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Reflections on the 2009 AL Legistlative Session | Rep. Patricia Todd

Artur Davis: Clean Energy Bill Bad for Alabama | Progressive Electorate

Why We Need a Public Option: Health Insurance Market Failure in AL | Left in Alabama

Planners seek grant for electric buses to link Birmingham neighborhoods to Downtown | Bham News

Birmingham LGBT PRIDE | Left in Alabama

“Imagine No Religion” Billboard Goes Up on I-20

The Grace and Grit of Lily Ledbetter | Thicket Magazine

Let’s put our faith in a new Clean Energy Economy | Alabama Conservationist

Federal government proposes protection for 3 Mollusks in Alabama | Bham News

Polluted Air in Alabama linked to Cancer | Locust Fork News-Journal

admin General Artur Davis, climate change, legislation, LGBT, Patricia Todd

***UPDATE*** (Nov 20th, 2009)
Artur Davis, after first voting for the Stupak amendment to the House health care bill, which restricts women’s reproductive rights (read what to do about it here), voted against the health care bill altogether. That’s just blatant disregard for the people of Alabama who voted him into the House of Representatives as a Democrat. I’m all for having him as our Governor and I know he’s probably just doing all this to get elected in Alabama, but how much is he going to have to change, and is it even worth it?

Rep. Artur Davis, gubernatorial candidate for Alabama, recently voted “No” on the Matthew Shepard Act which would expand the hate-crimes law to include crimes committed because of someone’s perceived gender or sexual orientation. Here’s what he had to say about his vote…

Two years ago, I voted for federal hate crimes legislation. Since casting that vote, a number of my constituents have made it very clear to me that they disagreed with this vote, and I have tried to weigh their arguments carefully.

Some of the objections have been based on distortions of what this bill actually does. Other objections have reflected nothing more than animosity toward some of the groups who would be covered. Candidly, I have not given a lot of weight to arguments based on groundless claims or fears. But as I have thought more deeply about this issue, there is an argument from my constituents that I have not been able to answer.

Some of my constituents ask why our federal laws should pick out some Americans for more protections than others. Some wonder why, in a culture that rejects violence against any human being, we should say that an attack on a black, or a woman, or a gay individual should be punished more severely than an attack on someone who happens to be a senior citizen, or a soldier, or a teacher. Others ask why some motives based on certain ideas should be punished by our criminal laws more aggressively than others.

The people raising these issues are in my opinion not bigoted people. They are Americans who are advancing fundamental questions about just what equal protection under the law should mean. After a lot of reflection, I have decided that I do not have good answers as to why our laws should not protect all of our people with the same force, and for that reason, I have changed my vote to a “no” on the federal hate crimes bill.

I think it’s obvious why all his constituents don’t support this act. We’re from a state where people take the Old Testament Bible a little too seriously, and use it to mask and fuel their bigotry. It’s sad that Davis is having to appease these irrational people with this vote but that doesn’t, however, excuse it.

This bill isn’t to give special treatment to people who are LGBT, it’s to make it more obvious that it is completely not acceptable to victimize them just as the original hate-crimes law came at a time when people needed reinforcement about how they should treat black people. If there wasn’t violent crime happening against gay people, there would be no need for this bill. Artur Davis should be EXPLAINING that to his constituents rather than appeasing them. Sanity is not statistical, and he shouldn’t have to vote for something wrong just because a majority of constituents think it’s right. However, if he actually, as he claims, doesn’t believe that gay people should be included in this law, then he is wrong and I really don’t know if I could vote for him.

admin Politics Artur Davis, civil rights, legislation, LGBT, religion

Christian churches were the main proponents of Dubya’s regime of war and planet-trashing. They’re also the main opponents of certain rights for people who are LGBT, immigrants, and women. And now, in Alabama, their mission is to stop gambling. Why do these churches–claiming to be centers of spirituality–think they are the final word on what is right and wrong?

Spirituality can obviously be attained anywhere. The other day while mountain biking, I was so focused on pedaling and steering and changing gears that my lower mind just tranced out and I started connecting to and “feeling” higher truths. It’s not that I was thinking any great thoughts, but I became solely focused and completely involved in very clear thoughts. These moments of tranced-out connection can happen to everyone at any time so I know you know what I’m talking about. To give these times of truth-connection a culturally pertinent name, I’ll call them “god moments.” A great song, sewing, an Obama speech, jogging, and yes, even church can give you these god moments.

Only in the church, however, are these god moments then linked to a moral system of right and wrong. I would argue that, conversely, more spirituality (which leads you away from your own ego and outside your small world) should lead to less absolute morality as you start getting a more mean (i.e. averaged, not hostile) view of existence as a whole. And i think this is where the church is failing the world, and themselves.

Everyone knows the Ethics 101 scenarios of shooting one man to save someone else from shooting 2 men that flip our morality on its head. And then there’s the people who oppose abortion but eat the meat of animals that have actually lived on this planet, or the vegetarian who eats plants that, you’ll agree if you’ve seen a venus fly trap, show arguably more consciousness than a human fetus, and so on and so on. Throughout the course of time, humans views of right and wrong have molded to help further our species and will continue to do so. Religion shoots itself in the foot by acting like its spirituality gives it the stronghold on absolute morality at that current time, only to have to go back every so often and admit that they were wrong then but NOW they have it right (e.g. slavery, the Inquisition, punishing sons for the crimes of the father, and women’s role in society). How long can this go on without people just completely giving up on it? They’ll soon find they can get their god moments anywhere and won’t need the church anymore.

All the church needs to do is accept that they have a successful and popular means for people to tap into the power of truth and forget all about trying to play the role of the moral superior. So by all means, sing and pray while we ALL weave our way through the labyrinth of right and wrong, and perhaps I’ll watch a Herzog film, go to a Hold Steady show… or just ride my bike.

admin Living civil rights, gambling, legislation, LGBT, religion

One of the ways that Central Alabama Pride, Inc. meets it’s mission of promoting “pride within and understanding between the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and Transgender communities and all other communities in central Alabama” is by producing the annual LGBT Pride Celebration.

The celebration (“10 Days of Pride”) takes place each year during the first week of June and features activities for the entire family. One of the main objectives of these activities is to demonstrate to the business community what the “LGBT dollar” can do for their businesess. In addition, it provides members of the LGBT community to stand up and “be counted” among their family, friends and acquaintances. The annual celebration includes such activites as a family bowling night, a family skate night, town halls with political leaders, educational seminars and culminates in the day-long festival callled PRIDEFest.

PRIDEFest, which is held at Historic Sloss Furnaces, invites vendors, businesses and organizations to come together and promote their goods and services to the LGBT community. In addition to the vendor booths, the PRIDEFest committee presents non-stop entertainment on the Sloss stage. Bringing together Birmingham’s talented local enteratiners and including entertainers from the world stage, the day long festival continues to grow in attendance each year.

admin Living Central Alabama Pride, LGBT, Sloss Furnace

As you may have noticed, churches, in a last ditch effort to remain culturally relevant, have started talking about sex a lot… well, as long as you’re married… to someone of the opposite sex. A church in Cullman recently joined the ranks by putting up a billboard on I-65 that says “Great Sex: God’s Way” and tells you to go to GreatSexGodsWay.com.

The website shows you several videos discussing what sex “should be” including one with the pastor talking to Satan. All of it is lame; some is infuriating. Gay-bashing, talking about how shameful sexuality is, calling singles that have had sex “damaged goods” are just some of nuggets of “truth” and “wisdom” they bestow on us, not to mention some very cheesy film editing. These are probably some of the same people that looked down on Rev. Wright. Go watch them if you want to see just how out of touch some Christian churches have become.

admin Living LGBT, religion

As you may know, last summer Mayor Langford tried to deny a gay pride parade permit. He was then sued by Central Alabama Pride, Inc (CAP) and tried unsuccessfully to get a judge to dismiss the case.

Well, now, Lamda Legal, the nation’s oldest and largest legal organization working for the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and people with HIV/AIDS, has joined the lawsuit on behalf of CAP. Things could get interesting.

Read the whole article

admin Living Central Alabama Pride, larry langford, LGBT

In 2007, Patricia Todd became the first openly LGBT elected official in Alabama. Now, after her first term, Todd has been named 2008’s Freshman Legislator of the Year by the Alabama House Democratic Caucus.

She spoke at a Transit Advocacy group recently where she was talking about a new transit bill she’s working on, and she really inspired me. If you live in Birmingham and don’t know about her yet, you should definitely look her up. She’s doing great work in promoting issues like transit, a poverty task force, education, and affordable housing.

Read the source article

admin Politics LGBT, Patricia Todd

Alabama mainline Presbyterians meeting Thursday voted 77-75 in favor of dropping long-controversial language requiring clergy to abide by fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness.

The fidelity and chastity clause was passed in 1997 in an effort to bar active homosexuals from the clergy. It has been debated and challenged almost nonstop since then.

The presbytery is one of 173 regional bodies in the 2.3 million-member denomination that will be voting on the issue this year. If passed by a majority, new language would allow more leeway to local presbyteries on ordaining clergy, who still must “declare their fidelity to the standards of the church.”

Full Bham News Article

admin Living LGBT