Episcopal Church General Convention - Ahaheim, CA 2009

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Bulletin: Convention approves Resolution D025, affirms openness of ordination process

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Gay clergy eligible for all Episcopal ministry By Rachel Zoll - AP Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Episcopalians declared gays and lesbians eligible for "any ordained ministry" Tuesday, a vote expected to upset world Anglican leaders who had sought a clear moratorium on consecrating another gay bishop.

Leaders of the Episcopal Church, the Anglican province in the United States, insisted they were still committed to membership in the Anglican Communion. Some Anglican leaders, however, predicted the vote would break their fellowship.

The Episcopal General Convention, meeting in Anaheim, Calif., gave final approval to the measure during their once-every-three-years legislative assembly, which runs through Friday.

"God has called and may call" gays in committed relationships to "any ordained ministry" in the church, the resolution says.

Lay people voted 78-21 and clergy voted 77-19 to approve the measure. The House of Bishops had earlier voted 99-45 to adopt the statement. In the debates, delegates said they worried about the reaction of other Anglicans, but felt a duty to vote yes.

"I personally believe we had to do this," said John Cheek, a delegate from the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, based in Springfield. "It's the way we see the Gospel." Read complete article AP Associated Press

Kids are being hurt !!! - A Documentary Video Series on Human Sexuality regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

What we need is a documentary series for the purpose of explaining and educating people on all the aspects of human sexuality particularly focused on sexual orientation, gender identity and early childhood psychological development growing up LGBT, etc. to be distributed on video, DVD, audio CD, ipod, etc. in all languages. This documentary series needs to be a collaborative effort of the medical and mental health professional associations and organizations internationally, including the input from many of the LGBT organizations related to LGBT children, LGBT civil rights and LGBT grassroots community centers. Creative Commons

We know from social psychology that people’s attitudes are most effectively changed when arguments presented are based on facts that are logically compelling. I found this to be true as a Roman Catholic priest who came out to my parishioners as their “gay” pastor. By supplying plenty of documented facts on sexual orientation is what made my “coming out” as a “gay” priest successful in 1997. It is also what made the Vatican, at the time and still, particularly Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, quite nervous and unable to deny this fact about children and their sexual orientation or to remove me. Many of the Vatican’s teachings on homosexuality were altered immediately afterwards (Always Our Children, 1997, for legal reasons, rewritten no doubt basically my lawyers); the reason why was because I came out on the documented evidence that children as young as 4 and 5 years old are aware of their sexual orientation. This one piece of truth about children renders all the Vatican teachings regarding homosexuality null and void and instead proves them to be life threatening to children, harming them for life.

To be continued...

The Achilles’ heel for Benedict XVI, the Hierarchy & the Vatican regarding Sexual Orientation – Homosexuality – Gender Identity

by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz - revised July 15, 2008

Read complete posting

Kids are being hurt !!!

Creative Commons

Episcopal General Convention in Anaheim, California Says "Amen" to Inclusion - Rev. Susan Russell

Photo Sunday, July 12, 2009 But what about the bishops?

ANAHEIM, CA (July 14, 2009)--The House of Deputies reiterated its overwhelming support for the full inclusion of all the baptized in all orders of ministry by concurring with resolution DO25 as amended by the House of Bishops. Photo

"Today's action put the 'Amen' at the end of one of the prayers we have prayed for an inclusive church--ending the BO33 'season' by stating unequivocally that the LGBT baptized can and will have equal access to ordination processes in the Episcopal Church," said the Reverend Susan Russell, president of Integrity USA.

"Our Lord told us that 'the truth will set us free'--and what this General Convention has done is to tell the truth that will set the Episcopal Church free for mission and ministry."

"We rejoice in this powerful witness to the Gospel and to God's inclusive love, and we urge the House of Bishops to continue in the spirit of truth and unity as they work on resolution C056 so that the General Convention will send us out from Anaheim with the same kind of clarity about the blessing of same-sex relationships."

Read more Good News - An Inch At A Time: Reflection on the Journey - Rev. Susan Russell

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TRANSGENDER EPISCOPALIANS AND FRIENDS UNITED

Two Trans-positive resolutions have passed in the House of Bishops this afternoon Walking With Integrity

Protestan contra la homofobia legislativa… Puerto Rico

Organizaciones e individuos que defienden los derechos de las comunidades lésbica, gay, bisexual y transgénero (LGBT) protestaron hoy en el Capitolio en contra de la homofobia legislativa. Los manifestantes condenaron las expresiones y actuaciones homofóbicas por parte de varios legisladores durante los pasados meses. “Desde el inicio de este cuatrenio hemos presenciado un recrudecimiento de actitudes homofóbicas por parte de la Legislatura. La homofobia ha sido violenta, cruda y descarada con una clara intención de acallar el reclamo de derechos iguales para las comunidades LGBT. Hoy venimos al Capitolio para dejar meridianamente claro que no nos callarán. Exigiremos lo que por derecho nos corresponde y lograremos que se cumpla con la garantía constitucional de la igual protección de las leyes”, expresó Roberto Pastrana, portavoz de Puerto Rico Para Tod@s.

Entre los eventos homofóbicos de esta Asamblea Legislativa se encuentran: el insulto por parte de Thomas Rivera Schatz al llamar “torcidas” a las familias no tradicionales y la velada amenaza al catalogar a un compañero activista como “enfermo mental”; la inclusión por parte de Kimmey Raschke de enmiendas discriminatorias en la ley de adopción; no darle paso al reconocimiento de derechos para las comunidades LGBT en la revisión del Código Civil; la exclusión de la identidad de género y la intención de incluir una excepción religiosa en el proyecto antidiscrimen; la razón dada por senadores Migdalia Padilla y Carmelo Ríos para votar en contra de Johanne Vélez por una alegada orientación sexual; la acción bajo la comisión que preside Evelyn Vázquez de colgar el nombramiento de la ex-designada procuradora de las mujeres; la presentación de un proyecto de ley por parte de Antonio Fas Alzamora para que las parejas de hecho heterosexuales puedan adoptar con la marcada exclusión de las parejas de hecho del mismo sexo; la aseveración por parte de Melinda Romero de que no existe discrimen por orientación sexual en Puerto Rico; la insinuación por parte del presidente senatorial de que no aprobará el proyecto antidiscrimen, pues según él ya todas las personas tienen sus derechos; entre otras.

“Estamos en pie de lucha, con nuestras frentes en alto y con el más alto sentido de dignidad. Nosotros somos parte de Puerto Rico y no nos vamos a meter en el clóset como pretenden estos legisladores que violan su juramento de instrumentar la igualdad. Vamos a exigir, a demandar, a lograr la igualdad que merecemos, de una manera o de otra. También exigimos la acción de las entidades que tienen la responsabilidad de velar por la salud, la seguridad y el bienestar de todos los puertorriqueños. Es hora de denunciar tanta homofobia y exigir respeto a nuestra dignidad como seres humanos. Hoy nos persiguen a las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgéneros. ¿Mañana a quién? Es hora de despertar, antes de que sea demasiado tarde”, concluyó Max Chárriez, activista gay.

Para ver un reportaje de la manifestación realizado por el telereportero Rafael Lenin López, de WAPA TV, ve el siguiente vídeo: View Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9tvhwPhDwM

Además de la participación de la representante Carmen Yulín Cruz, las organizaciones que se unieron a la protesta son: la Iglesia Comunitaria Metropolitana Cristo Sanador, el Comité contra la Homofobia y el Discrimen, la Fundación de Derechos Humanos, la Comisión para Combatir el Discrimen por Orientación Sexual e Identidad de Género del Colegio de Abogados, la Corporación Orgullo Gay del Oeste, el Colectivo Literario Homoerótica, el Proyecto Matria, la Coalición Orgullo Arcoiris, el Movimiento Amplio de Mujeres de Puerto Rico, el Capítulo de Puerto Rico de Amnistía Internacional, el Movimiento al Socialismo, Ilé, Inc., el Grupo Feminista Sin Nombre, y Coaí, Inc. y sus proyectos Aché, Tanamá y Aché del Oeste, entre otras que se seguirán sumando. Read more - pedrojulioserrano.com

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Leading the Way of Christ - The Episcopal Church LGBT bishops - Rev. Susan Russell

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 IntegriTV GC2009-Day 6: Beyond B033, Youth, Looking Back and What Would You Say to the Church

Yesterday the House of Deputies passed a resolution that moves beyond the de facto moratorium on LGBT bishops in the Episcopal Church. Watch some of that discussion and hear Susan Russell's take on it. See how convention-goers answer the question, "What would you like to say to the church?" and find out what 2 youth ministers from Utah have to say about the 76th General Convention. Learn more & View video clip - Walking With Integrity

Learn more - An Inch At A Time: Reflection on the Journey - Rev. Susan Russell

National Religious Leadership Roundtable applauds Episcopal House of Bishops decision to end ban on gay bishops - Read more

Episcopal church to affirm gay clergy By RACHEL ZOLL - AP Associated Press - "And the Vatican, Benedict XVI ??? "

NEW YORK (AP) — The Episcopal Church moved Monday toward affirming their acceptance of gays and lesbians for all roles in ministry, despite pressure from fellow Anglicans worldwide for a decisive moratorium on consecrating another openly gay bishop.

Bishops at the Episcopal General Convention in Anaheim, Calif., voted 99-45 with two abstentions for a statement declaring "God has called and may call" to ministry gays in committed lifelong relationships.

Lay and priest delegates to the meeting had comfortably approved a nearly identical statement, and were expected to adopt the latest version before the meeting ends Friday.

Leaders of the Anglican Communion have been pushing Episcopalians to roll back their support for gays and lesbians since 2003, when the U.S. denomination consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. Anglican body.

Robinson's election brought the 77 million-member Anglican fellowship to the brink of schism. Last month, breakaway Episcopal conservatives and other like-minded traditionalists formed a rival national province called the Anglican Church in North America.

To calm tensions, the Episcopal General Convention three years ago passed a resolution that urged restraint by dioceses considering gay candidates for bishop. No other Episcopal bishops living openly with same-sex partners have been consecrated since then.

Drafters of the latest statement insisted that the resolution only acknowledges that the Episcopal Church ordains partnered gays and lesbians and is not a repeal of what was widely considered a moratorium on consecrating gay bishops.

"The constitution and canons of our church as currently written do not preclude gay and lesbian persons from participating," in any part of the church, said the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, on the committee that drafted the statement. "These people have responded to God's call."

However, the Episcopal gay advocacy group Integrity, said in a statement Monday night that the declaration "effectively ends" the temporary prohibition on gays in ministry. Integrity called the vote "another step in the Episcopal Church's `coming out' process."

Read more By RACHEL ZOLL - AP Associated Press

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Advocate.com Episcopalians Vote to End Gay Ban By Julie Bolcer

The bishops of the Episcopal Church voted on Monday at the church’s convention to open “any ordained ministry” to gay men and lesbians, following a similar vote by the House of Deputies, the legislative body of laypeople and clergy, on Sunday, reports The New York Times. If approved, the resolution could end the three-year old moratorium on ordaining gay bishops passed in the wake of conservative outrage over the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is the American branch. Read more – Photo - Advocate.com

Learn more - An Inch At A Time: Reflection on the Journey - Rev. Susan Russell

Hate Crimes Prevention Act for USA – And for the Vatican, Benedict XVI?

The New York Times - July 13, 2009, 6:13 PM

Senate Democrats Attach Hate Crimes Law to Defense Bill

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Senate Democrats said on Monday that they would seek to broaden the federal hate crimes law to protect victims of attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disabilities.

To lift the chances of passage, Democrats said the legislation, known as the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, would be attached as an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill – a must-pass measure.

The proposal is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who was tied to a fence, beaten and left to die in 1998.

The Senate approved the legislation last year, also as part of the military authorization bill, but it was never reconciled with a similar House-passed bill…

“The hate crimes amendment would improve existing law by making it easier for federal authorities to investigate and prosecute crimes of racial, ethnic, or religious violence,” Mr. Leahy said in a statement. Read more - The New York Times

Photo - Matthew Shepard memorial

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The Achilles’ heel for Benedict XVI, the Hierarchy & the Vatican regarding Sexual Orientation – Homosexuality – Gender Identity

by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz - Revised on July 15, 2009

Read complete posting

The Diary of Anne Frank (published in English 1952) Marie-Louise Luxemburg

In 1933 the Frank family moved from Germany to Holland to escape the Nazi persecution of the Jews. In Amsterdam, Anne Frank’s father Otto Frank started a Dutch branch of the Opekta Company, manufacturing products used in jam making, such as pectin. The Franks lived in a house in the southern side of the city, and Anne and her sister Margot attended the local school and made friends with the local children. Read more & Photo

Kindergarten Cop 1990

John Kimble is a tough city cop who's been on the trail of drug dealer Cullen Crisp for years. He finally tracks Crisp down but it seems the only person that can testify against him is his ex-wife. The problem is she's disappeared and all Kimble knows is the name of the school in Oregon where her son attends. When things don't quite go to plan, Kimble finds he has to go undercover on his toughest assignment yet - Kindergarten teacher! Photo & Video clip

Divert Contributions - Making A Difference for Children

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Matthew 21: 43

"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." Luke 11: 52

Read more

Reasons Why the Gay Rights Movement Has No National Leader – it encompasses a large world scale of people than originally believed.

Why the Gay Rights Movement Has No National Leader By JEREMY W. PETERS Published: June 20, 2009

Every so often, the American social order is reshuffled. And that upheaval is typically accompanied by a prominent face.

Frederick Douglass became the face of the black abolitionist movement. A century later, Martin Luther King Jr. played that role in the civil rights movement. Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem became the spokeswomen for the modern women’s movement.

Yet the gay rights movement, which is about to enter its fifth decade, has never had a such a leader despite making remarkable strides in a relatively short period of time.

Gay people have no national standard-bearer, no go-to sound-byte machine for the media. So when President Obama last week extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, there was no alpha gay leader to respond with the movement’s official voice, though some activists criticized the president for not going far enough.

Until 1973, homosexuality was classified as a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association. Today, same-sex couples can marry in six states. How did a group that has been so successful over the last generation in countering cultural prejudice and winning civil rights make it so far without an obvious leader?

One explanation is that gay and lesbian activists learned early on that they could get along just fine without one. Even in the movement’s earliest days following the violent uprising at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village 40 years ago this week, no singular leader emerged. Some historians believe this is in part because it was — and still is — difficult for the average American to empathize with the struggles of gay people. Read more The New York Times/ International Herald Tribune By JEREMY W. PETERS

Photo - Fred McDarrah/The Village Voice COMING OUT Marchers demonstrate for equal rights for gays and lesbians.

The Gay Rights Movement – encompasses on a world scale a

much larger number of people than originally believed. By Fr. Marty Kurylowicz - Thalamus Center

I think that the reason why the Gay rights movement does not have one noted leader is indicative of the complexities and the magnitude of sexual orientation and gender identity. The gay rights movement is enormously larger than one specific race or one specific gender or nationality. It includes all races, all cultures, people of all ages and it encompasses the breath of time throughout the ages. This is why the gay rights movement is able to succeed without one national or global leader, because it is so all-inclusive. The fact that this is true is the reason why, today, it is not so easy to even stereotype LGBT people. Because as more people come out the old stereotypes of the past drop like dead flies. We now have football players, other major sport figures, and political leaders, who have come out as being gay. Today, there is no one single caricature that can be applied to LGBT people that fits all. With the wide range of diversified people coming out as “LGBT” more in the recent past, we are beginning see the individual differences that are emerging regarding LGBT people.

Sadly, what is now being caricaturized are the people who oppose the gay rights movement. This can easily be identified in California Prop 8 ads of 2008. One side spoke of love and well-being and the other side spoke of fear and being hysterical. The world saw this difference and this brought out many to leave the opposing side and became educated about human sexuality. The caricatures emerging about the opposition to the Gay Rights Movement is one of being ignorant and being inhuman to other human beings, like it was for the people in the past who oppose civil rights for any one race, nationality or religion. This is because they severely lack the necessary components of separation and individualization that is integral for any growth or a sign of intelligence.

The opponents to the Gay Rights Movement were not just publicized in the California Prop 8, but also in the two previous Bush’s presidential campaign. They used "gay marriage" as can be seen, now, as a form of “gay bashing” based on fear and hysteria in order to win elections.

I suspect that the Gay Rights Movements is moving faster in this time of our history due to the technology of computers and the Internet that promotes instant global communications. This is what caught the Vatican and the hierarchy off guard regarding the global public outpouring of the covered up sexual abuse cases for decades. This public outpouring was constant and concentrated all within a relatively short period of time of a couple of years. The Vatican and the hierarchy could no longer intimidate in their attempts to silence victims of sexual abuse and or their parents, behind closed doors. The same will happen to the Vatican and the hierarchy regarding the Gay Rights Movement, the severe mental and physical harm they cause to children and their silencing and intimation of clerics and others members of religious orders from speaking out the truth about homosexuality. The harm and compensation for the harm caused to LGBT people, by the Vatican and the hierarchy will be astronomical in comparison to sexual abuse cases.

By Fr. Marty Kurylowicz - Thalamus Center

Important note: I mean no disrespect to Pope Benedict XVI or the hierarchy, the one and only concern is the safety and well-being of children. Kids are being hurt!!!

From Stonewall to Mainstream - A timeline of the American Gay Rights movement. Newsweek.com

A Long Road Traveled

There will undoubtedly be political struggles ahead, but for one gay activist, meeting with President Obama on the anniversary of Stonewall was a deeply emotional event.

By Michael Adams | Newsweek Web Exclusive - Updated: 10:33 a.m. ET Jun 30, 2009

The last time I got as close to the White House as I did this week was many years ago—six years after the Stonewall riots, when I was a 13-year-old National Spelling Bee participant from St. Margaret's School in Lowell, Mass. We spelling bee kids didn't make it into the White House that day—we stood outside as first lady Betty Ford spoke to us from a balcony. By then I already knew I was gay. Raised in a staunch Catholic home and taught (and tormented) by nuns, I was certain that an open homosexual (that was the only term I knew back then) could never be allowed inside the White House. I knew nothing of the nascent gay-rights movement—it hadn't reached Lowell in 1975. All I knew was that that whatever words there were to describe what I was, it would have to be suppressed forever. I assumed that I would have to either become a priest or figure out some other way to hide.

Thankfully, time marched on, and I eventually became a politicized college student rather than a candidate for the priesthood—and ultimately I kicked open my closet door and came out. But I can't help thinking about that personal history as I replay the reel of yesterday's visit to the White House in my head. As the executive director of SAGE, an advocacy group for LGBT senior citizens, I was invited, along with some 200 other LGBT leaders, to join the Obamas in commemorating gay pride—which falls this year on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Read more Newsweek.com

Timeline: Gay Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Group Divided Over Gay Marriage, by Jennifer Steinhauer - nytimes.com

Photo Michal Czerwonka for The New York Times

Published: July 10, 2009

LOS ANGELES — The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the 50-year-old civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others, is seeking to remove the president of its Los Angeles chapter in response to his support of same-sex marriage in California.

The effort by the Atlanta-based organization is meeting stiff resistance in Los Angeles from both the board of the local chapter, whose chairman is secretary of the state’s Democratic Party, and the City Council president.

During the battle last fall over Proposition 8, an amendment to the State Constitution that banned same-sex marriage, the chapter’s president, the Rev. Eric P. Lee, was more than a tangential figure for the opposition. He was front and center at an opposition group’s large rally at City Hall and marched in the blazing sun for 15 miles in Fresno. Many other local African-American pastors prepared mailings featuring church leaders in support of the proposition and linking their views to Barack Obama, then the Democratic nominee for president. Read more The New York Times/International Herald Tribune

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama had their first audience with Pope Benedict XVI today.

The New York Times

Read more

"The Pictures say it all."

Daily News - President Obama, Pope Benedict XVI meet for first time in Rome

BY MICHAEL SAUL 
DAILY NEWS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT - Updated Friday, July 10th 2009, 10:08 AM

A beaming President Obama met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican Friday, saying it was a "great honor" to meet the pontiff. Read more:Daily News Photo Ghanbari/AP

President Obama Meets Pope Benedict XVI

By Frank James

President Barack Obama ended his visit to Italy today by meeting with Pope Benedict XVI today, the first time the two men had met.

Here's a report from NPR's Sylvia Poggiolo:

The pictures speak the loudest - the tall, young new American president - smiling broadly and very visibly at ease -standing alongside the stooped-back, elderly pontiff wearing ornate lace and satin vestments.

Mr. Obama shook the pope's hand, and said it was a great honor to meet him.

Then, in the pope's library, sitting at a large desk in his private study, the pope was heard asking about the G-8 summit - reporters were then escorted from the room. Read more - NPR - Photo - President Barack Obama with Pope Benedict XVI and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Vatican. AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari

CITTA' DEL VATICANO - E' durato quaranta minuti il colloquio tra Barack Obama e Papa Benedetto XVI. "Santità, è un grande onore per me": così ha esordito il capo della Casa Bianca, emozionato ma anche a suo agio nella biblioteca vaticana dove, per la prima volta da quando è diventato presidente, ha incontrato il Pontefice. Obama ha portato in dono una stola liturgica appartenuta al primo vescovo americano diventato santo, Giovanni Nepomuceno Neumann, ricevendo da Ratzinger una copia autografata dell'enciclica Caritas in veritate e anche, non a caso, il testo dell'istruzione della Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede Dignitatis personae sulla bioetica. Read more

The Achilles’ heel for Benedict XVI, the Hierarchy & the Vatican regarding Sexual Orientation – Homosexuality – Gender Identity

by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz - Revised on July 15, 2009

Important note: I mean no disrespect to Pope Benedict XVI or the hierarchy, the one and only concern is the safety and well-being of children. Kids are being hurt!!!

The Achilles’ heel is the fact the sexual orientation begins very early in life either just before birth or shortly after and it remains resistant to change throughout a person’s lifetime. Like with Galileo the documentation is overwhelmingly supportive of this fact. This one fact alone totally destroys the very foundation of the Vatican’s teachings on homosexuality. Because an infant’s preference of attachment to another human being and that infant “acting on that preference” cannot be thought of as “intrinsically evil,” “intrinsically disordered,” or are such actions to be “condemned.” Nor is it even humanly possible to think that for the rest of that infant’s life, he, she is never to be held, to be embraced or to fall in love and to be one with another human being, ever! Nor to be told in some way, which is beyond all human comprehension, for life to “sublimate one’s sexuality,” which is a great risk to the psychological well-being of anyone. See related articles

Sexual orientation is less about sex and more about love …

Sexual Orientation, Breathing and Heart Beating …

“An illustration of the process of the Vatican's Achilles' heel of the teachings of homosexual orientation that renders them null and void.”

From the movie "Stars Wars “A New Hope” the Empire’s indestructible Battle Station (the Vatican's teaching on sexual orientation) has one small weakness. Its’ defenses are designed around a direct large-scale assault (adults) but not for a small one-man fighter (children), which was not considered to be a threat. The weakness is a target area only 2 meters wide and only a precise direct hit will start a chain reaction that will destroy Battle Station. The one-man fighter is this one fact, a small piece of truth that sexual orientation is set very early in a person life, long before for the Vatican's arbitrary set "age of reason" and it remains resistant to change. With the promulgation of the erroneous teachings of the Vatican regarding homosexual orientation – Kids are being hurt!!! View video clip 152,684

The Vatican never considered children to be a threat, as proven by their failure to protect children for decades regarding the global sexual abuse cases. Now again, the Vatican, Benedict XVI and the hierarchy have failed to take in the well-being of children regarding their teachings of sexual orientation and gender identity.

President Obama is wise to say he is conflicted by Christian teachings regarding LGBT issues and other aspects, (because he is not alone) before he meets with Benedict XVI. President Obama and Mrs. Obama will be meeting with the authoritative leader of the Roman Catholic Church, not the authoritarian leader. This means that Benedict XVI should be able to explain in great detail all the documentary evidence regarding human sexuality, which is backed by leaders in the field. Benedict XVI should be able to supply President Obama and Mrs. Obama with detailed facts that make sense about human sexuality. The Obamas are intelligent people, both are respected lawyers who have shown great compassion for all human beings, particularly children. The Obamas, as major world leaders will be most interested in all that Benedict XVI has to offer on human sexuality. Benedict XVI is to mirror the example of Christ who is the great teacher, not the great dictator. LGBT issues will not be addressed, because this a diplomatic visit of good will, out of respect and nothing more. However, the Obamas will be a "breath of fresh air" as they grace the Vatican with their visit. They will bring a sense of "new life," human warmth and profound respect to the Vatican during their time with Benedict XVI.

Christ is protective of children and gave stern warnings to see that children are not harmed. Even if, the Vatican, Benedict XVI and the hierarchy pay no heed to Christ's warnings to protect children many world leaders have and have taken great risks to do so. Thank you in the name of Christ. After Benedict XVI's chilling Christmas message 2008…

I think in truth on a much deeper level I was frightened, really frightened, to hear Pope Benedict XVI’s Christmas remarks against homosexuals and transgendered human beings and even more frightened by the silence from the larger global community of human beings. What is so frightening is, even if there is agreement that one person does not matter or is not important, in truth then no one matters. Read more AUSCHWITZ

However, I was so surprised that slowly but firmly many world leaders came forth, as well as, major medical and mental health professional associations and organizations to express their objections to Benedict XVI’s statements related to human sexuality.

Tony Blair, Britain’s formal Prime Minster politely publicly tells Benedict XVI it is time to rethink his thoughts on homosexuality, April 2009. Mr. Blair, a major world leader made an unprecedented public sign of support for LGBT people. Thank you Mr. Blair. Interesting after Mr. Blair’s words to Benedict XVI, Benedict XVI has not made any public statements against LGBT people. However, Benedict XVI’s actions against LGBT people went undercover, covert attacks done in the name of God similar to the Crusades. Then some states in the USA passed Marriage Equality for all their citizens. Consistently, as to be expected our major LGBT leaders globally worked tirelessly to follow through on Marriage Equality, the Hate Crime bills, Human Rights and monitored global mistreatment of LGBT people.

Since, the beginning of 2009, many world leaders made appointments of openly gay people to high political offices, USA, France, Belgium, Iceland, others and some gay people in high offices acknowledged their sexual orientation, Spain. The Obamas have been supportive even through these historical hard economic times more than any other presidential administration. A significant gesture was the invitation of LGBT youths to work at the White House. For years the Episcopal Church has led the way, as well as, many other Christians churches regarding the love and acceptance that Christ has for all LGBT people, as well as, many of other faiths. The Episcopalians continue their struggles starting this week "Marching to Anaheim" with Rev. Susan Russell leading the way along with many others. We pray the best for them because their successes will be for us all. Then for us in the USA, this year President Obama begins by dedicating June 2009 to Gay Pride, another unprecedented event made by a USA President. Throughout many of the Gay Pride Parades in the USA and globally major political leaders, and major entertainment celebrities have joined in. The Obamas held a reception at the White House at the end of June 2009 for many of our LGBT leaders and LGBT Veterans commemorating Stonewall’s 40^th Anniversary. These people I am eternally indebted to for my “coming out” alive. Then the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, and his wife, Sarah, host a private reception for the London’s Gay Pride leaders, at 10 Dowling Street. Stunned and left speechless by this overwhelming outpouring of world leaders’ support, acknowledgment and respect for many of our LGBT leaders and workers. Then as if coming out of a surreal experience, realizing that it is truly the “Sarah Brown” with a beaming smile, leading London’s Gay Pride Parade 2009. Wow!!! Can this really be happening!?! What a remarkable women! Her quiet reserve demeanor takes public attention off her rich example of humanitarian work that seems endless. Thank you Sarah Brown, and to all our world leaders for the risks you took for all LGBT people, their parents, families and friends, but most especially for very young children all around the world. You will not be forgotten by millions of people, people who you will never meet. Those of us who are of the Christian persuasion, we know that Christ promised heaven to those who cared for those who the world wrongly considers to be the least among people. For me the terrible fright I felt at Christmas 2008 by Benedict XVI chilling words against homosexuals and transgender persons and the silence of the global world melted away, quite unexpectedly, by this outpouring of human empathy. J.K. Rowling describes this kind of renewing human empathy, so well in her Harvard Commencement Address, June 5, 2008. J.K. Rowling speaks of her early days, in her 20’s working at Amnesty International in London. She begins by telling us first of the importance of "imagination."

…Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared.

...I read hastily scribbled letters smuggled out of totalitarian regimes by men and women who were risking imprisonment to inform the outside world of what was happening to them… I read the testimony of torture victims and saw pictures of their injuries. I opened handwritten, eye-witness accounts of summary trials and executions, of kidnappings and rapes.

Many of my co-workers were ex-political prisoners, people who had been displaced from their homes, or fled into exile, because they had the temerity to speak against their governments…

I shall never forget the African torture victim, a young man no older than I was at the time, who had become mentally ill after all he had endured in his homeland. He trembled uncontrollably as he spoke into a video camera about the brutality inflicted upon him. He was a foot taller than I was, and seemed as fragile as a child. I was given the job of escorting him back to the Underground Station afterwards, and this man whose life had been shattered by cruelty took my hand with exquisite courtesy, and wished me future happiness.

And as long as I live I shall remember walking along an empty corridor and suddenly hearing, from behind a closed door, a scream of pain and horror such as I have never heard since. The door opened, and the researcher poked out her head and told me to run and make a hot drink for the young man sitting with her. She had just had to give him the news that in retaliation for his own outspokenness against his country’s regime, his mother had been seized and executed.

Every day of my working week in my early 20s I was reminded how incredibly fortunate I was, to live in a country with a democratically elected government, where legal representation and a public trial were the rights of everyone.

Every day, I saw more evidence about the evils humankind will inflict on their fellow humans, to gain or maintain power. I began to have nightmares, literal nightmares, about some of the things I saw, heard, and read.

And yet I also learned more about human goodness at Amnesty International than I had ever known before.

Amnesty mobilises thousands of people who have never been tortured or imprisoned for their beliefs to act on behalf of those who have. The power of human empathy, leading to collective action, saves lives, and frees prisoners. Ordinary people, whose personal well-being and security are assured, join together in huge numbers to save people they do not know, and will never meet. My small participation in that process was one of the most humbling and inspiring experiences of my life.

Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people’s places.

Of course, this is a power, like my brand of fictional magic, that is morally neutral. One might use such an ability to manipulate, or control, just as much as to understand or sympathise.

And many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all. They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are. They can refuse to hear screams or to peer inside cages; they can close their minds and hearts to any suffering that does not touch them personally; they can refuse to know.

I might be tempted to envy people who can live that way, except that I do not think they have any fewer nightmares than I do. Choosing to live in narrow spaces leads to a form of mental agoraphobia, and that brings its own terrors. I think the wilfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid.

What is more, those who choose not to empathise enable real monsters. For without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves, we collude with it, through our own apathy. Read complete address (video) of J.K. Rowling - HARVARD MAGAZINE 41,552

The one and only concern is for the well being of children. The movie “Prayers for Bobby” 2009 (video) was too unbearable to watch in its entirety for me, though our situations were different the experience of the confusion, isolation, and depression were in many ways too similar. It was quite difficult to re-experience even a little bit of those painful feelings long forgotten. And the thought to allow any child to go through that kind of needless pain and suffering goes against everything we know God to be. 111,862

Victims of abuse become the Aggressors

Doing to others what was done to them as children

Benedict XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger) was around 10 years old living in Germany, when Hitler came to power and immediately began his attacks against homosexuals. As a child, Benedict XVI witnessed and would have been traumatized by this inhuman attack against homosexuals being quickly and quietly disposed of by Hitler’s men. This would have made Benedict XVI, as a child, a victim of violent abuse living through this massive form of inhuman treatment of other human beings. As well as, a victim of an inhuman form of neglect abuse, because no one tried to stop this inhumanity from happening. From psychology it is known that the victims of child abuse, as adults are likely to become the aggressor committing the exact same crimes against others that were committed against them as children. Benedict XVI seems to have recreated the same horror of Hitler’s extermination of homosexuals. As Cardinal Ratzinger, Benedict XVI’s investigations beginning in the late 1970’s were constant and extensive, an endless obsession tracking down those who were speaking the truth about homosexuality. Benedict XVI's period of his inhuman inquisition lasted well over some 30 years and is still ongoing. All Benedict XVI’s tactics were done behind closed doors silencing these people, similar to Hitler’s tactics of disposing of human beings. Anne Frank: The Whole Story 2001 Captured 83,486 - 87,676

Think of how many millions of children and adults would have lived healthier more productive lives and others not being killed, prevented others from taking their own lives and others from being physically abused, if Benedict XVI did not prevented the truth about homosexuality from being made known. The only difference from Hitler and Benedict XVI form of violence against humanity was that Hitler’s was an explicit form of violence and Benedict XVI’s was implicit form of violence against humanity, which is even more sadistic and inhuman. The cardinals, bishops and Vatican staffers under the authority, first of Cardinal Ratzinger, then later as Benedict XVI resemble the Gestapo the official secret police of Nazi Germany under Hitler’s dictatorship. After Hitler’s death, at the end of WWII all these people who carried out his atrocities were arrested, others hunted down and all were convicted of war crimes. They were not excused by making the statement “I was only following orders.” This will also not work for the many people in the Church either, the many who go to church every Sunday. They will be held responsible for their silence and apathy, which is a form of collusion that is evil, because by it “Kids are being hurt!!!”

Human goodness at its’ best is brighter than all the stars in the heavens and more beautiful than all the sunrises and sunsets put together. The power of human love is beyond any known force on earth, to heal, give life, restore hope becoming a part of something greater than one’s self. This kind of human goodness is needed because “Kids being are being hurt.” A tough movie but some great scenes caring about and working with kids - Kindergarten Cop 9476 - 9242

Divert Contributions - Making A Difference for Children

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Matthew 21: 43

"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." Luke 11: 52

The quickest way to see results regarding the Vatican, Benedict XVI, the cardinals and bishops is to withhold all contributions, until immediate changes are made. That open discussions are held by the Vatican of the best and the brightest theologians and scientists and professional researchers and practitioners regarding human sexuality. Withhold all contributions except of course, for institutions specifically for children, the elderly and the sick. It would also be a great time to insist on transparency in all accounting, a word quite foreign to the Vatican, Benedict XVI, the cardinals and bishops. Do not settle for anything less, we are talking about protecting children, regrettably another concept quite foreign to the Vatican, Benedict XVI, the cardinals and bishops.

However, this does not mean that we keep the money we would have given in contributions, because we as Christians are responsible to care for the poor and those in need. And today, with our economy that is terrible globally there are a lot of people in need, losing their homes, having no food or health care, etc. There are plenty of people in need of our help even in our families and neighborhoods. Also, on the Thalamus Center there are listed on the left hand side of this blog a number of organizations for children that need our support. The Family Acceptance Project - Dr. Caitlin Ryan of San Francisco State University is a research project about LGBT children growing up. They can most definitely use our donations and it would be putting our money where it could do the most good. There are a number of organizations like PFLAG and Fortunate Families that can use our donations. There are numerous Religious LGBT groups who are also listed on the left side of this blog like Dignity and Integrity and many other denominations and of various religions. Also, there are local LGBT Community Centers who are always in need of donations and most all work with LGBT youths.

It is sad that the only time the Vatican, Benedict XVI, the cardinals and bishops will move is when money is involved. Only after numerous victims of sexual abuse started class action lawsuits did the Vatican moved, most regrettable they did not move out of concern for the children. It is a way to initiate reform without leaving the Catholic Church, but instead cleaning house, our house, God's house. The more we truly study Church history, Church doctrine, theology and scripture we can begin to stop the abuses in the Catholic Church worldwide.

by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz

Revised on July 15, 2009

Important note: I mean no disrespect to Pope Benedict XVI or the hierarchy, the one and only concern is the safety and well-being of children.Kids are being hurt!!!

Another Horrific Tale of "Ex-Gay" Conversion... and How the Internet is Helping Fight Back by Waymon Hudson

The request to join a new group came through my Facebook page. The group was called "Friends of Bryce", which could have been anything, but had a note attached that said "Please Help."

When I clicked over to the group, an all too familiar tale unfolded. Bryce Faulkner, a young gay man from Arkansas, had gone missing after his parents had discovered he was gay. They had gotten into their college-aged son's email account and discovered messages between Bryce and his boyfriend.

The parents then gave Bryce an ultimatum- enter an extensive and severe "therapy" program or lose all their support for college and living expenses. For a young man from a conservative small town whose entire life, including his job, was tied to his parents, who had nowhere to go and no one to turn to, there really was no choice.

Bryce was sent to 14 week long conversion therapy camp and has not been heard from again. Read more Bilerico Project

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Truth Wins Out

Iceland's PM marks gay milestone By Vanessa Buschschluter BBC News

Sunday, 1 February 2009

Johanna Sigurdardottir, named as Iceland's prime minister on Sunday, is the first openly lesbian head of government in Europe, if not the world - at least in modern times.

The 66-year-old's appointment as an interim leader, until elections in May, is seen by many as a milestone for the gay and lesbian movement.

Up until now, if a gay man or woman has been prime minister, they have done their best to conceal the fact.

In Iceland itself, however, the new prime minister's sexual orientation appears to be causing less excitement than it is abroad.

What is really historic about this new cabinet, says Skuli Helgeson, the general secretary of Ms Sigurardottir's Social Democratic Alliance, is not the fact that its leader is a lesbian, but that for the first time in Icelandic history it boasts an equal number of men and women.

"I don't think her sexual orientation matters. Our voters are pretty liberal, they don't care about any of that," he told BBC News. Read more BBC News

Businesses asked to shut down as Obama arrives in Ghana By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi

Ghana Business News

Some major business organizations along the road leading to the Kotoka International Airport have been asked to shut down for security reasons Friday July 9 to Sunday July 12 2009 as President Obama arrives in Ghana.

The Airport District Police has issued an instruction to workers of the companies including Silver Star Tower to close and leave the premises by 4:00pm Friday till Monday 6:00am.

No vehicles are to be left in the car park except the basement, and the company’s security men on duty have been asked to register with the police before they would be allowed into the premises to take their duty posts.

President Obama is visiting Ghana on a historical occasion. He said he is visiting Ghana to highlight the fact that Ghana is a good example of a stable democracy following a peaceful election and smooth transfer of power.

He believes that by visiting Ghana, he would be encouraging other countries to follow the example. President Obama also believes that democracy is the route to progress.

Already feverish preparations are being made to welcome him into Ghana. Some musicians have composed songs to welcome him, wax prints with his image and that of Ghanaian president, John Atta Mills have been printed.

While in Ghana President Obama will visit the Cape Coast castle, a monumental testimony to the shocking nature of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, by which most Africans slaves were shipped to the US. Read more Ghana Business News

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US First Lady Michelle Obama (C), her daughter Sasha (L) and Russia's First Lady Svetlana Medvedeva (R) attend a concert at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre in Moscow, July 7, 2009. REUTERS

CNNPolitics.com - Obama to visit Ghana in July

Voice of America - Ghana Hopes Obama Brings Tourism Boom

Obama's "Faith Wrestling" When it Comes to LGBT Rights by Michael A. Jones

PUBLISHED JULY 07, 2009 @ 12:25PM PT

Well, count me puzzled here. President Barack Obama, traveling through Russia, Europe and Africa this week, gave a briefing to members of Catholic media in advance of his upcoming meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. In many ways, Catholic media tends to be a heck of a lot closer to the National Review than to The Nation, so it was fairly bold for Obama (seen by many Catholic leaders as someone who contradicts conservative Catholic teachings) to meet with this pool of reporters.

But....

Well, there's always a but when it comes to Obama and LGBT rights, isn't there.

Among the subjects touched on during the rendezvous with the Catholic reporters was the subject of LGBT rights. Here's Obama's comment:

For the gay and lesbian community in this country, I think it's clear that they feel victimized in fairly powerful ways and they're often hurt by not just certain teachings of the Catholic Church, but the Christian faith generally. And as a Christian, I'm constantly wrestling with my faith and my solicitude and regard and concern for gays and lesbians.

Now, there's some juiciness in that statement that is certainly worth celebrating. The fact that Obama said that certain teachings of the Catholic Church hurt LGBT people is remarkable...and something you would never have expected from the myriad of Presidents before him…

It's a great thing that Obama spoke about LGBT rights from a framework that puts the Church directly at the center of hurtful language and rhetoric targeted toward queer communities. I just wish that instead of saying that his faith is calling him to "wrestle" with how to deal with LGBT people, Obama would have owned that as far as his faith goes, there's no debate needed when it comes to fully supporting the civil rights of LGBT people. Read complete article by Michael A. Jones Gay Rights

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Sarah Brown marches in Pride parade 2009 - By Jessica Geen

Gordon and Sarah Brown host Pride reception

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • July 4, 2009 - 13:34

Gordon and Sarah Brown hosted an intimate reception in Downing Street's gardens this morning for organisers of London Pride and the pink press.

Those in attendance included gay MPs such as Chris Bryant and Nick Brown, organisers of Pride, Stonewall chair Ben Summerskill and MEP Michael Cashman, along with Attitude editor Matthew Todd, newly-installed Gay Times editor Tris Reid-Smith and PinkNews.co.uk.

Although the prime minister and his wife did not make any speeches, they spent around ten minutes talking to each attendee.

PinkNews.co.uk publisher and Channel 4 business and technology correspondent Benjamin Cohen described the event as "very private". He said: "I was really surprised as the door swung open to see Gordon Brown's son playing with a toy car.

"The prime minister told me there was still much to do for gay rights, despite everything Labour has achieved. He pointed to cultural change, especially in schools and sports... Read more - pinknews

Sarah Brown marches in Pride parade - By Jessica Geen • July 4, 2009 - 13:58

The prime minister's wife Sarah Brown today made history by marching in London's Pride parade.

Fresh from hosting a reception for Pride organisers and the pink press, she was flanked by Stonewall chief Ben Summerskill and gay MEP Michael Cashman as she waved a pink Union flag.

Marching without bodyguards at her side, she looked contented and was happy to talk to gay rights campaigners.

Her popularity was proved by the number of marchers shouting "Go Sarah!"

PinkNews.co.uk publisher Benjamin Cohen marched alongside Mrs Brown.

He said: "She seemed extremely excited to be there. I did spot two discreetly-placed bodyguards around her. She didn't speak to people who were lining the streets but she spoke to a number of campaigners and ordinary people and told me how much fun having people at the reception had been." Read more pinknews

Related link

SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2009Sarah Brown, British PM's wife joins 1000s at London’s Gay Pride Parade 2009

The Many Sides of Jerusalem’s Gay Pride Parade 2009 - Reuters Blogs

AxisMundi Jerusalem - Inside Israel and the Palestinian Territories

June 25th, 2009 Posted by: Erika Solomon

Although thousands of Israelis participated in Jerusalem’s 8th annual gay pride parade, which went off without a hitch, some signs of tension were visible. The parade ended with a small concert organized at a city centre park, which had been surrounded with high fences covered in black mesh.

Despite the cheerful singing and colourful banners, many participants who attend both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem’s gay pride parades, say the Israeli parade in Jerusalem, a holy city for the religious, is markedly different from a similar parade in the secular coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv, held a couple of weeks ago.

One Israeli marcher said Jerusalem, as a much more politically divided city, has a very politicized pride parade: “In Tel Aviv, the Gay Pride parade is more of a party. But in Jerusalem, it’s much more political, like a protest.” Several marchers echoed this sentiment. Na’ama, a member of Bat-Kol, an organization for Orthodox Jewish lesbians, agreed, adding: “It’s not like a protest-it is a protest. I don’t want to take it for granted that I can walk here. But we also have to fight for other rights, like the right to marry. And we still have a struggle with the rest of the Orthodox community to get them to accept us.”

Across the street from the park, a small cluster of demonstrators gathered to protest the gay pride parade. Most offered rather extreme interpretations of the gravity of allowing the pride parade. Daisy Stern, holding a sign saying “No Flags of Fags Here”, said she was “protesting and fighting this horrible trend that persists in this city, which is funded and masterminded by our enemies who don’t want to see a Jewish land and this is a way to break our spirits”. One student, who joked he was protesting “to be a hardcore fundamentalist”, added: ” I’m not so much against the gay part , I’m protesting the pride part. The bible says homosexuality is an abomination. Only an abominable person would be proud about their homosexuality.” Some held up copies of the Torah, and signs offering help for homosexuals. Read complete article on Reuters Blogs

PHOTOS: Ronen Zvulun, Darren Whiteside, Baz Ratner. Reuters, Jerusalem. June 25, 2009.

European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights

Excerpt from:

Challenging Human Rights Violations

on Mon 23 October 2006 - in What We Do

One of the lessons that have to be taken from the 2nd World War is that appeasement costs lives. Had individuals not been afraid to speak against those who would wish harm upon our minorities, many of the 20th Century's worse atrocities may have been avoided. In the face of renewed proliferation of discrimination and hatred, we, as concerned citizens of the world, must stand up and speak with one united voice against those who would wish to curtail the universal rights of others. Members and supporters of the Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights are not afraid to stand up and challenge human rights violations, wherever they may happen.

We speak out against human rights violations, and we do so by supporting the actions of the European Parliament that work towards those ends. We likewise use our existing network to monitor the progress of new national and European legislations in order to ensure that they meet the highest human rights standards. By monitoring the progress of new legislation carefully, we are able to mobilise members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and raise awareness of issues that may be contentious and need review. In doing so, we ensure that the European Union remains amongst the regions of the world most respectful of the sanctity of human rights.

By monitoring the European Council of Ministers and the European Commission, we ensure that those individuals responsible for forming European foreign policy are aware of incidents of homophobia and given countries and raise it in their on-going dialogues with non-EU countries.

We do not hesitate to contact those who would wish harm to our communities. More often than not those who create unbearable situations for the LGBT community are the same individuals who sign international treaties which affirm their obligations to protecting minorities and ensuring respect for fundamental rights. By addressing those with the power to change situations, we ensure that the voice of those who cannot speak is heard.

Sometimes, these actions are not enough. When things get bad, the members of the Intergroup do not hesitate to support actions at the grassroots. This is why we participate in conferences as keynote speakers, why we joined hands with other activists in the middle of dangerous Equality and Gay Pride marches in 2006. Actions such as these are common practice by the Intergroup's members.

Each half-year, we prioritise a number of particular topics. Actions in these fields are given a greater portion of our time and effort. Our campaigns give the opportunity to create coordinated impulses that lead to greater awareness of specific issues facing the LGBT community. Some campaigns, for example same-sex partnerships and family laws, are on-going whilst others like our current campaign prioritising specific actions on 3rd Countries are more finite in duration.

Whatever the circumstance, and whatever the motivation, fundamental rights are universal rights that apply to all and must be respected by all. It is with this understanding that all our members approach homophobia as a question of human rights that is the concern of us all.

Read more European Parliament - The Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights - Current News - About us - What We Do

Día del Orgullo Gay de Madrid 2009: Artículo de Fernando Grande-Marlaska en 'El Mundo'

EL JUEZ DE LA AUDIENCIA NACIONAL AFIRMA QUE HAY QUE LUCHAR POR SEGUIR NORMALIZANDO LA HOMOSEXUALIDAD

LVL lunes, 29 de junio de 2009, 14:43

Madrid.- Coincidiendo con las celebraciones del Día del Orgullo Gay 2009 en Madrid, el juez instructor de la Audiencia Nacional, Fernando Grande-Marlaska publicó en el diario 'El Mundo' un artículo el pasado sábado 27 de junio.

Bajo el título 'Hay mucho camino por recorrer', Grande- Marlaska, que ha reconocido su homosexualidad, hace una importante defensa de la lucha por los derechos y la normalización de los gays. Foto (He acknowledged his homosexuality Fernando Grande-Marlaska, judge of the Audiencia Nacional.)

HAY MUCHO CAMINO POR RECORRER

Esta semana se celebra el Orgullo Gay. En España, en estos últimos tiempos, se vienen escuchando voces que hacen, dado que contamos con una legislación que nos otorga todos los derechos, por razonar sobre su necesidad. Podemos contraer matrimonio, podemos adoptar hijos, etc. Incluso, de forma vamos a decir irónica, vienen a decir que ya es hora de celebrar el día del orgullo heterosexual. Esas voces desconocen cuál es la razón de esta celebración. Más aún, y eso es peor, parecen desconocer la razón de su actualidad.

Como en todas las celebraciones, siempre hay una fecha que sirve de referencia, y en el Orgullo Gay, es el 28 de junio, recordando como ese día de hace cuarenta años, la policía neoyorquina, con toda la inquina posible entró y detuvo a un grupo de homosexuales que se encontraban en un bar de ambiente (Stonewall). A partir de ese momento, el colectivo homosexual decidió de forma activa reclamar sus derechos, manifestarse, y fijar el 28 de junio como el de celebración. Sí, celebración de cómo ya no se iba a permanecer en el ya archiconocido armario. Como uno se aceptaba y estaba orgulloso de ser como era. Se celebraba y se celebra como ya no íbamos a dejar que nos tuvieran en una especie de apartheid. «Si el eco de sus voces se debilita, pereceremos». Paul Eluard. Read more

Read more translation English

lavozlibre.com

Cientos de miles de personas colapsan Madrid en favor de una 'Escuela sin armarios' Read more Spanish

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Hundreds of thousands of people clogged Madrid for a 'school without lockers'

Photo: The president of the Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (FLGTB), Antonio Poveda (i), together with the Minister of Equality, Bibiana Aidoo. / Efe

Hundreds of thousands have collapsed the center of Madrid after singing and dancing multicolored floats and banners for the "emotional-sexual diversity" in education as part of the Gay Pride march. From the Puerta de Alcalá to Plaza of Spain through the Gran Via, have passed clusters of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals who came from across Spain to participate in a ride that organizers say is a "political tool" to normalize homosexuality in school. In fact, several of the groups that participated did so by singing to the rhythm of "no parades, we are."

The march opened at 1800 hours Minister of Equality, Bibiana Aidoo, representatives of the PSOE, IU and UpyD, union leaders and major youth organizations, carrying a banner with "A school without lockers. In remarks before taking part in the ride, Aidoo said that "we have every reason to be proud, we are an open country that has made a clear bet for expanding rights," and said that all gays lesbians, transsexuals, and bisexual "have at their side to the government."

The minister regretted that 50% of gay adolescents suffer violence at school and in schools and has assured that "we all have to help make school a safe space for diversity, because what is learned in small remains forever. " After the banners, dozens of gay groups Seville, Barcelona, Gandía, Logrono, Asturias marched chanting and shouting left photograph for the thousands who crowded as a solid mass on both sides of the march prepared to chant any slogan. Read more

Fotos & Qué.es & eldiariomontanes.es video

Sarah Brown, British PM's wife joins 1000s at London’s Gay Pride Parade 2009

The Associated Press - Saturday, July 4, 2009; 11:49 AM

LONDON -- The wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined thousands of revelers in London's annual gay pride march.

Sarah Brown held a red, white and pink version of the Union Jack as the noisy parade wound through the city center before a rally and concert in Trafalgar Square.

Everyone from drag queens to firefighters and soldiers in uniform joined the parade, organized by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups.

Earlier, organizers met the Browns outside 10 Downing St.

The prime minister said Britain had made "massive strides towards equality," including the introduction of civil partnerships for gay couples. These have the same legal status as marriage, but some campaigners want the word marriage to apply to both gay and straight couples. Read more The Washington Post - www.washingtonpost.com Photo - Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown meets gay rights campaigner a Peter Tatchell, right, as she joined more than half a million marchers and other supporters in the gay pride parade through London Saturday July 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Johnny Green/PA) Click for more of the best photojournalism:

Read more & more photos – In pictures:

Pride parties politics – BBC News – news.bbc.co.uk

When kids come first everything else falls in right order and all will be well in the world.msk

AP PHOTO

Britain's Sarah Brown, right, Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, and wife of the British Prime Minister, speaks in front of Ban Ki-moon, left, Secretary-General of the United Nations, during the 62nd World Health Assembly, WHA, at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 19, 2009. The World Health Assembly is the annual meeting of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 193 Member States and it is the supreme decision-making body of WHO. Issues to be discussed at the WHA include pandemic influenza A (H1N1) preparedness. Read more & view photos – daylife.com

Former nurse welcomes Michelle Obama to London cancer centre

2 April, 2009 | By Richard Staines

Michelle Obama yesterday met with former nurse Laura Lee, chief executive of the charity Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres.

The US ‘first lady’ was visiting the centre for cancer patients in London with its patron, Sarah Brown, to help celebrate its first birthday.

The charity run centres offer pleasant environment for anyone suffering with cancer so they can get information, practical advice and emotional support. Read more NURSINGtimes.net

02 Apr 2009 - Telegraph.co.uk

G20 summit: Michelle Obama tells children they are future world leaders

Michelle Obama "All of you are precious and you touch my heart, and it's important for the world to know that there are wonderful girls like you all over the world." read more & video telegraph.co.uk

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2009

Obama holds gay pride reception, vows to overturn 'unjust laws'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama honored Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month with a White House reception Monday where he likened the struggle for gay rights with the struggle of African-Americans for civil rights.

With first lady Michelle Obama at his side, the president told the cheering crowd filling the East Room that his administration would work to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays in the military. Read more

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 LGBT Family Values - IntegriTV - Walking With Integrity

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009 I’m a thousand different people, every single one is real - I’ve a million different feelings, OK but at least I feel!

MONDAY, MAY 18, 2009 J.K. Rowling - The Power of Human Empathy, Leading to Collective Action, Saves Lives, and Frees Prisoners - Video 31659

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009KIDS ARE BEING HURT!!! Good Friday - Tony Blair, Gays, Benedict XVI

When kids do not come first right order is lost and all will be unsafe and intolerable in the world.msk

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009 Prayers for Bobby 2009

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2009 According to Catholic Church Teachings, Benedict XVI must supply all the documented evidence that supports his teachings on human sexuality

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2009 AUTHORITATIVE ≠ AUTHORITARIAN

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009 Benedict XVI Continuous History of Homosexual Activity, a partial list

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2008 AUSCHWITZ -- CHRISTMAS 2008 -- A flashback far more severe than in --- BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

The Pride of Antwerp - Advocate.com hits the gay-friendly streets of Antwerp with openly gay police commissioner Serge Muyters

By LoAnn Halden

An Advocate.com exclusive posted July 1, 2009

Even in a country as progressive as Belgium, where same-sex marriage and adoption by gays have been on the books since 2003 and 2006 respectively, Serge Muyters snagged headlines when he came out six years ago. It's not every day that a high-ranking police commissioner discusses his sexual orientation on the record and then proceeds to marry his partner -- a fellow member of the Antwerp Police Department.

Although Muyters decided to step out of the media spotlight five years ago, he agreed to make a rare interview exception for Advocate.com. As the summer travel season heats up, the first deputy chief commissioner spoke about being out on the job and the city he calls home.

Advocate.com: Belgium has some of the most progressive laws for LGBT people in Europe. Are there any areas that still need work? 
Serge Muyters: Antwerp is very open-minded to all visitors and inhabitants, and the city council supports many diversity programs. In 2013, Antwerp will organize the World Outgames. The only thing that concerns me is that recent research found that one out of 20 gay men is HIV-positive and that young people have a lot of unsafe sex. Due to successful treatment with antiretrovirals, people don't talk anymore about HIV and AIDS. I think it is necessary that Belgium put HIV and AIDS back on the agenda and convince people to practice safe sex. Read more Advocate.com

USA Happy 4th of July!!!

Photo Tony Northrup

Istanbul Pride 2009

Ayrımcılık ve önyargıya karşı durulmasını isteyen Başkan Barack Obama, Haziran ayını LGBT Onur Ayı ilan etti.

Amerika Birleşik Devletleri Başkanı, Lezbiyen, Gey, Biseksüel, Transgender (LGBT) ONUR Ayı ilan ettiği Haziran bildirisinde, herkese eşitlik vaadi yerine getirilemediği müddetçe tüm Amerikalıların etkileneceğini belirtti.

Obama, “LGBT Onur Ayı süresince LGBT cemaatini, meclisi ve Amerikan halkını, cinsel yönelim ve cinsiyet kimliği ayrımı yapmaksızın herkese eşit haklar verilmesini teşvik etmek için birlikte çalışmaya” davet etti.

21-28 Haziran tarihleri arasında, Lambdaistanbul'un organizasyonyla bir kez daha İstanbul’da gerçekleşecek 2009 LGBTT Onur Haftasına sayılı günler kalmışken, Haziran 2009’u LGBT On r Ayı ilan eden Obama’nın bildirisinin tam metnini yayınlıyoruz.

“New York’taki Stonewall Barı’nın patronları ve destekleyenleri, 40 yıl önce lezbiyen, gey, biseksüel ve transgender (LGBT) cemaatini çoktandır yaygın biçimde taciz eden polise karşı direndiler. Budirenişten Amerika’daki LGBT hakları hareketi doğdu. LGBT Onur Ayı boyunca Haziran 1969 olaylarını anacağız ve kendimizi LGBT Amerikalıların hukuk karşısında eşit adalete kavuşmasına adayacağız. Daha kaosgl.org

Istanbul Pride 2009 www.prideistanbul.org

Fotoğraf - Istanbul Pride Parade 2009 Salon.com

Istanbul’s GayPride Week Roundup

By SUSANNE FOWLER The New York Times

Marcha del Orgullo gay en Tijuana 2009 México

23 DE JUNIO DE 2009


Se tiñe Tijuana de arco iris con el Orgullo Gay
Un gran contingente de personas LGBT se reunió este fin de semana en el centro de la ciudad para, además de presumir singulares y llamativos atuendos, exigir sus derechos como personas y próximamente, ante las elecciones, como ciudadanos.


El Sol de Tijuana

Tijuana, Juan Antonio Espinoza.- La realización de la XIV Marcha del Orgullo GLBT (Gay, Lesbianas, Bisexual y Transgénero) 2009, rompió con paradigmas sociales en Tijuana. Además de la gran participación social llamó la atención la nutrida asistencia de menores de edad, lo que se interpreta con un fenómeno de apertura contra la homofobia.

Un gran continente de homosexuales que partió a las cinco de la tarde del sábado, entre las calles Mutualismo y Segunda, para seguir por la avenida Revolución y dar vuelta por la calle 9 y luego a la Constitución hasta concluir en la plaza Santa Cecilia, a lo que ellos llaman su lugar de reunión.

Nunca las principales calles de Tijuana se vieron tan atiborradas de gente como la tarde del sábado, al reunirse más de 500 personas, para presenciar el desfile gay con la carros alegóricos de los antros patrocinadores de la localidad y de San Diego, California, así como la participación de los Derechos Humanos a través de un grupo de la diversidad sexual.

Con una gigantesca bandera con los colores del arcoiris, icono gay a nivel mundial, que ondeaban con orgullo homosexuales tijuanenses, también se resaltó en un cartel que la homosexualidad no es un problema, y la homofobia sí, por lo que se exhortó a la gente que aún está “en el closet” a salir y dar la cara.

Con un alto a la homofobia, cientos de homosexuales exigieron igualdad de derechos para hombres y mujeres que nacieron con una sexualidad diferente a la común, ya que son una gran familia que merece el mismo respeto que los demás ciudadanos. leer más foto

Rex Wockner: Tijuana’s annual gay pride parade draws larger crowd

TIJUANA PRIDE PARADE TRIPLES IN SIZE, DOUBLES IN LENGTH by Rex Wockner

Foto

Two Bishops of Rochester Offer Different Messages To The Church

ANAHEIM, CA. While the Bishop of Rochester, NY, The Rt. Rev. Prince Singh today called for the full inclusion, justice and equality of gays and lesbians, whom he referred to as " saints of God” a senior Church of England Bishop, Dr. Michael Nazir-Ali, called on homosexuals to repent and "be changed."

Bishop Singh, in a video interview released by IntergityUSA on You Tube today (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28kJgG89RN0), referred to the LGBT faithful as "saints of God." Bishop Nazir-Ali, speaking on the occasion of gay pride in London, said "The Bible’s teaching shows that marriage is between a man and a woman. That is the way to express our sexual nature." He went on to add that if people believed differently, they did not belong in his church.

"Holding differences in tension has historically been a specialty of Anglicans," said the Rev. Susan Russell president of IntegrityUSA. “The church that made room for being both protestant and catholic at the communion rail in the 16th century can surely make room for being gay and straight together in the 21st."

"At the end of the day, what matters isn’t our sexual orientation but our theological orientation – and no child of God should ever be asked to make the choice between being honest about who they are and being accepted by their church. Jesus’ message was “the truth will set you free" not "become something you’re not to be accepted by the God who created you."

"We are in the final countdown to our witness in Anaheim and our message is that nothing short of all the sacraments for all the baptized is good enough for us or for Jesus – and we give thanks for the ministry of bishops like Prince Singh whose work and witness incarnates God’s inclusive love to ALL the God's beloved human family."

The Rev. Susan Russell is available for comment

Contact: Louise Brooks, Director of Communications, 626-993-4605

Read more Walking with IntegrityUSA

Orgullo Gay Madrid 2009 - 27th June to the 5th July, 2009

CARMEN V. VALIÑA - Madrid - 25/06/2009 17:42

Junta una carrera de tacones, un vibrante y multicolor desfile de carrozas en pleno centro de Madrid, un buen número de actividades culturales y una limonada en el Retiro para reponer fuerzas tras tanta fiesta. Añádele más de dos millones de personas con ganas de pasarlo bien y un elemento reivindicativo que este año se traduce en el lema: "Por la convivencia, respetemos la diferencia". El resultado: MADO'09 o, lo que es lo mismo, el Orgullo Gay de Madrid, una de las fiestas multitudinarias más grandes de toda Europa.

Hasta el 5 de julio, seis escenarios diferentes del barrio de Chueca acogen una extensa programación en la que se combinan música, teatro, deporte o cabaret: la Plaza de Chueca, la del Rey y la de Vázquez de Mella y las calles Pelayo y Libertad a las que se suma, este año, la Plaza de la Luna. El pistoletazo de salida para las celebraciones en Chueca lo dará, como es habitual, la lectura del pregón, que en 2009 se triplica: tres discursos leídos, entre otros, por Boris Izaguirre, Soraya Arnelas y Cayetana Guillén Cuervo. Desde ese momento y hasta el último día las actividades se suceden en una constante y frenética búsqueda de la diversión, sin dejar de lado la cultura y las reivindicaciones: el Festival Visible 09, con once exposiciones y trece montajes teatrales; los conciertos al aire libre; Lesmadrid'09, que conjuga deporte y monólogos de temática lésbica en una sede privilegiada, el Círculo de Bellas Artes, o Muestra T, un festival cultural plagado de danza, artes plásticas, teatro y cine.leer más Publico.es

Foto - Si hay un acto clave en el Orgullo Gay es el desfile que, como auténtica riada humana, recorre las calles del centro de Madrid llenándolas de baile y fiesta - AEGAL

Photo & read more - Madrid celebrates gay pride - Typically Spanish

Orgullo Gay de Madrid 2009 http://www.gaypridemadrid.com/

Motto des CSD Köln / ColognePride 2009

Wir blicken stolz und dankbar zurück auf 40 Jahre CSD-Geschichte. Von dem ersten Aufstand gegen Polizeiwillkür am 28.06.1969 in der New Yorker Christopher Street bis heute ist viel geschehen. Unzählige Aktivistinnen und Aktivisten haben in den letzten vier Jahrzehnten dazu beigetragen. Im Zuge einer langen und teilweise mühsamen Entwicklung sind Lesben und Schwule in Deutschland heute von Strafverfolgung und Ausgrenzung befreit, rechtlich weitgehend gleichgestellt und zunehmend gesellschaftlich akzeptiert.

Uns ist bewusst, dass der erreichte Status der gesellschaftlichen und politischen Integration keineswegs für alle Zeiten garantiert ist. Alte und jüngere Schwule und Lesben benötigen, wie alle gesellschaftlichen Minderheiten, eine möglichst konkrete Vorstellung von ihrer kollektiven Identität und ihrer Geschichte. Der ColognePride ist mehr als eine Party. Er gedenkt auch der Wurzeln der Emanzipationsbewegung und sichert die Solidarität in Gegenwart und Zukunft. Mehr ColognePride 2009

4th July 2009: Pride London

Pride London aims to promote equality and diversity through all of its campaigns. 

The two week Pride festival uses theatre, music, debate, art and entertainment to raise awareness of discrimination and the issues and difficulties affecting the lives of LGBT people around the world.

The Parade is an explosion of Pride in the heart of the capital, attracting over 500,000 people in a celebration of diversity. Through this hey aim to promote a sentiment in favour of equality, uniting people in a celebrative atmosphere where all are welcome, and fostering a sense of community within the LGBT population.

Overall, Pride London hopes to promote understanding and cooperation, as well as education in diversity, in order to get rid of the discrimination faced by LGBT people.

Read more Pride London

Read more Gay UK NEWS

London Awash With Colour for Pride 2009

Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister's wife, carried a pink, red and white version of the union flag as she joined the head of the march.

Photo & read more The London Echo

Image by coelho23.
Used under Creative Commons Licence

Regenbogenparade, Samstag, 04. Juli 2009 - Vienna Pride 2009

Beschreibung:

Bei der 14. Regenbogenparade am Samstag, den 4. Juli 2009, bewegt sich gegen 14:00 Uhr der bunte Demonstrationszug wieder vom Stadtpark aus gegen die Fahrtrichtung – andersrum – über die Ringstraße, vorbei an Urania, Schwedenplatz, Ringturm, Börse, Universität, Rathausplatz, Parlament, Heldenplatz bis hin zum Schwarzenbergplatz, wo bei freiem Zutritt die große Open-Air-Schlussveranstaltung gefeiert wird.Qype 2009 - Regenbogenparade CSD Wien 2009 - Photo 2008

Participants of the 14th "Regenbogenparade" (Rainbow Parade) pose in Vienna July 4, 2009. About 100,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual people attended the parade in the Austrian capital.DaylifeReuters Photo 2009

LGBT Family Values - IntegriTV - Walking With Integrity

The Rev. Rachel Nyback focuses on her family -- a family that incarnates "traditional family values" of loving, nurturing and supporting each other in good times and bad. Watch video

Calling for the full inclusion of the LGBT baptized, Bishop Prince Singh (Diocese of Rochester, NY) tells his story of transformation through his relationships with people he calls "gay and lesbian" saints. Watch video

Learn more Walking With Integrity

Read more Integrity

Learn & Read more An Inch At A Time: Reflections on the Journey - REV. SUSAN RUSSELL

What is 'Intersex', and Why I Oppose The Use Of The New Pathologizing Term 'DSD'

About The General Scientific and Medical Use Of The Term 'Intersex'

The term 'Intersex' has been used in the scientific community for a long time to describe plants and animals that are not either the typically chromosomal and reproductively dimorphic XX-female or XY-male. The term may be used for an individual within an otherwise usually dimorphic species, or for an entire class of beings within a species, such as a non-reproductive class of worker bees, or a population of fish or XY female rodents. A vast variety of intersex states are common in animals and human beings too. Some of these conditions are even very similar, and may actually have causally related genetic and hormonal components. By understanding human intersex conditions, including natural genetic sex-reversal and transsexed behaviors IN THE CONTEXT OF OTHER ANIMALS AND ESPECIALLY VERTEBRATES AND MAMMALS, it can be clearly seen that human intersex, transsexual behavior and even same-sex pairing is a natural and non-pathological part of the entire community of creation. In fact, a base-line population of intersexed, transsex behaved, and same-sex attracted beings in a species will be exceeded in a time of species stress, and this acts as a benevolent population control, by reducing species fertility in a time of crisis. Conversely, intersex and spontaneous sex changing is extremely common in many species, where it actually maximizes reproductive success! Again, non-reproductive intersex classes of beings perform essential services in the success of their species. So, both reproductive and non-reproductive members of a species contribute to its overall success.

Beside the older research done on the more obvious classes of intersexed beings in other species, and the enormous variety of intersex humans, there is now a new human research focus on the traditional social roles of both feminized and exclusively homosexual males in various primitive and extended-family traditional societies. In these societies the 'gay uncle' is a social role that improves the survival and social success of the 'gay' man's siblings' offspring, and therefore the over-all reproductive success of the family. As a provider, protector, educator and discipliner etc. the 'gay uncle' is also the one who steps-in and takes care of his mother, if she is widowed, and raises his younger siblings, instead of taking a wife and raising his own children. Related to this commonly occuring social role, one of the most interesting facts to emerge from recent studies of human reproductive success, is that the nonsense notion of a male-carried 'gay gene' for exclusive homosexuality, which logically could not have been passed-on by 'gay' sex acts, is apparently carried in the female line, with the most successful 'super' mothers' lines carrying this genetic trait. Gay rights advocates have long-suspected that there was some kind of a 'gay gene' for exclusive male same-sex attraction. But this is a silly idea because it would have non-bred itself out of existence long ago. However, the truth to the idea of a male 'gay gene' can be found elsewhere, not in the male line. Thus, regardless of race, the super mothers, who bear and raise the largest number of healthy children, are also the ones who have the highest birthrate of exclusively same-sex attracted male children. As in other species, it is obvious that such feminized 'males' and same-sex attracted beings are built-into the human species for a variety of positive species-success enhancing purposes. If we look objectively at the natural social roles that feminized males and masculinized females have in both primitive and more civilized societies world wide, we can observe that the same positive patterns of their social contribution are repeated, unless their full participation in society is prevented by some kind of religious or other social stigma.

Erasing Human Intersex

Thus all forms of intersex, or atypical sex differentiation and/or behavior, including non-reproductive and neuter classes, transsexed behavior, same-sex acts and same-sex pair-bonding, genetic sex-reversal (XY females, XX males) and actual spontaneous sex-changing are important and healthy/necessary parts of life on Earth. However, recently in an attempt to blind the uneducated and homophobic fundamentalist religious and politically correct population of the world to this fact, a cadre of western academics, medical and psychiatric professionals has launched a global campaign to replace the use of the general scientific term 'intersex' as has been used for all species, including humans, with the human-exclusive term "disorders of sex development" (DSD) to be used for certain human intersex individuals only. This cadre will also define who DSD is used for. The effect of this change will be to cut-off human intersex from the context and continuum of all other life on Earth. So no longer would a web search for 'intersex' yield references to plant, animal and human forms of intersex, including natural XY-female or XX-male sex-reversal, spontaneous sex-changing or transsexual or homosexual relevent animal research. Instead, only certain very limited atypical human conditions would be web or library searchable under the new very narrowly defined and professionally controlled and PATHOLOGIZING term "disorders of sex development". This is why, as both a bio-medical researchist and human rights activist, I am adamantly opposed to this insidious medical-religio-political campaign to change the accepted GENERAL AND NON-PATHOLOGIZING BIOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY from 'intersex' to the human-only and pathologizing term "disorders of sex development" or DSD.

The Term 'DSD' Disconnects Humanity From the Context of All Other Life On Earth

Since the late 1960s, when I first began my studies of non-human intersex, I have read thousands of studies and abstracts of studies on intersex non-humans, and these would have been inaccessible to me if I was primarily a human studies researchist looking for RELATED animal research using the newly proposed human-only species-specific term "DSD". Just as ethno-centrism blinds people to greater human truths, so does anti-scientific religious fundamentalist HOMO-CENTRISM, meaning human-centrism, blind people to the greater truths of life on Earth. Fortunately for me, my young contact with Vaishnavism cured me of any of the kind of pathological human-centrism that I might have acquired from the primarily Protestant Fundamentalist American culture of my upbringing. Contact with Vaishnavism freed my young mind to study humanity more objectively in the context of all other life on Earth. Now, I fear that such scientifically objective study is going to become obstructed by the globally combined religio-political fundamentalist campaigns to once-and-for-all disconnect the global academic language of biology, agriculture, and veterinary medicine, of all other life science, from the study and 'treatment' human beings. Unfortunately, over the last 100+ years, actually since the Puritanical Victorian Era of global empire, the global rise in religious fundamentalism has even infected historically liberal and socially inclusive Vaishnavism, as can be observed in modern Vaishnava organizations like ISKCON, where it has caused homophobia and the disrespect of women and 'sexual minorites'. Fundamentalism is a global phenomenon, not something restricted to Islamicists and extreme right-wing 'conservative' Protestants.

In the Biosphere, Intersex As Part Of The Big Picture Is Not Pathological

Evidence from the un-biased science of general biology tells us that intersex humans are not a mistake of God or nature, any more than intersexed, including sex-reversed and sex-changing beings, and whole classes of beings, are a mistake in any of the countless other species of animals and plants on Earth. However, by controlling the language, and changing the professional jargon from the non-pathologizing and general 'intersex' to the pathologizing and specific 'Disorder of Sex Development', these 'DSD' religious fundamentalist, pseudo-mind-'sciences' professionals and their extreme feminist strange-bedfellows are seeking to take control of the scientific, and therefore the medical discourse. By controling that discourse, these people intend to control the related religio-political outcomes, thus controlling our lives. This must NOT be allowed to happen. These homophobic and other 'nurture-not-nature' anti-scientific fanatics are out to in-validate, deprive and ruin the lives of countless human beings, and their cruel agenda must be stopped. Their attitude is that all but a small number of their self-defined 'Disorders of Sex Development' are basically 'all in our minds', and therefore the rest of our 'mental', 'gender' or 'sexual orientation' 'problems' can be treated with their feminist or 'queer' theory, talk-therapy, aversion therapy, reparative therapy, psycho-active drugs, or exorcism! Intersex-related people are not any more mentally or affectively ill, wrong or evil, than their countless non-human intersex being counterparts in the rest of creation. A person's genes &/or the shape of their genitalia has nothing to do with their mental or moral soundness or other qualification to occupy a post or to do a job. But the DSD cadre wants to create an exclusivistic club of people with their cadre's own narrowly defined physically pathological 'disorders', and then to label everyone else as mentally or emotionally ill.

The Organization Intersex International (OII) Opposes the Abuse of Intersex People, By the Use of the Pathologizing Term 'DSD'

The OII is fighting this ill-motivated campaign for the exclusivistic and pathologizing term 'DSD' to replace 'Intersex'. Detailed information on the legal, academic and other aspects of this struggle is available on the websites of the OII affiliates, Lynn Conway and Gendercare. 'Intersex' is the modern medical term prefered by most educated and chromosomally or otherwise physically atypical 'intersex' people, here in the West. Those working to improve the lives of all kinds of intersex people in the East, Africa, Latin America & etc.should familiarized themselves with this 'framing the discourse' Intersex-versus-DSD issue, because it is centrally important to the global modern medical discourse and ultimately to the related social-religious--legal future of all intersex-related people, wherever they are.

Why I Am So Concerned About Feminized 'Males' and 'Male-to-Female' Transsexuals and Transgendered People

In my studies of human and animal sex differentiation, sex dimorphic behavior and social order, the evidence has shown that feminized so-called 'males' occur much more frequently in mammals and humans than masculinized so-called 'females'. Thus these beings constitute the majority of intersexed and transsexed-behaved individuals in any mammal species. I have concluded that regarding the proximate causation, this is because it is so much easier for a so-called 'male' mammal fetus, carried in its mother's womb, to be influenced by feminizing hormones. This is why there is a larger 'feminine male' homosexual, transsexed and transgendered, or 'Hijra' class population anywhere, than there is a transsexed 'masculine female' population. As a late-virilizing Intersex person, who was raised as a girl, masculinized and was legally reassigned to male as an adult, I have seen, met and corresponded with hundreds of 'male-to-female' transsexed and 'feminized male' people over the last 40 years, but in that time I have comparatively rarely seen or met anyone like myself. There are many masculine women, but not so many XX intersex people as XY intersex people. And, of course, not all humans have XX or XY 'sex chromosomes'. In animals, such gene-variant individuals are commonly called intersexed. Transsexed BEHAVIOR is common in other species and can be easily created in most common laboratory or social-animal study environments with appropriately timed hormone administration. These hormonally altered behaviorally transsexed creatures are then called Intersexed. When humans exhibit the same kind of behavior, they often self-identify as 'transsexual'. Thus I view the human condition called transsexualism as a subset of Intersex.

Most intersex and transsex BEHAVIOR conditions in animals and humans do not seem to be caused by genetics, but rather seem to be caused by non-genetic fetal hormonal influences. When it is fetal hormonal influence that masculinizes a so-called 'female' fetus, this may come from the mother's third adrenal cortex, her androgen producing uterine tumor or cysts, or some other rare cause, and so such XX-male or masculine people are much more rare than uterine-hormone feminized XYpeople. Androgenized Intersexed people like me are also generally very assertive and highly successful, if they can physically 'pass' for being normal men. Thus they do not have the same social problems that 'feminized males' do, and do not need the same social interventions as a class. This is why I am so much more involved with the human rights and social justice class issues of the Hijra, or class of ' feminine homosexuals', or so-called 'male-to-female' transsexed, transgendered and intersexed people. In today's homophobic world, where 'feminine males' are despised and even demonized, they are a class in almost every society that is being used as a general scape-goat for the ills of the whole society. Therefore they as a class need special social intervention and protection. Just as feminine male children are the targets of the worst bullying in junior high and high schools, feminine men or male-to-female transsexuals are the persons most often beaten, raped and killed in impersonal sex-related 'hate crimes'. Of course numerically women and girls get beaten and raped more than any other class of persons, but this is usually domestic violence, committed by a family member, not a non-family member who has gone out 'gay bashing'. Is there a link between violence against women and violence against feminine men or male-to-female transsexuals? Yes. The same violent 'macho' people commit both crimes.

David / Bhakti Ananda Goswami about the author