Hello,
     I'm new to Blogging.  I have read the diary rules but I'm still learning the ground rules for this community.  I have no intention, at this time, of ever running for public office.  I do not want to go under that microscope.  However, I thought I would like to put together a platform, of sorts.  Perhaps someone does want to know how I feel on certain issues...

Forbes magazine just released their annual list of the 100 most powerful celebrities in the world, and for the second year in a row, Oprah topped the list..  Forbes' rankings are based on objective measures of both media income (measured over the last 12 months) and media attention (measured by google hits, magazine covers, TV mentions, etc, over the last 12 months). More below:

I'm trying to get the word out about the upcoming anniversary of Iran's hanging of two gay teenagers in 2005. I've tried to cut-and-paste the 14 photos from the tragic hangings into this diary. If they didn't transfer from my blog, where this diary is cross-posted, you can view them at my site.

The questions below were originally in a letter I sent to Jerry Falwell.  (See Endnote for the questions' inspiration and a h/t)  Well, I’m sure we’re all aware that Falwell has passed on, and since my devout Mom always taught me to only speak good of the day, I’ll simply say: "Good.  He’s dead."

With the beginning of legally sanctioned marriage between any two adults as provided for by California Supreme Court’s ruling, it’s safe to bet that we'll be reminded yet again of that old trope in Leviticus 18:22 held sacred by Christians that the loving commitment same-sex couples wish to share is "an abomination."

To be fair, I think we should provide the opportunity for all christianists to step forward and address other edicts likewise sanctioned in the Bible that they conveniently ignore.  So let's get started with our non-cherry-picked Q & A session for all those rabid right-wing fundamentalist evangelicals:

This diary is cross-posted to my blog, where I've shared a photo from the godhatesfags web site showing a smiling Phelps clan member protesting a soldier's funeral, and a wall of bikers counter-protesting, and links to the BAR story and the Phelps announcement.

You'll find the links to the FEC files mentioned below at my blog, where I've cross posted this diary.

Before anyone gets themselves in a lather over the issue of former senator Sam Nunn as a potential VP let me say that I realize we're in the early stages of this search and that he's prolly not a serious candidate. But his name is being bandied about enough that I thought we should make clear his record and exactly why Nunn is an unacceptable choice as Obama's VP.

This diary has been cross posted to my blog, where I've also posted the terrific NYT photo from yesterday, along with a link to the actual wedding notice.

Great news from KY today: our new Democratic governor has reintroduced protections for all Kentuckians--no matter their race, creed, age, veteran status, gender--or sexual orientation.

See  link.

Note, too, that he overturned other executive orders issued by his predecessor, a practice we can all hope Obama emulates.

Yeah! KY!!

Peace

Yesterday, I wrote a long diary about my feelings about same-sex "marriage" as opposed to civil unions, about the California ruling, about liberal hand-wringing over whether gay marriage will be used as a wedge issue in this election, my feelings as an activist and lesbian who has been in a committed relationship for 8+ years, my disappointment with Barack Obama, and whether gays and lesbians should grab the reigns of the gay marriage issue in light of our successes in California and New York, or patiently wait for a better political environment to push for fairness and equality.

This morning I read David Pauls Kuhn's cover story about the subject in Politico
which suggests the likelihood that no matter how gays handle the situation, fundamentalists will try and push gay marriage as a wedge issue, and rally their troops against it with threats of fire, brimstone, and polygamist seniors defiling herds of adolescent sheep.

In this context, I think the situation is worthy of more reflection. If you care to join me, take my hand for the jump...  

This diary is cross-posted to my blog, where you'll see I've also posted a pink rendition of the Amnesty logo, along with links to the AP story, the full Amnesty report and the sections cited below.

After reading thishttp://www.dailykos.com/...
, and the story of the Iranian man who won his deportation battle yesterdayhttp://news.yahoo.com/...I decided to write something about a film that is about to have its  Theatrical Launch at the IFC this week. Jihad For Love is a film that deals with the subject of homosexuality and Islam. I watched it in a private screening and felt that it was a really good film. It deals with the topic in a way that is both educational and respectful of the cultures these men and women live in.

Actually, the headline at Afrik.com, an aggregator of news from Africa, reads President plans to kill off every single homosexual. The sub-head reads

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh says he will "cut off the head" of any homosexual caught in his country.

The Gambia, a former British colony in West Africa, already has made homosexual conduct a felony punishable by imprisonment for a term of 14 years.

Now, Pink News reports,

Gay men and lesbians must leave the country within 24 hours or face "serious consequences," the President of Gambia said on [last] Thursday.

I've cross posted this diary to my blog, where you'll find links to the Stripes story and the chat board mentioned below.

Wanted to share this about our AIDS WALK and the danger of apathy....
Unfortunately, a number of cities have seen their AIDS Walks diminish or disappear altogether....these events not only raise money, they raise awareness......

.FULL PIECE

As a Christian and scholar of the Bible, there is nothing as dangerous to the American civilization as the so called "Christian Right", "Moral Party", or simply the "Evangelicals".  These are people who love to use God and the Bible to justify a way of life that is discriminatory, greedy, deceitful, anti-progressive, and promotes wars.  The very things the Biblical God stands against.  

This diary is cross-posted to my blog, where you'll find a great blow up of the norovirus, in color, and links to stories mentioned below.

Gay guys and women - we have a special relationship - have for eons. It goes beyond appreciation and interest in the phallus and a nice, masculine chest. There's something deeper there.