Alabama Considers Gay Gag Law

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/12/120104alabama.htm

An Alabama state lawmaker is calling for legislation to ban gay speech from any institution which receives state money.

Representative Gerald Allen, a Republican, is preparing a bill that would bar any representation of homosexuality in schools, libraries, and state funded universities.

"We have a culture that's in deep trouble," Allen said


and it's because of these morans like this guy!

what an idiot!

I just wonder how far this would go--ban gay authors or just gay themed works; what?

[Khephra]

1. I won't make any jokes about that headline

I swear I won't....

I better take a walk. It's way too easy.

:evilgrin:

(In all seriousness though, hasn't Allen heard about Freedom of Speech? Oh wait. My bad. He's a Republican. So quickly I forget.)

[Rosco T.]

6. Yeah... I had to sitfle an inital post...

but jeeze...what next? Ban NBC television in Alabama because of Will & Grace??

[LiberalFighter]

20. If they banned NBC television in AL it should be ALLLLL television

that would also include cable and satellite especially all of the worthless religious

[Swamp Rat]

19. Must maintain... I am Nomad! ... Error error!

:D

[Chipper Chat]

73. "Any representation of homosexuality" would also include:

All those "happy hugs" and "buttslaps" the high school football boys do during games IN PLAIN SIGHT of the fans. Spectators would include cops who would have to arrest these criminal boys for being gay! ("I saw Brent put his hand on Scott's ass - I saw it with my own eyes")

[Divine Discontent]

97. CHIPPER CHAT ------

you KILL me!!!!!!!!! that's funny shit! lololol

HE DID I SAW IT!!!!!!!!! SICK F&GS!!!!!!!!!

lololol

they're nuts, and who's to say certain states don't really start banning gay teachers, gay, this, gay that, gay poets, gay writers, gay clergy! it's gotta stop, we need a REAL organizational rally, planned 1 year in advance, at TEN LOCATIONS around the United States where MILLIONS could show up and declare, ENOUGH with this fascist bigot bullcrap!!!!!!! JESUS said NO to war, these people smear his blood on the cross in their warmongering, and that's BLASPHEMOUS!

SOMEONE, please, who's wealthy on this board, consider giving up a year of your life to start this and get others like SOROS, and entertainers, musicians involved. THIS HAS TO END NOW, they're turning us into Nazi Germany!

[One Eye on Canada]

137. One possibility

I, for one, can't wait for a wealthy benefactor to swoop down and save "us" from the big, bad homophobes. Perhaps all glbt folks and their allies need to do something along the lines of the Montgomery bus boycott, but on a larger scale.

One idea: Avoid the biggest GOP donors while holiday shopping (and let them know you're doing it). Of course, that may leave you to make your own presents, but few people can resist home-made fudge! (Half of us are called fudge-packers, anyway.)

Sorry, that last bit was uncalled for, but you get the idea....

Any other ideas?

[Fovea]

2. First amendment?

This cannot be supported constitutionally,
no matter how badly the knuckle draggers want it.

The culture war is a war on the constitution.

[Julius Civitatus]

25. Will they ban LYNNE CHENEY's book too?

Remember that book that Lynne Cheney wrote with pretty explicit lesbian themes? It was called "Sisters" if I remember correctly.

:pals:

[Rush1184]

98. I was just about to say that...

Although I doubt Lynn gives a shit. When her publisher wanted to re-release the book, she stoped them.

[greymattermom]

112. it's out

livejournal.com/users/lynnecheney

[Must_B_Free]

3. What about any representation of simply being fabulous?

[Guarionex]

117. hhahaha...fabulous...hahahha

now...I'm simply fabulous...nothing wrong with that

:)

[The Doctor.]

4. "Where they start burning books....

they finish burning people."

[progressiveBadger]

15. Who said that? n/t

[TahitiNut]

53. Heinrich Heine

In Bebel Square is a metal plaque on the ground where Heinrich Heine in 1821 wrote, "Those who begin by burning books, will end by burning people."

Bebel Square is where the Nazis had the book burning of 1933. This is where 20,000 books met their end, anything the Nazis didn't like, especially books written by Jews or pacifists.

"Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen." - Almansor, 1821

[bobbieinok]

140. first saw this Heine quote on a memorial in Goettingen.....

The quote sends chills down my spine. Heine was a Jew; although many think he was one of the best German poets of the 19th century, others even today deny him that position because 'he's not really German, he's Jewish.'

[Benhurst]

32. They've been burning books and people in Alabama for a long time. nt

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Attacks

The attacks against us will only get more and more vicious and numerous. This will also expose some bigots in the Democrat Party. Attacks against us will become very commonplace and people will stand by and wonder what is happening!

ON EDIT: Funny how people said gays were being "alarmist" about this administration. Nothing 'that bad' will happen. Are these people just waiting for the cattle cars to come roaring up the tracks?!

[McKenzie]

7. this is similar to Clause 28 in the UK

basically it prohibits intentional promotion of gay issues in schools. Scotland's Parliament repealed it a few years ago but the debate on the issues brought some really creepy fuckers out from underneath their rocks.

[democratreformed]

8. What the hell is "gay speech"?

That seems way too vague to me. Besides the fact that it is ridiculous.

[htuttle]

21. "Gay Speech" nowdays...

...is analogous to what 'Jewish Speech' or 'Jewish Ideas' were in Germany in the 1930's.

Basically, anything said by or about gays that fails to portray them as 'bad'.

[ooglymoogly]

23. agay eplepay ustmay ebay utshay upay

no sorry that's pig latin

[snippy]

9. This is what happens when people vote republican.

Every person who votes republican endorses this kind of crap. This is not some isolated nut. This is the republican party in action. The GOP knows that this won't become law now, but republicans will keep trying and slowly but surely some restrictions will be passed.

This situation also provides an excellent illustration of the differences in the political strategies and tactics of the two major parties.

A few democrats may mention this briefly if at all and paint Allen as an isolated and extreme politician who only happens to be a republican. No connection to the republican party will be drawn or emphasized despite the fact that this story easily could be about many powerful republicans. The story will have a life measured in hours.

If a democrat had done something like this, republican talking points would go out to the entire country with instructions to describe the offending democrat as the typical democrat doing what democrats always do. Every democrat appearing on TV in the next several days would be forced to comment on the matter rather than staying on whatever message the democrat had intended to focus on. Within a matter of days republicans would have convinced tens of millions of people that every democrat has a firm policy of censoring books they disagree with. This false impression would be reinforced by the republican party for years.

All democrats, including politicians, pundits and every day people, need to point out that this is what happens when people vote republican.

[joeybee12]

12. I basically screamed this argument at a Repuke Homo at the Gym a while

ago...didn't register at all. By voting Repuke, you align yourself with such scum--it's that simple.

[regnaD kciN]

149. This is what happens when 25% of gays vote Republican!

:shrug:

[Hobarticus]

10. Does this affect libraries and films?

That pretty much eliminates a huge chunk of our culture, Herr Allen, if you cut out gay cultural contributions...

What is with these gay-obsessed kooks?

[4_Legs_Good]

11. The interesting part is that this will work!

We all know that when you don't talk about something it just goes away.

Most banned books/authors, history has shown, have had NO effect on the world. Hell, even allowed yet controversial works of art rarely have an impact. It's the regular, completely acceptable stuff that everyone can agree on as inoffensive that changes the world.

david

[Cronus Protagonist]

13. I hope he chokes on it

After all, I never promised to avoid jokes about the title....




http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[Heddi]

14. So the bible will be the first to go, right?

I mean, what's fair is fair....

I imagine this is their way of thinking:

"...see, if we take out all references to homosexuality, then there won't BE any homosexuality because no one will KNOW about it..."

logic, meet circle....

[Endangered Specie]

26. LOL!

good one!

[David Zephyr]

68. LOL II

Brilliantly said. :)

[VegasWolf]

79. But you can't take their bible away! Their entire philosophy will

collaspe!

[Deja Q]

111. The repukes need to read Ezekiel 1-23. It's Biblical porn. Of course,

it's supposedly hetero porn, but they really do coyly describe the male's advances.

New International Version mind you, the King Jame's Version had been censored already (which is odd, isn't this all the word of God?)

[central scrutinizer]

129. Wow, there's even a money shot in that passage

http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/BIBLE/EZE/EZE23.HTM

Yet she increased her whorings, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the whore in the land of Egypt and lusted after her paramours there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose emission was like that of stallions.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. And below that humorous headline lies a damned serious issue .....

This is, quite simply, the legalization of hate.

I am so numb to this relentless attack on gays. I am outraged to the point where even outrage seems normal.

This is one Sick Fuuking Country.

We need to rid ourselves of the cause of the illness.

Chimpus Khan enabled this, but the religious fundamental extremists are the cause.

You ask: "I just wonder how far this would go--ban gay authors or just gay themed works; what?" What I fear is physical harm (jail is physical harm) or worse in some legal and institutional way. How could it not be the next step for them?

[xerox]

17. Everybody

has opinions.

[bluestateguy]

18. Uh, can we go back and accept Alabama's secession from 1861?

We changed our mind. You guys are free to leave.

[Nancy Waterman]

63. Exactly my thought

Invite them to secede! And good riddance.

[central scrutinizer]

22. there goes "West Side Story"

Maria's song

MARIA
I feel pretty,
Oh, so pretty,
I feel pretty, and witty and gay,
And I pity
Any girl who isn’t me today.

[Chipper Chat]

84. Hey Bravo: You can toss that TV pilot for

"Queer Eye for the Alabama-Guy"

[Sabriel]

86. And there goes Xmas caroling, too

"Don we now our GAY apparel..."

[BamaLefty]

147. It Is Alabama

You may think that you have an idea of how it is down here... but you don't. I promise! :(

[regnaD kciN]

150. Nah...they'll just change the lyrics...

...to "Don we now our KKK apparel."

:eyes:

[daleo]

142. Here's a gay old chestnut, although Alabama wouldn't mind banning it

When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer, the boys will shout,
The ladies they will all turn out,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

The old church bells will peal with joy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.


Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Their choicest treasures then display,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
And let each one perform some part
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

[Duncan Grant]

24. Let's call him at home and say thank you.

Representative Gerald Allen
8200 Old Hargrove Road East
Cottondale, AL 35453

205-556-5310 HOME
334-242-7758 State House

http://www.myaea.org/uploadFiles/lh04contactstaterep1.pdf

Is this a great country or what?

[Endangered Specie]

27. you think it would be too much if I played gay porn over the tele?

:evilgrin:

[Duncan Grant]

33. LMAO!

Just the thought of it... :evilgrin:

[TheWraith]

58. That would be wrong!

It's much too easy to hang up on a phone call. :evilgrin: Get him placed on some snail-mail gay porn mailing lists. Even better, put a personal ad in a gay porn magazine using his number. Office number would probably be best. Make it something kinky.

Give it a few days to work, then out him to a local paper or tabloid. All the more effective if you can find a local homosexual who can claim to have been his lover (It's a dirty job, but hey...), or if you source the story as a staffer who confronted him about the gay personal calls.

Who wants to get together and form a Democratic black-ops group?

[Endangered Specie]

74. Lol a Democratic Karl Rove think tank?

Im in. We need to fight shit with shit if you ask me.

[readmoreoften]

123. Prog. black ops? I'm SO in. n/t

[Lizzie Borden]

138. Twisted mind Wraith.

I love it.:)

[TheWraith]

144. Thank you, thank you all.

I think I'll post a thread over in GD:Pol to scare up some operatives.

[Chipper Chat]

77. Ever notice how all rightwing Repubs have the same haircut?

Always a perfect straight part on the left and hair swooping down to the right. I never thought about this until I saw Swiftee John O'Neill with that same 1950s look. Ditto Duncan Hunter, Ashcroft, all Repub Senators & congressmen, etc. What does this signify? Pride in being a bigot-maybe? Or just trying to keep us stalled in the 50s?

[Hand]

119. As Jon Stewart observed...

While displaying a montage of congressional Repuke combovers, helmet heads, and pomade specials, "This is the consequence of not letting gay people touch your hair!"

:toast:

[Chipper Chat]

121. Ha ha ha ha

Dont watch Stewart, but thanks for the reference - he scooped me!

[Bouncy Ball]

28. Thank God for Alabama

every time Texas looks bad, repukes in Alabama or Mississippi step up to the plate to make us look a tad bit better, by comparison.

Ug.

Fuck you Allen. Just fuck you. May your hell be to have to be kiss gay people's feet for all eternity. NOT that they would let you, you hateful asshole.

Makes you wonder about these people, it really does...

[Endangered Specie]

29. Makes us North Carolinians look mighty damn good by comparison

:)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

54. I hear you...

Texas has many bad points, politically speaking, but this is insane, scary, sick, twisted shit!

[abbadon]

120. One-time Alabama state motto: "Thank God for Mississippi"

Unfortunately, my former state has even forfeited the right to use that excuse ...

And no, I don't even wonder about these people - I grew up with 100's of this ... person's clones/soulmates/fellow incubi, and they really think they are doing the right thing

meanwhile, "the first day of deer season" is still accepted as a valid excuse for BOYS (not girls, ever) to miss school ...

[Rebelry]

30. Another article

This has already moved to a bill banning books. Check out this Article from the Birmingham News in Alabama:


A bill by Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would prohibit the use of public funds for "the
purchase of textbooks or library materials that recognize or promote homosexuality as an
acceptable lifestyle." Allen said he filed the bill to protect children from the "homosexual
agenda."


...snip...

Allen said that if his bill passes, novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that
suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and
destroyed.


"I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," he said.


A spokesman for the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center called the bill censorship.


"It sounds like Nazi book burning to me," said SPLC spokesman Mark Potok.

-end of excerpt-

Go to this link for the full article: http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1101896768316400.xml

This is beyond anything I ever imagined happening. Let's hope it gets killed quickly.

Reb
a newbie

[shayes51]

50. The Southern Poverty Law Center is

about the best thing we have going in Alabama. These people show real courage.

[Khephra]

60. Welcome to DU, Rebelry!

:hi:

[Rebelry]

91. Thanks

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I'm really enjoying my time on the site, lots of really good information that never hits the mainstream media.

[Iris]

145. How come no one ever tells us what the homosexual agenda is?

Seriously. I'd like to know what Gerald Allen thinks the homosexual agenda is and then I'd like to know how he's privy to that information.

[movonne]

31. Yes we do have a culture in deep trouble, but it is not the gays it is

you filthy repubs..and so called Christians.

[oneold1-4u]

69. From OR

:pals: There are many to modern writers of literature of every kind here, and many noted gay and lesbian writers.
When they remove all of these artists of literature, prose, plays and even great painting artists, they destroy more than half of all of what we consider beauty in this world.
Just ask if they are willing to destroy anything that has to do with Michaelangelo and the cistine chapel, 70% of the poets and writers of the 16th-18th century and even a few years ago in the 19th right here in America. The play is the thing and soon we will see a great one that will attract the world to America as it really is.

[Behind the Aegis]

34. Rant!

I am not targeting anyone on this thread. I will freely admit that the title of the thread and the proposed 'law' is a little funny. But, what is being proposed is not funny at all! Currently 38 states have DOMA-type laws, several even ban civil unions, and a few can even dissolve contracts between same-sex people. Gay people can be LEGALLY fired or not hired in this country. Gay people can lose their housing. People, even gays ones, do not take these things seriously! These things are DEADLY serious! One can still use the "gay panic" defense as a reason for assaulting or even killing a gay person. This is just one more thing to demonize gays. I fail to find humor is this idiot's rantings. If this passes, more will follow. We can laugh at the silliness of this bill, but when will we stop laughing? When gays are not allowed to own property? When we are shipped off to be re-oriented? Will it stop being funny when the cattle cars are unveiled? This is very scary to me and I am sorry if this was a downer for anyone reading, but after they come for me, will you be next?!

[Duncan Grant]

35. It's as if our own path to the Nuremberg Laws...

is being foreshadowed. This is very serious. I rant about these Christo-Fascists every chance I get; they are the single greatest threat to America today.

And that's saying something.

[Behind the Aegis]

40. You are right

The problem is there are not enough of us with enough power to really make a huge difference. I think we should still continue to fight until the last of us are standing. However, we are not only battling bigots, we are also battling those who are supposed to be our "allies." They think we are being "reactionary" or "alarmist." We have a battle on two fronts. We need to get our allies on board and realize this type of shit is very dangerous!

Glad you are in the fight too! Maybe one day we will have EQUAL rights!

[Duncan Grant]

45. Good point about some of our "allies".

No one wants to believe it could happen here in the good old U S of A. Well, here's a little more evidence...this time from Oklahoma.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x1606

And Jerry Falwell is endorsing militarism: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x89214

These Xtian thugs are getting bolder by the day and people wonder why I'm worried?! :shrug:

[Behind the Aegis]

49. I know about that...

..I live in the hate state of Okla-hell-ma! This shit is happening all over but the "liberal" media doesn't report it, what they do instead is "investigate" a 5 year old hate crime and blame the "fag" for getting what he deserved! This country is in very deep trouble and gays are the first target and the ACCEPTABLE one!

[kayell]

133. They can justify ANYTHING with their twisted interpretaions of

an ancient and confusing set of books.

Falwell - "One of the primary purposes of the church is to stop the spread of evil, even at the cost of human lives. If we do not stop the spread of evil, many innocent lives will be lost and the kingdom of God suffers."

He could use that reasoning to justify damn near any outrage he wants to. We are really and truly in deep, deep fucking trouble my friends.

[SnowBack]

36. This country is getting scarier and scarier by the day for us Gays

I'd like to encourage everyone to give the idiot a call like someone said earlier... and repeat the numbers....



Representative Gerald Allen
8200 Old Hargrove Road East
Cottondale, AL 35453

205-556-5310 HOME
334-242-7758 State House

[olddad56]

89. it is getting pretty scary anyone that isn't a 'party member'. EOM

[hoi polloi]

153. Someone needs to look into this Allen's closet

I just wonder what you might dig up?

[BayCityProgressive]

41. I agree

I am especially fucking sickened by my fellow gay americans! They don't care about anything but britney fucking spears, the GAP, and who they get to fuck after the gym! As an openly gay person in a committed relationship it makes me fucking sick that the gay community never mobilizes! The next step will be putting gay teens in "re-orientation" classes, just you watch!

[Behind the Aegis]

43. They are already trying!

What the hell you think will come of this "mental health" test the Fascist wants all children to take? When a teen "tests" gay, s/he will get the "proper training" to make them a productive member of society! You have hit the nail on the head! But, we are just "fags and dykes" and just being "drama queens!" And, as I said in another post, gays are just as bad about not speaking up! The real question....when will the "pink triangle" reemerge!?

ON EDIT: How long do you think this news will even last on this page before reaching the back pages? If it were a thread on "fart jokes," I am sure it would go on for days!

[foreigncorrespondent]

101. Here! Here!

Very well said, my friend.

Sapph and I have been trying for years to get the community mobalized, but nothing we do ever works. They just don't give a shit about their own damn rights.

The day they come knocking on their door to cart them off to camp they will be scratching their heads wondering why. Well perhaps if they took a fucking interest in their own fucking rights for a change rather than who the hell they are gonna sleep with, then maybe, just maybe they would have seen it coming.

Too late for those in the community who do see it coming and worked hard to try and prevent it unfortunately.

[Stinky The Clown]

65. Amen! My Brother

I'm a straight man who stands four square with you.

Bigotry is rampant in this country. Legal bigotry is no far step from legal harm, from physical harm. A line must be drawn in our sand now or there will soon be no one to draw the line.

[theHandpuppet]

71. GREAT RANT -- AND LET ME ADD....

There are those even here on DU who would try to minimize the very real threat to gays posed by the march of the Bushreich by trying to reduce gay rights to a mere matter of semantics, e.g., just say "civil unions" rather than "gay marriage" (even though time and again it has been pointed out that there are very real legal differences between the two). Or even suggest that we dump the support of gay equality altogether to make a Dem candidate "more electable". To those people I can only say, YOU REALLY DON'T GET IT, DO YOU? If you're only willing to grant other human beings half of the rights that you enjoy, or a third, or two thirds, or anything less than FULL equality then you and "the Party" are little more than enablers to the hate mongers and a war of full-fledged persecution which will not only be waged against gays today but eventually against you in your own homes.

So either this party can take a stand RIGHT FURKING NOW for us or I for one am getting off this damned bus for an alternative party with guts and a moral conscience. As a gay person in America I'm no longer willing to "take one for the party" whilst the rights of myself and my partner are whittled down to nothing, and we gays are left fearing for our jobs, our homes and for our very lives.

For the Democratic Party, it's time to fish or cut bait. I want to see who's really in our corner when it really matters.

[Behind the Aegis]

94. Thanks..and GREAT addition

You understand what I am saying! I was appalled after the election at some of the things I read here at DU! You add this nonsense (the aforementioned bill), that stupid teacher in LA suing the lesbian mother, and now a Democrat governor is revoking the law that states companies must have allow for civil union support because her state voted in a new DOMA law (This is in Michigan), and this is JUST the beginning!

I have seen comments like...this will never pass, it is unconstitutional...etc. Well, so is the law in Virginia but it is still on the books and the first challenge to it was shot down!

We are witnessing the return of the game "smear the queer," except this time it is the law that is 'smearing' us! It won't be long before we are no longer citizens and people will say..."how did this happen here, in this day and age?!"

To those who are standing up for us...THANK YOU! To those who are doing nothing and saying we are just being overdramatic..READ A DAMN HISTORY BOOK! Of course that is an unrealistic request because chances are they won't even read this thread because "it doesn't affect them!"

[colonel odis]

37. if i were in charge of economic development for another state in the south

i'd be sending this story to every prospect i was competing with alabama for a corporate relocation.

i'd also be on the phone with mercedes, honda, and every other big company that's opened up in alabama in the past 10 years or so and ask them what they think of this.

alabama is a poor, poor state that's having shortfall after shortfall every year. yahoos like this are going to send it even further down the toilet.

and, no offense to anyone from alabama, i just don't think that would be much of a loss.

[Cerridwen]

38. "Jews were relegated to an inferior status..."

Jews were relegated to an inferior status by the denial of common privileges and freedoms. Thus, they were denied access to certain city areas, sidewalks, transportation, places of amusement, restaurants (1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, page 1676).

emphasis mine

edited to add: check the link for a picture of the gradual erosion of rights under the Nazi regime.

http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/resource/document/DocDec.htm

[kayell]

134. This is EXACTLY what we are seeing happening

and at each little step, people won't stand up and scream because it will seem like such a little step, and after all, it's just an aberration - only a few rw nutcases are like that. And even people we know won't see it as such a big thing, because after all we can set up powers of attorney, and wills and etc, etc. And "It isn't any real trouble just not to bring up your partner at work, that way you won't be at any risk. It's only sensible". And in the end, no one will speak up, because after all, the nazis aren't coming for them, are they?

[Cerridwen]

136. Precisely. And I thought of something else that would make

it more likely this will happen. Geographically, we in the U.S. are so spread out; it won't be as obvious as it happens in little pockets here and there. Especially since state have their own laws which won't effect those in other states.

No noticeable critical mass for the sake of awareness.

[arcane1]

39. you have to be fucking KIDDING me....

:wtf:

we have a culture that's in deep trouble, that's for certain...

sigh...

[skooooo]

42. Showboating..

..that's all this is.

[shayes51]

46. I agree...

...He's taking a page from the Roy Moore book.

[karlrschneider]

44. So "Don we now our gay apparel" is out the window too?

This just unfuckingbelievable.
:grr:
edit: stupid typo

[sakabatou]

47. F451 starting again. (n/t)

[Straight Shooter]

48. I'm sure a little digging around will reveal what's behind his homophobia

I don't know, some family member, an episode in his past, some weirdness somewhere that he's ashamed of (like getting it on with a cousin), something has pushed his hate button and won't turn loose.

Either that, or he's just another sleazy Repub jumping on the hate-the-gays wagon and hoping it's his ticket to glory.

I have to admit, he doesn't look like the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[fleabert]

51. kick

this is repulsive. sick sad country.

[pauliedangerously]

52. Typical Deep South Republican...

You'd think that homosexuality was some new fad that popped up in the sixties or something. It's hard to say if this guy is REALLY SERIOUS or if this is just another "wedge" to further divide the populace.

The Republicans have done a formidable job dividing and conquering...

Somewhere, there are very wealthy people gathering together laughing their asses off at all of us enlightened educated people in the bottom 80% desparately fighting off our ignorant counterparts who have been convinced that WE are their enemies.

The irony is that those wealthy folks are probably in agreement with us on those wedge issues, but they are insulated from the effects of any laws that could come about regarding homosexuality, reproductive rights, and religious harassment...and they WIN ELECTIONS.

"Laughing on the outside.....crying on the inside...."

My heart reaches out to all of you, my gay fellow citizens.

[FlyByNight]

55. "We have a culture that's in deep trouble"

I couldn't agree more, Rep. Allen. Bigoted pig.

Free speech is great, just so long as it's not "gay". Wow.

Rep. Allen, haven't you anything more important to worry about? Clearly, you're closeted and having a very difficult time dealing with it.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

115. We are arrogant to think that we actually have culture.

This country doesn't have a culture. We just have what we've jacked from the others. The USA isn't old enough to actually have a culture. There's a reason England kicked the original Puritans out of England. They were fucking annoying and bringing everyone else down. I think it's time to kick them out again.
Duckie

[Inland]

56. Its a wedge issue! Ask your local republicans! It's THEIR party!

Anybody in the national dem party going to pick up this as a wedge issue? Anyone? Please?

Anyone going to ask Bush if he supports this?

Giuliani?

Will Bush's nominees for court positions be asked?

Why not PUBLICIZE what these people are all
about?

[Charlie Brown]

57. Does this include literature?

William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsburg, W. H. Auden, Christopher Isherwood, Anthony Burgess have all written gay-themed literature. Does this bill exclude their works from shelves? Typical anti-art Southron.

[oneold1-4u]

70. NO SAPHO

Had to find Sapho in public, not school, library, but today her history and writings are in every college library if not in high schools. Surely, much is available here in the internet and inquisitive minds will want to find anything denied them!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

116. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[kodi]

59. thank you, alabama

for building that bridge to the 17th century.

[Liberal Chad from WI]

61. homosexuality is NOT a choice

It makes me sick to think that there are people in America who want to punish those people who are gay. We all know that being gay is not a choice it is something you are born with and even if it was a choice how can we declare them "sub-human" just because they are in love, THAT'S ABSURD. Republicans need to take a BIG step back and look themselves in the mirror and really find out what the bible states, such as "love your neighbor as yourself" not "love your neighbor as yourself, unless they are gay." We need to stick up for what we believe and make our voices heard.

[donheld]

62. The worlds biggest closet

They can forbid talking about it, that doesn't make it all go away. An entire state with it's head in the sand

[LizW]

83. *ahem*

Not an entire state, exactly. Please remember that those of us blue people who live here feel bad enough about it. I beg you don't lump us in with the bigots and the nutcases.

[American Tragedy]

64. If this passes, we need to do something about it dammit

This is unacceptable. If the state of Alabama does this, the rest of the country needs to somehow make that administration fucking pay.

Writing letters is ineffectual. In this case he will only attribute it to the 'homosexual agenda'. What can we do to really make them hurt?

[Stinky The Clown]

66. Out them. Out them all

I have never condoned outings, but I am beginning to change my mind. I still hate the idea, but the hypocrisy is the overriding issue for me now. Many gay men (and women, too, I suppose) seem to be running just under the radar in the republican party. Ken Mehlman, anyone?

Out their gay leaders. Make them stand in the daylight for all "their" world to see. Let the radical fundamentalists who espouse this shit see who they're (figuratively only?) in bed with.

[TheWraith]

78. Why oppose outings?

Seriously, I'm curious what the general objection is? If they lose their jobs, it's the fault of the bigots they work for. And if it's just because it's rude, well, all I can say is that it's jaywalking compared to the bank robbery we're looking to stop.

[foreigncorrespondent]

104. I also am in two minds about outing someone...

...so I hope I can answer your question.

While I understand the need in some to out these pigs to show just how hypocritical these jerks are, I am still torn by it. Although I am slowly coming around to the idea of outing the idiots.

My reasons for being against public outings are simple. Coming out of the closet is a very private thing. It is something that a lot of queers battle most of their life with (I never came out until I was 30.)

I also understand those that are forced to remain in the closet because of their job. Society has forced the closet on us.

But, using someone sexuality as a means of humiliation is nothing more than a dirty republican trick. Being gay isn't a tool, it is someones life you are dealing with. And remember outings in the past has lead to suicide, and that is a big reason I am against it.

We lose far too many people in our community through suicide as it is, thanks again to the way society sees us.

But this is also where I become torn again because it is the repukes and their misinterpretation of the Bible and immoral minds that have made society perceive gays as being dirty.

Anyway, I hope that makes sense. It really is something that is very hard to put into words.

[Chovexani]

122. I understand your qualms but

The way I see it the LGBT community can no longer afford to sit back and be genteel and worry about the ethics of this stuff; IMO we are fighting for our very lives as a community. THEY were the ones who started the war against us...but they have more power and clout than we do so guerilla tactics are in order.

It's like debating the ethics of whether or not you should shoot a person in self defense as they're lobbing molotov cocktails through your window.

[foreigncorrespondent]

128. I agree!

Ad like I said, I was slowly coming around to the idea of outing repukes.

[shayes51]

67. From what I heard on public radio this morning

this is not going to pass. The bill doesn't even have a co-sponsor. Thank God!

[Walt Starr]

72. And the State level Christofascist legislation begins

This goes national within two years if the Christofascists stay on schedule.

[jbnow]

75. Ban gay speech?

I am no expert but most of the gay people I know use English

[Danmel]

76. No Flintstones

When you're with the Flintstones
Have A Yabba Dabba Do Time
A Dabba Do Time
We'll Have a Gay Old Time.....


(I always wondered a little about Barney.....)

[Massacure]

80. That would be a huge first amendment violation...

[Chipper Chat]

81. "South Pacific" could no longer be performed

by public high school music departments. Two songs from the show: "I'm In Love With a Wonderful Guy," and "Younger Than Springtime" both include the word "gay."

[SKKY]

82. Please, for the love of all that's good, don't do this...

...How else will guys like me learn how to coordinate their wardrobe, shave in the right direction, and use the right "product" for my type of hair.

[IndianaGreen]

85. Start by banning the Bible

let's begin with the biblical accounts of a very youthful David and his homosexual relationship with King Saul's son and heir, Jonathan.

[Syrinx]

87. I'm related to this idiot

I hesitate to admit this.

He used to be a Democrat. In a private conversation, he said the reason he left the Democratic party, was because the party had been taken over by "niggers and queers."

[davidinalameda]

126. good riddence

lovely man

and I'm sorry about you being related to him

what a fucking idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JohnLocke]

141. How are you related? (nt).

[Syrinx]

143. As I'm sure you can understand...

I don't want to be too specific. But he's a relative, I'm sad to say.

[Floogeldy]

88. 1/3 of all teenage suicides are gay

This was said on an A&E program about the LA coroner's office the other day.

Something has got to give.

[vajraroshana]

90. Now I'm gonna vomit

This is bad; really bad. It's politics as usual in my state, Alabama. But it's over the top.

Is this mofo gonna ban depictions of Leonardo DaVinci's artworks; is he going to make sure none of our state symphonies play any of Benjamin Britten's works?

*&%* (expletives deleted) *&%*^%&%

This really sets me off. In a long series of things that set me off.

How the f*** am I supposed to take any more of this?

I'm committed to staying in this craphole of a state; in the face of so many saying they're going elsewhere. And I can't leave for financial reasons; but I've framed my reasons on more reasonable, noble grounds that I'm gonna stay because it's the right thing to do.
Well, I can leave, but it will take a lot and will involve a lot of hardship; I've always known that. But I've always just wanted to stay. I don't want to feel pushed out.

I feel sick.

:puke:





DUers help us!
sincerely a DUer,
from the pathetic state of Alabama,

Vajraroshana

[NYC]

93. By staying,

you dilute the bigotry. I know it must be difficult for you, but your presence makes the state less bigoted.

Think about that. You are accomplishing something.

[Charlie Brown]

92. New insight on this story

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1101896768316400.xml

Allen said that if his bill passes, novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and destroyed.

"I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," he said.

A spokesman for the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center called the bill censorship.

"It sounds like Nazi book burning to me," said SPLC spokesman Mark Potok.

Allen pre-filed his bill in advance of the 2005 legislative session, which begins Feb. 1.

If the bill became law, public school textbooks could not present homosexuality as a genetic trait and public libraries couldn't offer books with gay or bisexual characters.

When asked about Tennessee Williams' southern classic "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," Allen said the play probably couldn't be performed by university theater groups.

Allen said no state funds should be used to pay for materials that foster homosexuality. He said that would include nonfiction books that suggest homosexuality is acceptable and fiction novels with gay characters. While that would ban books like "Heather has Two Mommies," it could also include classic and popular novels with gay characters such as "The Color Purple," "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "Brideshead Revisted."

The bill also would ban materials that recognize or promote a lifestyle or actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws of Alabama. Allen said that meant books with heterosexual couples committing those acts likely would be banned, too.

His bill also would prohibit a teacher from handing out materials or bringing in a classroom speaker who suggested homosexuality was OK, he said.

Allen has sponsored legislation to make a gay marriage ban part of the Alabama Constitution, but it was not approved by the Legislature.

Ken Baker, a board member of Equality Alabama, a gay rights organization, said Allen was "attempting to become the George Wallace of homosexuality."

Aside from the moral debates, the bill could be problematic for library collections, said Jaunita Owes, director of the Montgomery City-County Library, which is a few blocks from the Alabama Capitol.

"Half the books in the library could end up being banned. It's all based on how one interprets the material," Owes said.

[essarhaddon]

95. So I suppose 70% of the Greek literature will be banned?

In fact, I wonder if one can read the ancient Greek and Roman literature without coming into gay stuff at some point :shrug:

Perhaps those books who survived the Middle Ages and the Spanish Inquisition won't make it in Alabama?

[MountainLaurel]

151. Of course it will

The anti-intellectualism streak in these folks runs parallel to their homophobia and false "religious" values. Why would their kids need to read the classics like Plato and Sophocles, when they've got the bible and the Left Behind novels?

[FDRrocks]

96. America: We elect bigots.

This is one step. If the US tries to intervene in Venezuala again, or another Middle Eastern country that hanst attacked us, I will officially hate the country I live in. I don't mean hate in as dislike, which I do now (mostly due to our 80's Latin American policies, even though I'm white as copy paper), I mean full on fucking hate. March the streets, grab the largest guns I can find and get belligerant hate.

That kind of hate. I love peace, but our country is becoming extremely detrimental to all forms of it.

Democracy my ass. Equal protection under the law is dying, as is seperation of churh and state. Well, the latter is dead already, the only question regarding that matter is degree.

[Rush1184]

100. Remember what JFK said

When peaceful resolution is impossible, violent revolution is inevitable!

[HereSince1628]

99. R, you know, as in R epublican R epression and R idiculous

[jfern]

102. Alabama is an extremely bigotted state

51% of Alabama voters just voted to uphold blatant Jim Crow laws!

[geo]

103. What a moron... all he has to do is wait for Patriot Act III

;) -G

[geo]

105. The words "Gay" and "Gag" in the same headline... idunno...

if this were an episode of Will and Grace, Karen would be giggling by now.

I just had to read this again. Is this for real?????? :shrug:

Did anyone check yet this morning? Do we still have a Bill of Rights???? -G

[BamaBecky]

106. This guy probably wants to run for Governmer, seeks publicity

[BamaBecky]

107. Alabama the home of George Wallace & Judge Roy Moore 10 Commandments fame

[BamaBecky]

109. Yall Come, ya hear! Bless our blue souls who have to live here.

[BamaBecky]

110. TOLERANCE is also a value - would make a great bumper sticker!

[Lizzie Borden]

139. Yes I think it would. I'd buy one.

[The Flaming Red Head]

108. We're laughing but they no longer teach evolution at the college I attend

Which is damned inconvenient when you study biology. Easier, but damned stupid.

How they're going to explain Greek history without the context of homosexuality is beyond me, though.

[kayell]

135. You go to a COLLEGE that doesn't teach evolution???

Where do you go? BJU? Get out NOW! Run awaaaaaayyyyy.

[Flammable Materials]

113. THREE CHEERS FOR BOOK BURNING! SEIG HEIL! SEIG HEIL!

[Bridget Burke]

114. What about the King James version of the Bible?

The King definitely preferred the company of men.

And, while I don't see the Bible as a guide for living, the language of that translation is truly beautiful.

[Barkley]

148. King David also preferred the company of men

2 Samuel 1:26
"I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."


1 Samuel 18:1,3
"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul . . . And Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul."


1 Samuel 20:41
" . . . they kissed one another, and wept one with another . . . "

[Bat Boy]

118. Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!

There. Now you don't exist.

That was easy.

[arwalden]

124. Our Country Is So Backward... Christian Bigotry At It's Worst!!

[Sabriel]

125. If it makes anyone feel any better about it

I shared this with my education classes today, and they all seemed to be appalled about this attempt at censorship. As one person put it, "I'm scared that by the time I get my certification, there's going to be a whole list of things I can't do in my classroom."

I didn't want to tell her she's probably right.

[okieinpain]

127. and yet you have people who are openly gay, voting repug.

they deserve what they get.

[oneold1-4u]

130. Turn the shirt backwards

List all famous known and believed-to-be GLBT authors, artists, and scientists, from Michael Angelo (Cistine Chapel) to Shakespear, Then demand they all be removed to one single site, where those who wish can go, to know them, and enjoy what the "world" has acclaimed as great accomplishments of benefit and beauty for mankind for hundreds of years!

[420inTN]

131. Then they must ban the Bible n/t

[abelenkpe]

132. no greek history then nt

[TheDonkey]

146. Well I believe it's also time we start opening up the camps

:eyes:

This is the base of the republican party folks.

[shayes51]

152. According to a letter to the editor in The Tuscaloosa News,

Allen said in a Dec. 1 edition of the paper that he would "dig a big hole and dump them in a hole and bury them" when referring to material referencing homosexuality. Kinda makes you wonder........

[sleepyhead]

154. I saw that too.

Interesting statement. Lends itself to a couple of different interpretations.

[orleans]

155. BAN THE STUPID PEOPLE

maybe alabama should start with this. ban the stupid people.

[Zorra]

156. Check his closet for size 12 women's pumps. Homophobes like Gerald

Allen are almost always sad, repressed, closet homosexuals.

If he is married, odds are 10 to 1 that his poor, unsatisfied wife is struggling with his latent homosexuality.

The poor woman; it is such, (as told to me personally by many an unsatisfied southern wife), a characteristically southern "christian" woman thing to endure an unhappy, unsatisfactory marriage with a man that "lacks" in the bedroom and seeks to lash out at others for his, uh,...."deficincies" in the bedroom. Of course, the poor dear would always "stand by her man" and never 'fess up that poor Gerry just lacks, um, "passion" in the sack.

But his rabid homophobia reveals a different scenario.

It is a well known psychiatric fact that almost every homophobe is, in reality, a severely repressed homosexual.

Poor Gerry...so sad.