Living Out Loud with Darian

The Republican candidate rejects who will never have a real chance at securing the nomination for the presidency sold their souls to the religious right on Monday night during a debate on moral values in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. And of course you know the first question of the night was whether or not they would support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The panelists comprised of uber-conservatives Janet Folger of Faith 2 Action and Phyliss Schlafy of Eagle Forum among others, wasted no time finding out exactly how far the candidates would go to strip the LGBT community of their rights.

But the scary part of the whole evening besides the comparisons of homosexuality with beastiality and pedophilia was the over the top performance by Alan Keyes. The black conservative from Illinois (who got his ass whipped by Barack Obama!) tout his opposition to gay equality despite his personal experience having a lesbian daughter. I'm sure it won't be too long before he's in the middle of a Republican scandal...the lady doth protest too much!

All of this proceeds Mitt Romney's radio ad set to air today confirming his staunch opposition to gay marriage. Meet the John Kerry flip-flopper of this presidential race. I guess Mitt forgot about this flyer from a few years ago.



The serious Republican candidates didn't even bother showing up to this debate. Get into the video below and after a few minutes I'm sure you'll understand why.

Labels: Politics

from 365Gay.com

(Los Angeles, California) For the first time the leading candidates for the presidency will hold a televised debate devoted solely to LGBT issues.The one-hour event will be held on August 9 and broadcast on gay network LOGO at 9:00 pm ET (6:00pm ET) and through live streaming video at LOGOonline.com. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have confirmed they will participate. Several other Democratic candidates also may join the debate.

The debate will be conducted with a live audience in Los Angeles. On the panel questioning the two Democrats will be Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese and singer Melissa Etheridge.The debate was put together by LOGO and HRC. "In the 2008 presidential election, issues of concern to the LGBT community have already been at the forefront of the national conversation," said Solmonese. "From the repeal of "Don't ask, Don't Tell" to the recent signing of a civil unions bill in New Hampshire, there is no doubt that voters will demand answers to important questions affecting our community."

The panelists in a statement said they plan to cover a range of issues including relationship recognition, marriage equality, workplace fairness, the military, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS and other important issues. The LGBT vote is considered a decisive electoral force and according to exit poll data make up approximately 4 percent of the voting population.

Los Angeles was chosen as the site for the event because of the state's early primary election, on February 5th, 2008. "We're honored to give the presidential candidates an historic opportunity to share their views directly with the LGBT audience," Brian Graden, President, Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group, and President, LOGO said in a statement. "This forum continues MTV Networks' tradition of engaging vital niche audiences with voting and the electoral process." In addition to questioning by Solmonese and Etheridge people will be able to pose their own questions through LOGOonline.com and HRC.org.

Labels: Politics

CHICAGO , IL-- U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement to commemorate Pride Month. "Pride Month is a reminder that while we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do.""Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

"It's time to turn the page on the bitterness and bigotry that fill so much of today's LGBT rights debate. The rights of all Americans should be protected -- whether it's at work or anyplace else. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" needs to be repealed because patriotism and a sense of duty should be the key tests for military service, not sexual orientation. Civil unions should give gay couples full rights. And those who commit hate crimes should be punished no matter whether those crimes are committed on account of race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation."

"This Pride Month, let's make our founding promise of equality a reality for every American."

Refreshing to hear, but it's still too early in the game for me to give Obama my vote...we shall see.

Labels: Politics

Before the the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1592, in a vote of 237 to 180 last week, Geogia Rep. Hank Johnson was a hard working man that was not on my radar. I received numerous e-mails from the HRC urging me to contact my local representative to ensure they were in support of the bill, meanwhile I prepared myself for a fight with whomever answered my call because I was almost certain they were going to be in opposition. When I reached Representative Johnson's office I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he was in favor of the bill, but I was even more surprised to learn that he was an African -American.

His name obviously threw me off. I'd conjured up an image of an overweight, bald, white, southern evangelical in my head.
I'm glad I was wrong about his appearance and his politics. Blacks are often believed to be more homophobic than whites and that is surely up for debate, but I'm glad this Black man realizes that hate of any kind towards any group of people is wrong and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I'm proud of Representative Johnson and equally proud to be a Georgian. I think I'm gonna have to write him a personal thank you letter.

Labels: Politics

A vote is expected on Thursday on the proposed hate crimes bill that would provide federal assistance to state and local authorities dealing with bias crimes against LGBT people and others. As expected, the radical right has flooded phone lines and e-mail boxes of legislators in Washington. Please take a moment to call or e-mail your local representative to let them know how important it is that this bill gets passed.

Don't know your representative? Call the U.S. Capital Switchboard at (202)224-3121 to be connected. You can also find additional information here .

Let's honor the memory of all of our brothers and sisters we've lost to senseless violence and keep those who are still with us safe. Let's do our part and make sure our voices are heard.

Update: I spoke with the office of Georgia representative Henry Johnson and it was confirmed that he's supporting the bill. Have you contacted your representative yet? Time is running out.

Labels: Activism, Politics

Calm down, this is not my personal belief, but it is the belief of someone I came in contact with a couple of days ago and I'm still in shock. I was at work and found myself in the middle of a political discussion that shouldn't have happend, especially in the workplace.

This individual boldly stated that Hillary Clinton or any woman should never hold the highest office in government simply because of her gender." The presidency has always been held by a man and it's a man's job to lead the country, just as it's a man's job to be the head of the household." " It's innapropriate for a woman to lead because biblically God teaches a woman to be submissive and to only speak when spoken too."

Can you imagine me standing there with my mouth wide open in disbelief? I quickly left the room in an attempt to digest what I'd just heard. I've not written about the current campaign for The White House because I simply don't know enough about the candidates and their platforms yet( I usually wait until the last minute to pay attention to what they're saying).

Barack Obama's race just isn't enough for me to give him my vote and Hillary Clinton's "secret" alliance with the HRC isn't enough to make me believe she's in my gay corner.

But what disturbed me the most about this person's comments were the sexist and anti-feminist overtone of their argument. Not to forget that the person who said all of these ridiculous things is a WOMAN .

I'm dying to know what you guys think about this one.

Labels: Politics

GLAAD has compiled a list of the worst homophobic incidents that took place in the media in 2006. From Ann Coulter on MSNBC's Hardball referring to former Vice President Al Gore as a "fag", to Focus on The Family James Dobson's attack on Mary Cheney after she publicly announced her pregnancy.

GLAAD is committed to assuring that the lives of LGBT people are portrayed fairly and accurately in the media. You can read the complete list here as well as view video clips.

There was one clip in particular that I found to be extremely disturbing. During an exchange of "Brokeback Mountain" jokes on MSNBC's Imus in The Morning Show with Don Imus, he and guest Chris Matthews crossed the line more than once with their cruel homophobic remarks. Where was the FCC during this broadcast? Watch for yourself here .

With our country equally divided over whether or not to grant LGBT people the basic civil rights that every American is entitled to, we can only brace ourselves for more homophobia and political gay bashing as we become more outspoken heading into an election year.

I predict same-sex marriage will once again become the issue Republicans will use in an attempt to defeat their Democratic rivals. Daily Show host Jon Stewart allows one of their own to show what happens when decisions are based on homophobia and not research, experience, or logic. Enjoy!

Labels: Politics

Yesterday I received an e-mail from fellow blogger and activist Jasmyne Cannick notifying me of her appearance on NPR Radio where she would be discussing same-sex marriage.

I've heard Jasmyne's commentary on this issue before and I align myself with her views on equality for gay and lesbian couples who seek to legalize their unions. However, I had not been exposesd to Joseph Phillips' views on homosexuality and same sex marriage.

You may remember Joseph from his roles on The Cosby Show and General Hospital. Recently he has positioned himself as a conservative Black Republican who holds George Bush and his administration in high regard. His comments on homosexuals and same sex marriage I found to be highly offensive and completely off target. You can listen to his views here .

One point that he attempted to drive home that I would like to dissect here is the belief that gays and lesbians are seeking majority approval to sanction our unions in order to be equivalent to heterosexual marriage.

I personally believe this is one of the reasons why a large portion of Americans reject the idea of same - sex marriage. If we are allowed to legalize our unions then they will be forced to respect and treat us like human beings. People like Joseph C. Phillips is so caught up in the "Leave It To Beaver" family image that it's impossible for him to see that the look of family has changed dramatically over the last 50 years and can encompass 2 parents, single parents, and even gay parents.

Contrary to the twisted rhetoric he speaks on NPR, the legalization of gay marriage will not lead to rampant polygamy or requests for man to marry his dog! This has got to be the most ridiculous scare tactic Joseph and his Republican cronies have used to scare the American public into banning gay marriage. And what's sad is that in some parts of the country this tactic has worked. People fear what they don't understand.

As a tax paying citizen the government doesn't have the right to tell me who I can love and legally commit my life too. As a black man who comes from a history of oppression, Joseph's comments were shameful and knee deep in a Republican puddle of hypocritical bullshit.

Labels: Politics

The day after the election was sweeter for me than hearing the Dems had regained control of the House on Tuesday night. As if that were not enough, the American people slapped George Bush and his party in the face by also giving the "liberal" Democrats control of the Senate . Did I fail to mention Rumsfeld is out too? !

I can honestly say that I'm proud to be an American. It took half of the country some time to come around but I guess better late than never.

I would like for everyone to watch the above video of Beyonce( yeah...I know she's annoying) singing the national anthem at The Super Bowl and bask in the beauty of being an American emancipated from Republican bs.

Enjoy !

Labels: Politics

After 12 years of failed Republican leadership in the House the Democrats have once again regained control in Washington.

Finally, the issues that affect everyday Americans will finally get the attention that it deserves. I hate that it took a tragic war, numerous Republican scandals, and lie after lie from the Bush administration for the public to realize that George W. Bush and the GOP is bad for America.

But tonight voters sent a strong message to Bush and his cronies that enough is enough! It's time for America to move in a new direction, and that direction has to come from real leaders who govern according to the constitution and not according to the ideology of James Dobson and Jerry Falwell.

The Republicans pride themselves in being a "religious" party. Well tonight I think they know that Democrats pray too and God listens and answers prayers, even if you're a Democrat.

There's still a lot of work to be done, but I will rest easier at night knowing that their won't be people on the hill plotting their next election win at my black gay expense.

Here's to 2008, may the next President be everything that George Bush wasn't...especially a Democrat.

Labels: Politics

The Democrats may have taken over the House but gay bashing at the polls reigned supreme in Republican fashion in three states.

Voters in South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin all voted to sign discrimination into their state constitution banning the possibility of marriage to comitted same sex couples . I can't say that I'm surprised, but you always hope that compassion and common sense would overule fear and ignorance.

Last I checked the constitution was put in place to expand the rights of Americans, not deprive them of rights, especially the right that's afforded to every other American.

When same -sex marriage was upheld in Massachusetts the Republican party told us that gay marriage would hurt the children and threaten traditional marriage. Well I don't have any kids (yet) but I do have cousins that are in grade school and they're lives have not been affected, and the state of traditional marriage is still the same, married one day and divorced the next.

Are gay people the last minority it's ok to hate in this country? I know in my lifetime the acceptable climate of discrimination towards gays in America will change. I just hope it will be sooner than later.

Labels: Politics