Murderer of Gay Rights Leader Given 30 Years in Uganda

Image from source, Raw Story

Many times--particularly in America, where we know more about the stories--crimes committed against gay people are not punished with much of a sense of justice.  Harvey Milk's murderer, for instance, got five years for manslaughter, even though he murdered Milk in cold blood. It was later termed "the twinkie defense" and is famous for its audacity.
 
So, it is with great surprise that we find a similar story with a more satisfying ending.

[Excerpt]


Uganda jails murderer of gay activist for 30 years

A Ugandan court has sentenced a man to 30 years in jail for the brutal slaying of a leading gay rights activist, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor said Friday.

Enoch Nsubuga admitted beating prominent campaigner David Kato to death with a hammer at his home outside Kampala in January, but claimed that he had been reacting to unwanted demands for sex. . .

Read more at: The Raw Story

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link

Catching Up With the News #2: Horrible Anti-gay Attack in New York

This past weekend, I was a lazy blogger. There were a few big stories I meant to blog about, but I got busy doing. . .nothing. So, in case you missed them too, here's what I skipped for a few days. . . 


Image from source, FOX "News"



The news about a rash of teen suicides related to the bullying they took for their homosexuality has been heartbreaking, and shocking.  They don't seem to have been related or influenced by each other, they just happened in a string; half a dozen in a couple of weeks.  In reality, it may be that this sort of thing happens much more often that we think, and that the news just happened to focus on it right now.  And that's a very sad thought.  There's now a new project called "It Gets Better," a YouTube series initiated by sex columnist Dan Savage.  It's an uplifting series of  testimonials from older gay people, telling their younger "selves" that it gets better.

Dan's right, it does get better. For most of us. But disturbing things like the story excerpted below still--in 2010--still happen with all-too-often regularity.  Wait, scratch that. Anti-gay attacks and comments happen too often. What happened here is fortunately the extreme end of it.  If karma is real, these guys are in for an unpleasant prison stint.

[Excerpt]

8 Suspects Arraigned in New York City Anti-Gay Attack

Gang members used an anti-gay slur to ask two teen boys and a 30-year-old man about their sexuality before brutally torturing and beating them last week in a working-class Bronx neighborhood, authorities said in court, where eight suspects stood with drooped heads at their first appearance as their relatives wept behind them. . .

Read more at (yes): FOX News

Muslim Cab Driver Stabbed & Cut, Probable Hate Crime

Okay, this anti-Muslim crap is getting out of hand. I'm agnostic, practically anti-religion (any religion), and even I can see this is getting nuts.  Maybe this dude is just bonkers, but it sounds like more than that. And I'm particularly squicked out that this guy looks so ordinary, so eerily like. . .well, me. The way he's dressed, the way he looks. Very me. And very weird.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Oklahoma Accidentally Removes Protections for Race & Religion

So, some homophobic jerks in Oklahoma wanted to rip protections away from gay people. . .and they sorta missed. By a mile.

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for pointing me to this hilarious story.

[Excerpt]

IN SEEKING TO STRIP LGBT OKLAHOMANS OF HATE CRIMES PROTECTIONS, OKLAHOMA REMOVES PROTECTIONS FOR RACE AND RELIGION

In October, President Barack Obama signed The Matthew Shepard Act, expanding the reach of the 1969 hate crimes law to "authorize the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute certain bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability." Previously the law only allowed for the federal prosecution of anyone who "willingly injures, intimidates or interferes with another person, or attempts to do so, by force because of the other person's race, color, religion or national origin. . ."

Read more at: Out in Oklahoma City

Anderson Cooper: Hate Crimes Protections Extended to Gays

I don't often watch CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, but when I have, it has been entertaining and informative. On the important issue of extending gay rights protections to gay people, Cooper does not disappoint.

Right-wing Sites Lying About Sexual Orientation in Hate Crimes Laws

I've already commented on this subject in the past, but the subject just won't die. With hate crime legislation having passed the House of Representatives, and now in the Senate, right-wing blogs (like FreeRepublic) are openly lying about what it includes.

Egged on by conservative politicians, the righties are pretending that the phrase "sexual orientation" has an unknown definition. They claim that pedophilia (and countless other 'philias) are sexual orientations. They are not. So, when you read that Democrats are fighting to protect pedophiles with hate crimes laws, you are reading lies. Plain and simple. Here, for the uninitiated, is the definition from the APA:



If you still don't get it, there is more at the source: APA

And if you want to see what kind of idiocy the FReepers are swallowing whole, you can go here. But I wouldn't recommend it.

Sexual Fetishes vs. Sexual Orientation: A Primer

Yesterday, I pointed out that the far-right blogosphere is woefully ignorant as it pertains to the term "sexual orientation." When the US House of Representatives voted to add sexual orientation to existing hate crime laws, people who really dig disparaging gay people got really upset. And in order to strengthen their case for opposition have resorted to willful ignorance--or perhaps lying.

Today, while listening to The Ron Reagan Show on Air America Radio, I heard Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) going at it again, lumping in pedophilia (and all sorts of more obscure 'philias) with sexual orientation, claiming that a pedophile would be included in protections from hate crime laws. Reagan let King go on far too long in that vein, before finally setting the record straight (after the Congressman was off the air).

But if you don't know the difference, here is a handy-dandy guide for you on just what sexual orientation is. Hint: it isn't a list of fetishes and kinks, which can be practiced by any orientation.

Source: Good as You

Hate Crimes Law Passes House

Photo from souce, Reuters

Wherever you stand on "hate crimes" legislation, what everyone needs to remember is that hate crimes protections already exist for several classes of people, including the religious. So, when you hear religious people railing against hate crimes legislation for gay people as "special rights," remember, the people arguing against are already protected. And thus, it is the religious that already have "special rights."

Today, the US House of Representatives passed hate crimes legislation to protect gay (GLBTQETC) people. This has people who really enjoy disparaging gay people all in snit. You see, they really like bitching about gay people, and they want the right to do so. Ironically, hate crime legislation does not prevent them from doing that. They just can't yell "faggot" while beating somebody to death. Poor babies.

[Excerpt]

U.S. House passes "hate crime" bill that Bush opposed

The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday approved an expansion of federal "hate crime" laws -- an effort that former Republican President George W. Bush had opposed. . .

Read more at: Reuters

Now, if you want to see what the once-hard-right, now mainstream GOP faithful think of this issue, take a look at some of these quotes. And then ask yourself why gays might need just a little extra protection. . .

"I guess we will just have Love Crimes, they are only HATE if you dare to speak of Sodomites and Girlie Men..."

". . .on a vote of 234-190. So there are 234 fags and bulldykes in the house."

Editor: And what, 190 raging heterosexual, patriotic 'Mericans?

"Gay's [sic] deserve to be hated! They demoralize our children and spreaddiseases [sic] among the children they molest."

Ed: Nice punctuation and typing skills there, chief.

"Not all persons are covered under "sexual orientation".

Ed: Um, OK, we've got gay, bisexual, straight and asexual. Who are we leaving out?

". . .I can no longer say “filthy disease ridden queer” on this site?
Have we now lost freedom of speech?"

Ed: Say it all you like. It says loads more about you than it does me.

"Among those sexual orientations being protected by HR-1913 are these:
Apotemnophilia - sexual arousal associated with the stump(s) of an Amputee
Asphyxophilia - sexual gratification derived from activities that involve oxygen deprivation through hanging, strangulation, or other means
Autogynephilia - the sexual arousal of a man by his own perception of himself as a woman or dressed as a woman. . ."

Ed: It goes on like that. Almost everything in this person's list is a fetish or kink, not a sexual orientation. These FReepers are really clueless. Sexual orientation is an emotional and physical attraction to gender. Fetishes can occur in any orientation.

"We need a new Constitutional Convention, to restore the original Constitution."

Ed: Yeah, ask your black friends about that one.

"So what's this mean? If a pedaphile [sic] is arrested for molesting children has his civil rights been violated? Is he a victim now? "

Ed: Um, moron, pedophiles (learn to spell) might have a sexual orientation, but pedophilia ISN'T it.

So as you can see, they're in an uninformed, ignorant, ridiculous frenzy.

Read more (if you dare) at: FreeRepublic

Ellen Degeneres' Emotional Appeal for Change

Everybody knows that Ellen DeGeneres is a gay woman--it was right there on People Magazine. But with rare exceptions, the most political thing Ellen ever does these days is be herself. She rarely makes a big issue of it, particularly in the years since her ABC show, and her relationship with Anne Heche. She found herself the victim of a vicious backlash at the time, and it's surprising (and wonderful) that she's mounted such an effective comeback.

On her "Leap Year" show, Ellen decided to get political again--if only for a few minutes--to highlight a very serious topic: the murder of Lawrence (Larry) King, a gay middle schooler, over a Valentine wish. Ellen handles the topic with warmth and emotion, and a call for change. Take a look.

Lest We Forget... A Reminder...

Whether Ciara Durkin was killed because of who she loves or because of what she knew remains to be seen... Be it hate crime or an assassination there needs to be answers regarding the murder of a US soldier within the confines of an Army base. The US & the country of Ireland are investigating her death.
Eventually, the truth will prevail.

Please read the summary written by Dennis Tatz (The Patriot Ledger) found on the Arlington Memorial website. A great deal of information can be found in his write up.

Please remember Ms. Ciara M. Durkin's sacrifices.

Ciara M. Durkin, Specialist, United States Army

Photos found on ArlingtonCemetary.net

Bill Maher: New Rules 09/28/07

Something interesting is happening with this season's Real Time with Bill Maher. Each week, I find myself agreeing vigorously with some things he says, and then stunned by something else he says that I disagree with. Bill's an extremely smart and funny man, but his politics and opinions are really all over the place.

My disagreement with Maher this week was on his opinions of hate crime legislation. Maher thinks that it is basically "thought crime," and is unnecessary. While I kind of get where he's coming from, that is largely beside the point. Intent is already a very large part of criminal law. "Hate crimes" are already on the books. What happened this week was the extension of hate crime protections to gays, lesbians. And the reason they are important is, crimes perpetrated against gays and lesbians are very often treated less seriously than the same crimes perpetrated against others. A "slap on the wrist" punishment is often handed out to people who commit crimes against gays and lesbians. The extension of hate crime laws helps prevent that.

OK, enough of that, and onto this weeks' batch of New Rules! Not his best collection, but there is some great stuff here.

Senate Extends Hate Crimes Protections

The Senate has passed an extension of hate crimes protections today, with Republicans attempting, but failing to mount a filibuster. "Christian" and "conservative" groups predictably hope that President Bush whips out his veto pen. That may prove complicated, as the measure was attached to a Defense Department bill.

[Excerpt]

Senate Votes to Extend Hate-Crimes Law to Gays

The Senate yesterday approved an expansion of federal hate-crimes law to include protections for gay men and lesbians, defying a presidential veto threat by attaching the measure to a high-priority defense bill.

Republicans said they will try to remove the provision in final negotiations with the House, but if that effort fails, GOP leaders urged President Bush to follow through with his long-standing veto threat. They were furious this week when Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) announced that he would force a vote on an expanded hate-crimes statute, with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) calling Reid's maneuver a "shameful" attempt to "hijack" essential defense legislation. . .

Read the rest at: WashingtonPost.com

And the predictible (ironically hateful) response from: BaptistPress

Hate Crimes Legislation, My Take

Photo from source, chron.com

There are those who think that hate crime laws are unnecessary, and that if current laws are enforced, then that is enough. They might have a point, if there weren't already hate crime laws on the books. Women, minorities and religions are already protected. No, the issue now is adding sexuality and gender identification to the hate crime statues.

Since there is no good reason to prevent such a thing, the argument is turned around to hate crime laws=thought crime laws. This is nonsense. You cannot be prosecuted for what you think, only what you do. And if it can be proven that you commit a crime for no other reason than your hatred for a class of people, the hate crime statues kick in.

Not allowing sexual orientation or gender identity to be included in these laws amounts to an ironic set of "special rights" for those who are included.

The inspiration for this post is a depressing story in the news that hits close to home. I've never experienced the scenario in the story, but it is very easy to envision, sadly. Please read on.

[Excerpt]

Murder suspect says he was doing God's work
Cypress man is being held in the June death of flight attendant

By PAIGE HEWITT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

A Cypress man charged in the death of a Southwest Airlines flight attendant said Saturday that he was doing God's work when he went to a Montrose-area bar last month, hunting for a gay man to kill.

"I believe I'm Elijah, called by God to be a prophet," said 26-year-old Terry Mark Mangum, charged with murder June 11. " ... I believe with all my heart that I was doing the right thing."

Interviewed in the Brazoria County Jail Saturday morning, Mangum said he feels no remorse for killing 46-year-old Kenneth Cummings Jr., whom relatives described as a "loving" son who never forgot a holiday and a devoted uncle who had set up college funds for his niece and nephew. He worked at Southwest for 24 years.

Mangum, who described himself as "definitely not a homosexual," said God called on him to "carry out a code of retribution" by killing a gay man because "sexual perversion" is the "worst sin."

Mangum believed Cummings to be gay.

Read more at: chron.com

And for more opinion on this piece, please read: Pay no attention to the hate crime behind the curtain at AmericaBlog.com