Here's a nice little glimpse into the twisted workings of a small mind courtesy of the Philadelphia Daily News:

Alternate lifestyle

Re Gay and Lesbian History Month:

I know we're trying to tell kids this is normal, but why don't we try something really perverse, a Heterosexual Month? That's when we have a real dad and mom at home where the kids see dad go to work every morning, and they have a real mom to run to when they have a problem.

Richie Rim, Philadelphia

Richie is responding to the local school districts decision to include Gay and Lesbian History Month on the school calendar.  You know, as part of the plan to recruit vulnerable children as playthings for lecherous middle age homos.  Since unlike the Catholic Church we don't have our own schools as recruiting grounds, we have to count on the Godless liberals to give us access to the public schools.

This is obviously a stupid arguement made by a small-minded literal fool on par with those who want a White History Month or a Male History Month to counter African-American History Month and Women's History Month respectively. 

It also appears to be the arguement of someone who belives he grew up in an episode of Happy Days, instead of the Rim family somewhere in the bowels of Philadephia.  Perhaps Richie isn't really his name?  Maybe he can tell us what happened to big brother Chuck after the first season --- what kind of family values writes off a 6 foot son because he ain't funny?

What Richie proposes is the ultimate costume for Halloween -- the make believe nuclear family.  Sure "real" Dad goes to work everyday where he is humiliated by his boss, has a stomach ulcer and having quickies with the secretary in his office.  Meanwhile Mom downs a fifth of gin after the housework is done and fantasizes impaling her husband with his neck tie rack.  But the important thing is that they are married to each other and spawning future generations of breeders for all the world to see. 

Richie you suck dude.  Actually that could be part of the problem.  :-)

Happy Halloween everyone.  This year Ledcat and I went as "Lesbian Bed Death"  Mona the wonder dog went as a dog. 

Our buddies at 2 Political Junkies have the video in which senior citizens bearing donuts are kicked out of Melissa Hart's office.  Hart's explanation is full of holes itself ...

Our Allison Park office is a place of business, not politics. Their unruly behavior not only inhibited our ability to assist constituents with real requests for help, it also infringes on our constituents privacy. We always welcome constituents into our offices who have real problems or who want to deliver real input on the issues. This was, unfortunately, not the case today."

I bet Jason Altmire would appreciate a few donuts.

Speaking of Malicious Hart, she has now surpassed Yarone Zober (remember him?) as the target of the most "are they gay?" inquiries on pghlesbian.com.  Many inquiries a day come in from yahoo, google, match.com, etc with the search phrase "'Melissa Hart' lesbian"  And I'm getting those questions all about town, as if I somehow have magical information.  Alas, much innuendo but little concrete fact. 

What does bug me is how people really truly want her to be a lesbian and not in a good way.  As if somehow the fact that she's gay would explain things about her. She's obviously a smart powerful woman (let's give her that) with no man nearby so she must be a dyke.  I hope she isn't gay b/c she no friend to the LGBT community and it would be hideous if she was one of us.  A lesbian suckling George Bush and the Dark Overlord is not a pretty site. 

Melissa Hart - let's straighten her out.

UPDATE:  Thanks to Correspondent Emilia for pointing out that there was a problem with this petition.  I delinked it while that gets figured out.  Must admit, its a good lesson for me in trusting my gut b/c the petition didn't seem to jibe with what feministing reported.  Next time, trust gut. 

h/t feministing

Check this out ...

Keeping the Best Interests of the Greater Community of Women in Mind: A Declaration and Affirmation of the Importance and Necessity of Woman-Only Spaces

We are a coalition of women (born women) and transwomen.  As feminists committed to the liberation of women and an end to gender, we have found analysis and critique of the goals, strategy and methodology of the transgender movement imperative.  At the same time, we remain committed to one another and to all women, women (born women) and transwomen, as a class of human beings subordinated under male heterosupremacy.
We are dismayed by the polarization which currently exists in the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival community, specifically, and in the feminist and progressive communities, in general, over the issue of woman (born woman) only spaces.  For this reason, we have come together to write this declaration.

Surf over and give it some consideration ...

Ledcat has pointed out to me that I am wrong.  Well, okay, so that's a pretty frequent occurance but in this case it impacts the blog and not just the proper way to fold sheets or mop the floor. 

Yesterday, in a mocha haze, I claimed that the Post-Gazette did NOT cover the New Jersey Supreme Court decision requiring the state legislative body to extend marriage rights to all residents.  Ledcat informed me that the print edition of the paper ran an AP story on that very topic this past Thursday.  It is not available at the PG website.  Here's a copy directly from the AP.

At least, I think that's a copy of the right article. I cannot search the print edition which is buried in an ever increasing stack of papers behind Ledcat's desk in her office.  I get exactly 17.5 minutes each morning to read the print edition before it is whisked away.  I usually start with the comics.  Unless its Tony Norman day. Every day should be Tony Norman day. 

So I was wrong.  I'm sorry Post-Gazette.  Please don't throw my paper into the puddle tomorrow morning, especially if I am still in my socks.  I promise that I will read the paper properly for one week.  I'll even read Ruth Ann.  But I won't like it.

The Inquirer published a nice piece illustrating why gay marriage is truly a civil rights issue.  Its about child custody, health care decisions, financial stability and so much more.  Of course, its a little middle-classy but that's probably who was available for the interview. 

Same-sex couples in New Jersey say last week's state Supreme Court ruling ordering the Legislature to give them the same rights as heterosexual married couples within 180 days - though they don't necessarily have to call it "marriage" - is an opportunity to remedy many of the inequalities they say exist in their everyday lives.

"It's not the sexy stuff - it's the day-to-day issues," said Betsy Codding, who lives with her partner in Haddonfield. "This brings everything very much into the public eye."

When Heggs, 56, had a heart attack and a stroke, a hospital refused to consult Long. Heggs, who was in intensive care, on a respirator, needed a blood transfusion.

The hospital wanted proof that Heggs and Long were together, Long said.

"They wanted to see our marriage certificate," Long said. "They would never do that to a heterosexual couple."

We all worry about this stuff.  Not everyone can afford to pay an attorney to do all the paperwork necessary to secure some rights, especially those in the community toiling away below median income.  Without health insurance and without the extra $5,000 a year to pay for it out of pocket.  I'm fortunate that Ledcat's employer offers domestic partner benefits.  My employer chooses to only extend coverage to the families of heterosexual employees.  They say its about the money.  End of conversation.

It would be interesting to see the Inquirer or the PG take a look at the lives of working class queers and explore the double whammy of being poor and gay.