New York Clerk Quits Rather Than Issue Gay Marriage Licenses

A town clerk in rural New York has quit her post rather than grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, explaining that doing so would go against her beliefs.

“I would be compromising my moral conscience by participating in licensing same-sex couples,” Laura Fotusky, the clerk of the Town of Barker, told Politico. “I had to choose between my job and my god.”



The 56-year-old posted her resignation letter on Monday evening to the website of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a self-declared Christian ministry that “exists to influence legislation and legislators for the Lord Jesus Christ.”


A current poll on the group’s website asks: “Who bears the most blame for allowing gay ‘marriage’ to become law in New York?”

Fotusky’s resignation letter reads, in part: “The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures. Since I love and follow Him, I cannot put my signature on something that is against God."


Fotusky's resignation becomes effective July 21, three days before the state will begin handing out marriage licenses to gay couples. I say let her walk: if she can't separate her personal beliefs from doing her job(while supporting an organization that seeks to police everyone else's morality), then let someone who truly understands what separation of church and state means take her place.

Read the rest HERE.

Pimpin' Ain't Easy....

Well, apparently it is! It looks like Eddie Long is back in business, fleecing the church folks like a desperate gold digger trying to jump in the last balla's car after the club closes! But seriously, this is so sad I almost thought Aaron McGruder had launched a live action version of The Boondocks! How can people be so willing to not only forgive and forget (especially when you've been given so little to base your forgiveness on), but to give all their money away as well? It's beyond denial; it's almost pathological. Watch this crap and try not to hurl below.

Creflo Dollar Defends Eddie Long

Via Rod 2.0

All I can say is birds of a fucking feather...hell you know the rest. Fellow Atlanta mega-church pastor Creflo Dollar has come to the defense of Ms. Eddie Long, who recently settled with the four young men accusing him of luring them into sexual relationships with cars, cash and other goodies.

In his defense of his "brother in the Lord," Dollar (how appropriate is that last name) compares Long's situation to a car wreck, praises him for having "insurance" and criticizes ex-New Birth members for leaving. I think I'm gonna be sick.

"I can't believe people would believe their preacher because he had a wreck instead of praying for him," said Dollar. "He's loved them and he's taken care of them ... and he had a wreck. Here's the good news: He got insurance! He's still anointed!" 

Pardon my french, but how can people sit there and applaud this bullshit? Just when I think I've seen how low church folks will go in the worship of their "holy men" I'm proven wrong. So now we're supposed to look at Eddie and think "Well he may have preyed on those young boys (who were actually spirits of lust or some other stupid interpretation) with the finesse of a street corner pimp and then used our cash to cover up all the details, and he hasn't said a word to us about a case he vowed to fight. But hey, he's still anointed and appointed!"

Seriously, if this was a white mega church, Eddie would been out on his ass long ago (Ted Haggard anyone), but since it's a black church we gotta lift pastor up, even when he's been exposed as an arrogant, deceitful, manipulative, hypocritical, self-hating charlatan. Are we really that hard up for leadership in the black community that we have to accept this? As The Boondocks' Huey Freeman once said, "What happened to standards?"

This whole fiasco could've been a wonderful opportunity for Long to come clean about his own struggles with his sexuality. True, it would've cost him dearly, but if he'd had the courage to endure it, something good could've come out of it. He could've apologized to the LGBT community for marching and speaking out against us, and starting working towards mending wounds caused by his past actions. It could've sparked a still much needed discussion about sexuality and homophobia in the black church, which, whether you're religious or nonreligious, affects your life in some way.

But now all we're left with is the same old crap--a church full of homophobic, sycophantic straight folks and closet queens giving their time and coins to a pimp in preacher's clothing. Anyone who still attends his church might as well carry a sign that says "Fleece me baby!" If Long, Dollar, Joel Osteen (Lawd it's just something his cheesy smilin' ass I don't trust) and the rest of the holy rolling brigade are God's chosen, then I will gladly do a double-backhand spring into the jaws of Satan.

Enough ranting. Watch Creflo unload his big barrel of crap below.

Gaga's Born This Way Banned In Lebanon

The LA Times reports that Lady Gaga's Born This Way album has been banned in Lebanon. The news came the say day as the announcement the pop star would participate in Rome's Circus Maximus, the closing event of 2011 Europride

The chart-topping album, which sold more than a million copies in its first week, was intercepted and impounded by Lebanon officials at the Beirut international airport because it was deemed potentially offensive to the country's Christian population.

"We collected the CDs on the grounds that the music was offensive to religion," said one official from the office of censorship, which is part of the country's notorious General Security, a powerful branch of the Ministry of Interior. "They are still in our offices. We are still deciding what to do with them."

Some fans are hoping the office of censorship at the country's general security headquarters will simply edit some of the album's religion-themed cuts like "Bloody Mary" and "Judas," out, rather than ban the whole album. Meanwhile Christian elders say they will give their opinion on Born This Way soon.

"If they are going to offend us we are going to cancel the album," said Father Abdo Abu Kassm, director of the Catholic Information Center. "We will not accept that anyone insult the Virgin Mary or Jesus or Christianity. We have dignity. Call us traditional, call us backward, call us whatever you want. We will not accept it."

Read the rest of the story HERE.

New York Pastor Calls Harlem Pride Celebration An "Abomination"

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

October Next Time!

Feeling let down that you weren't caught up in the Rapture last Saturday (or that the people on your "Rapture List" weren't)? Have no fear, because according the deluded infamous doomsday prophet Harold Camping, the new date at which we will all meeting our agonizing desctruction is October 21, 2011, less than five months from now. Whew, a month later and I would've had a very eventful birthday to say the least.

According Camp, the Rapture did take place Saturday, but only in the spiritual sense (hmmmm, like many religious scholars say such things (i.e most of Revelations) are intended to be interpreted? I'm just sayin!).

"The whole world is under Judgment Day and it will continue right up until Oct. 21, 2011 and by that time the whole world will be destroyed," said Camping. Not only did he delay the date of Doomsday, Camping did not admit to his mistake about the May 21 date. He claimed that Rapture did happen, but only in a spiritual sense.


"On May 21, this last weekend, this is where the spiritual aspect of it really comes through. God again brought judgment on the world. We didn’t see any difference but God brought Judgment Day to bear upon the whole world."

And what encouraging, empathetic words did Camping have to say to all the would be Raptured? You know, the ones who spent the life savings and quit their jobs and such, including a woman who is pregnant with their second child?

“They should have relied on God and not me,” Camping said. "Family Radio is not in the business of financial advice....They should turn to God and pray."


Damned if you do and damned (to hell) if you don't. Fools like Camping demand total blind obedience from their followers, and when they comply and things don't work out (as they always do with these charismatic types) blame is cast on them. Read the rest of the article here.

Caught Up In The Rapture....

Oops, guess not! Although another doomsday prediction has bit the dust, that doesn't mean we can't have a soundtrack to the aborted apocalyspe. In any event, if people were going to raptured up to meet Jehovah (not to be confused with Hova), why not have Ms. Anita serenade them smoothly as they begin their journey into the light. Mayans, your're up next. Listen below.

Eddie Long Sexual Coercion Lawsuits Heading To Trial

Via Rod 2.0:

Just when it looked like the four sexual coercion lawsuits against mega church pastor Eddie Long would be settled out of court,  Judge Johnny Panos says he is now preparing for a trial in the fall. According to WSBTV "Panos said he is preparing for a trial in August or September. He wouldn't say why he no longer believes the two sides are close to a settlement...Bishop Long's spokesperson would only say there is nothing to report when asked about a settlement in the case. Attorneys for both sides did not return phone calls seeking a comment."

In case you forgot, Ms. Long has been charged with coercing the four young men--Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg, Maurice Robinson and Spencer LaGrande--into sexual relationships and using church funds to buy them cars, clothes, jewelry and cash. Time to throw those five rocks you were bleating about Bishop.

For a recap of Eddie Long coverage (lol, look at me sounding all CNN:) click HERE.

A Heathen And A Saint: Can Christian/Atheist Romances Work?

"Be not unequally yoked." That was a phrase I heard often growing up in church, particularly during those "True Love Waits" sex/relationship sessions when they separate the guys and girls from one another. While there we discussed the perils of pre-marital sex, masturbation, pornography and of course.....the evuuuls of homosexuality and lesbianism! *cues Psycho shower scene music* And forget about mentioning protection or STDs, cause every single teenager always remains abstinent until their wedding night with their equally inexperienced spouse.

If you've sat through one of these things, you know the deal: you basically sign a pledge/promise to take your libido out to pasture and shoot it until you find that virtuous man/woman and get married. Or slip up and have a prom night baby and beg forgiveness, whichever comes first.  Unless you're gay, of course. Then it's time to get on those knees and pray the rainbow demon flees your spirit!  I swear, sometimes I felt my inner Bea Arthur bubbling up inside, wanting to scream "Condoms Rose! Condoms, condoms, condoms!" But I digress.

While I've since discarded most of these teachings, I'll admit the aforementioned biblical quote does have a certain ring of practicality to it. A person's religious beliefs, or lack thereof, usually serve as the foundation for their entire worldview, affecting attitudes and perceptions toward birth, death, sickness, suffering, money, sex and love. Can two people form a lasting, genuine connection when they disagree about something that is often so central to who they are? Perhaps they could. While some atheists are militant, aggressive anti-theists ala Christopher Hitchens, most could be classified as secular humanists who have a live-and-let-live attitude towards religion. And for every Fred Phelps, there's a liberal believer who is open to different points of view.

So for my non-religious/atheist/agnostic readers, would you ever date someone who is religious or is it a faith-breaker? And for my religious folk, could you date someone that didn't believe in God? Or what if you both started out as non-religious/religious, both one of you deconverted/converted during the course of the relationship? How would you react?

Discuss.

Required Gay Viewing: But I'm A Cheerleader

For anyone who's more than a little skeptical (*raises hand*) of the effectiveness of "ex-gay" therapy, But I'm A Cheerleader is the movie night pick for you. A funny-as-hell satire of reparative therapy and gender norms, Cheerleader stars Natasha Lyonne(a.k.a Tara Reid's friend in American Pie) as Megan Bloomfield, an otherwise happy 17-year-old girl who loves cheerleading and has a football-player boyfriend named Jared. But she doesn't like kissing him. And is a vegan. And listens to Melissa Etheridge. Oh no! Soon enough her family suspects she's a lesbian and with the help of ex-gay Mike (RuPaul) ship her off to True Directions, an ex-gay camp run by Mary Brown and her raging queen of a son Rock, to "cure" her of her lesbianism.

Needless to say, hilarity ensues. The campers undergo ridiculous exercises like chopping wood (I could turn a pun out of that but will resist:), working on cars, cooking, cleaning and changing diapers in an attempt to "reclaim" their gender identity, picket ex-ex-gays who left the camp, and awkward but sweet teenage romances. The look of the film, particularly the camp scenes, are also an artful attraction, with the intense blue and hot pink colors and Mary Brown's overly manicured home, replete with plastic plants, driving the point home of how fake the world of True Directions truly is. True, the movie's message is pretty obvious and little heavy-handed, but it's fun and enjoyable nonetheless.

Some of my favorite lines (most of them are from Andre lol).

Andre(when asked what is the "root" of his gayness): "Shit Miss Mary, I ain't the only that don't got no root!

Andre: "She's just upset 'cause the fish on her plate is the only kind she can eat."

Andre: "Congratulations! Liars! You know who you are and you know who you want! Ain't nobody gonna change that...Sheeit!"

"We are here! We're not queer! We're not going anywhere!"

"Wow. You are so good at being straight."

"You wanna like dick? You better start training yourself."

Watch below.


But I'm a cheerleader p1 by rachoute


But I'm a cheerleader p2 by rachoute


But I'm a cheerleader p3 by rachoute


But I'm a cheerleader p4 by rachoute


But I'm a cheerleader p5 by rachoute

Random Question: Does An Afterlife Make Life Meaningless?

Most people, be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or any other assortment of religious affiliation have some sort of belief in an afterlife--heaven, the celestial plane, nirvana, etc.--and are trying their hardest to get there. But does the concept of an afterlife cheapen the value of the current life we have? If you spend all of this life reading, worshipping, praying, bowing and obeying simply to gain access to this other world, does that make this life meaningless? If the main object of our earthly lives is to make preparations for our judgement in the next, then our current reality is simply a means to an end.

What do you think? Discuss.

The Worms Will Live In Every Host...

Enshrining a theocracy seems to be on the agenda for potential 2012 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and Tea Party, who believe that every knee shall bow at gunpoint. Why don't these people understand that while Christianity is the dominant religion of the United States, it is not the official religion of the United States. No religion is. That's because we have this nifty idea called separation of church and state, so that we won't all be at the mercy of another person's faith and belief system. Hell, most of the founding fathers were deists/atheists/agnostics, not the reincarnation of the 12 disciples like these wingnuts seem to believe. Watch the nuttiness below:

Malaysia Bans Pro-Gay Lady Gaga Lyrics

Seems like Malaysia isn't feeling the pro-gay Gaga love. The conservative, Muslim majority country has taken issue with some of the singer's lyrics in her hit "Born This Way," to the point of censoring some of the lines. According to Popeater.com:


"Radio stations in Malaysia have made the decision to censor the track, replacing lyrics like "no matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life" with garbled sounds.

A statement from Malaysia's largest private station, AMP Radio Networks, defended the call, saying, "The particular lyrics in 'Born This Way' may be considered as offensive when viewed against Malaysia's social and religious observances." It continued, "The issue of being gay, lesbian or [bisexual] is still considered as a 'taboo' by general Malaysians" -- as well as the government, which can impose fines on broadcasters for infringing on the ban. "

Pang Khee Teik, co-founder of Sexuality Independence, an anti-sexual discrimination group in Malaysia, didn't agree with the decision, and believes such actions by the media fuel ignorance and hate. "We just want the same thing as everyone else: to love, be loved and have our songs played on the radio," he said.

Lady Gaga isn't the first artist to feel the wrath of Malaysia's censorship. Fellow diva Rihanna agreed to change her costumes to fit the country's strict performance guidlines when she performed there in 2009, while Beyonce pulled the plug on her 2007 performance when groups threantened to protest the show. And last year a Muslim group protested openly gay singer Adam Lambert's performance even after he agreed to follow performance guidelines.

"Wanna Pray The Gay Away?" There's An App For That!

And I'm not kidding. Exodus International, an "ex-gay" organization that believes LGBT people can change their sexual orientation, has created an i-Phone application that, according to its website, is " "designed to be a useful resource for men, women, parents, students, and ministry leaders." Exodus' website also says their app has been given a 4+ rating from Apple, meaning it contains no "objectionable content."

But we all know better. Exodus International, like many "ex-gay ministries," holds out the empty promise  that you can be "repaired (repaired from what exactly? Being happy and well adjusted?)" or healed from your abominable condition with just enough prayer and scripture. Oh, and playing sports to butch you up if you're a big queen and makeup tips if you're a stud. All the while telling you that accepting your natural orientation will "make your heart sick" and is at best, counterfeit.

Nevermind the fact that reparative therapy has been dismissed by pretty every professional medical organization, including the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Counseling Association. 

Truth Wins Out has started a petition on Change.org to remove the "ex-gay app" from iTunes. You can add your name to the petition here.

For The Christians, Wiccans, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Shakers and Quakers...

I know that there are many reasons for both non-belief and belief in a God, Allah, Krishna and other supernatural deities. Currently I do attend church sporadically and occasionally watch a sermon on TV, but my Christian status is, how should I say, currently under harsh review (see God, The Mountain Climber and Faith for more details). But this is a random question that I've been stewing over, which has been made all the more pertinent by the horrific situation in Japan and the unbelievably moronic "God Is Good" video by some wacky fundamentalist chick about the tragedy:



Why do you believe/don't believe in God? For those who are theists (a.k.a believers), why/how do you continue to believe in spite of the vast amount of suffering and evil in the world? Despite stories in the bible that detail God commanding the Israelites to slaughter tribes of women and children, and laws saying women who are raped have to marry thier rapists? For atheist/agnostics: At what point did you realize did you come to the realization  that you no longer believe? And have you made your non-belief known? What are your reasons for not believing?

The are no wrong answers. Just keep it civil.

Update: The video is hoax posted by a confessed atheist troll. But the question still stands.

Recommended Reading: A History Of God

For those interested in the history of the Big 3 (otherwise known as Christianity, Judaism and Islam) and how they evolved through the centuries, Karen Armstrong's A History Of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam is a great read.

Armstrong, a journalist and former nun, is very knowledgeable about her subject, giving a thorough analysis of the cultural, political and societal influences that lead to the creation of the three major religions, as well as how they interacted with and influenced each other.

While A History Of God is extremely interesting, it is not light reading. Unless you've already been acquainted with religious study, it will take more than a quick glance to understand some of the terminology and concepts. But Armstrong does a good job of making complex ideas understandable and engaging. While there's a lot you can take from the book, the three main ideas I gleaned from it were:

1. Religion is less divine revelation and more practical application. In other words, people will only believe in and hold on to a certain image/version of God as long as it works for them. If it ceases to be effective, then it is cast aside. The reinvention of God as taken place throughout history over and over again, as changes in society, political upheaval, cultural norms and scientific/technological advancement cause people to reassess God.
2. The idea of a personal, anthropomorphic God that exists in a separate reality is dangerous (no surprise there:), because it allows us to attach our own prejudices and fears to it. "God, "simply becomes a bigger version of ourselves, which can lead to such atrocities as the genocides detailed in the bible, the Crusades, The Holocaust, slavery etc. 
3. God works better when he is viewed as an imaginative symbol of an indescribable reality, a reality that is a subjective experience for each individual achieved through meditation, quiet concentration or other techniques for getting in touch with one's "inner self."

Whether you're religious or non-religious, A History Of God is an informative, insightful book.

Black Ministers Apologize To LGBT Community

There's a headline you don't see everyday. According SGLUniverse, several Washington D.C. ministers met with LGBT folks to apologize for the treatment they faced at the hands of the church.

Hosted by Pastor Anthony E. Moore and Carolina Missionary Baptist Church on Feb. 19th, the community, local churches and members of the LGBT community were asked to come together for "an opportunity for people to express their thoughts and feelings" on the topic of homosexuality and the church. The dialogue was not to include a dialogue on the theological position on homosexuality. Instead the focus was on the church, the place that is supposed to be a house of love, "was often the most uncaring and unsafe place for these individuals when they were at their most vulnerable."



Pastor Keith Battle, attended on behalf of Zion Church, and pastors from other sponsoring churches included Pilgrim Baptist Church in D.C. and New Vision Church in Bowie, Md.


Pastor Moore offered his apology "pledging to continue the dialogue and to make concerted efforts to make his ministry more inclusive of members of the LGBT community."

A sign of a larger movement or change taking place in the black religious community? Let's hope so. Read the full piece at The Root.

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag

Ms. Long is back and ready for a few good men! Although the mega-church pastor has been accused by four young men of coercing them into sexual relationships with gifts of cars, clothes and cash, he's decided to launch a series of what he calls "late-night prayer meetings" and revivals. For men only.

Men who are not a part of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church are welcome to attend, but they are required to stay after midnight and, in Long's words,  "bring an offering worthy of the Lord." Late night prayer meetings you say? I'm sure there'll be plently of kneeling and shouting unto God (or more accurately, "Oh Gawd!"), and that the worthiest offerings will be long and hard. And that condoms and KY will be passed on collection plates. Okay I'm finished! But the arrogance of this man (and his PR team) is astounding. I don't even know why I'm surprised at the level of denial and delusion church folks will subject themselves to. Watch below:



H/t Rod 2.0

Everything You Wanted To Know About Scientology (But Were Too Afraid To Join)!

The New Yorker recently published a fascinating article about Oscar-winner Paul Haggis', who also wrote and directed Crash, exit from Scientology after spending more than 30 years in the cult religion. The article is hella long, but it is an extremely epic and worthy read--the writer delves deep in the organization's history, the life of founder Ron L. Hubbard (including truths and untruths about his military records, which form the basis of the religion), charges of child labor, physical abuse and the exorbitant (that's putting mildy) cost of being in the church. One chilling accusation of abuse by former member Jefferson Hawkins of church leader David Miscavige:

“I had just written an infomercial,” he said. Miscavige summoned him to a meeting where a few dozen members were seated on one side of a table; Miscavige sat by himself on the other side. According to Hawkins, Miscavige began a tirade about the ad’s shortcomings. Hawkins recalls, “Without any warning, he jumped up onto the conference-room table and he launches himself at me. He knocks me back against a cubicle wall and starts battering my face.” The two men fell to the floor, Hawkins says, and their legs became entangled. “Let go of my legs!” Miscavige shouted. According to Hawkins, Miscavige then “stomped out of the room,” leaving Hawkins on the floor, shocked and bruised. The others did nothing to support him, he claims: “They were saying, ‘Get up! Get up!’ ”

And another involving a "game" of musical chairs:

"Miscavige came to the Hole one evening and announced that everyone was going to play musical chairs. Only the last person standing would be allowed to stay on the base. He declared that people whose spouses “were not participants would have their marriages terminated.” The St. Petersburg Times noted that Miscavige played Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” on a boom box as the church leaders fought over the chairs, punching each other and, in one case, ripping a chair apart."


A fantastic article. Trust!

H/t Boy Culture

Feelin The Spirit...

Now I've seen my share of Holy Ghost fiyahs (I once saw a woman dance out of the pew--legs and other assorted limbs flailing about--and dance back to her seat without hitting anyone. True story!), but I don't think I've ever witness the full flame on going on in this church! Hold on to your funeral home fans and watch the clip below: