UNCLE BOBBY'S WEDDING MAY NOT TAKE PLACE :(

Poor Uncle Bobby.. He may not get his wedding in some school's by the looks of things. I guess some bible thumpers are not finding this book child friendly:

The children’s book about a young guinea pig named Chloe and her uncle who marries his boyfriend, has received its first challenge.

A patron at Douglas County Libraries in Colorado asked that the book either be removed from the shelves, placed in a special area, or labeled “some material may be inappropriate for young children.” [SOURCE]

H AH AHA.. I wonder why they think its inappropriate.. What about the Bible where it talks about killing babies and sacrficing brothers... HMMMM

46 YR OLD MAN KIDNAPPED, CHAINED & ASSAULTED 21 YR OLD GUY

OH MY GOODNESS.. I have a crazy story here.

This poor 21 yr old was abducted by a 46 yr old man in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin and was chained naked with another young man (23 yrs old). The two young men were beaten and sexually assaulted inside behind closed doors:

"I'm just thankful to be alive and glad to be back home with my family and friends," the man told the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.

Edward Lanphear, 46, was charged with 12 felonies in the abduction, beating and sexual assault of two young men who police say were chained naked inside his home. He is jailed in lieu of $1 million bond.

The 21-year-old was able to escape from Lanphear's garage in rural Wisconsin Rapids last Tuesday and ran to a nearby home to seek help. Lanphear realized police were on the scene and brought the 23-year-old man from the basement, investigators said.

...According to a criminal complaint, Lanphear picked up the 23-year-old, weary from a night of drinking, as the Wisconsin Rapids man sat at a curb July 4. Lanphear then hit the man over the head and abducted him. He kidnapped the 21-year-old early Tuesday morning after the man got drunk at a local bar and passed out in his truck, the complaint said.

Court records show the Wood County sheriff's department confiscated more than 20 guns, chains, prescription medications, a computer and pornography from Lanphear's home. [SOURCE]

Wow.. People are just nuts. What a perv! I hope he gets what he deserves. My condolences to both families involved.

ITALIAN MAN FORCED TO TAKE DRIVERS TEST AGAIN CAUSE HE WAS GAY!

Hi Everyone, First off.. I am super sorry I didn't post Sunday. I was under the weather and just couldn't get to the keyboards to start typing.. But don't you worry.. I am back for the brand new week.. Woot Woot.

This story comes to you from Italy. A poor 26 yr old guy was forced to retake his drivers test because his sexuality was disclosed to the transport ministry.. Oh you must read on:

When 26 year-old Danilo Giuffrida told doctors he was gay at his medical examination for military service, they passed the information to the transport ministry, who told him he must repeat his driving test or have his license withdrawn due to his "sexual identity disturbance."

Giuffrida agreed to re-take his test, passed it for a second time, but the ministry renewed his license for just one year rather than the usual 10 years because of his homosexuality.

Guuffrida took this matter to court (THANK GOD) and won. The court ruled in his favour granting him monetary compensation for damages that were caused:

The judge ruling on the case in Catania, on the southern island of Sicily, said the actions of the defense and transport ministries showed "evident sexual discrimination" against Giuffrida and ran counter to his constitutional rights.

The behavior of the ministries led Giuffrida to have "a grave sense of mistrust towards the state," added the judge, who ordered them to pay him 100,000 euros of damages in his verdict issued on Saturday. [SOURCE]

Wow... I am glad the court agreed to this one. I would have been livid.. I would have made such a stink.. But then again if I was in Italy I'm not too sure i would. Crazy Stuff folks..

ATTACK ON GAY SHELTER - 4 TEENS ARRESTED

Seems to me some people are just haters.. 4 teens were arrested for attacking youth and a priest who runs a Queens shelter for transgender and gay youth. Although its being reported that there were only minor injuries it still caused for alarm in the community.

The priest, the Rev. Louis Braxton Jr., said he was returning to the shelter, Carmen’s Place, on Steinway Street in Astoria, about 10:30 on Monday night when he saw a group of youths hit a resident on the head with a bag of garbage.

Father Braxton, an Episcopal priest who is the shelter’s director, said he shouted at the attackers and they fled. But four youths returned soon after holding a paint bucket, a miter box, steel brackets and a belt. By then other shelter residents had gathered outside, Father Braxton said.

Two residents of Carmen’s Place argued with the four and were punched in the face and body, Kevin Ryan, a spokesman for the Queens district attorney’s office, said.

...Father Braxton said the group used obscenities and homophobic and anti-transgender slurs. He met with detectives from the Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit on Tuesday to discuss safety concerns.

“We have had other attacks like this from kids in the neighborhood,” he said. “People pushing the kids, throwing things at them, at least once a week.”

Three of the suspects were identified by the police as Shara Mozie, 17, and Tyreek Childs, 17, both of 24th Street, and Trevaughn Payne, 16, of 34th Avenue, all in Queens.

The name of the fourth suspect, a 15-year-old boy, was not released because he will likely be charged as a juvenile, Mr. Ryan said.

The three teenagers faced assault, weapons and harassment charges, Mr. Ryan said. The most-serious count, the assault charge, is a misdemeanor, he said. [SOURCE]

Wow.. I always think it starts with the family.. These kids need parents to teach them about respecting diversity. I hope these kids get what they deserve.

BOO CANADA!! - BI NIGERIAN WOMAN BEING DENIED REFUGEE STATUS

Seems like this poor woman is being deported on July 10th because she was denied refugee status. She is claiming that she will be prosecuted because of being bisexual. She has two children as well and is scared for their safety:

Time is running out for a bisexual woman who has been denied refugee status in Canada. Jane Okojie is scheduled to be deported to Nigeria on Thu, Jul 10 where she says she and her two children will face persecution because of her bisexuality.

"I don't know what to do," says Okojie. "I am more afraid for my children than for myself. There are so many things going on in my head, I cannot think properly."

...Homosexuality in Nigeria is punishable by imprisonment of up to 14 years. The country has been criticized by human rights organizations including Amnesty International over its record of queer and other human rights abuses. In 2006 the Nigerian justice minister proposed a bill that would have made it a crime to support queer advocacy groups or participate in a same-sex marriage ceremony and banned adoption by queers. The bill was brought before the house of the national assembly but was not passed. [SOURCE]

Ok.. This is horrible.. This may sound ignorant of me but Canada will allow any individual to come into our country and imigrate here even if they only speak a few english words. Now we have a woman here who is in danger of her life and safety of her children and Canada won't accept her. EWWW.. What kind of counrty do i live in.. I just want to spit on it right now.. BAH!!!

*UPDATE* Jane Okojie, a Nigerian woman who had been scheduled to be deported to Nigeria on Thu, Jul 10, has been granted a temporary deferral, allowing her to stay in Canada in the short term. The deferral came as the result of a request made by Okojie's lawyer to the removal officer handling her case. [SOURCE]

BOYZONE'S OPENLY GAY STEPHEN GATELY ROBBED!!!

Poor guy... Gately lost £80,000 worth of jewellery due to a burglary at his Highgate home in North London.

The break-in at his Highgate home in North London involved the loss of a watch that he purchased with his first pay packet from Boyzone.

He also lost a £20,000 custom-made Rolex watch in addition to a Cartier diamond watch also worth £20,000 and bracelet from his civil partner Andy Coules.

The star told the Sunday Mirror: "I'm deeply upset because these items had great sentimental value. They'll probably be sold off for a fraction of their true value." [SOURCE]

Man, that sucks.. I feel bad for the guy... Sometimes Sentimental items can be the hardest things to get over. I remember when i almost lost my late Nan's Wedding ring, which i always wear around my neck. I was going Ballistic! Luckily, i found it, miraculously at the bottom of my laundry.. I have no idea how it got there but i was soooo Happy. I mean I couldn't replace that ring, its priceless..

I hope the people are caught and Stephen gets his stuff back. Fingers crossed to you Stephen!!

THE BATTLE AGAINST RITE AID HAS BEGUN

So earlier this morning I Posted This Blog about Rite Aid posting a "not-so-nice" letter on their window of their pharmacy. Well Queerity.com is doing what they do best; uncover the story and provide more updates:

Jeremy Hooper over at Good As You gave the store a ring-a-ding this morning and a store representative says the sign wasn’t part of their store and Tom Marquez, the alleged manager who signed the statement, is not “in anyway” an employee there.

Sounds like someone had way too much time on their hands this holiday weekend!
[A few questions remain, however: if you look at the original picture, you can see what looks like a security grate behind the flier. If it went up after the store closed, who put it there? If it went up before the store closed, why did it remain?]

Update again! The original reader just wrote in and said not only were there four signs at the Rite Aid in question, but offers this queer detail: …”When I called yesterday to complain the woman at the Rite Aid told me that Tom Marquez wasn’t the store manager but the manager for the whole area. so I don’t think it’s a phony name…I think he’s definitely a real person. In the audio link the store employee doesn’t say she doesn’t know who Tom is, she only says he doesn’t work in that store. He’s probably regional management, but maybe someone put it up and just used his name.” There’s obviously some maniac on the loose in Manhattan. Everyone stay indoors! [SOURCE]

I love it.. I called the store too.. And they said they had no idea what i was talking about and not to call back. Hmmm.. Something is fishy.. FISHY!!

BUDAPEST PRIDE TURNED U-G-L-Y!!!

In a previous post, I was talking about Bomb threats happening in Budapest due to the festivities of Pride. Well it seems like it did turn quite ugly during their pride festival this past Saturday. 45 people were taken into custody and 10 others were injured during the parade. It seems that the community still has some far steps to take before they will be able to parade like that do here in Canada or the U.S. Its a shame really. Read below:

About 450 people took part in the march in central Budapest when extremists began throwing explosive devices, eggs, cobblestones and bottles at police and the marchers.

Police seized chemicals and Molotov cocktails from a six-member group waiting for the demonstrators in an uninhabited flat along the route of the march.

Liberal member of Parliament Gabor Horn was hit and a police car carrying former undersecretary Gabor Szetey -- the first openly gay Hungarian politician -- and member of the European Parliament Katalin Levai was also attacked, Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

Three media trucks were damaged by protesters.

Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the extremists gathering around the fenced-off marchers in Heroes' Square. The demonstrators could leave the scene in a corridor leading to an underground station. [SOURCE]

If you want to read more of the story click the SOURCE link above. This isn't very Happy Monday stuff to be reading eh? I hope i find more happy stuff as the day goes on.. Stay Tuned!!

NYC RITE AID SAYS NO TO GAY RIGHTS

So i found this intriguing at Queerity.com.

"Rite Aid simply ain’t right. A reader sent in this image from one of the pharmacy’s New York City locations (on Sixth Avenue at West 13th Street) and, as you can see, it’s not the most welcoming message.

This isn’t the first time Rite-Aid has found itself in a queer controversy. A DC-based manager came under fire last year after booting an “overly affectionate” gay couple.

The best part of this sign, we think, is mention of “anything that would make our customers uncomfortable is prohibited in the store.” We suppose manager Tom Marquez didn’t consider the gay customers in that one, huh? Someone else must have, because the sign, which appeared around 7am on Sunday, was soon removed…

And, just for your reference, here are Rite Aid’s corporate numbers and the number for Mr. Marquez’s location: 212-727-3720. Do with that what you will…" [SOURCE]

I am already looking to call. I mean come on.. Ewww.. People like that just disgust me.. They live in a world where discrimintation runs them. I dunno, maybe i am getting more mad over this then i should but i can't help it.

BOMB ATTACK ON GAYS IN BUDAPEST

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but this is just ridiculous. I don't understand all the hate in the world. This comes from Budapest a few days before the Gay Pride Parade being held this Saturday:

(Budapest) For the second time in less than a week a gay business has been firebombed.

Police said that one person was injured Wednesday night when Molotov cocktails were thrown into a gay sauna in the Hungarian capital. Last Friday a similar attack occurred at a gay bar.

Police said that one person was injured in Wednesday's attack. There were no injuries in the bombing on Friday.

Wow.. Nuts eh? It seems like Police officials were not in favour for the parade at first but have given the ok for now to continue with the festivities. However, Budapest officials have given far right group permission to stage a protest against LGBT community this Saturday... A Little ironic no?? Its like they are saying yes do the parade but don't come screaming if there is a lot of protests going on.. Keep Reading:

The group, Rendszervalto, has posted on its Web site an appeal for "Hungarian patriots" to go to the counter march.

"We will not tolerate foreign perverts of whatever color forcing their alien and sick world onto Hungary," the posting said. It called for "healthy and morally acceptable people" to show that Hungary 's future can only be secured by "productive pair relationships, reproducing and well-functioning families". [SOURCE]

Well i hope someone comes in and intervenes because this is getting out of hand. When people are being blown up because of their sexuality then we have a problem.. Wait.. let me rephrase that.. people being blown up.. period.. should not be tolerated at all!!

HEINZ RESPONDS TO MY COMPLAINT!!

Ok.. So i was just going through my junk mail in my email and came across an email from Heinz. Subject line read:

Re: In Response to your Website Comments - Ref # 002854481A HEINZ/JHARRISO‏

So some back story. If you have been following my blog I definitely took the opportunity to write Heinz about removing their commercial in the U.K. due to an "offensive" kiss between to two males. I was outraged that they listened to 200 people and took it off the air. My email was polite but got to the point how upset i was with this. THEY RESPONDED.. Read below:

July 1, 2008

Dear Paul,

Thank you for your recent email regarding the Heinz United Kingdom commercial for Deli Mayo. Consumer feedback is very important to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Heinz pulled the ad in the UK because our consumer research showed that the ad failed in its attempt to be humorous and offended people on all sides.

Heinz apologizes for its misplaced attempt at humor and we accept that this ad was not in accordance with our long-standing corporate policy of respecting everyone's
rights and values.

Again, our sincere apology to anyone who felt offended.
We appreciate you taking time to contact us to express your opinion and allowing
us to address this issue

Heinz Consumer Resource Center
Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com

So first things first... They wrote back which i give them credit for, however it was not even a good response. Basically they are saying sorry but we are going to listen to the 200 people instead of the large amount of people who are complaining it was taken off the air. Oh Well.. It's their loss. I have heard a lot of people already started boycotting their products. Shame.. I LOVE their Ketchup... *tear*

"GAYS ARE NOT ILL, JUST AN ABOMINATION"

I Just read this disturbing story from Queerity.com. This silly Ireland politician, Iris Robinson upset a lot of people when she came out against the gays. People have began to use her name for the butt of jokes and she is now claiming that people are taking her words out of context. So now she is heading out with new claims:

"Stormont Health committee chair Iris Robinson last night accused her political rivals of twisting her comments on homosexuality and denied she believed it was a mental disorder…Mrs Robinson said: “People have attempted to suggest that I indicated that homosexuality was a mental health issue. Nothing could be further from the truth. What I did say was homosexuality, like all sin, is an abomination." [SOURCE]

What's even more funny is that her mouth wont quite rambling. She is now saying she has the way to cure the gays as well:

"Will the minister agree with me that there are some people who are in their teenage years sexually confused and that they could do with help in terms of practitioners assessing them with talking therapies to help them realize exactly what they are, whether they are heterosexual or homosexual?"

Oh Dear God.. Can someone please run over to her and duck tape her mouth.. Too much!!

PREACHER TELLS CNN'S COOPER HE IS GOING TO HELL

While appearing on Anderson Cooper 360, Rev Al Sharpton felt he had the duty to tell the hunky CNN Anchor that he will be visiting Hell in the afterlife for being who he is. Now from what i know and have been reading, Cooper has never publicly come "out" but is known to be plagued with gay rumours. He was featured on Out Magazine with Jodie Foster as one of the 50 most powerful gays in America. Within the show Rev Sharpton was supposed to be discussing Barak Obama's campaign but felt like there was more to talk about. Read Below:

""I may have some very conservative personal feelings but I feel you have the right to live your life differently," Sharpton said. "I may think that what you do Anderson is gonna put you in Hell, but I’m gonna defend your right to get there." Sharpton appeared on the show with Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins and political journalist Roland Martin. Perkins immediately countered with an offer that he’s going to try and "keep you from going there," but after a moment of obvious blushing, Cooper spoke up for himself, telling Sharpton he’s is personally "not that concerned" about his afterlife." [SOURCE]

Blogs all over are now saying that Sharpton's accusations are some sort of "outing" of the anchor. As for as i can see there has been no comment by Cooper or his team in regards to Sharpton's words. All i can do is laugh. This guy calls him a Reverend. HA HA HA HA.. Oh My.. Lets see who will be judged in the afterlife. I am sure it will not be Cooper!!

1 OUT OF 5 GAY'S BASHED!!!

"A new survey of gay, bisexual and lesbian people has revealed that they are regular targets for physical and verbal abuse, yet many do not trust the police to take action.
Homophobic Hate Crime: The Gay British Crime Survey spoke to more than 1,700 LGB people in England, Scotland and Wales." [SOURCE]

This is nuts.. I just read some of their findings and couldn't believe my eyes. I hope its not the same for here in North America.. Check out some of the findings:

• One in five lesbian and gay people have experienced a homophobic hate crime or incident in the last three years.
• One in eight have been a victim in the last year.
• Three in four of those experiencing hate crimes or incidents did not report them to the police.
• Six per cent say they occurred when they were with a child.

More stats within the article. [Click Here]

CUBA IS DOING A YO-YO

"Cuba's first Gay Pride parade was abruptly canceled Wednesday, before it even began...Activist Mario Jose Delgado announced the cancellation of the march moments before it was to start Wednesday at a park in Havana. He said two organizers who were to deliver a set of demands to the Justice Ministry were detained one day earlier. Delgado said he has no details of the arrests."

Wow.. kinda crazy down there. To understand the full post, read the article found [HERE]

CATHOLIC CHURCH NOT DOWN WITH CUBA'S GAY LOVE

"Cuba's Roman Catholic Church is protesting the communist government's growing support of gay rights, including a daylong event raising awareness against homophobia and a law allowing sex-change operations...

"Respect for the homosexual person, yes," said an editorial Tuesday in Palabra Nueva, the monthly magazine of the Archdiocese of Havana. "Promotion of homosexuality, no." [SOURCE]

Well few seconds after posting the story about Cuba and their step in the right direction, comes this story about hatred.. by who?? The Catholic Church, thats who...

Its funny because it gets me very angry since these so called "good people" of the church should be promoting love and kindness but in fact are promoting hatred and protest. I dunno, maybe i am complaining about something that will never change.. It still gets me all "grrr" inside..

I LOVE IT!!!!!

So it looks like there is a petition online now to have this commercial reinstated.. MUHAHAHAHA.. who doesn't love this... If 200 complaints got it off the air, how many is needed to put it back on?? Only time will tell..

To sign the petition [Click Here]

HEINZ BOYCOTT DEMANDED BY STONEWALL

So the plot thinkens. Seems like gay equality organisation Stonewall has called on all consumers, gay and straight, to boycott leading worldwide food brand Heinz following its decision to pull a TV advertisement that depicted a same-sex couple. [Source]

I guess its up to the people!!! Sometimes boycotting can be a pain in the ass but in this case it seems reasonable. I mean 200 complaints?? COME ON PEOPLE!! Heinz does deserve to hear the outcry from the community.. a community of more than 200 people.. Heinz U SUCK!!