Stray Pride

JMG reader Stray Kat tips us that Sacramento's Front Street Animal Shelter will have a booth at today's gay pride festival.

Atheist Billboards Go Up In Sacramento

Catholic Diocese Defunds Homeless Shelter Because New Director Supports Marriage

In the Catholic Church's national campaign to make themselves ever more repulsive to the average American, the Diocese of Sacramento has cut off their funding of a local homeless shelter because its new director supports marriage equality.

In a letter last month, the diocese's director of social services said the Rev. Faith Whitmore's public statements on the issues clash with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Therefore, said the Rev. Michael Kiernan, the social services director, it is "impossible for the diocese to continue funding Francis House" as part of its annual Catholic Appeal. Each morning, dozens of poor people line up at Francis House, located in Sacramento's homeless services epicenter, for help with basic services such as housing and transportation. Now in its 42nd year, the organization is one of the largest homeless services agencies in the Sacramento region, serving upward of 25,000 people. It has an an annual budget of about $500,000.

The Catholic Church would rather see you homeless and starving to death than disobedient to their dogma. That can't be any more fucking apparent, can it? What will they do next to turn our stomachs? A puppy kicking contest?

Donate to Francis House.

Cindy Jacobs Flips Out Over Britney, Madonna And "Gender Mainstreaming"

Nutcase preacher Cindy Jacobs really flipped her Jeebus wig at Lou Engle's The Call hate fest in Sacramento over the weekend. An excerpt via Right Wing Watch:

I want to talk as a mother to the young women today. We know that it’s not just the men who have a problem with pornography and I want to say it like this: girl-on-girl kissing, lesbianism is a plague on our society today. And I want to read the word of God and I want us to pray. Roman 1: 25 says those who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator blessed forevermore, for this reason God game them up to vile passions where even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. I’m going to call on the women and I want to say that it’s time for us to repent. This girl-on-girl kissing, Madonna kissing Britney Spears, and what happened to Britney after that and a lot of other things. I know we’re going out over worldwide television. I want to tell you, bisexuality, every kind of perverse thing, the Bible calls this sin. And I want the women of God to kneel down right now and we are going to put a stop to this in our generation and we are going to say “No More!”

Listen to the naked hatred.

SACRAMENTO: Thousands Of Bigots Gather To Pray Against Gay Rights

Dominionist, extremist, Christofascist preacher Lou Engle gathered several thousand bigots in California's capital today to pray against same-sex marriage and for "authority over Jezebel and San Francisco values."

The Sacramento event, Engle said, helped to highlight immoral laws being passed out of the Capitol and called on traditional marriage to be restored. "If marriage is going to be upheld between a man and a woman, which we believe is the best for families and children and society, then right now, it seems we need divine intervention," Engle said in an interview between appearances on stage. "That's part of the reason we're coming here, to pray, but also to take a stand and be a prophetic voice to stand for truth."

The above-linked story notes that "offering stations" were set up throughout the audience. Jackpot. Another Lexus for Lou Engle, who, should you have forgotten, is one of the American evangelists responsible for Uganda's "kill gays" bill.

UPDATE: JMG reader Andy sends us the "trailer" for yesterday's event. Scary.

Mike Huckabee Invites You To Fast And Pray That God Smites Dirty Queers

Dominionist Lou Engle and his TheCall ministry will be gathering thousands of bigots at the state house in Sacramento over Labor Day weekend, where they will fast and pray that God finally turns America into a Christian theocracy in which dirty queers are trampled under the righteous boots of God's Gentle People™. Mike Huckabee invites your attendance.

Roy Ashburn Sentenced For DUI

Formerly closeted California state Sen. Roy Ashburn has been sentenced to two days in jail and three years of probation for last month's DUI arrest as he left a Sacramento gay bar with a young Latino man in the front seat.

Ashburn entered his no contest plea to the misdemeanor charges Wednesday in Sacramento County Superior Court. He will also pay fines and fees of about $2,000, attend a mandatory first offender DUI program and have his license suspended for 30 days, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. "Ashburn received no lesser penalties associated with his crime than your average citizen," said Deputy District Attorney Robert Clancey. Ashburn was pulled over on March 3 shortly after 2 a.m. when CHP officers saw his state car driving in an erratic manner. A breath test was conducted and a subsequent blood test turned up a blood alcohol level of .15 percent. Under California law, a driver is under the influence with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent.

Asburn refused to resign after the scandal broke and has said he will continue his anti-gay voting habits, because that's what his constituents want. He will be term-limited out of office this year.

Californians Protest HIV Drug Cuts

Openly gay state Assemblyman Tom Ammiano joined a large group of protesters at the state capitol in Sacramento yesterday to protest Gov. Schwarzenegger's plan to slash funding from the ADAP budget, which provides free to low cost HIV meds to the uninsured. Rex Wockner adds:

Further, the current plan apparently completely eliminates state funding for the tests that determine if a patient is responding to treatment -- such tests as CD4 counts, viral-load measurement and drug-resistance monitoring. These tests are essentially mandatory in HIV treatment. Doctors use them so they can change a nonresponsive patient's drug combination to another combo that works in that patient -- before the patient's immune system breaks down further and the patient develops a life-threatening opportunistic infection.

Wockner's blog has more photos of the protest.

(Top photo: Charlie Peer/Outword Magazine. Bottom two photos: Dan Aiello.)

Radio Hosts Who Made Anti-Trans Remarks Apologize, Invite Trans Advocates On Air

Pam's House Blend contributor Autumn Sandeen and fellow trans-advocate Kim Pearson will appear on Sacramento's KRXQ radio station this Thursday after the station's hosts apologized for saying last week that they would beat transgender behavior out of their kids. The station suffered a massive pull-back in advertiser support after trans and gay bloggers took their outrage to the media. The offending show has been temporarily pulled off the air.

"KRXQ appears to be taking this matter very seriously following widespread response from community members and advertisers," said Rashad Robinson, spokesman for GLAAD. Co-host Rob Williams posted a letter on the team's Web site saying, "We have failed you. As a show, as people, as broadcasters, we have simply failed on almost every level." GLAAD first contacted KRXQ after a listener complained about remarks made by Williams and co-host Arnie States in a May 28 broadcast. One of the hosts said he would hit his child with his shoe if the boy wanted to wear high heels. Another said he would tell a boy he was "a little idiot" if he asked to wear a dress. "If my son, God forbid, if my son put on a pair of high heels, I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him," said Arnie States, co-host of the show, which usually airs mornings in Sacramento. Since then, major companies have pulled advertising from the station or announced plans to discontinue buying ads, according to GLAAD. Those companies include AT&T, Bank of America, Chipotle, Guitar Center, McDonalds, Nissan, Wells Fargo and Snapple.

Congratulations to Autumn, Kim, and GLAAD for this win.

Radio Show Loses Sponsors After Hosts Suggest Beating Transgender Kids

Several major advertisers have pulled their support from Sacramento radio station KRXQ after its hosts suggested beating transgender behavior out of children. Via GLAAD, below is a partial transcript of the show.

ROB WILLIAMS [11:12]: This is a weird person who is demanding attention. And when it’s a child, all it takes is a hug, maybe some tough love or anything in between. When your little boy said, ‘Mommy, I want to walk around in a dress.’ You tell them no cause that’s not what boys do. But that’s not what we’re doing in this culture.

ARNIE STATES [13:27]: If my son, God forbid, if my son put on a pair of high heels, I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him. Because you know what? Boys don’t wear high heels. And in my house, they definitely don’t wear high heels.

ROB WILLIAMS [17:45]: Dawn, they are freaks. They are abnormal. Not because they’re girls trapped in boys bodies but because they have a mental disorder that needs to be somehow gotten out of them. That’s where therapy could help them.

ROB WILLIAMS [18:15]: Or because they were molested. You know a lot of times these transgenders were molested. And you need to work with them on that. The point is you don’t allow the behavior. You cure the cause!

ARNIE STATES [21:30]: You got a boy saying, ‘I wanna wear dresses.’ I’m going to look at him and go, ‘You know what? You’re a little idiot! You little dumbass! Look, you are a boy! Boys don’t wear dresses.’

ARNIE STATES [29:22]: You know, my favorite part about hearing these stories about the kids in high school, who the entire high school caters around, lets the boy wear the dress. I look forward to when they go out into society and society beats them down. And they end up in therapy.

GLAAD reports that Snapple, Sonic, and Chipotle have all pulled their advertising from the show after being made aware of how offensive it was. Sonic released this statement:

Sonic wants to assure you that the views of this station are in no way related to the views of Sonic. Sonic was alerted to the May 28th segment only yesterday and immediately began researching the segment, show and Sonic’s planned advertising on the station. SONIC in no way condones violence toward children and does not wish to be associated with media content that condones or promotes such activity in any way. We have decided to immediately withdraw advertising from this station and have notified the station of our decision.

Kathy Griffin's Norma Rae Moment

Kathy Griffin appeared at the conclusion of a cross-state march for marriage equality in Sacramento to reference Sally Fields' Oscar-winning "UNION" moment in Norma Rae. That bit starts at 6:30.

Margaret Cho Sings About Mormons

Over 5000 marriage equality activists rallied at the capitol in Sacramento on Saturday, where Margaret Cho performed a filthy protest song about the Mormon Church. Audio NSFW.

(Via - Queerty)

Anti-Gay Musical Theater Guy Quits

Remember Scott Eckern, the musical theater artistic director who donated $1000 to Yes On 8 and caused a huge uproar? He's resigned from his job for the "protection of the organization."

California Musical Theatre's artistic director, Scott Eckern, resigned from his post today amid controversy over a donation he made to the Proposition 8 campaign to ban gay marriage. Eckern gave $1,000 in support of Proposition 8, a donation that sparked criticism from theater workers and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

"We have released a statement that Scott resigned," said Chris McSwain, community affairs director for the theater company. He declined to comment further. According to the statement, the theater company's board of directors received notice today from executive producer Richard Lewis saying that Eckern has resigned. The theater company is a nonprofit organization "dedicated only to the mission of providing quality theatrical productions," the statement reads. At no time does it involve itself in political issues or ever impinge on the rights of its employees to engage in political activities of their choice," the statement reads.

The organization said the views and opinions of its employees do not necessarily represent those of the California Musical Theatre. The board also thanked Eckern for "25 years of invaluable service to the organization and the advancement of musical theatre as an art form."

Eckern also released a statement today saying that he quit "after prayerful consideration to protect the organization and to help the healing in the local theatre-going and creative community." Eckern said that he "honestly had no idea" that the contribution would spark such outrage and made the donation to act on his belief as the traditional definition of marriage be preserved. "I support each individual to have rights and access, and I understand that in California domestic partnerships come with the same rights that come with marriage," he said.

Eckern said his sister is a lesbian in a committed relationship and he loves her and is supportive of her and her family, just as she is of him and his family. "I definitely do not support any message or treatment of others that is hateful or instills fear," he said. "This is a highly emotional issue and the accusations that have been made against me are simply not true."

Eckern said he enjoyed his tenure with the California Musical Theatre and respects the people at the organization and in the theatrical community. "I am disappointed that my personal convictions have cost me the opportunity to do what I love the most which is to continue enriching the Sacramento arts and theatre community," he said.

What the hell was this guy doing in musical theater for the last 25 years? How is it that his anti-gay attitude only now came up? Weird. Anyway, you might be amused by Eckern's alumnus page on the Brigham Young University site.

"It is a privilege and a responsibility to represent the values of BYU and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is life after school. And it is fulfilling and wonderful as we are ever mindful that we are to serve the Lord in all that we do. No matter the audience, no matter the means by which you tell the story, as artists who are faithful Latter-day Saints we can win their hearts, and in so doing lead them to believe. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

Never EVER Cross A Show Queen

The title of this post is lifted from John Aravosis at AmericaBlog who reports:

A friend tells me that there's a BIG musical theater in Sacramento, California called the California Music theater. It's been around for decades and, you might be shocked by this, but apparently there are gays who work in musical theater. Well, anyway, word get around in the past few days that the Artistic Director of the theater, one Scott Eckern, a nice Mormon boy, donated $1,000 to the hateful bigoted Yes on 8 campaign that repealed marriage for gay couples in California. And I checked the database of every donor (it's quite fun, check it out and look up your neighbors), and what do you know - Scottie did give a $1,000 to the hatemongers.

Now, here's the funny part. About two weeks ago, the hateful religious right and Mormon bigots running the Yes on 8 campaign threatened the livelihood of anyone who donated to the No on 8 campaign. Uh oh. I see a little goose and gander coming.

And what do you know. It seems our friend Scott has, um, angered the gays, to put it lightly. Marc Shaiman, composer of HAIRSPRAY, called Scott's theater, I'm told, and said he is pulling the rights from any of his shows, and is talking to other colleagues about doing the same. And a well known musical actress is now urging her friends to boycott working at the theater. Gosh, sounds like it's going to be hard for that theater to survive with Scott working there.

It's really too bad Scott's hateful bigoted friends in the religious right and in the Mormon Church outright threatened the livelihood of anyone donating to No on 8. That pretty much gives license to the other side - that would be the side protesting in the streets across California and Utah - to target the livelihood of anyone donating to Yes on 8.

Payback is a bitch. With very sharp heels.

Love it.

Prop 8 Violence & Arrests In Sacramento

Queerty reports that last night in Sacramento pro and anti-8 crowds violently clashed, resulting in several arrests.

Demonstrations over Proposition 8 continue this morning after they turned violent over the weekend with police making arrests, ticketing motorists and trying to keep the peace at a Citrus Heights intersection where hundreds of demonstrators on both sides of the gay marriage issued clashed.

Demonstrators are out again this morning at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane where police arrested at least three people this weekend for incidents involving pushing, spitting and even pulling out knives. Police brought in extra officers to deal with the crowds.

Go here for video of the ugliness. Proposition 8 is the most expensive social issue in the history of American politics.

(Via - Queerty)

Sacramento's Gays Vs. Violent Immigrants

The LA Times has an interesting piece on the continuing clash between Sacramento's gay community and the thousands of evangelical Slavic immigrants who have relocated there in recent years.

With as many as 100,000 newcomers from republics such as Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, the Sacramento region has one of the nation's largest concentrations of Soviet immigrants. Most began arriving in the late 1980s -- about a third of them conservative evangelical Christians seeking religious freedom.

The influx has created a thriving Russian community with Russian-language newspapers, cable TV and radio shows, as well as 70 Slavic churches -- nearly all adherents of a fundamentalist creed that condemns homosexuality.

Those beliefs, preached from the pulpit and voiced in Russian-language media, did not attract much attention until 2005, when a vocal crowd of Slavic evangelicals mounted a protest at the state Capitol against same-sex marriage.

In the years since, they have become the most aggressive anti-gay contingent in the region. Holding signs and wearing T-shirts proclaiming "Sodomy is a Sin," they have mounted protests against state legislation, rallied at school board meetings and picketed fundraisers for politicians backed by gay-rights groups.

Sometimes their protests have taken a more personal tack. Nathan Feldman, 30, said Slavic protesters have shoved him and spit on him at gay-pride events. Feldman said he lost his job at a jewelry store after a Ukrainian co-worker discovered he was gay and lied to get him fired. That wasn't all. A vandal scrawled graffiti on a trash dumpster outside his apartment: "Nathan Feldman, Die for AIDS."

Last year a 26 year-old gay Fijian immigrant, Satender Singh, was killed by a single punch after a group of nearby Russians objected to his flamboyant ways while celebrating a job promotion with friends at a public park.

Andrey Vusik, 29, fresh from morning church services with his young children in tow, stared with disgust as Singh danced and hugged the other men while their wives giggled. To the Russian, Singh seemed rude and inappropriate, a gay man putting on an outrageous public display.

Angry stares led to an afternoon of traded insults. As the long day slid toward dusk, the tall Russian immigrant approached with a friend to demand an apology. Singh refused. Vusik threw a single punch. Singh's head smacked into a concrete walkway. The joyful young man with the musical laugh died four days later of brain injuries.

With the violent and anti-gay Watchmen On The Walls recruiting heavily in the local Slavic community, gay activists are concerned about violence at next month's pride events in Sacramento. The Southern Poverty Law Center lists the Watchmen as a hate group, along with the Aryan Nation and the Golden State Skinheads.