Bad news round ups

[sparkindarkness]

Some of the evil, bigoted homophobic crap out there

And some of the vile homophobia and transphobic violence that results.

Both available on the blog. Both with trigger warnings for evil.

Comments

[aviv_b]

Everything you report in these articles is disgusting and shameful. But honestly, your title for first article is offensive to people of faith who belong to communities that support gay rights. I know that's hard to remember that when you feel attacked and threatened on every side, but please consider changing that to something that does not imply that every person of faith and/or every spiritual leader is a gay hater.

[sparkindarkness]

I will change it to "one of the main sources of anti-gay hatred". This preserves the idea of it being a major source without making it universal for the few members who are not actively supporting homophobia or passively ignoring it and adding to the problem

However I think there is a vast organised denial of religion being the major source of homophobia in the world. I think we live in extreme denial of this, I think we constantly give religion a pass, we constantly dismiss hatred when it comes with a holy cover.

And I also think we're eternally waving the MINORITY of organised religion that is gay accepting. And we wave them as a huge defence - it's every damn time.

MOST religious leaders ARE gay haters. And we need to face that. Organised religion is DOMINATED by homophobia and we constantly deny it, constantly protect it and constantly rush in with "oh no not this/that/etc".

We have an elephant in the room and we need to address it not deny it

[aviv_b]

I appreciate you making that change. I agree that organized religion is a major source of gay hatred. And I didn't ask for the change to minimize the responsibility of organized religion for the spread of their hatred and or for the outcomes of their hatred.

I am, however, uncomfortable with statements that demonize a whole group because of the conduct of some (or even most) because when we go down that road we lower ourselves to the level of the haters.

[sparkindarkness]

I think organised religion is in such a position of power and privilege in the world that it's nearly impossible to hold any accountability for them for the badness they bring as this vast force. I think we actually need to push MORE acknowledgement of the evil that organised religion brings and enforces - and how it is DEFENDED by this inherent aura of goodness and purity religion gets.

Because of it's power and it's unified force AND how so many members passively support it by being members of homophobic denominations, we need more calling out of organised religion as an oppressive force

[meridae]

::sends hugs and loves and acceptance and appreciation of your wonderful self, and of beloved's wonderful self to help combat the badness::

[sparkindarkness]

Thankeeee

[tommykaine]

Berlusconi is just a pig. A divorced child-molester who frequently invite prostitutes to his house shouldn't be talking about "family values".

Yet, there are STILL persons who take him seriously =_=

Not to mention the Vatican and its influence...(and huge amounts of money, that it's spent more on advertising than on helping poor people).

I want to go far away from this country ASAP =_=

[sparkindarkness]

I have to say I've never been Berlusconi's biggest fan and have yet to meet an Italian who doesn't have an almost pavlovian need to swear vituperatively every time his name is mentioned

[tommykaine]

Unfortunately, there are people who support him. I do clearly remember a classmate of mine, in middle school, whose whole family (including her) were pro-Berlusconi. She was also vehemently homophobic though so I'm not surprised =_

[seryan]

Ugh, that florist. Makes me glad I got married in my hometown instead of here, I might have accidentally used her. Here's local coverage of the incident and response, if you're interested: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/1390498

[sparkindarkness]

Thank you :) extra linkage is goood :)

[suryaofvulcan]

In Scotland a gay man has died in what friends suspect was a homophobic attack

The link isn't working for me, but if you're talking about the death of Roger Gray, I knew him. He was one of my lecturers when I was at Uni, and one of the nicest, most inoffensive men you could ever meet. I cannot imagine how he could have come to such a violent end. I'm very, very sad today.

[sparkindarkness]

I'm very sorry. It's beyond a pity