Fred Phelps, Democrat.

Little known fact, or so it seems to be, Fred Phelps, the man in charge of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, ran for Governor of Kansas 3 times (1990, 1994, and 1998)…registered as a Democrat.

He is still registered as a Democrat.

He supported Al Gore quite vocally, along with many other members of his family.

He also ran, twice, as a Democrat, for Mayor of Topeka. (1993 and 1997).

In 1992  he ran in the Democratic Party primary for U.S. Senate. Phelps won 31% of the vote…in a state that runs closed primaries.

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Ugandan Family and Activist Mourn Anniversary of David Kato’s Death

This day last year, the godfather of the Ugandan gay rights movement, David Kato, was horrifically beaten to death. Over 100 activists and family members publicly gathered in Kampala today, facing hostility and stigma, to remember David on this bitter anniversary.

“We are here to celebrate and thank God for our beloved friend and human rights activist David Kato,” gay rights campaigner and  former Anglican bishop Christopher Senyonjo told the crowd.

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PZ Myers: Avoid Anoka-Hennepin School District

PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.  In a post at his blog, Pharyngula, Professor Myers today warns people visiting Minnesota to avoid the Congressional District of Michele Bachmann, and specifically the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

Why am I so eager to separate myself from that area, and why am I urging you to shun it? Because it seems every state needs a sphincter where the unpleasant inhabitants must congregate, and Anoka-Hennepin is it for us (well, and a few other places: states aren’t restricted by metazoan anatomy, and can have many sphincters). This is one of the areas that elected Michele Bachmann; it’s been in the news lately because it is the center of a wave of teen suicides, where bullying is common and gay kids are often the target. 

Parents in the district have put pressure on the school board to adopt a list of actions they’ve drawn up.

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Notes left by EricJames

Photo: GayUSAthemovie

The site Gay USA has posted excerpts from the notes left by EricJames.  (Suicide claims another LGBT youth: Eric James Borges, 19)  In them, he requests that $500 go to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, $500 to the Trevor Project, and $521.56 to the Human Rights Campaign.

Also posted at the site are excerpts from the eulogies given by William “Van” Vanlandingham, and the woman who took him in after he was kicked out of his home by his parents, Jennifer McGuire.

McGuire pulled no punches in her eulogy.

 “I am not going to avoid the elephant in the room.  He tells his story better than any of us could in his short film and “It Gets Better” video, but I need it to be spoken out loud – and said for him… his parents tortured him – there is no other word to describe it.  What he shared in his video was the tip of the iceberg, and that’s only compared with what he shared with me, and I am sure there was more.

His parents tortured him by not protecting him from the extensive bullying.  His parents tortured him through their relentless, extremist religious teachings.  His parents tortured him with shame and intolerance and emotional and physical abuse that most of us can’t even begin to imagine.  And yes, I blame them, and not just a little, but for a majority percentage… His parents killed him.”

Full story at Gay USA.

Crazy high approval rating of President Obama’s proposals!

Holy wow. This is a poll from CBS showing how many people approve of President Obama’s proposals during the State of the Union Address. I’ve never seen an approval rating so high before!

From CBS:

The president had more success convincing viewers that his economic proposals would lead to job growth and increased success on the international playing field: 75 percent of viewers said they thought the president’s plans would make America more competitive in the world economy, and 75 percent also said they thought the plans outlined in his speech would create jobs. That’s up from 55 percent before the speech.

The optimism and confidence in the President’s ideas really got through to the public! Lets go 2012! Read the complete poll here.

Help Australia’s ‘It’s time.’ Marriage Equality Ad get some TV time in the States!

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So remember that super awesome Australian same-sex marriage ad It’s time.? No? Well take another look, it’s well worth a watch. Now that you’re caught up, our favorite guy from the American Foundation for Equal Rights, Matt Baume, interviews Washington DC college student Daniel Wein who is trying to get that heartwarming ad on T.V. in the States.

If you feel like supporting the project, you can donate at the Facebook page here.

Happy National Gay Straight Alliance Day!

Today is the first annual National Gay Straight Alliance Day, and our ally in the White House, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, is the guy who made it happen. In the video above, Secretary Duncan stresses the importance of GSA’s.

When students are harassed or bullied, it directly affects their work in the classroom, their aspirations for the future, and their desire to stay in school. Gay-Straight Alliances and similar student groups play an important role in creating welcoming, affirming, and respectful schools and colleges – safe places where learning can happen and students flourish. This work is absolutely essential.

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