The Marriage Rally in Raleigh, NC

Tueday’s morning of the 17th was a very interesting day in Raleigh, NC to say the least. You see, a group called Return America, and others, held a Marriage Rally on the greens of the Halifax Mall. They did this in 2007, 2009, and again this year. Each year another anti-gay group takes the reigns, this year was no different. They blame activist judges for giving Gays civil rights and making new laws from the bench, yet they forget that these judges also help minorities as well, in the past and in the present.

I attended the Rally in 2009 that was hosted by NC4Marriage, as well as this one. I was there as a photographer and a supporter for my LGBT community. At each of these events there was a small counter-protest, which was neither approved nor even acknowledged by our local LGBT Community leaders or local Equality groups. Hell not even our local nationally known blogger could even be bothered attending much less assemble any sort of community support.

See slideshow of each year.

here is the 2009 rally,





2011 Rally,




Yes, they are small groups compared to the anti-gay bigots at these rallies. However, our group is more dedicated because we didn't need to be bused in from all over the state. I wonder just how big the Anti-gay marriage rally would have been if they weren't bused in???

While we were outside standing up to these bigots, a group from Equality NC was inside the General Assembly building with groups of religious leaders holding a press conference.

While this Rally was in progress, I found and photographed a small LGBT group behind enemies lines (see slideshow for 2011). There were holding a simple sign which read "Equality for all." Well, they were harassed by the local PD, who only walked away after a reporter stood up for the group. see video and info below:

This Video was taken by LGBTQ resource,The Triangle, www.trianglelgbt.com. It shows State Capital Police trying to intimidate peaceful LGBTQ counter protesters at anti-LGBTQ faith based rally in Downtown Raleigh on May 17, 2011. State Capital Police only back off when local news reporter inquires into what the police are doing. There is also a snippet of the false information the speaker is telling the crowd about the LGBTQ community. The rally was held by Return America in response to a press conference given by pro-LGBTQ faith leaders in the Legislature Building regarding SB 106 earlier that morning. There will be a pro-LGBTQ rally on June 3, 2011 in downtown Raleigh, you can go to http://getequalnc.org/rally-in-raleigh/ for more information.

However the PD DID make it known to those on the street, if they tried to enter the mall grounds with signs, they would be arrested for trespassing. The group on the street were told three different reasons about what would happen if they carried signs on to the grounds of the mall.

Most of those who attended this rally were Baptist, and a few Christian Schools as well. They were Greenville Christian Academy, Beacon Baptist Church, Fellowship Baptist Church, Faith Christian Academy, White Plains Baptist Church, Gospel Light Baptist Church, and I am positive there were many more.   

I can only guess that this rally was very important because Bam Bam Labarbra was there.

Now for my comment and opinion about our community,

I just don't get it, you guys in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill all came out when NOM came to town, yet once again you let the local bigot groups get a free pass on bashing the hell out of us?? Why??

I do have a bone to pick with Pam and Equality NC. If they would have called for us to rally, I'm sure more would have shown up to counter protest. Yet again the local LGBT community couldn't be bothered. I can only guess that many were hung over, or at the parks and bookstores on their knees or with their legs in the air. I am sure many had to work, but yet many took off from work or took longer lunches to attend the NOM counter protest and the rally at Cameron Village.

If these religious zealots get their way and do get more of our civil liberties revoked, you have no one to blame but yourselves. Don't stand there and ask "What happened?", I'll tell you what happened... you couldn't be bothered to show up to support your community or your future. Its so much more than the right to get married.

Its the benefits that you lose for insurance, its the child care you get denied because your "partnership" isn't recognized by the state, its the financial instability you face when/if your "partner" passes and you find yourself homeless because you didn't think that those rallies a few years ago could affect you. The time for sitting home and writing letters is over. We, like our counterparts in the church, have got to put faces and head counts to our legislation. Letters can be ignored and worse yet tossed in the oval file cabinet, but actual people can't be ignored. It's time to show them who and how many we are.

Whats the Deal, no invite the LGBT County Club

Could be that I don't play by the same rulebook...

I feel I'm being let out simply because I call the LGBT community out on its bullshit.

Knock knock ….. don’t even try to get through this door boys and girls.

A door which sources have told this writer leads to an elite room where among others, are LGBT bloggers who hold LGBT country club status to discuss what is best for you and who shall be or not be a part of this secretive fraternity and sorority of LGBT bloggers with all the mystery of The Masons.

I might owe an apology to Autumn

Autumn retweet the following tweet. I see that it is marked as a retweet, however I couldn't find the original one on twitter.. So I not fully sure who added the SHEROES. If Autumn didn't added it and only retweet, them I apology for my tweet to you, However if you did add the SHEROES, then you deserve my tweet...

This was my reply

This is what pisses me off about the Trans-community, The need to genderize words that have no gender attach to them, Hero for example and change/making new words/term for she/he and him/her.

Bill James's Bigot Comments via Qnotes

I will never under why the LGBT community gets so upset when a bigot elected official writes an email and degrades the community.

When the community is made aware of such degrading actions its gets outraged and start calling for the removal of the official. Most of the time, this so-called outrage goes statewide and depending just who the elected official is, sometime its goes national.

The most recent soon to be outrage in NC is from an elected official from the Anti-gay, Republican Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James, which by some counts, this is the first time. Just what was said, to whom was it said/written too, and most important just who released it to the media?

James’ remarks were made in response to County Commissioner Chair Jennifer Roberts’ request to send a letter thanking some members of the Charlotte-area congressional delegation for their “yes” votes on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal this month. Roberts was to send the letter to U.S. Reps. Larry Kissell and Mel Watt and U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan. President Barack Obama last week signed the repeal act into law.

So what did James write that will get this outrage going?

“Homosexuals are sexual predators,” James wrote in one email from string of three between county board members, Roberts and County Manager Harry Jones, and provided by James to Qnotes. “Allowing homosexuals to serve in the US military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining US military readiness and effectiveness not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.”

James added, “The US Government would not allow Hetero men and women to share showers and other personal facilities yet the leading homosexual in Congress (Barney Frank) thinks it is OK for homosexuals to do so allowing enlisted men and women to fall prey to higher ranking or more powerful homosexuals who ogle them (or worse).”

First off, James must love attention, if he willing did send a copy of or cc Q-notes in said email. If he is seeking attention, then why is Qnotes encouraging him in these matters? His comments are nothing new. We have heard all them before in many different contexts, on myriads of issues.

So the local community of Mecklenburg County knows what type of bigot they have elected to represent them on the county board. Even though his slur and derogatory language is known to all, then why get upset when it happen. Instead of getting upset every time he calls us a derogatory name, why not just ignore him and stop giving him a platform to spew his hate and stupidity? Also why not lead a community wide campaign to oust him from office. Find a LGBT community friendly candidate to run against him in the next election. Then get the community to fully support that candidate 100%.

If the local community is so outrage at these comment but don’t do an effing thing, then they need to stop the bitching and deal with.

Just maybe the community should and will do something about this bigot. Since, he has been in communication with the new Republican leaders of the North Carolinas state legislature.

We all know what some of the Issues that James has been talking over with them. Just how many of these will come to light and be pass in the upcoming year.

I’m sure as I’m breathing that the anti-Marriage bill will come up for a hearing or two. Other issues like Domestic partnership, adoptions, and just maybe Hospital rights once again.

So let see, what will our community face this upcoming year? How many anti-gay bills will be voted on in the New Year? How many supporters will we gain or lose?

Pam see the light concerning HRC, well Joe anyway

Who would have thought that after having major surgery, that Pam would see the light about Joe Solmonese the head of HRC.. So insightful that even David Mixner loves her piece.. 

"It's time for the Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese to tender his resignation.

By any sane performance metrics, he has failed to successfully lead. Promises like those made in the "This year we are going to bring down DADT" video at the HRC Carolina's dinner on Feb. 27 were used to extract money from low-info, fat wallet attendees. It's rinse and repeat at events like that around the country and there is precious little to show for it in terms of the major promises made by Solmonese -- and this President. 

I'm also glad that she finally prove/agree that these HRC dinners are used to extract money from the Rich Fat Cats, like David Mixner and others..

Joe Solmonese should do the honorable thing and step down. It is shameful to cash all those checks without the follow through on the job. The White House was never put under serious pressure; the late calls now in the e-blasts for the President to do something ring hollow after the toadying that has gone on for two years." 

Pam how else will he gets his huge pay check?

She even ask the follow,

It is not divisive to ask what have we gotten for the $80 million that flowed into the coffers of the Human Rights Campaign when it comes to leadership. Those funds -- were they effectively used to ensure promised action on by this President on his major promises?

Well we have gotta a few fancy dinners and PSA and some nice gift with HRC logo on them. However Joe has gotta alot more, hundreds of first class fights all over the world, limos and lets not forget his almost 1/3 of million dollar yearly pay.. and those of the things what we know of..

Lets not forget that he was ready to throw the Trans-community under the bus if it would get ENDA pass, Remember they protest the HRC dinner that was held in Charlotte a few years back

Ms Pam has a point on this one.

In any case, critics haven't any power to change the strategic vision (such as it is), within HRC, and if those in charge simply blow off any criticism, is the community expected to sit silent with hands politely folded? There certainly hasn't been a private summit to discuss the myriad problems that have arisen, nor does there appear to be any feedback mechanism desired. I don't expect that it would occur, anyway, given the bunker mentality in place.

and her best advice yet,

And as far as calls for accountability for new media/bloggers/citizen activists? Hey, that's easy -- people won't read what doesn't interest them, and our voices are limited by time -- we're not news services. As we all know here at the Blend, all it takes is a health issue to take me offline for a good long while. Voices will come and go. 

Pam knows that her voice/blog is heard/read around the world... Maybe this will get some stuff moving in the right direction..

However I would like to see Pam Support her local LGBT community a bit more. Even if she doesn't agree, she could still let others know through her blog, the "what, where, when, and how."

Do you have a single positive or non-jaded bone in your body?

Yes this is what a certain young guy ask me on Facebook. I comment that a LA porn Star was bitching and whining for catching a few STD's. Because he choose to work in this field.. Its not like STD's are new. He chose to work in porn, he thought that since he had a nice body and nice size cock, that this was the way to many some easy money..

Now he wants to play stupid, I guess he slept through school and while he was surfing the net.

The 24-year-old worked as a hotel manager and cruise ship magician before becoming a performer in the lucrative porn industry.

He now said he wishes he had known more about the risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases in the industry.

He chose to have sex for money without a condom. That right, he chose to do it and now he acts like a damn victim..

I can guess the fast cash and a quick nut over rule his head..

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that porn star Derrick Burts, who recently tested positive for HIV, is urging the industry to make condom use mandatory. The 24-year-old actor accepts roles in both straight

 and gay films. Burts has a girlfriend, but insists that he contracted the disease during a shoot for an adult film. Burts works under the names of Cameron Reid for his straight porn roles and Derek Chambers for his gay films. Currently the porn industry discourages the use of condoms for monetary reasons. Porn with condoms just doesn't sell as well.

Mr Derrick just who gave you what and when, was it the women or the men...



So which producer force you to do it?

Now he wants to blame the porn business.. He could have said no, not with a condom.