As a woman, I have been raised with a certain level of fear about my safety. Girls are always told to watch where they go, never walk alone, don’t dress too provocatively, and know that men basically only want one thing from you.

We are taught to be afraid, and to live accordingly.

I don’t want to raise my children to be afraid. I am tired of being afraid. But I am a mother and my first instinct is to protect. When I told my children about the California decision, my middle son Zachary said, 'Now we can live in California, too.'

Massachusetts and California. That’s it.

What a joy it was for me to be in Provincetown for a week, and be able to walk down the street holding my sweetie's hand. Sure, wherever we are we sometimes hold hands and hug, in public. But never, never without a lingering thought that we could be in danger of bodily harm for doing it. That's the fear. It embodies itself as a constant self-consciousness over who I am and what other people think of me. And an understanding of where I am safe -- and where I am not.

I can't imagine how hard that must be to see that in your children. But as Sara says, a mother protects her children, and whether you call it being afraid or respecting danger, this is the reality of the world we live in today. It's not right, and it's up to us to change it.

It’s not acceptable in our society to be violent against someone because they are different. It is not acceptable because violence is not acceptable. We have fundamental human rights.

Please read Sara's entire post at GayWired.com. In addition to knowing where all the good restaurants are in Ptown, she's a damn good writer.

Are these guys supposed to be funny? 'Cause I'm not laughing ....

It's been barely a month since 15-year old Lawrence King was shot in the head for being gay. Now, it's been a very long time since I stayed up for the Late Night Talk Shows, but I know they are still stomping grounds for "edgy" and "provocative" comics. Unfortunately, they're also still full of morons: in this case, Conan O'Brien and his guest Harland Williams. The hatefulness and stupidity of their "joke" is all the more obvious when contrasted with Ellen Degeneres' comments in the video below.



h/t to Sara at Suburban Lesbian Housewife for this one. As she says:

Call NBC. Contact the Conan O'Brien show.

Better yet? Send 25 bucks to GLAAD.

And the next time you hear a gay joke? Put in the word "nigger" and see if it flies.

It won't.

It isn't funny.

Are comics really the only ones who get how serious this is?

I have always thought Ellen DeGeneres was incredibly funny and brave, not to mention just downright adorable. But now I am truly in awe of her for standing up for her principles. While the MSM ignores the story of the brutal killing of 15-year old Larry King, she takes time from her daytime t.v. show to talk to America.

Bottom line: "It's o.k. if you're gay." And please note, she gets a standing O at the end of the clip ...

Via Think Progress:

Remembering Lawrence King

Two weeks ago, 15-year old Lawrence King walked into a computer lab at his junior high school and was shot in the back of the head. Lawrence was doing everything a 15-year old kid is supposed to be doing: he was going to school, he had a lot of friends. But there was something about Lawrence that his killer didn't like: Lawrence was gay.

Lawrence's killing didn't get much national press, but then gay killings rarely do. Society seems to think of the killing of gays and lesbians as something that happens in back alleys on the seedy side of town. But listen up, America, these are your schools, and these are your kids:

Brandon McInerney, 14, who attended E.O. Green with King, has been charged with premeditated murder and will be tried as an adult. He is being held in Ventura County Juvenile Hall in lieu of $770,000 bail. McInerney could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors added a hate crime allegation that could bring an additional one to three years.

I encourage everyone to take a visit to The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Whether you are a parent, teacher, friend, or relative, you have an important part to play in ensuring that all of our children are safe. More from GLSEN:

Two of the top three reasons students say their peers are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression, according to From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, a 2005 Harris Interactive report commissioned by GLSEN. The top reason is physical appearance.

In the 2005 National School Climate Survey, nearly a fifth (17.6%) of LGBT students reported being physically assaulted at school in the past school year because of their sexual orientation and over a tenth (11.8%) because of their gender expression.

Nearly two-thirds of LGBT students (64.3%) said they feel unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation and two-fifths (40.7%) because of their gender expression.

GLSEN also lists many of the remembrance vigils scheduled this week for Lawrence King. Over 1,000 supporters came out for a vigil in Oxnard, Calif., where Lawrence was murdered. Other vigils are planned in California, D.C., Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.

If you can't make it to a vigil, please do whatever you can to stop the hate and intolerance that exists in America today -- for the Lawrences and the Brandons of the world. You might just save someone's life.

UPDATE: Here's a long, sad look into the buildup of this terrible tragedy.

From LA Times: Nearly 1,000 Oxnard youths and other supporters turned
out today for a peace march meant to pay tribute to Lawrence King.

Hate crimes, sadly, are not something new

I'm going to warn you right now -- this is sad. I encourage you to watch, though, because it is really powerful. And I promise you that I am looking for some uplifting news to post later today, because although I want to give as much attention as I can to victims of violence, I also know they wouldn't want us to stop living and laughing. So watch this, and then step outside in the sunshine for a few minutes and look at the sky. (Thank god my co-worker brought her puppies to work today!) Take a deep breath, and do something to stop the madness.



h/t to Mid-Life Clarity for the video.

To be young and gay, often means to be dead

"The real issue is not the kid coming out, but the kid sitting next to him."

You haven't seen this story on the evening news, and none of the presidential candidates has mentioned it. But earlier this week, a 15-year old boy was shot in the back of the head by a classmate. Students were just sitting down in their seats when the 14-year old assailant suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Lawrence. He shot Lawrence because he was gay and it freaked him out.

From the LA Times:

Police have not determined a motive in the slaying but said it appeared to stem from a personal dispute between King and the suspect.

[S]everal students at the south Oxnard campus said King and his alleged assailant had a falling out stemming from King's sexual orientation.

The teenager sometimes wore feminine clothing and makeup, and proclaimed he was gay, students said.

"He would come to school in high-heeled boots, makeup, jewelry and painted nails -- the whole thing," said Michael Sweeney, 13, an eighth-grader. "That was freaking the guys out."

As regular readers know, I used to teach middle school. So I know, it doesn't take much to freak out the guys. I also know that when something like this happens it is imperative that the adults make a clear sign that this is wrong -- very wrong -- and it will not be tolerated.

Yet the LGBT community is still waiting to hear one of our "adults" (i.e., elected officials and those who would hope to be elected) stand up and make a statement about this tragedy. As blogger Sara Whitman has noted:

The message of hate is getting through to our kids, loud and clear. It’s okay to kill someone who freaks you out because they don’t fit a gender role to your liking.

And think about these words spoken by Lorri Jean, CEO of the L.A Gay Center, at a memorial for Lawrence King:

No one is born hating gay and transgender people or believing that we should be denied equal rights. Such hatred and bigotry must be learned. It is learned in families that don’t accept their own children if they’re different than the norm. It is learned in right wing churches where ministers preach abomination or in schools where teachers and administrators don’t protect LGBT kids from bullying and harassment. It is learned from political leaders who support blatant discrimination again us or whose leadership fails them when it’s time to speak out and take action on behalf of our equality and our humanity.

Superdelegates? Really? Michelle Obama's clothes? Clinton's campaign manager? Is that what's important? Of course not. So when will either Clinton or Obama show some real leadership, refocus on the priorities, and make a clear statement denouncing this act? 

The Matthew Shepard Act is in trouble - Please take action now!

For the first time, hate crimes prevention legislation has passed both chambers of Congress. This is the closest we've ever been to securing federal assistance for the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please join me in urging your senators and representative to ensure that the Matthew Shepard Act (S 1105) is included in the conference report of the Department of Defense Authorization Act (HR 1585) and sent to the President's desk for signature.

This legislation would eliminate the barrier currently preventing federal involvement in protecting victims of bias-motivated crimes on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. Current law authorizes federal involvement only in cases involving bias related to race, color, religion or national origin.

Putting a face on the Jena Six

Before the Jena Six rally on September 20th, I posted my opinion that injustice was being done to these six young men, who are charged with varying degrees of attempted murder for a schoolyard brawl while the white students who instigated the fight by hanging a noose in a schoolyard tree were simply suspended from school for a few days.

There are a lot of heated emotions on this subject. People in the public eye have taken up both sides quite fervently. It's become hard to know what is fact and what has been exaggerated by the media. I also know that a lot of people don't agree with my opinion on this matter. I know of one reader who stopped reading this blog because he so strongly disagrees with what I said about the Jena Six and the boys who put up the noose.

So I was pleased to come across an interview with the mother of one of the Jena Six, Bryant Purvis. The interview with Purvis' mother, Tina Jones, appears in In These Times, and is a thoughtful and articulate description of the facts in her son's case.

I don't claim to be a legal scholar, but it is fairly obvious after reading this interview that in Purvis's case, the charges are bogus. No matter what your thoughts are on the Jena Six, I encourage you to read this story about one of the individuals. It is, after all, important to remember that behind the catchy “Jena Six” phrase, there are six young men facing life-altering criminal charges.

How would you describe your son Bryant?

Bryant was an honor student throughout his first three years of high school. He also played basketball and football, but his main thing was basketball. Hopefully, he’ll get to graduate and go to college and play basketball. If not, he wants to become a coach.

He’s also a people person. When people see his car or somebody finds out he’s here, everybody just walks over to visit.

When did you first know that your son might face legal trouble because of the events at the high school?

Bryant came home and told me that there was a fight at school and that several kids were arrested. Lo and behold, the next day when I get to work, my aunt comes and tells me that Bryant was at the courthouse. I didn’t think it was anything related to the fight. I thought something else had happened.

I rushed down there and they told me that Bryant had been charged.

You were shocked to hear Bryant was being charged. Was Bryant as surprised as you were?

He was very surprised, because he wasn’t in the fight at all. Bryant wasn’t involved in anything that led up to the fight.

Read more here.

Why you need to know about the Jena 6

While we are distracted by the blatant constitutional abuses by the Bush Administration and its supporting cast, Congress, the specter of racism is raising its ugly head. And while we are all focused on one person (the university student in Florida) who has had his right of free speech trampled, 6 young men — boys, really — are facing a much harsher injustice. They face 20+ years in prison for what was essentially a schoolyard fight. This while the white students who committed the hate crime of hanging a noose from the schoolyard tree, were suspended for 3 days.

And in case you think the racism that is at the core of this incident, and the judicial system's reaction to it, is an isolated event, CNN is reporting atmosphere that should be unimaginable in 2007:

Two arrested in noose incident near Jena, Louisiana

A Louisiana city that hosted many of the "Jena 6" protesters Thursday became the site of a racially charged incident of its own.

Authorities in Alexandria, less than 40 miles southwest of Jena, arrested two people who were driving a red pickup Thursday night with two nooses hanging off the back, repeatedly passing groups of demonstrators who were waiting for buses back to their home states.

You can make your voice heard in this cacophony of madness by signing a petition organized by ColorOfChange. The petition asks the governor of Louisiana to intervene and ensure that these six young men face equal justice under the law.

Update on the Hate Crimes Bill

With Congress trying to unravel so many White House scandals, the Hate Crimes Bill hasn't gotten much press lately. It passed the House of Representatives in May of this year, and has been placed on hold until the mess that is our U.S. Senate can work itself out.

Existing federal law authorizes federal involvement only for hate crimes involving race, color, religion or national origin. The pending Hate Crimes Bill would include a victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

Please watch the new video from the Human Rights Campaign if you wonder why this is impotant. And then contact your Senator.

If I could have a super-power for 24 hours, I would choose to be a straight white man in America

Now wait — before you get upset and think this is going to be a post bashing straight white men, please hear me out, because it's not. I mean, I love straight white men: my father; my brothers; and many, many friends. But sometimes I think they must either live a different universe than those of us who are women, gay, or people of color, or — more likely — they have an entirely different life experience than the rest of us. So I'd just like to see what it's like for 24 hours.

I recently posted a story about Elizabeth Edwards reiterating her support for LGBT equality, and decrying President Bush's misguided opposition to the hate crimes bill. I got quite a long comment on this post by a reader who thinks I'm wrong. I'm glad to have differing viewpoints in this blog, and I don't mind a good debate. Read his comments here. The main gist of his comments are these two paragraphs:

When it comes to protection against murder, the law already treats people equally, inasmuch as it punishes perpetrators without regard for what might or might not have motivated those perpetrators to commit such crimes.

This issue is about the attempts of the GLBT community to steamroll opponents of their views into submission by slanderously implying that anyone who is not in favor of special (and therefore unequal) rights for minorities is guilty of advocating hate crimes against such people.

Sigh. Where do I begin? First off, I know this commenter is a straight white male because he makes that clear on his blog. (Complete with photo and profile as a “conservative Christian.”)

Secondly, let's look at his argument that “the law already treats people equally ....” Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! That's a good one! Can you say “Scooter Libby?”

Seriously, I am reminded of that beautiful song by Louis Armstrong “What a Wonderful World,” because wouldn't it be a wonderful world if, in fact, we were all treated equally under the law? The sad reality is that we are not, and we cannot rely on human nature to make us behave civilly to each other and respect each other. We need to have the hate crimes bill enacted just like we have to have a statement on McDonald's coffee that says “Caution: this beverage is very hot.” We shouldn't have to put that on there! But we do, because the reality is, people will burn themselves on hot coffee and sue McDonald's if the restaurant doesn't warn them.

And the reality for minorities, commenter, is that we are targeted for violence, whereas you are not. And I don't think that many, if any, straight white men can know what it feels like to be a target because of who they are, genetically. As a gay woman, I would love to experience the safety of a straight white man for 24 hours. I would love to hold my spouse's hand and walk down a city street without worrying that we will be attacked. What does that feel like?

Next up, the commenter says this is an attempt by the “GLBT community to steamroll opponents into submission.” Oh yeah, that's right, I forgot about the “homosexual agenda” we have orders to promote. In our secret underground meetings. Where we carry pink pistols. Where we plan to indoctrinate your children into our “lifestyle.”

I'm sorry commenter, you're starting to sound like Bill O'Reilly just a little too much. There are many minorities other than just the LGBT community who support the hate crimes bill. I know we're any easy target, because saying “teh gays” gets the folks in the front pews all worked up. But hey, the police support the hate crimes bill:

Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association
Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association
International Association of Chiefs of Police
International Brotherhood of Police Officers
Major Cities Chiefs Association
National Asian Peace Officers Association
National Black Police Association
National Center for Women & Policing
National Coalition of Public Safety Officers
National District Attorneys Association
National Latino Police Officers Association
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives

The list of supporters is too long to post, but you can see it at a wonderful site called Clergy Against Hate. These are the true Christians to me, living life as Jesus modeled for us.

And finally, readers, I want to share with you a statement from the commenter's own blog on the subject of the pending hate crimes bill:

I also think it likely that such a law will be used in order to suppress the free speech rights of those whose opinions on matters such as gay marriage and abortion are deemed politically incorrect by political liberals who have a tendency to abuse the court systems in order to impose their views on the general population.

This is a myth that is floating around the Internet thanks to a conservative Christian group, the American Family Association (AFA). I'm not going to link to their site because I feel they are a vile, deceitful group and I don't want to give them any publicity. Go there at your own peril. Suffice it to say that this idea is so false that even Snopes, the authority on debunking urban myths (which this is) felt compelled to take it on:

In fact, the version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives on May 3, 2007 includes a clause that specifically precludes applying it to conduct protected by the free speech and free exercise of religion provisions of the Constitution:

Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses of, the First Amendment of the Constitution.

So, commenter, fear not. You'll still be free to continue to say anything you want when the hate crimes bill passes. And you're always welcome to visit this site and make comments. Free speech is a wonderful thing and I endorse it heartily. All I'm asking for with the hate crimes bill is equal protection from violence. And in order to ensure it is equal to what you, as a straight white man, have, it has to be law.

My vote for President (no, not her husband, HER!)

From HRC Back Story:

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Senator John Edwards, reiterated her support for GLBT equality at HRC's San Francisco Gala Dinner on Saturday and said that her husband would be a leader on turning over anti-gay discriminatory laws affecting same-sex couples. Edwards also used her speech to decry President Bush's misguided opposition to the hate crimes bill in light of the recent attack of Satendar Singh, a Fijan immigrant and California resident who recently died from injuries sustained during an alleged anti-gay and racist hate crime attack:

"This president talks a lot about good and evil and the need to seek out evil doers," she told a packed auditorium. "But he doesn't seem to recognize the evil in hate crimes. The right to live without the fear of being murdered for whom we love is not a special right."

Update on "The Oh-Really Factor"

Although I don't really want to give Bill O'Reilly's recent sensationalized story about a national underground network of lesbians — who carry pink pistols and indoctrinate young girls into their lifestyle — any more airtime, I do want to let you all know about the Southern Poverty Law Center's investigation on this issue.

The SPLC issued a statement entitled "The Oh-Really Factor" in which they talk to some real detectives and law enforcement officials. All agreed that there is no "underground network" or epidemic, and that the facts referenced in O'Reilly's piece are suspicious at best, and completely false in many instances:

Sgt. Brett Parson, a member and former commander of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department's Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit, also questioned Wheeler's numbers. "We have 150 to 175 total gangs in the D.C. area, and out of those only nine where the predominance of members are female," he said. "You simply can't make the jump that they are lesbians. I think it is fair to talk about violence and female gangs. But to sensationalize or marginalize a community by making a statement like that seems irresponsible."

And what you should know about "Fox Crime News Analyst" Rod Wheeler:

According to Wheeler's personal website, he is a member of Jericho City of Praise, a conservative Christian megachurch in Landover, Md., whose leadership publicly advocates against equal rights for gays and lesbians.

On another incident mentioned by the outraged O'Reilly:

Similarly, O'Reilly's introductory mention of a Tennessee lesbian gang called Gays Taking Over that is "involved in raping young girls" appears to have been based solely on a highly dubious Feb. 28 television report from WPTY-TV, an ABC affiliate in Memphis, Tenn. Featuring dramatic "reenactments" of high school bathroom rape scenes shot in grainy black-and-white footage, the lengthy segment's vaguely salacious claims about local high school girls being raped and "sodomized" with "sex toys bought on the Internet" was based almost entirely on the lurid musings of a single Shelby County gang officer.

I hope this will be the last we hear of this story. It's ridiculous, but it's important to address. O'Reilly makes his living by taking news "stories" — factual or not — and sensationalizing them. This particular story had the worst of hate and discrimination toward gays and lesbians.

According to Rashad Robinson, the senior director of media programs for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD):

"This type of reporting creates a climate of homophobia and fear and perpetuates dangerous stereotypes of gay people and definitely helps feed into a climate of anti-gay discrimination and violence, which is a true national epidemic, but not one you're likely to see reported with such zeal by Bill O'Reilly."

[UPDATED] The Pink-Pistoled Lesbian Gang Menace!

Look out girls! They're on to us!

Bill O'Reilly takes on the breaking news. No, not the public outrage over the President's actions commuting Scooter Libby's sentence. Instead, he chose to spend his airtime covering a ridiculously made-up story about underground "lesbian gangs"who carry pink pistols.

Complete with a phony "Fox News Crime Analyst" Rod Wheeler, O'Reilly reports on a "national underground network" "recruiting" children as young as 10 years old "to be a member of their organization."

AfterEllen takes a good look at the story:

O'REILLY: In Tennessee, authorities say a lesbian gang called GTO, Gays Taking Over, are involved in raping young girls. And in Philadelphia, a lesbian gang called DTO, Dykes Taking Over, are allegedly terrorizing people, as well.

AfterEllen: Yes, and here in my New York apartment, we have regular meetings of LSOC (Lesbians Sitting on the Couch), where we brandish hard plastic remotes menacingly at our television set while cruelly biting down on popcorn kernels. Quick, catch us before we strike again!

As O'Reilly speaks, footage runs in the background of girls fighting. We have no idea who these girls are, where or when this is taking place, or if this footage has any relevance at all to this "story." Unfit to Print looked into the background of crack "Crime Analyst" Rod Wheeler by checking his website rod007.com (I kid you not!), and found a rather vague and less than impressive career history.

Could it be instead that the "fact checkers" at Fox News (they do use fact checkers, right?) were confused with a real group called Pink Pistols? That group advocates responsible gun ownership by gays with the motto "Armed gays don't get bashed." They don't actually carry pink pistols.

This story is simply riddled with lies and misinformation. We can just laugh at the ridiculousness of it, but if you think Bill O'Reilly and the rest of his hate-mongering buddies is harmless, remember how many people watch this stuff and think he's reporting fact.

Watch it yourself (and lock up your daughters!):



UPDATE: The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has called on O'Reilly and Fox News Channel to apologize for its sensationalized report on a "Lesbian Gang Epidemic." To quote Rashad Robinson, GLAAD's Senior Director of Media Programs, "This type of inaccurate tabloid journalism perpetuates dangerous stereotypes about lesbians and feeds a climate of homophobia, anti-gay discrimination and violence. That's the real national epidemic, but not one you're likely to see reported with such zeal by Bill O'Reilly."

Included in the GLAAD link is contact information to let Fox News know your feelings on their mis-information.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are

I was just taking a short walk on my lunch hour to clear out my head. I find I have the most profound thoughts when I am away from my computer. That doesn't bode well for a new blogger, does it?!

On my walk I started thinking about the state of helplessness. I mean, I know — I post a lot of stories on here that can make a person feel like the world is just a huge mess. But really, I think there are two kinds of helplessness. The first is when you truly have no control over circumstances. Like that time I was at the doctor's office in the middle of getting a pap smear and the fire alarm went off. The momentary look of panic on the doctor's face was not exactly reassuring.

In that situation, you really do have to trust in a higher power. Ladies, you know what I'm sayin'.

But the other feeling of helplessness is more of a feeling of being overwhelmed by the magnitude of problems. There are solutions, and you do have power, but sometimes it can begin to feel like too much. But that is exactly the point of an organization like One.org, which is trying to make change one person at a time. And writing an email to your Senator or Representative to let them know your feelings on the war in Iraq, hate crimes legislation, or any issue is really not hard to do. If you're sitting here reading this blog, you have the skills and ability (and time?) to do it.

To quote Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

One hate crime is commmited every hour in the United States

From the Matthew Shepard Foundation:

On May 3, the United States House passed the federal hate crimes legislation with bi-partisan support (237 - 180). The legislation now heads to the United States Senate, where it has been renamed the Matthew Shepard Act. In response to this, Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, said "I can’t think of a better way to honor Matthew’s memory. He was a 21-year-old college student just living his life."

We need your help to ensure that this bill is sent to the President to be signed into law. Call now and ask your Senators to Support the Matthew Shepard Act

Call 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator's office.

Thousands of people are attacked every year because of their sexual orientation, and there's still no federal hate crimes law to protect them.

Be the one to protect all Americans. Call.