No proof that christians have hated gays - christians

It's all love love love darlings! The christians say they love us! Oh how could we have been so mistaken!

 

Victorian Premier calls for same sex marriage to be passed in Canberra

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews

Who knows if the Lieberals will listen to a Labor Premier in Victoria? But the pressure now is mounting aplenty with the recent news that there is now the numbers to pass same sex marriage in the federal parliament without the need for a plebiscite. 

How long will the Lieberal gov in Canberra cling to it's far right that helped get Abbott turfed and Turnbull in. Turnbull made a deal he would stick with Abbott's delay tactic plebiscite in return for their support.

Their position is however looking increasingly ridiculous, nonsensical, and politically unsustainable. Especially in an election year which could cost them dearly at the polls.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called on the Federal Government to legalise same-sex marriage, as thousands of people took to the streets for Melbourne's Midsumma Pride March. 

The event is held to celebrate the state's gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersex and transgender community. 

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also marched through the streets of St Kilda, as did players from the St Kilda Football Club. 

It was the first time in the event's 21-year history that AFL footballers officially marched under the club banner. 

Organisers of the annual event said this year's theme focused on marriage equality. 

Mr Andrews said equality was not negotiable and it was time for the federal marriage act to change. 

"I think Australians are getting pretty sick and tired of this notion that we'll have a plebiscite and Australians will basically decide the matter, and I've seen some politicians in the Federal Government saying that, whilst at the same time other members of the Government are saying that won't matter," he said. 

"Discrimination is wrong in any form, it's not negotiable, and it's not for any politician to tell people who they can marry, how they can express their love. 

"It is not for any politician to tell anyone in our community their relationship is secondary or not as as much value as mine or theirs." ABC

Russian law would've made it illegal for gays to kiss & hold hands publicly

Stupid anti-gay lawmakers tried to pass a law that would have criminalised gays showing affection publicly. This would have meant fines for hand holding and kissing. I guess hugging too? But what is a friend hug and what is a gay affection hug? 

The law failed to pass, but the fact that it was even put up shows just how stupid many Russians are about sexuality. They even think that gayness is an evil western plot to reduce the birth rate in Russia would you believe.

Most Russian gay couples hide their love and many have given up struggling for their rights. But still the pressure on them grows. 

Last week, members of the lower house of the Russian parliament, or Duma, considered a new bill banning homosexuals from public displays of affection. They would be fined for kissing in the street or holding hands on the subway. Homosexuality, the bill’s authors contended, is a Western ideology planted in the minds of Russia’s young people in order to reduce the country’s population. 

But even before the Duma voted on the homophobic bill, and before any police began to grab gays for holding hands or kissing in public, many homosexuals withdrew deeper into hiding, away from the eyes of strangers. Fewer and fewer people are brave enough to demonstrate in the streets with rainbow flags. They’ve seen the violent attacks and beatings inflicted on dozens of LGBT activists all across the country. In the provinces, it’s rare to find any place where gays can congregate openly. The Daily Beast 

WTF happened to the Republican party? - crazy alert

George Bush said after 9/11 that "Islam is peace". WTF happened between then and now? A whole bunch of crazies seeking endorsement from religious extremists, like kill the gays Pastor Swanson, would have been unheard of not so long ago.

 

Abbott goes to US to speak

Transcript of Abbott's hate speech to "Alliance Defending Freedom"

Abbott's hate speech in full has been published online here.

It's a foul piece of work, confirming that Abbott has entered the rarified atmosphere of the US lunar right. It bewilders me that a man in such a position can continue to come out with the lie that man/woman marriage was from time immemorial as the only form of relationship. A short Google search will find numerous examples from history where same sex relationships were a recognised part of societies.. 

Not long ago, most gay activists rejected marriage as an oppressive institution. Now, they demand as their right what they recently scorned; they demand what was unimaginable in all previous times and still is in most places. 

They are seeking what has never been and expecting others to surrender what always has. It’s a massive ask; for me, an ask too far. 

I support people’s right to make a case for the things they believe, and want them courteously heard; but policy makers should strive to hold the common ground. 

In today’s world, we need less ideology and more common sense; we need less impatience and more respect; we need less shouting at people and more engagement with them. We shouldn’t try to change something without understanding it, without grasping why it is that one man and one woman open to children until just a very few years ago has always and everywhere been considered the essence of marriage and the heart of family. 

Of course, we can’t shirk our responsibilities to the future; but let’s also respect and appreciate values and institutions that have stood the test of time and pass them on, undamaged, when that’s best. Abbott's speech in full

Show respect for older gays - Davey Wavey

He doesn't pull any punches.... He goes a bit Angry Aussie here, only angry American :)

 

We now have the numbers in parliament for a yes marriage equality vote

With the news from Australian Marriage Equality that we now have to votes in the federal parliament to pass the legislation, Australian Marriage Equality has teamed up with GetUp to demand the legislation be passed. 


The alternative is a $160 million plebiscite which has no guarantee Turnbull gov ministers will vote for it. More and more obviously a complete waste of money and time.

From a GetUp email:

The case for holding a costly national plebiscite on marriage equality is becoming weaker by the day. 

In today's Sydney Morning Herald we confirmed the breaking news that - after a lengthy analysis of public and private positions on marriage equality - we finally have the numbers to win a Free Vote. 

Earlier in the week, we learned the Australian Christian Lobby sees the costly plebiscite tactic as a successful way of "kicking the issue into the long grass" and "blunting the momentum" for marriage equality. This news just one day after prominent coalition Senators Cory Bernardi, Eric Abetz, and Bridget McKenzie revealed they had no intention of honouring the wishes of Australians and the results of a public vote on the issue of marriage equality. 

These developments highlight not only the division in government over this issue, but also the need for a fair and quick process by which to achieve marriage equality. Instead of spending $160 million taxpayer dollars on an expensive public opinion poll that we now know will be ignored by some of our elected leaders, and that many see as a delay tactic, let's call on our government to settle this in Parliament once and for all. 

We are working with our friends at GetUP to call on Prime Minister Turnbull to hold a Free Vote on marriage equality, will you join us? EqualityNOW.org.au 

We all know a plebiscite won't only be financially costly. It'll be the catalyst for a prolonged and ugly campaign that mental health experts fear will cause harm to vulnerable youth in our community. 

Tony Abbott originally proposed the idea of a plebiscite, and each day it's becoming more clear that this was a cynical plan, designed to put off reform. We can't let that happen. 

The Parliament already has the backing of the public to vote on this issue, and now they also are ready to vote for equality. 

Let's call on our government to get it done, and let love win. Sign here  

Zac the cuddle cat :)

Zac escaped the house the other night and ended up getting in a big cat fight outside. Poor thing hurt his back claw quite badly. Is getting better slowly. He's been extra smoochy and loving lately as we comfort him in his hours of soreness. This was a David cuddle last night :)

*click to enlarge 

Abbott has made it onto the Right Wing Watch site

He's finally made it onto a site that suits him. Right Wing Watch reports on all the crazy loony fair right wacko-ness in the US. The likes of crazy preachers and nut job politicians.

He must be so very proud of himself now :s 

The Alliance Defending Freedom, the huge Religious Right legal group that has been expanding its anti-gay, anti-choice work around the globe, is bringing former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to the U.S. this week for a secretive meeting in New York, where he will talk about “the importance of family.” ADF, a sponsor of the World Congress of Families, sent an official to Australia last year to address the national conference of the Australian Christian Lobby. 

Nick O’Malley, U.S. correspondent for Fairfax Media, asked ADF about Abbott’s visit: 

A spokesman for the group told Fairfax Media in a statement that Mr. Abbott, who has “been a strong advocate for marriage and freedom throughout his career,” had “graciously agreed to address our private event.” 

But the spokesman declined to explain the nature of the event, say where or when it was to be held, or say if Mr. Abbott was being paid for his attendance. Right Wing Watch  

A plebiscite is a "glorified opinion poll" - Cory Bernardi

So let's get this straight. The Liberals can't vote with their conscience if they agree with same sex marriage and must vote with the party block. But if the party block says to vote for same sex marriage, then they can vote with their conscience against same sex marriage.

How completely nonsensical.

We speak to @corybernardi about whether he think a same-sex marriage plebiscite would work #auspol #TheProjectTV https://t.co/uiImqTCTKM

— #TheProjectTV (@theprojecttv) January 28, 2016

  

Famous people who had HIV (video)

I had no idea Psycho's Anthony Perkins had HIV. Amazing to see the accomplishments of people who defied the disease.

 

Crazy US presidential add of the day

I think this one is a cross between crazy and demented. It's seriously out there (and I'm not talking about the truth). I have not the faintest idea WTF was going through the vacant head spaces of those who created this abomination. I'd go so far as so say it's quite sick, as in mentally ill.

 

Anti-gay legislator busted on Grindr

Why am I not surprised?

 

Ammon Bundy's mugshot :)

There's nothing quite a satisfying as somebody's mugshot after their well deserved arrest.

Ammon Bundy has pleaded with those remaining at the bird sanctuary to stand down. Some however say it's going to be a "bloodbath". 

Good grief, how did these nutters get their hands on guns? Oh yeah..... it's the US :s

 

Nationals senator will vote against same sex marriage plebiscite yes vote

They're all coming out of the woodwork now. After Abetz and Bernadi said they'd not vote for a yes vote by the people, now Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has said definitively that she will not vote for marriage equality, even if the plebiscite gives a yes vote by the people.

This is what I've said from the start when Abbott first mentioned a plebiscite. There's no guarantee that the gov will vote with what the people want. What then is the point of a plebiscite?

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has declared she will vote against same-sex marriage regardless of the result of a plebiscite, in contrast to a colleague who insisted the Government was not split on the issue. 

The Victorian senator has a record of opposition against same-sex marriage, but took seven questions to confirm her position. 

The exchange between Senator McKenzie and media at Parliament House took more than a minute, but ended in the politician confirming she would vote against same-sex marriage. 

"As a backbench senator, I can exercise my conscience on every single vote that comes before the Senate and I do," she said. 

"I vote with my conscience on every issue and my conscience on this matter is that I would vote against same-sex marriage." ABC

 

Vanilla terrorists in shootout with cops - 8 arrested and Tarpman killed

LaVoy Finicum (Tarpman) shot dead during shootout

It seems sanity has finally prevailed, and the US federal authorities have moved in on the Vanilla terrorists of the Oregon bird sanctuary.

Tarpman is dead (LaVoy Finnicum). Eight have been arrested, including Ammon Bundy in a traffic stop trap instigated by the feds.

The feds have moved in on the bird sanctuary, dunno how many people may be in there.

The jail doesn't have French Vanilla Creamer, hand and feet warmers, or throw rugs.

One person is dead and eight others, including Oregon occupation leader Ammon Bundy, were detained following a violent confrontation with the FBI and state police Tuesday night. 

It all began with a traffic stop while Bundy and some of his followers were en route to a community meeting at a John Day senior center, about 70 miles north of Burns. 

Shots were fired after FBI agents, Oregon State troopers and other law enforcement agencies made the stop on US Highway 395. 

Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy, Brian Cavalier, Shawna Cox and Ryan W. Payne were arrested during the stop. Joseph Donald O'Shaughnessy and online talk-show radio host Peter Santilli were arrested in Burns. Jon Ritzheimer was arrested after surrendering to authorities in his home state of Arizona. 

All of them are facing federal felony charges of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties, through the use of force, intimidation or threats. 

LaVoy Finicum, an outspoken member of the armed group who would often speak at news conferences in place of Bundy, was shot and killed during the confrontation. Ryan Bundy suffered a non-life threatening injury in the shooting. 

CNN is reporting it's unclear who fired first. 

"I am relieved this situation is coming to and end, however, I am saddened by the loss of life," Harney County Judge Steve Grasty said Tuesday. "I hope and pray that those who remain at the refuge will stand down peacefully." 

Federal law enforcement officers converged on the wildlife refuge after the arrests and were expected to remain at the site throughout the night. It was unclear how many members of the armed group, if any, were at the refuge when the law enforcement officers arrived. KATU News  

The Republican nightmare of Trump and Cruz - Stephen Colbert :)

An hilarious look at the nightmare unfolding for the GOP. Both are deeply unpopular with the party establishment. 

 

Turnbull gov ministers refuse to follow plebiscite result - same sex marriage

Abetz

Bernadi

Well the cat's out of the bag now, The same sex marriage plebiscite dreamed up by Abbott was always designed simply as a delaying tactic and not seriously meant to bring about same sex marriage in Australia. Now Abetz and Bernardi say they may well not vote for same sex marriage even if the people give a yes result in the plebiscite vote.

This is an astonishing development. Despite millions to be spent on the plebiscite exercise, to have two gov ministers either "reserve their decision" as Abetz has, or out and out say they won't vote with the people as Bernardi says, makes a mockery of the entire Lieberal rhetoric about it being an exercise in democracy. Lieberal ministers giving the finger to the electorate.

Again, same sex marriage in Australia comes up against the stumbling block of grumpy white catholic men; ideologues without love. The will of the people held to ransom by blind hate. Unrepresentative swill.

A split has reopened within the Coalition over same-sex marriage, with conservative senators warning they may vote against allowing gays and lesbians to marry even if the Australian public backs the change at a national plebiscite. 

Senator Eric Abetz said he would not necessarily vote with the majority while fellow Liberal senator Cory Bernardi went further by saying he would definitely not vote in favour of same-sex marriage, regardless of the public's verdict. 

Liberal National MP Warren Entsch, a leading advocate of same-sex marriage, slammed the senators' stance as "bizarre" and "extraordinary". 

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has committed to a national vote on whether to legalise same-sex marriage after the next election, which is expected to cost about $160 million. 

His predecessor, Tony Abbott, proposed a plebiscite last year after a bitter debate over a conscience vote inflamed tensions within the Coalition. 

When asked whether he would bind his MPs to vote "yes" if that was the plebiscite result, Mr Turnbull told Parliament last year that "the consequence of a 'yes' vote in the plebiscite will be that same-sex marriage will be legal in Australia" 

"When the Australian people make their decision, that decision will stick," he said in October. 

"It will be decisive. It will be respected by this government and by this Parliament and this nation." 

But Senator Bernardi told Fairfax Media on Wednesday: "Even if the public voted for [same-sex marriage], I wouldn't vote for it. 

"It goes against what I believe in. This is a substantial issue and, in the annals of public policy, you want to be on the record about your views." 

Senator Bernardi said he still expected Parliament would "respect the views of the Australian people" because not all parliamentarians were as passionate about the issue as he and they would be guided by the plebiscite result. 

Senator Abetz, a leading opponent of same-sex marriage, earlier said he would reserve his judgment following the plebiscite result. Sydney Morning Herald  

"Not all parliamentarians were as passionate about the issue as he..."  Fucks sake man. I wonder how passionate he would feel about being told that his marriage was illegal?

 

Oprah is the antichrist - preacher endorsed by Cruz, US :s

Has Ted Cruz lost the plot as much as our Tone's?

 

Armed & drunk Oregon vanilla terrorist arrested DUI - promises to kill cops (video)

This is totally out there man. Being here in Australia, I cannot imagine what it must be like for authorities to come across a drunk terrorist with a gun in a service station who when arrested for DUI wants to kill them. I hope he gets the book thrown at him in court?

He's so drunk he doesn't even know that they're state troopers.

If there was any doubt in anyone's mind that these people are nothing less than domestic US terrorists, this video will dispel it. Why is the gov letting these people do this? What if this was a Middle Eastern Islamic doing this? Likely he'd be charged with terrorism offences?

The cops are incredibly polite, certainly just doing their job for the public's safety on the roads and in no way attract anything like the insults thrown. The footage is from the cop cam.

  

David Morrison Australian of the year - epic speech

Today is Australia Day and ex Army head David Morrison has been awarded Australian of the year. In his acceptance speech he makes clear there is still a long way to go to reach full diversity in Australia, where being treated equally Australian is without doubt.

In one of the most pointed bits, he calls again for a Republic. Oh so late for this country. The last time it was defeated by Howard asking a loaded question about what kind of Republic we wanted, as opposed to simply asking if we wanted one. To be holding on to the Queens apron after more than 200 years of white settlement is embarrassing to say the least. Australia is a very different country than it was at the year of white invasion.

Watch his acceptance speech below.

Congratulations to former Army chief David Morrison, named 2016 Australian of the Year #ozdayABC https://t.co/0S8nLmsToh

— ABC TV Australia (@ABCTV) January 25, 2016

 

 

"Alliance Defending Freedom"(ADF) lawyer was convicted of pedophilia - Abbott to speak at ADF

Defrocked priest: John Gerard Nestor 

*Update: his gay sister is concerned about it.

This is the organisation that

Abbott is going to speak at in the US. The revolting anti-gay group that proclaims to defend the family and children against the likes of us evil dastardly gays, of which Abbott will likely refer to when he get's up and speaks. This is the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). 

Not so good at defending the family against evil though. One of it's lawyers back in 2012 (who I assume was engaged in defending children through the law somehow) was a pedophile. She was arrested by the FBI and amongst other things was charged with possessing child porn and filming a minor engaged in such.

Not that Abbott might be too worried about pedophilia. He defended Gerard Nestor back in the 1990's by giving him a character reference for court. Indeed the Catholic church and pedophilia often times appear to go hand in hand.

Lisa Byron was convicted in 2013.

A New Hampshire lawyer associated with an anti-gay Christian defense group was arrested on federal child pornography charges after allegedly taking a teenager to Canada where she reportedly convinced the girl to engage in sexual activity and let it be filmed. 

Lisa Biron, a Manchester, N.H., lawyer associated with the Christian litigation group, Alliance Defending Freedom, was arrested by FBI agents on Friday morning on charges of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, possession of child pornography and five counts of sexual exploitation of children, according to the Concord Monitor. 

Federal prosecutors said Biron transported a teen girl from Manchester to Ontario, Canada, on May 25 and coerced her into engaging in sexual acts with another person that were then recorded, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. 

According to the Concord Monitor, prosecutor Helen Fitzgibbon made the case for Biron to be held without bond because other juveniles have been subjected to Biron’s sexual activity and drug use; witnesses have testified to seeing Biron in possession of ecstasy, marijuana and cocaine; and Biron texted a friend saying she may flee to Cuba. Huffington Post  

Oh look, they have a YouTube channel. Look at how the lawyers are protecting the family!

Abbott to speak at anti-gay ultra conservative "Alliance Defending Freedom" - US

Abbott writes his latest speech

Deposed ex PM Abbott, who's pretty much the only reason marriage equality still doesn't exist in Australia, is now headed to the US to join the ranks of the wacko US Republican candidates; in that he will be speaking at a radical US conservative christian organisation that is dead against gays.

The Alliance Defending Freedom. 

To all conservative tea party type gay hating christians in the US, can you please keep Tone's there as we've totally had enough of him here. Please. He's completely lost the plot now. Delusional and needs medicating.

Fresh from giving new hope to disaffected conservative Liberals by staying in federal politics, Tony Abbott will fly to the United States on Tuesday to gee-up one of the religious right's most reactionary bodies, the Alliance Defending Freedom. 

Mr Abbott, who is being accompanied by wife Margie, will give a speech on the topic of "the importance of family" to the pro-Christian, Republican-aligned lobby, which opposes abortion, wants to end gay marriage and is pushing to roll back some feminist advances. 

The speech comes as the primary race for the presidential nomination approaches fever pitch, with contenders on the Republican side scrambling to secure the overwhelmingly Christian "Tea Party" base. 

The Alliance Defending Freedom's founding president, Alan Sears, is a regular conservative voice on Rupert Murdoch's Fox News channel and co-authored the 2003 book, The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Liberty Today. 

With Craig Osten, Sears argued that America's growing tolerance of homosexuality was being achieved through the indoctrination of children, tacit support of corporate America, and through "positive" television depictions of alternative family structures. 

The ADF has attracted trenchant criticism from the left for opposing "tolerance training" for schools aimed at reducing bullying of LGBTI students. Instead, it proposed "truth days", in which homosexual behaviour was openly discussed as sinful. Sydney Morning Herald