By: ANDY HUMM
06/26/2008
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During a discussion on Anderson Cooper's CNN show about the attacks that right winger James Dobson made on Barack Obama's religious views, the Reverend Al Sharpton raised some gay eyebrows when he said, "I may have some very conservative personal feelings, but I feel you have the right to live your life differently. I may think that what you do Anderson is gonna put you in Hell, but I'm gonna defend your right to get there."
Cooper replied, "I appreciate all your concerns about my afterlife. I'm personally not all that concerned, but that's a whole other discussion.
"Internet debates arose on Towleroad.com and PageOneQ.com about whether Sharpton, a strong supporter of LGBT rights, was referring to Cooper's homosexuality as his possible sin. But Sharpton, unaware of the controversy, told Gay City News, "I have no idea of his sexuality. I was not talking about him as an individual anyway. It could have been anybody." He said any thoughts he might have about things that condemn people wouldn't include homosexuality. "I support same-sex marriage and have been lambasted by the right for it," he said.
More than a decade ago, this reporter asked Sharpton at a party if his support extended to performing same-sex marriages as a minister. "Step outside," he shot back. "I'll do you right now."
Some wag on Towleroad said that Sharpton must have been referring to Cooper's work on CNN as his sin.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Mormons Mark Pride with Attack on Rights
By: ANDY HUMM
06/26/2008
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On Sunday, June 29, a letter will be read at all Mormon worship services worldwide calling on all members to contribute financially and with their time to pass the California initiative this November that would limit marriage different-sex couples.
The letter, from the Office of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, said, "The Church's teaching and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.
"Mormon teaching against black people serving in the Church's priesthood was also unequivocal until it became politically untenable for it to maintain. As with polygamy, which was dropped so Utah could become a state in 1896, Church elders received a revelation from God on June 8, 1978 that it was okay to elevate black people to leadership positions.
Dave Melson of Affirmation, the LGBT Mormon group, told the Salt Lake Tribune, "We had hoped the Church would back off and stay on the sidelines on this one." As if!
The Mormon Church provided significant financial resources for the successful campaign to pass a constitutional amendment in Hawaii in 1998 allowing the Legislature to regulate marriage there when state court rulings were moving toward an embrace of marriage equality. They also heavily backed anti-gay marriage campaigns in Alaska in 1998 and in California in 2000.
Despite this direct involvement in political campaigns, no serious challenge to the Church's tax-exempt status has been mounted.
06/26/2008
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
On Sunday, June 29, a letter will be read at all Mormon worship services worldwide calling on all members to contribute financially and with their time to pass the California initiative this November that would limit marriage different-sex couples.
The letter, from the Office of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, said, "The Church's teaching and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.
"Mormon teaching against black people serving in the Church's priesthood was also unequivocal until it became politically untenable for it to maintain. As with polygamy, which was dropped so Utah could become a state in 1896, Church elders received a revelation from God on June 8, 1978 that it was okay to elevate black people to leadership positions.
Dave Melson of Affirmation, the LGBT Mormon group, told the Salt Lake Tribune, "We had hoped the Church would back off and stay on the sidelines on this one." As if!
The Mormon Church provided significant financial resources for the successful campaign to pass a constitutional amendment in Hawaii in 1998 allowing the Legislature to regulate marriage there when state court rulings were moving toward an embrace of marriage equality. They also heavily backed anti-gay marriage campaigns in Alaska in 1998 and in California in 2000.
Despite this direct involvement in political campaigns, no serious challenge to the Church's tax-exempt status has been mounted.
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