Ameriqueer

Explore & Live | Circuit Spirituality : "I always tell people if you want to feel God, or the presence of God, you have to go to the most packed Circuit event, or a packed gay bar. Grab your partner and head out until you’ve worked your way to the very center of the dance floor, underneath that big ball. Erase from your mind the decadence around you and feel the vibration in the music coming at you from every direction. Straight people may go to church for their spirituality, but Circuit events are my form of church and the DJs are my priests." I thought I was the only one! I've been very spiritually moved on the dance floor many times--crazy as that sounds. Just feeling the vibe and the overwhelming feelings of good will and happiness surrounding you are quite counter to the experience in the rest of the world around you. Why do you think I'm first one up on the box every time? I'm always in the center of the dance floor with my eyes closed or looking up ...

Catholics United for Marriage Equality : "We are Catholics who live or work in the District of Columbia. We are a diverse group of lay women and men, religious, and clergy. We represent parishes, religious institutions, and independent Catholic organizations in every ward in the District. We now join our voices to speak a faithful word for freedom and equality. Our religious traditions and scriptures teach us that wherever love is present, God is also present. One of God's greatest gifts to us is our human capacity to love one another. The ability of two people to enter into relationships and form families of love and care is one expression of this gift. We therefore affirm the right of loving same-gender couples to enter into such relationships on an equal basis with loving heterosexual couples in civil marriage." Not all Catholics are bad. Just the Bishops. The great majority of Catholics are Progressive and believe in helping others. Unlike the Bishops. Catholic Bi...

Bilerico.com posted my newest piece-- ENDA: NOT A DONE DEAL YET According to Dr. Jillian Weiss' Congressional ENDA spreadsheet , we seem to have enough "supporters" in the House to pass an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act once and for all. That does not mean ENDA will pass. Dr. Weiss' spreadsheet shows 214 Representatives are confirmed 'suppprters' on ENDA, and 35 unconfirmed Democrats . We would only need four of those unconfirmed Democrats to vote for ENDA to get it passed. However, 'support' is not a "Yes" vote. Only a "Yes" vote is a "Yes" vote. There are always procedural maneuvers Republicans can use to stave off equality, and we must keep our eyes on the conservative Democrats who get nervous around equality issues, but it does seem we have enough "support" for the bill to pass it if it comes up for a vote. Until the House votes on this bill and passes it, however, their support is mean...

1.jpg (JPEG Image, 580x599 pixels) : "http://208.116.9.205/10/content/20262/1.jpg" Sent to me by my heterosexual assistant--who is turning out to be a great straight ally. Normally I don't post stuff like this, but this really got me going. Thanks Matt!

Rod 2.0:Beta: WATCH: "Hey #P2!" When Will Progressives Fight for LGBT Rights? : "Phil Reese at Ameriqueer is an amazing young Twitter-based progressive and gay activist. Phil just produced this powerful new video that calls all progressive political allies the—Twitter hashtag is #P2—and asks, 'When do LGBT issues get their turn?' Phil writes: 'Anti-war actions, anti-racism efforts, environmental efforts, and anti-domestic violence efforts. I've been there, simply, because I've been called on to do so. The leaders in these movements have made it very clear that if you're really a progressive, you must show action on these issues. ... When do LGBT issues get their turn?' Oh and congratulations are in order. Phil Reese is writing a new monthly column on Illinois LGBT politics for Out & About. Bravo." One of my FAVORITE bloggers in the world, Rod McCullom posted my -HEY #p2 video to his blog--Please go read his blog, and subscribe to it, ...

Arkansas 10-Year-Old Won’t Pledge Allegiance Until Gays Gain Equality :: EDGE San Francisco : "A 10-year-old Arkansas boy name Will Phillips has decided that he cannot in good conscience pledge allegiance to the flag as long as the country for which it stands refuses legal equality to its GLBT citizens. That stand has brought young Mr. Phillips anti-gay taunts in the lunch room, but admiration from around the country, reports a Nov. 5 Arkansas Times article. The West Fork School District fifth grader clashed with a substitute teacher for his refusal to stand for the pledge, prompting a call to Will’s mother, Laura Phillips. When the principal acknowledged that Will has the right to refuse to say the pledge, Ms. Phillips asked that her son receive an apology--a request that the principal declined to honor." What an outstanding human being! And I applaud his parents for teaching him to stand up for EQUALITY no matter what others think of you. He's going to be a great man ...

A Proud Cadre « HRC Back Story : "“Why would you ever join an institution that openly discriminates against you?” This is a question I am often asked when on the road, to which my response usually begins, “Well, I was unaware I had the honor of being included in that discriminated class at the time…” I had no clue I was gay when I joined, and so that wasn’t a deciding factor at any time during my lengthy visits to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), nor was it when I finally had the honor to raise my right hand and promise to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. But that’s all irrelevant, as I think I still would have joined had I already come to terms with being gay. And I still would look back on my time in the military with no regrets. The military is such a unique institution. We – those serving and who have served – often complain of the slow bureaucracy that somehow integrates itself into everyday life in t...