Decency Knows No Political Party

I admire anyone who stands up for equality. But I particularly salute those for whom taking a stand is risky and may cost them personally and professionally. It touches my heart that some of the most moving and eloquent advocates for LGBT equality, lately, have come from within the ranks of the GOP.

It's important that we support these courageous people. While nationally we've passed the magic 51% number as far as acceptance (presumably making it a good long-term bet for ANY politician to support us), Republicans still fight uphill within their own party. And coming out in support of LGBT equality can have negative consequences for them at the ballot box and in contributions NOW, in current election cycles.

Meet my hero of the day -- Maureen Walsh, Republican State Senator from Walla Walla. Listen to her beautiful words on the floor of the Washington Senate Tue during that legislative body's debate over same-sex marriage.

And let's remember Maureen, financially and otherwise, when she's up for re-election, whether we typically vote Democrat or Republican. Because decency and justice know no political party.

Eddy Barrena is taking pop seriously

A number of my friends and acquaintances are performers who use their recognizability to promote social and political causes. It's fun to share both the art they create as well as their advocacy.

I'll admit that when I first became aware of Eddy Barrena, it was not in his role as an advocate/activist for LGBTs and Latino youth. It was his performance in the breakthrough 2010 "Ice Cream Truck" music video by out, gay Manhattan rap performer Cazwell that got my attention.

Cazwell's unapologetically sexy video turns the tables on the stereotype of a (heterosexual) rapper flanked by a seeming harem of scantily-clad, attractive young women. Instead Cazwell populates our screen with his visual ideal. The video was simple to the point of simplistic, yet radical at the same time. Holding court center-rear (in this pic) is Eddie Barrena.

Eddy grew up in Spain and Colombia, where he studied filmmaking in college. As soon as he was able, he packed his things and moved to New York City, where he started work on his first short film upon arrival.

It wasn't hard to make ends meet. The modeling business embraced Eddy, and work in print campaigns and as a go-go dancer led him to Cazwell and being signed as one of the "Ice Cream Truck" boys. The rest is YouTube viral history.

Now, Eddy's finding his own voice, not only as a musician, but as a filmmaker and activist. Eddie has participated in the NOH8 Campaign, shooting a portrait and speaking out for acceptance of LGBTs and youth in particular.

In the studio, Eddy delights in creating shimmery, catchy pop music.You can check out his first single State of Grace on iTunes and follow Eddie on Facebook.

More back-and-forth on SB 1070

There is a Facebook page called 1 MILLION Strong AGAINST the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070

It actually has about 1.3 million followers as of the publishing of this blog. While most of the posts are anti-1070, there are a number of "patriotic" voices speaking out in support of the law. The back-and-forth is fascinating and I keep getting engaged. Here's an exchange from this evening:

Brian K Morris

Houston TX

I am glad to see that this law is gaining more and more support throughout the country. It seems as if people are starting to understand that this law does not infringe on anyone rights. No where in our constitution does it say you have the right to not be asked if you are here legally. Personally, I would be proud to show that I am a legal citizen. But alas, there are still people that think this is an attack on them....

You think that because you look Mexican, or perhaps your family is from Mexico that this law is infringing upon your rights (Let me be clear you is a general term here). You think that YOU are the target because of the color of your skin. You and every other person that looks Latino that is against this law are trying to make it about you. IT ISN’T ABOUT YOU. It’s about the 13 million people that are In our country illegally. It’s about the laws that are being broken not just by illegals but by the greedy companies that hire them. It’s about the moronic politicians that crave their votes. It’s about the thousands of families that have lost children to illegal prostitution rings. It’s about the thousands of families that have lost loved ones at the hands of an illegal. It is not our fault that Mexicans make up the largest percent of illegal immigrants in this country. To be quite honest I wish it were white people just so you and all the bleeding hearts wouldn’t have a reason to sue someone and cry. Sadly my wish isn’t coming true.

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My response:

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Brian,

I suspect you'll find few among us who'd argue with your suggestion that America is overdue for immigration reform. Regardless of one's politics, it's plain to see we as a nation have neglected this, and people have suffered and died as a result.

There are a huge number of ways to address the problem. The ultimate solution will surely be a combination of methods.

What I and many others who oppose SB 1070 feel is that this particular tool, while it may be somewhat effective, will extract a human toll so high -- among both legal and illegal people -- that we find it intolerable. In fact, it is so egregious to us that we're speaking out against it even though most of us live nowhere near Arizona and the law's implementation will have little to no impact on our daily lives.

To us it is reminiscent of South African Apartheid, which required Blacks to carry identification at all times. It brings to mind the "papers, please" regulations of Nazi Germany targeting Jews and homosexuals. In the current case, it's not the skin color of the group that will be most (and almost singularly) affected that disturbs us. It's the simple loss of civil rights, and ANY group being singled out, whether deliberately or as a matter of circumstance.

I got challenged earlier today by a Twitter follower who suggested I leave the discussion on SB 1070 to those who live a little closer to the border. I replied that I didn't to live in South Africa to see that Apartheid was a travesty, and if anything, the few hundred miles that separate me from this controversy allow me a cooler, less emotional perspective on things.

I certainly don't speak for all "bleeding hearts". But when THIS heart bleeds, it's for perceived injustice, period. The color of your skin, who or how you worship, and whom you love -- these are of little interest to me.

I doubt my words will change your mind, but I hope it will help give you more insight into why some of us are so alarmed at this moment. We're not ignorant, nor are drunk on the liberal sauce.

We just f'n care.

Ben Patrick Johnson
Los Angeles, CA

The Vatican is playing a dangerous, destructive game

I’ve had a few people following my Twitter and Facebook feeds ask why I’m so riled up about the Vatican’s pedophilia crisis. I want to explain, but can’t fit it into 140 characters.

Initially, I was troubled by the allegations of abuse. There was the string of outrageous cases we’ve heard about over the past few years -- predatory priests being moved around from parish to parish, even internationally, to quiet or make moot victims’ complaints. The result has been what one would expect: a multiplication of damage instead of a mitigation. As more and more cases became public, it grew clear Roman Catholic officials knew what was going on; it was they who facilitated the moves in each instance, suggesting (in a striking misplacement of compassion) it was for the good of the priest or, as in the letter revealed last week by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), for the “good of the Universal church.” Put in contemporary terms, it'd be bad PR if people knew what was really going on.

All this made me shake my head in disgust. But it's not been fodder for me to get on my soapbox. Things have changed.

Multiple statements have come out from Roman Catholic leadership in recent days suggesting blame be laid on targets as wide-ranging as Judaism and mass media. But the loudest and most troubling is the insistence that the church doesn’t have a pedophile problem, it has "a homosexual problem." This rickety proposition was first floated by William Donohoe, president of the Catholic League, in a full page ad in the New York Times and in interviews with the major news outlets. Then on Monday, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s de facto Secretary of State, said the following in Chile:

“Many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relationship between celibacy and paedophilia. But many others have demonstrated, I have been told recently, that there is a relationship between homosexuality and paedophilia. That is true. That is the problem.”

Wait -- he’s been “told?”

Not only is Cardinal Bertone relying on hearsay, but that hearsay is completely wrong, as evidenced by every reputable study available. Perhaps the Vatican doesn’t have access to the Internet and search engines to verify the most basic of information?

I’m being sarcastic. In truth, what’s going on is a calculated, systemic indictment of a group of people, in this case gays. This is what happened in Germany in the 1920s when a rising political movement vilified Jews. We know where that led. It’s happened around the world and in America to various ethnic and religious groups, resulting in discrimination and violence. Each new wave of immigrants that reaches America's borders -- from the Irish in the 19th century after the potato famine, to Italians fleeing disease and starvation, to people of Latin heritage today -- must endure an period of outright persecution before being accepted into the mainstream. Political movements like the Tea Party capitalize on the public's fear, institutionalizing it through repetition and propaganda. Just ask a Tea Party follower about immigration and listen to their frighteningly sectarian talking points.

As a group, gays in particular have had a mixed go of things recently. In Mexico City, same-sex marriage is now legal. Meanwhile, in Uganga, a top government official has been attempting to make being gay a capitol offense punishable by death. For certain, anti-gay sentiment -- inflamed by rhetoric like that coming out of the Vatican this week -- leads to tragedy. This is not conjecture, like the Vatican’s noodling. This is broadly evidenced fact.

Systemic defamation is ALWAYS wrong, whether it comes from the Tea Party, the Ugandan Parliament, or the Roman Catholic Church and its Holy See.

The Vatican should be ashamed of their maneuvering. They should own up to the church leadership's tragic mistakes and work diligently to put things right rather than pick a vulnerable group upon whom to transfer blame. The Church exists to honor the teachings of Jesus Christ. Right now, I can only think Christ would be horrified at what Roman Catholic hierarchy has posited in his name. As a Christian and a gay man I, along with others, refuse to sit silent while this perversion continues.

That is why I’ve been so vocal about this issue. Count on my continuing to speak out.