homophobia

For those of you who aren't regular readers of my blog, you might want to see the quality of the radical right whackjobs who read my posts, then foam at the mouth at their blogs, usually as a drumbeat to do a bit of fundraising. People like Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality are full-time, "professionals" who spend day and night doing "research" on The Homosexual Agenda, funded by misguided followers and wingnut welfare. Below the fold, a taste of what I deal with on a regular basis.

The GOP in North Carolina is exceptionally homophobic, populated and run by bigots with fossilized thinking. It's not surprising, then, that the first openly gay judge on the NC Court of Appeals, John Arrowood, is facing an anti-gay attack by his opponent Bob Hunter's supporters. Arrowood was appointed by outgoing governor Mike Easley back in August of 2007, to fill an unexpired term, and is up for election this year.

My good friend Mark Kleinschmidt is an anti-death penalty attorney and a twice-elected member of the Chapel Hill Town Council. He is also gay. This last fact qualified him for membership on a list that is making the rounds on hate sites called the "National List Of Openly-Homosexual Public Officials."

I'm passing on word about the great LGBT conference we're planning here in NC...in light of the news about Jim Neal, an out gay man, running against Liddy Dole, it's particularly good timing to talk about progress here.

On November 3, LGBT North Carolinians and allies will come together, share stories and strategize about how to advance civil rights in our state with the 2007 Equality Conference & Gala. It will held at the Duke University School of Law, and will feature workshops that bring together movement leaders, grassroots advocates, and LGBT citizens from across the state for a day of networking, skills-building, and learning. In the evening there will be a gala held at the Nasher Museum of Art in Durham.

According to the New York Times, Americans are increasingly identifying with progressive values. Americans ages 17 to 29 are drifting away from Republican hatred of immigrants and gays, and toward the Democratic vision of health care and economic opportunity for all.

Read the article here.

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Just got this in late. If I knew how to publish a pdf I'd show you the flyer.

The people who brought you God Hates Fags (to which I will not link) today plan to disrupt the funeral of Army Specialist Ward Linder who died by roadside IED in Iraq June 19: