Like many things, this is an issue that pisses me off. I am talking about the ban on homosexual blood donation. It is absolutely senseless and detrimental to society. It isn’t a secret that there is not enough blood to go around. Everyday there are deaths from people who couldn’t obtain a transfusion, especially those who have a rare blood type.

This all started in 80s when everybody was going batshit over AIDS. Many people blamed gay people. So the FDA passed a provision to make things ‘safer’ for the recipients of blood transfusions. Any man who has had a sexual relationship with another man since 1977 is barred from giving blood. This is essentially a lifetime ban. The other groups who get this pleasant restriction are intravenous drug users and those involved in prostitution. Really it is based on homophobia and bigots assuming that a gay man is more likely to have AIDS. That is a moot point though, we have highly accurate tests for detecting HIV/AIDS and today gay people have a similar risk as straight people do.

In a situation where only 3 people per 100 donates blood, we should readily accept any healthy blood that is available. A person’s sexual orientation doesn’t affect it at all. It wouldn’t be so bad if this was just an old law that nobody really followed anymore, but sadly that isn’t true. The FDA has stood behind this provision.

In March 2006, the Red Cross, the international blood association AABB and America’s Blood Centers proposed replacing the lifetime ban with a one-year deferral following male-to-male sexual contact. New and improved tests, which can detect HIV-positive donors within just 10 to 21 days of infection, make the lifetime ban unnecessary, the blood groups told the FDA.In a document posted Wednesday, the FDA said it would change its policy if given data that show doing so wouldn’t pose a “significant and preventable” risk to blood recipients.

…Critics of the exclusionary policy said it bars potential healthy donors, despite the increasing need for donated blood, and discriminates against gays. The FDA recognized the policy defers many healthy donors but rejected the suggestion it’s discriminatory.

No, it’s discriminatory.Please show me the difference between two clean blood samples, one from a straight man and one from a gay man. There isn’t a difference. Blood is blood.

Recently John Kerry has been campaigning to get this repealed.

In an op-ed published Wednesday in Bay Windows newspaper, Kerry called the ban a “cruel reality that I thought warranted a close examination of the justifications.

“The three largest blood donation organizations in our country — the American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, and AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) — all agree calling the ban ‘medically and scientifically unwarranted,’” wrote Kerry.

Gay rights group have also decried the practice both in the United Kingdom and the United States. The Gay Men’s Health Center reported last month that the ban was created at a time when the transmission of HIV was unknown and creates a stigma that is inconsistent because straight people who have sex with “commercial sex workers” only have to wait a year before donating blood.

Have I missed soemthing here? Anybody have a credible reason to continue banning gay people from donating blood? With such a lower amount of donors, shouldn’t we be looking to expand instead of decrease?

I reject the Pledge of Allegiance for two primary reasons: the stereotypical atheist’s “under god” and the line about “with liberty and justice for all”. Both these statements amount to nothing more than bullshit.

Let’s start with the under god part. It wasn’t even originally there. I’ll even quote the original incarnation of it:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

No reference to God. I mean the United States isn’t even founded on religious principals. Other than that issue, this form of the pledge is almost okay. Almost. Except for that one inaccuracy. Liberty and justice for all? When did that happen? It clearly is not in effect in America. We still have race issues, sexism, and bigotry. The greatest example of this in justice is the ban on gay marriage. How is that encompassing everybody’s right to liberty and justice? It isn’t. So I choose not to say the Pledge.

Some people say that my refusal to recite what is loosely a public prayer is anti-american. That simply is not true. I am proud of my country (generally) and I always stand up. Those who refuse to even stand when the Pledge is being recited are being disrespectful and rude. Instead I just stand there in silence whenever the oppurtunity occurs. Maybe one day we will have a society that not only promotes, but has liberty, justice and equality for all its citizens. On that day, I’ll be happy to say the Pledge. Minus the Under God of course.

I’m sure many of you heard about Uganda’s plan to kill homosexuals who have aids. Well Rwanda is taking a page from their book.

The change would have article 217 of their code say this:

Any person who practices, encourages or sensitizes people of the same sex, to sexual relation or any sexual practice, shall be liable for a term of imprisonment ranging from five (5) to ten (10) years and fine ranging from Two Hundred thousand Rwanda Francs (200.000 RwF) to one million (1,000,000)Rwanda francs.”

Nice. Notice the part I bolded. Especially the encourages part. So basically just standing up for somebody in the LGBT community can get you in trouble with the law. This is a major setback in human rights and free speech. Take action and spread this news to everbody you know.

I thought today would be the day that New York would become the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. I mean the movement practically started there right? Sadly it did not happen.

The New York measure needed 32 votes to pass and failed by a wider-than-expected margin, falling eight votes short in a 24-38 decision by the state Senate. The Assembly had earlier approved the bill, and Gov. David Paterson, perhaps the bill’s strongest advocate, had pledged to sign it.

This is getting ridiculous. Just because you hold the Bible as YOUR moral code, does not mean you can judge everybody with the same set of beliefs.Senator Eric Adams said it best:

But Sen. Eric Adams, D-Brooklyn, challenged lawmakers to set aside their religious beliefs and vote for the bill. He asked them to remember that once even slavery was legal.

“When I walk through these doors, my Bible stays out,” Adams said.

That is how it should be. Basically ALL the Republicans voted against the bill. Why? Why don’t other people have the right to be happy? Even more interesting, this verdict does NOT represent the majority of the population.

A Marist College poll released Wednesday showed 51 percent of those who live in New York state support same-sex marriage, while 42 percent oppose it.

This situation cries out with shocking similarity to the whole Maine debacle. Hopefully the bill will be presented again, or put up for a public vote.

I saw this over at Pharyngula today. The FUCK Uganda? Here is what is being proposed:

According to Clause 2 of the Bill, a person who is convicted of gay sex is liable to life imprisonment. But if that person is also HIV positive the penalty — under the heading “aggravated homosexuality” — is death.

The Bill has not been endorsed by the Ugandan government but it has allowed it to proceed, and some top officials are said to have praised it.

Yes you read that correctly. As if life imprisonment for being who you are is not totally batshit crazy enough, you put them to DEATH if they have HIV? There is already suggestions that AIDS is on the decline. The bill also spits in the face of free speech as well. More insanity follows:

The Bill proposes a three-year prison sentence for anyone who is aware of evidence of homosexuality and fails to report it to the police within 24 hours. And it would impose a sentence of up to seven years for anyone who defends the rights of gays and lesbians.

Basically this blog post would constitute a seven year jail sentance for me. Just for defending my fellow humans. I’m sure some of you are writing this off because Uganda is still a developing country and all that shit. Let us look at the origins of the bill. A group of AMERICANS known as “The Family“. Hell I’m sure I could walk to the corner of Main Street and Wall Street and sell this idea to plenty of my eager countryfolk. Spread the word about this, it is absolutely fucking nuts.

Many people see the people out soliciting donations for the SalvationArmy as a good thing. Yes charity is good, but you may be curious as to what you are supporting. I find it best to let them tell you. Here is there Position Statement on some key things:

Abortion:

The Salvation Army deplores society’s ready acceptance of abortion, which reflects insufficient concern for vulnerable persons, including the unborn. (Psalms 82:3-4)

They make it seem like abortion is an easy choice. I highly doubt it is a decision made lightly and easily. That does not change my belief that people should have the right to have one. If you are opposed to abortions, you do not have to have one. It’s that simple.

Euthanasia:

Assisted suicide is defined as directly helping or encouraging someone to end his/her own life. Therefore, The Salvation Army believes that euthanasia and assisted suicide undermine human dignity and are morally wrong regardless of age or disability.

God would rather you suffer here than pass on into His Kingdom I guess.

Homosexuality:

Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.

Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation. The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse.

At least they don’t condone abuse, but they still are not totally accepting…

Suicide:

Taking one’s own life is a denial of life’s value, a denial of hope and of the power of God to sustain and bring people through difficult and trying times (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). Suicide is never an acceptable option; we deplore those messages in secular culture that glamorize and promote self-destruction.

Ah it’s the secularist’s fault. Sounds about right…

The Salvation Army is a private organization, so they can do whatever the hell they want. That is 100% a OK with me. I just think people should know what their money is supporting. It has that image of taking people in and helping them, but I could not in good conscience give them any money knowing their stance on some of these things. Why not seek out some secular charities in your area?

Apparently the School Board in Indianapolis has forgotten that the Constitution applies to them. The FFRF has sent a letter to them in complaint of this. And of course here comes the kicker, you can still visit Christian sites.

This policy does not prohibit or even mention religious views such as Christianity. A website like FFRF.org, which educates on freethought and nontheism, would, however, be blocked under this policy. This promotes religion over nonreligion, which is forbidden under the Establishment Clause.

Christianity is obviously the religion of the good, faithful, conservative American. Those evil atheists are unacceptable though. It does block other various sites though. According to the policy, atheistic views, Satanism, Witchcraft, spells and the like all fit into this category. Although as long as you direct your spells to Jesus and call them prayers, it is a OK. I see another flaw in this too. Wouldn’t Christianity be a form of mysticism? Google gave me this definition: “a religion based on mystical communion with an ultimate reality”. I’ll assume you can probably still visit the Methodist Church’s homepage though. For another kick in the crotch, they have also banned all LGBT sites. Hopefully this will be resolved without a trial, but if it goes that far the school will most likely lose. It is a pretty clear violation of the Establishment clause and of freedom of speech. Ridiculous.

He was found on the site of an isolated road in the city of Cayey, he was partially burned, decapitated, and dismembered, both arms, both legs, and the torso.

When I saw this story, all I said was holy shit. I was in shock not only at the crime committed, but by the way the police investigator completely condoned it.

Over the weekend the brutalized body of gay teen George Steven Lopez Mercado was found by the side of a road in Puerto Rico. The police investigator suggested that he deserved what he got because of the “type of lifestyle” he was leading.

Excuse me, but what the FUCK? This is not just assuming that’s what he meant, look at exactly what was said:

The police agent that is handling this case said on a public televised statement that ‘people who lead this type of lifestyle need to be aware that this will happen’.

So basically if you are gay, you deserve to be burned, decapitated and dismembered. It is just an inherit risk you have to accept with this so called “life choice”. Bullshit. They need to remove this man from the case, NOW. I cannot see any way for true justice to be served with this bigot running the investigation. The crime is an atrocity, but if the culprit gets away with it another atrocity has been committed. I really wish people could just get along. Differences do not make others wrong, they should unite us as humans. No lesbian, gay, transsexual, bisexual person can be called any less of a human than any other. Please spread this story, I am absolutely appalled.

That’s right. Something as simple and compassionate as arranging funeral rights for somebody you love is bad. I don’t get it.

according to Governor Donald L. Carcieri of Rhode Island, bestowing this small but vital legal right to gays and lesbians will somehow “degrade” traditional marriage.

I wish somebody could explain to me exactly how that is. Here is what the legislation had to say:

The legislation defines a domestic partner as someone who was in an “exclusive, intimate and committed relationship” with the deceased and had lived with him or her for at least a year prior to the death; is at least 18, not married to anyone else, not related by blood and who was financially “interdependent” with the deceased as evidenced, for example, by a joint mortgage, shared credit card or domestic partnership contract.

What the hell is up with that one year requirement? This whole “domestic partnership” thing is bullshit. It is not even close to an actual marriage. It is just another way to prevent gay couples from having the same rights as straight couples.

he believes a “one year time period is not a sufficient duration to establish a serious bond between two individuals…

Where is the waiting period in a marriage before we count it as real?

As far as I know there is not any. I wish America would just legalize gay marriage, I mean who in the FUCK are YOU to decide what love is? Who are you to decide what somebody else should be able to do? If you don’t like gay marriages, don’t get one. That in no way means you are allowed to prevent somebody else from being happy. Ignorance and bigotry shouldn’t stop somebody else’s pursuit of happiness. This argument is not even about gay marriage in particular. It is about something as simple as burial rights. It is just an attempt to further undermine the rights of American citizens who love and care about each other. I cannot understand this type of thinking at all. The bill will probably end up for a public vote, but I am concerned as to how that will turn out. It will probably be a mixed vote and not end up getting passed.

“If the General Assembly believes it would like to address the issue of domestic partnerships, it should place the issue on the ballot and let the people of the state of Rhode Island decide.”

This is just a way of getting out of the situation. Carcieri is just being plain heartless and malevolent. Why shouldn’t LGBT people have the same rights? They are human beings and deserve to be treated equally. Fuck you Carcieri.