President Obama pushes for Gay Rights in Keyna - VIDEO

NBC News reports

President Barack Obama urged equal rights for gays and lesbians in Africa during his first visit as commander-in-chief to Kenya, his father's homeland.

"When a government gets in the habit of treating people differently, those habits can spread," Obama said during a joint news conference Saturday with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kenyatta quickly dismissed the sensitive topic, calling it a "non-issue."

Gay rights are "not really an issue on the foremost mind of Kenyans. And that is a fact," he said. Like many African countries, Kenya outlaws homosexuality.

Mormon Leaders will only support Gay Rights if Religious Freedom is also Protected

They ain't slick.

Mormon church leaders held a press conference over their possible support of gay right, but the catch is, they want religious freedom to be protected too.

AP reports:

The church is promising to support some housing and job protections for gays and lesbians in exchange for legal protections for believers who object to the behavior of others.

It's not clear how much common ground the Mormons will find with this new campaign. The church insists it is making no changes in doctrine, and still believes it's against the law of God to have sex outside marriage between a man and a woman.

But church leaders who held a rare news conference Tuesday said "we must all learn to live with others who do not share the same beliefs or values."

Watch the clip


Go here, to read the Mormon Leaders call to action

Todd Starnes: Man-Dog Marriage Result of Gay Rights

President Obama challenges Senegalese President over Gay Rights

While traveling abroad, President Barack Obama spoke about his feelings towards gay rights. In Senegal, the President said that gay rights/equal rights should be recognized universally. However, the Senegalese President Macky Sall rebuffed Obama's statement saying:

"We are still not ready to decriminalize homosexuality. This does not mean we are homophobic."

The President listened to him, but stated to Sall that regardless of religious backgrounds, it's important to have nondiscrimination under the law.

I appreciate President Obama's global message about gay rights. Hopefully, his message challenges the other countries in rethinking their old ways.

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In Libya: 12 Men could be Executed by Militia for being Gay

This is horrible news! In Libya, an extremist militia threatens to kill 12 men for being gay.

This past Thursday, twelve men were captured by a militia for having a 'gay party' in a suburb of Tripoli.

Gay Star News reports:

The militia Facebook page entitled as the ‘special deterrence unit’ boasted that the men were captured doing the ‘practices of the people of Lot’ (ie gay sex) and that they are to be mutilated and executed. 

The militia also claim they have now become a legal part of the Libyan Ministry of Interior. 

The group states its mission is to remove ‘corruption’, ‘vice’, alcoholic drinks and now gays from the streets of Libya. 

Human Rights Watch Libya identified the group as the Al-Nawasi militia, who are considered to be extreme Salafists. The militia has been previously been reported as being responsible for attacks against Sufi (moderate form of Islam) shrines and followers.

I hope these men are saved.

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Why I'm Done talking about Chick-Fil-A

Okay, y'all.... I'll be honest. I'm tired of the Chick-Fil-A chatter. Ever gay blog has talked about this 12 times over already, so I'm done for awhile.

We all know they give to hate groups and we know they are not changing their minds about it, so what more can we say?

Action is the bigger tool to use. If there are national protests and store closings, then we know something is happening and things are moving forward. So once we see some "Tear Down This Wall" progress, I'm keeping the parodies, GLAAD ads, connection to hate groups charts, news-not-news stories off the blog. It's just becoming sludge in drain, clogging up other issues we could be dealing with.

For example, if we could take all this energy move it towards ENDA, we might get something going.

You Can Be Fired From 29 States for Being Gay

From my pal, Ivan's blog

Interesting Quote: John Rocker

On gay rights:

“Am I someone that thinks that I have the right to sit back and judge someone that I don’t know, will never meet, on how they should live their life or what rights they can have to live their life the way they want to? I don’t think I deserve that responsibility.”

Times have changed, remember when he said this?

However, don't get it twisted, he's still a mess... hot, but still a mess.

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Pastor Frederick Haynes III speak out for Obama and the Gays

Very interesting and on point

In Ohio: A Huge Rally for Gay Rights owned the streets of Cleveland - WATCH

A Documentary film about Gay Rights Activist David Kato

This is the one year anniversary of the human rights activist David Kato's death. David was a fierce fighter for gay rights in Uganda and worked tirelessly to bring about change to the people.

Since then, Katherine Fairfaz and Malika Zouhali-Worrall created a documentary focusing on David's life and work. It is called, "Call Me Kuchu".

Here's more from the creators:

The more time we spent documenting his work, the more evident it became that, contrary to the M.P.’s claim, David and his fellow activists were, in fact, generating real debate in Uganda. Kampala’s kuchus had begun to dismantle the country’s discriminatory status quo, and were working tirelessly to change their fate and that of others across Africa. 

Today, as we revisit our memories of David, we remember his fortitude and remarkable legal achievements, boldly guided by his vision of establishing a Ugandan gay village. But perhaps most of all we recall these words, spoken with more logic than defiance: “If we keep on hiding, they will say we are not here.”

Here is the trailer

Call Me Kuchu - Trailer from Call Me Kuchu on Vimeo.

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Interesting Quote: Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

"It's a very controversial subject in my part of the world. My attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation, for as long as it does not interfere with anybody. To me, it's a human right."

The PM supports gay rights in Zimbabwe.

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WATCH: John Aravosis vs. Fred Sainz on President Obama and Gay Rights

WATCH: Rick Santorum believes Gays should NOT have "Privileges"

Rundown: Gay Rights in the States

In Montana, attempt to overturn a Missoula city ordinance that protects gay folks from discrimination failed.

The Senate Local Government Committee passed House Bill 516 last week. But the bill was returned to the committee Tuesday and chairman Sen. Jon Sonju says it is doubtful the measure will go to the Senate floor.

Sonju says he moved the measure back to committee because it doesn't have the support of Senate leaders.

The proposal, carried by Republican Rep. Kristin Hansen, drew lengthy testimony during its hearings in the House and Senate.

Supporters said the bill would overturn an unconstitutional ordinance that infringes on the state's authority.

Opponents said the measure is targeted against the gay community and interferes with local governments' ability to govern.

 In Colorado, the civil unions bill passes in Senate

Three Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the measure Thursday following a second round of emotional debate.

More Republicans went to the podium to speak about the bill than they did Wednesday when only one party member voiced opposition. They emphasized their concerns that civil unions would undermine marriage and go against the wishes of voters. Voters rejected a domestic partnership referendum in 2006 and also banned gay marriage the same year.

Senate Bill 172 would grant same-sex couples several rights similar to married couples, including the ability to be involved in their partner's medical decisions and it would enhance inheritance rights.
The bill now heads to the House.

The Obama Administration demands the United Nation's Support for Gay Rights

The Obama administration is stepping to the plate by issuing a statement tasking for the UN's support to stop discrimination against gays and lesbians around the world. This is a big step, y'all.

The U.S. declaration was made Tuesday, March 22 at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and had the support of more than 80 countries. Although it is not in the form of binding resolution, the American push for U.N. action has helped win over a handful of new countries to the cause. A resolution could be brought to a vote later this year.


The issue of gay rights has polarized nations at the U.N. for years. And despite growing acceptance for LGBT lifestyles in Western nations and parts of Latin America, lawyers say there is still a gap in human rights treaties for the protection of gays against discrimination and mistreatment.


"We are very concerned that individuals continue to be killed, arrested, and harassed around the world because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Suzanne Nossel, deputy assistant secretary of state for international organizations. "This statement sends a strong message from across the globe that such abuses should not be tolerated."


The U.S. document calls for nations to end any criminal punishments against lesbians, gays, and bisexuals, and asks the global body to review how governments treat them in the U.N.’s human rights assessments. It acknowledges that "these are sensitive issues for many," but insists that people must be freed from discrimination because of their sexual orientation.

Feeling it.

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Interesting Quote: Coretta Scott King

"Like Martin, I don't believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others."

That's what Coretta told black church leaders unwilling to support gay rights.


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Mormons Softens Language On Gays Folks

This is interesting, it seems that Mormons (the ones who led a war on Gays and Gay Marriage) has loosen up their hateration on us:

The book, known as the Church Handbook of Instructions, lays out Mormon policies on everything from baptism to running a worship service to counseling troubled marriages.

The updated reference book, scheduled to be presented to thousands of Mormon leaders in a giant televised training session Saturday (Nov. 13), will set the tone for church interactions for years to come.

The new handbook makes a clear distinction between same-sex orientation and behavior. It eliminates the suggestion, mentioned in a 2006 edition, that same-sex relationships "distort loving relationships" and that gays should repent of their "homosexual thoughts or feelings."

It also says that celibate gay Mormons who are "worthy and qualified in every other way" should be allowed to have "callings," or church assignments, and to participate fully in temple rituals.

The handbook simply repeats what top LDS leaders have been trying to say, but in more explicit terms that many members will understand, said David Pruden, president of Evergreen International, a support group that helps gay Mormons live by church standards.

Well, that good and all, but I still don't trust them.


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Judge Virginia A. Phillips ain't hearin' it, DOJ

Judge Virginia A. Phillips denied the DOJ’s request for a stay of the injunction against DADT.

The Advocate reports:

Phillips, who ruled DADT unconstitutional in September, wasted no time in rejecting the government's position that ending the policy immediately would be an undue burden on the military, calling the arguments "vague" and "insufficient."


Assistant U.S attorney Paul Freeborne asked the court for a five-day administrative stay so the government can pursue an appeal of Phillips's injunction with the U.S. court of appeals for the ninth circuit. He argued that a "precipitous implementation" of an injunction against the 17-year-old policy will have a significant negative impact on military readiness. 

She will dish the final ruling today.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist is ready for his Gay Rights Close Up

Remember this?

This was weeks ago. Now get ready for the REMIX.

According to RawStory.com, Crist is about to endorse a lot of gay rights stuff:

The document provided to RawStory.com includes Crist's vocal support for gay couples, including hospital visitation, inheritance and adoption rights; opposition to the ban on gays serving in the military; support for anti-discrimination laws and appropriations for HIV and AIDS programs.

"It's great to hear a sitting governor take such a strong stand on equality issues," Nadine Smith, Director of Equality Florida, told RawStory.com by telephone Sunday night. "This is the first time in Florida's history that a sitting governor has taken these public positions on a wide range of LGBT equality issues. It marks a shift in the debate in our state."

"For us, having the governor of Florida articulate so clearly stands that are in support of equality on a wide range of issues is a new day," Smith added.

And here's the document

Interesting, I wonder what he's really up to?