MassMutual has launched a social media campaign that asks who do you #VowToProtect and created this video talking about marriage equality. You needn’t be a romantic to be touched by this powerful video. Watch and share it.
Thanks to the blog Accidental Bear for bringing this to my attention.
Let’s not try to rationalize the irrational. This is an attack on everyone who values personal freedoms and individual liberties; unfortunately it happened to take place in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Despite that obscenity the spirit of Paris and the French will rise above this tragedy.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We all know how lucky we are to live in the US. Being gay is the equivalent to a death sentence in many nations throughout the world, but especially in Africa and the Middle East. The LGBT Asylum Support Task Force is a group of dedicated volunteers who provide support for those seeking political asylum in the U.S. based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
If you would like to get involved come to Club Cafe tonight from 6-9 for their 5th annual drag gospel fest and to learn more visit: lgbtasylum.org.
Dean Paton joined a group protesting at a gay pride parade in Chester, England earlier this month with a sign of his own that was absolutely brilliant. I saw this article in HuffingtonPost’s Gay Voices and wanted to share it with you. You can read more and watch a brief video of Paton with his sign at the parade, here.
Help send Brian Sims to the U.S. Congress from Pennsylvania’s 2nd district, by signing up and making a contribution today, Brian Sims for Congress.
Back in 2013 in response to the Newtown, CT shooting President Obama threw his support behind the Manchin-Toomey background check legislation only to watch it fail. One of the reasons it failed was because NH Senator Kelly Ayotte sided with the NRA and was the only US Senator from New England to vote against background checks. Who can say if today’s shooting in Oregon would have happened if this legislation had passed but clearly not doing anything isn’t working.
Below are the US Senators who opposed sensible background checks in 2013. If you are as outraged as I am after this latest shooting and one of these people represent you in Washington D.C. then I would suggest you speak up and let your voice be heard.
Set your DVRs for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert tonight. Massachusetts U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren will be his guest. Elizabeth Warren joins a growing list of powerful politicians recently invited to the new show including, V.P. Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidates Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Ted Cruz and Loudmouth Donald Trump.
Look at this adorable #KissesForKim photograph of Rick and Dave from California. Rick shared in his email that they met online sixteen years ago and were one of the lucky few to get married in CA in 2009.
#KissesForKim is an online campaign that I first read about on Queerty by two straight guys to show their support for the LGBT community. I really liked their positive message of love and wanted to invite our community to be a part of this positive message. Rick and Dave join my friends Dirk & Jesse and Cole & Hunter with a #KissesForKim photograph. What a handsome bunch of guys.
2012 Freedom Rally to legalize marijuana at Boston Common
$125 Million: Colorado marijuana tax revenue is on pace to double bringing in an expected $125 million dollars to the state.
Did you know that Boston hosts one of the largest rallies in the US to educate people on the benefits of marijuana and celebrate its many uses every September? This year marks the 26th anniversary of The Boston Freedom Rally. Come to the Boston Common to check out the two day celebration. The rally will be used to also collect signatures for Bay State Repeal initiative to legalize cannabis; they are hoping to collect more than 65,000 signatures this weekend.
Freedom Rally website
Freedom Rally FB event page
Both the sitting Governor of MA and Mayor of Boston have done everything they can to thwart medical marijuana dispensaries from opening, despite overwhelming support in the polls back in 2012 when it was passed. If you are in favor of the legalization of marijuana come to show your support. Aside from money, nothing gets a politician’s attention like large rallies.
Did you know? ~750,000 people were arrested for marijuana violations in 2012; what an unnecessary burden on law enforcement and our judicial system.
Last week I wrote about a campaign started by two straight guys called #KissesForKim to show their support for marriage equality and to show Kim Davis (the rather notorious Kentucky clerk) that love is greater than hate. To show their support for this affirming message my friends Dirk Caber and Jesse Jackman shared a rather romantic kiss poolside.
While I still maintain that Kim is a homophobic imbecile , I do like the message of #KissesForKim, because of its love and life affirming statement; live and let live. So I was happy to see my friends (also notorious in their own right) The Maverick Men send me a picture to show their support #KissesForKim.
Let me know your thoughts and feel free to share photos of you kissing the one you love with the same hashtag. While I don’t know that it will change Mrs. Kim Davis’ mind, I do think it sends a wonderful statement that another person’s spite will not triumph and that in itself is rather sweet to savor. Thanks again Cole & Hunter.
I wonder how this Pope will be received by the Republican Presidential candidates when he visits the US later this week?
Jesse Jackman & Dirk Caber
According to an article on Queerty a lot of heterosexual men are tired of Kim Davis and her ilk’s antics. Earlier this week two friends uploaded a video to YouTube with a message for the Notorious K.I.M., giving birth to #KissesForKim. I love their message and think they are on to something. The LGBT community and our allies are far more influential when we are spreading a message of forgiveness and inclusion than when we react out of anger and seek retribution.
You don’t have to be straight to show your support. My friends Jesse and Dirk were nice enough to share this photo to show their support. Do you have a photo you want to share? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
Earlier this week several prominent LGBT blogs wrote about the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) report that suggests the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts passed in 21 states (and counting) will define the new battle lines in LGBT rights in the US.
With marriage equality mostly settled, religious conservatives are claiming their “religious freedom” has been violated and are looking to create exemptions to discriminate against LGBT people. Cultural conservatives through out the 20th century have used “God” and “The Bible” as reasons to oppose and violate laws including a women’s right to vote, civil rights and interracial marriages.
“Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.”
-Judge Leon M. Bazile, January 6, 1959
A rash of RFRA’s that increasingly target the LGBT community have been passed recently (e.g. Indiana RFRA law which ultimately was rolled-back – in part). Signaling cultural conservatives are looking to use these acts and the courts to institutionalize discrimination under the pretense of “religious freedom”.
Since the start of 2015 lawmakers in 17 states have introduced religious exemption proposals in response to the spread of marriage equality. Below is an image that MAP shares in their report. Select their link above to learn more.
Not to spell this out for those unfamiliar but many Amish do not drive cars for religious reasons. The logic of the Kentucky DMV clerk, Kim Davis, who has been denying marriage licenses to a same sex couple follows the same line of logic as shown in the FOX News spoof. Perhaps now one might realize not only how idiotic her logic is but how her actions do not violate anyone’s religious freedoms except those of the people being denied their right to marry.
Earlier today the American flag was carried into the compound of the U.S. Embassy in Havana and raised above the seven-story building for the first time in more than half a century. To celebrate the thawing relations between our nations, I’ve posted this photo of the Cuban flag. I trust you approve.
BosGuy 