Tuesday, November 25, 2008

California begins investigation into Mormon Church

Finally, investigations are beginning in California:

California officials will investigate accusations that the Mormon Church neglected to report a battery of non-monetary contributions — including phone banks, a Web site and commercials — on behalf of a ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage.

Roman Porter, the executive director of the Fair Political Practices Commission, which oversees California campaign finance laws.

The complaint, filed by Fred Karger, founder of the group Californians Against Hate, asserted that the church’s reported contributions — about $5,000, according to state election filings — vastly underestimated its actual efforts in passing Proposition 8, which amended the state’s Constitution to recognize only male-female marriage.

Broadly speaking, California state law requires disclosure of any money spent or services provided to influence the outcome of an election.

Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a statement Tuesday saying it had received the complaint and would cooperate with the investigation.

Responding to a plea from Mormon Church leaders to “become involved in this important cause,” members contributed millions of dollars and volunteered for countless hours on behalf of Proposition 8. The ballot measure passed with 52 percent of the vote, leading to protests and boycotts of supporters of the proposition, including some Mormon temples and businesses.

Mr. Karger’s complaint paints a sweeping picture of the involvement by the church leadership, and raises questions about who paid for out-of-state phone banks and grass-roots rallies in California before the Nov. 4 vote.

“Who paid for the buses, travel costs, meals and other expenses of all the Mormon participants?” the complaint reads. “No contributions were reported.”

The complaint also touches on a five-state simulcast from church leaders to Mormon congregations, as well as a Web site, preservingmarriage.org, that featured a series of videos advocating passage of the ballot measure and is labeled “an official Web site” of the Mormon Church.

If found in violation of election laws, the church could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation, Mr. Porter said. Bigger fines could also be levied by a civil court.

The California Supreme Court agreed last week to review the constitutionality of the measure, with a ruling expected next year.


Saturday, November 15, 2008

The Mormon Church; Roseanne and Lady Bunny protest companies owned by them

Special thanks to Lady Bunny for this!

FROM ROSEANNE BARR: The Mormon church was the single largest monetary contributor to the VOTE "YES" ON PROPOSITION 8 campaign. The Mormon church gets its money from church-members and its business holdings.

Below is a list of organizations that are either owned by the Mormon church outright; owned, founded or run by Mormons in executive positions
(a portion of whose salary is tithed to the church); or in which the church owns a large percentage of stock.

I respectfully ask that you carefully review this list and think twice before you financially empower these companies with your patron dollars.

PLEASE BOYCOTT THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE (IF IT IS A PERSON, DO NOT PURCHASE THEIR PRODUCTS):

Check-out this site for additional information: http://www.mormonstockindex.com.


Kentucky protests successful; Family Foundation tries to place us back in "check"

According to the Courier-Journal, Martin Cothran with the Family Foundation of Kentucky says gay-rights groups have “achieved many of their victories by going behind the backs of voters using judicial rulings rather than the legislative process. And when they suffer defeat in a democratic process, they get upset about it.” (story)

I guess I was sleeping when we changed our system of government from three (yes, that is
3 Martin) equal branches to only 2, or possibly 1; either way, if you believe any of the rhetoric from the Family Foundation of Kentucky under this scenario, the Judiciary Branch would be history. The REALLY scary thing is, some legislators in Kentucky proposed a law a couple of years ago to downgrade the authority of the Judiciary.

Family Foundations and Associations are useless! (story)

Congratulations to protesters in Lexington and Louisville; you made a huge impact! Gay rights are civil rights; each time you purchase something (non-food) in Kentucky, you are paying a 6% sales tax to the Commonwealth..... taxation without equality!

Wake-up Martin, marriage equality is not only coming to California, but Kentucky also; check-out www.marriageequalityky.org.


Friday, November 14, 2008

Multiple protests scheduled around Kentucky tomorrow; including Lexington, Louisville, and Berea

Kentucky Equality Federation, Marriage Equality Kentucky, GLSO Pride Center, and many others across the Commonwealth joins in the spirit of the grassroots movement taking to the streets to stand up for our full dignity as LGBT Americans.

Marriage Equality Kentucky will join in this national call to action and urge you to add your city and your voice to the growing call for liberty, justice and marriage equality for all around the country.

We urge organizers to continue the moment
um by joining the mailing list at www.kyLGBT.org, and volunteer.

Click here to visit the the Equality Center at kyLGBT.org for event information and links!

Join the Impact!


Multiple events are being held around Kentucky tomorrow!

Click here for additional information! We hope to see you there! We need your support!

Join the Impact!


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Advocacy group abruptly closes, dismisses director

Mike Wilke, the man behind Commercial Closet Association, an association that promotes positive images of gays in advertising, is out of work after being dismissed and his organization abruptly shut down.

Wilke, founder and former executive director of the Commercial Closet Association, said the organization’s board voted two weeks ago to close and merge with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

Commercial Closet Association is a New York City based non-profit organization, founded in 2001, to educate and influence the $1.1 trillion annual worldwide advertising market ($128 billion in the US alone) to foster understanding, respect and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to achieve a more accepting society and successful business results.


Wilke, who started the Commercial Closet Association in 2001, said the shutdown left him unemployed and the organization’s other full-time employee to work part time. Wilke said as part of the planned merger with GLAAD, he was formally offered and had accepted a program director position.

But he said amidst the Commercial Closet Association shutdown, he’s been unable after a week of attempts to confirm with GLAAD President Neil Giuliano that the employment offer stands.

The Commercial Closet Association announced in a Tuesday press release that it would integrate its programs and operations with GLAAD, which promotes positive images of gays in media.


Wednesday, November 05, 2008

New blogger claims Kentucky's LGBT Organizations are divided

A new blogger claims Kentucky's LGBT Organizations are "divided."

Click here to read the article.

Ummm, United We Stand is associated with Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky. United We Stand posted Kentucky Fairness Alliance's FAIR PAC information along with Kentucky Equality PAC's.

Divided? No, the organizations simply believe the same goal(s) can be accomplished in totally different manners, and there is nothing wrong with that! United We Stand is pro-Kentucky Equality Federation and pro-Kentucky Fairness Alliance!


Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Special thanks; we stood united!

Special thanks to everyone for their hard work and relentless dedication regardless of the outcome in Arkansas, Arizona, California, and Florida.

For the past couple of days, a quote from Ronald Regan continues to run through my mind: "Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem." Though I am no fan of Regan because of the way he handled the AIDS crisis, the quote is true nonetheless. Since the Stonewall Riots, we continue to openly fight against the unnecessary burdens and inequality placed on our community by our governments.

Remember, regardless of what happens in each individual state, we have been successful because we stood united as a community and raised our hands in protest.

We will continue to have dedication and perseverance until equality for all is established.


Monday, November 03, 2008

Kentucky's LGBT PAC's Candidate Information

Please remember to vote for pro-LGBT candidates! Both Kentucky Equality PAC (Kentucky Equality Federation), and FAIR PAC (Kentucky Fairness Alliance) have candidates listed who have been pro (or anti) LGBT.

Please visit them at the following:
http://www.kyequalitypac.org (contains information on both the House and Senate)


Kentucky House: http://kentuckyfairness.org/fairpac/HouseRaces2008.pdf

Kentucky Senate: http://kentuckyfairness.org/fairpac/SenateRaces2008.pdf

Overall, it doesn't look like a lot of candidates returned questionnaires from either Kentucky Equality PAC or FAIR PAC. Kentucky Equality suspects a lot of them did not want to actually go on the record; candidates who did not return questionnaires from Kentucky Equality PAC are not listed; we can no longer allow people running for office as public servants to remain in the dark on issues important to us!

Contested races are critical; we need more pro-LGBT candidates in the Kentucky Senate, and we need to pick-up additional pro-LGBT candidates in the House of Representatives.

Sign-up for email alerts today at www.kyLGBT.org.


Blogger(s) target McConnell as being homosexual

One of the most popular and respected LGBT blogs (Pam's House Blend) is citing sources again claiming incumbent U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell is in fact, homosexual. McConnell, who is facing a tough re-election campaign is part of Kentucky's Congressional Delegation.

Click here to read the article.

Another contributor to Pam's House Blend adds:

It's the worst-kept secret in Washington and many people in Louisville and Lexington know how queer their senator is. But in rural counties around Paducah, Bowling Green, Covington, Pikeville, Somerset... not a clue. Well, not 'til today. As many as 150,000 of the above fliers are being placed on windshields in the most Republican precincts in Kentucky.