FT WAYNE: This Week Coming Soon To A Stage Near You.

Keep The Promise theme for World AIDS Day this year

December 1st commemorates the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, a day in which everyone at risk for contracting AIDS or knows someone at risk takes time to remember those lost to the disease, living with HIV or AIDS, and pushing for a cure, and maintain the fight so that future generations will not be affected by HIV/AIDS.

Fort Wayne will be honoring World AIDS Day with a keynote address by Rev. Robert Bell of True Love Baptist Church at the Annual Memorial Service being held @ 6P on Monday the first of December 2008 @ Union Baptist Church 2200 Smith Street Fort Wayne, Indiana 46803. Directions from Downtown: Go South on Anthony Boulevard, Turn Right on East Creighton Ave. (toward Police Dept.); Proceed seven blocks west (2 1/2 blocks past the FWPD HQ); Turn Right on Smith Street go two blocks north; @ the intersection of Greene Street on the left side.

Beating You Up In A Winter Weary Land Next Sunday

A special Christmas performance with Memories of the King will be given by Brent A. Cooper (MySpace), from 5-6P. Come out early and enjoy the show and bring the kids to see Santa, too! At 6P get your derby fix on Sunday, the 7th of December, 2008 @ Bell's Skating Rink. Winter Wonder Brawl, features the Fort Wayne Derby Girls split into two teams: The Sugar Plum Scaries and the Nutcrackers, duking it out for a fellow derby girl. Earlier this year, Derby Girl Snarles Manson was diagnosed with cancer. A portion of the proceeds from this charity exhibition bout will be donated to her and her family. Admission is $5 or a gift card equivalent.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I will have more to add to this post later; it's become a very hectic weekend.....

Mormons come under review and across the Country begin to loose membership over prop 8 support. Prop 8 to be reviewed by the Court in March 2009.

Information in the introduction below is taken from an excerpts of the second and fourth articles cited below. But first here is some coverage from earlier this month by Actor and Model David Moretti, currently known for amongst other things for his serial performance as Reporter Thom Etherton on HERE! TV vampqueer thriller The Lair, which is in its third season of production.



In the last several months before the November election over 18,000 same-sex couples have married since the California Supreme Court struck down a state ban on same-sex marriage. When Prop 8 passed it did not invalidate those marriages but restricted the ability for any further celebrations of civil unions by same sex partners in the State.

The Mormons, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, boasts of a membership topping thirteen million and a missionary force of over five hundred thousand. They donated nearly half, up to $25 million by some estimates, raised by Yes on 8, (in California) canvassed neighborhoods and staffed phone banks. ... Mormons are "uniquely situated to be mobilized into politics," said David Campbell, a political science professor at the University of Notre Dame....

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California officials will investigate whether the Mormon church accurately described its role in a campaign to ban gay marriage in the state. The California Fair Political Practices Commission said Monday that a complaint by a gay rights group merits further inquiry. Executive director Roman Porter says the decision does not mean any wrongdoing has been determined. Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, accuses the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of failing to report the value of work it did to support Proposition 8. A representative from the Salt Lake City-based church could not be reached for comment.
(Source: Google News)

For the sake of full disclosure and unbiased reporting, here is another full story on the same report courtesy of Jessica Ravitz of the Salt Lake Tribune.

What were you thinking?

Peggy Fletcher Stack, last week, recounted the stories told to her, about the aftermath of the Prop 8 support by the CJCLDS, from the Prince family of Wahington D.C.:

Although they live a continent away from California, LDS Church members Gregory and JaLynn Prince, of Washington, D.C., still have felt the backlash from their Church's involvement in the traditional marriage initiative known as Proposition 8.Their daughter, Lauren, a Boston University student, has lost friends over the issue, while their son, an LDS missionary in San Bernardino, Calif., has had a disproportionate number of potential converts cancel appointments. About two weeks ago, during a first-ever class on Mormonism at Wesley Theological Seminary, where the Princes have built bridges for years, students pointedly asked them: "What was your church thinking?" "We are not taking sides on the issue, but the way this was done has hurt our people and the church's image," JaLynn Prince said. "It reminds me of the naive public relations strategy we had regarding the Equal Rights Amendment."
(Source: Salt Lake Tribune)

Prop 8 Strategy Plan originated back in 1997

(Salt Lake City, Utah) The Church of Latter Day Saints began putting together a game plan 10 years ago to ensure same-sex marriage would not become legal, a internal church memo shows. The document, obtained by Salt Lake City ABC affiliate KTVX, was sent by a member of the LDS General Authority to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, the church’s governing body.

Dated March 4, 1997, the memo mentions a meeting with Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then President of the Church, and quotes Hinckley as saying the Mormons need to “move ahead” with the church’s opposition to same-sex marriage. Hinckley, according to the 11-year old document, suggests joining forces with the Roman Catholic Church. “The public image of the Catholic Church is higher than our Church. In other words, if we get into this, they are the ones with which to join,” the memo quotes him as saying. He also warned in the memo that the Church should not be seen as the lead instigator in the fight against gay marriage.

[...2.5ip....]

In Utah, the Mormon Church says that eight of its temples have been vandalized since the passage of Prop 8 in California.... LGBT rights groups have appealed the outcome of the vote to the state Supreme Court, arguing the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone, by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group – lesbian and gay Californians. The groups in their petition to the court also say that Proposition 8 improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities.
(Source: unknown origin received text through email)

California Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments for the repeal of Prop 8.

The California Supreme Court today denied requests to stay the enforcement or implementation of Proposition 8, and at the same time agreed to decide several issues arising out of the passage of Proposition 8. The court's order, issued in the first three cases that had been filed directly in the state's highest court challenging the validity of Proposition 8, directed the parties to brief and argue three issues:

(1) Is Proposition 8 invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than an amendment to, the California Constitution?
(2) Does Proposition 8 violate the separation-of-powers doctrine under the California Constitution?
(3) If Proposition 8 is not unconstitutional, what is its effect, if any, on the marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of Proposition 8?

The court issued its order in three cases filed on behalf of a variety of parties, including same-sex couples who seek to enter into marriage despite the passage of Proposition 8, a same-sex couple who married in California prior to the adoption of Proposition 8, and a number of cities and counties whose officials seek to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Petitioners in each of these cases seek an order directing the relevant state officials to refrain from implementing, enforcing, or applying Proposition 8. In response to the petitions, the Attorney General filed a preliminary opposition, in which he urged the court to assume jurisdiction over these cases to decide the important legal issues presented, but also argued that the court should not stay the operation of Proposition 8 pending the court's resolution of the issues. The proponents of Proposition 8 also responded to the petitions, seeking to intervene as formal parties in the action and also urging the court to accept the cases for decision.

The court's order granted the motion to intervene filed by the proponents of Proposition 8. In its order, the court established an expedited briefing schedule, under which briefing will be completed in January 2009 and oral argument potentially could be held as early as March 2009. Six justices — Chief Justice Ronald M. George, Justice Marvin R. Baxter, Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar, Justice Ming W. Chin, Justice Carlos R. Moreno, and Justice Carol A. Corrigan — signed the court's order, although Justice Moreno indicated that he would grant the requests to stay the operation of Proposition 8 pending the court's resolution of these matters. Justice Joyce L. Kennard would deny these petitions without prejudice to the filing in the Supreme Court of an appropriate action to determine Proposition 8's effect, if any, on the marriages of same-sex couples performed before Proposition 8's adoption.
(Source: Chris Johnson Human Rights Campaign)

On the top of this page you will find a banner for the next collective action on the 10th of December 2008 by the Our Community in solidarity with our siblings in California, Arizona, and Florida, with the theme "A Day Without A Gay" where the San Diego, California based group Equality Action Now is asking all Gays and our allies to strike for one day. There are several other actions planned over the course of the next couple of months. If you know of any other initiatives or actions please email me details or look on the Disclaimers Page for contact information. Here is the short list, with links when available:

Today Equality Food Drive | Dec 10 Day Without A Gay National Strike |
Dec 20 Light The Night Vigil | Jan 10 DOMA National Protest |
Continuing Actions: Postcard To The President |

Gobble, Gobble? Gibblets! Happy Thanksgiving

Well there was suppose to be another post on here for Wednesday but I was side tracked with the holiday and also with trying to go back and update the last few posts, since we were down for a week, as well. I guess that just means we will have three posts for Saturday, yeah. To the right is a gratuitous post of a hot boi in his undies dressed as an Indian for Thanksgiving courtesy of Flip Flops Boy, which is an 18 or older site.



"I know that the people of this land are of God"

And before you bitch at me for using the title Indian, learn your history (make sure to watch it all the way through) and get a clue fool! Besides I am part Cherokee on my fathers side.

Story Updates: It is time for liberty to ring true in this land equally!

New Bjorn Borg Advert Campaign Targets Gay Priests.

For more of the correlating story visit Towle Road

Disturb the Christians and you might pay a thousand dollars and go to jail.

UPDATE: Nathan Harris of City Pulse updates the Bash Back story from Lansing, Michigan two weeks ago with two more articles. As always follow the link for the full article and here are the excerpts of interest:

One week later

Mykall, who grew up attending Mount Hope, said Dunami and other groups put gays in the same group as flashers, rapists and other sex criminals. Mykall and Stewart both object to claims that their “action” was violent in any way. The outside protesters were meant to draw security outside so there would be no violence against the inside group. The inside group infiltrated the church, and in the middle of the service hung a pro-gay banner and tossed an estimated 1,000 fliers around. Reports that Bash Back pulled a fire alarm and tossed glitter and condoms at churchgoers are false, say Mykall and Stewart. Mykall doesn’t recall hearing a fire alarm and never saw any fire trucks show up

(Rev. John) Elieff said that no one saw a member of Bash Back pull a fire alarm, but that two alarms near an entrance had been pulled. As a reporter for City Pulse who covered the protest, I was standing outside the main entrance and did not hear a fire alarm. Nor did I see any fire trucks respond to an alarm.

Mykall said that church leaders have not requested to speak with Bash Back members, but to them, such a conversation would not be desirable. “The reason we have chosen not to sit down with the leadership of Mount Hope Church is, let’s face it, we’re not going to change their minds,” Mykall said. The tactics of two Sundays ago served the intended purpose, Stewart said. “Sometimes the only way we can get that point across is by appearing angry or violent,” Stewart said. The pair both underscored that the intention of the “action” was to reach out to youth.

“To me, homosexuality is about lust, attraction, not about the way you were born, not about a disease,” Elieff said.... He is unaware of any specific church program targeting the gay community. Various programs at the church, he says, encompass gays and lesbians, like the sex addiction support group. “We would not want to see what happened two Sundays ago happen to another church or religious organization,” he said. Elieff said that the church, however, has returned to normal. Mount Hope claims a flock of around 5,000. .... And in contrast to Mykall and Stewart, he would welcome a meeting between the two sides.

He doesnt know what is on his own website? Good one pastor, nice attempt at plausible defensibility. What a jackass for the "good news" not to know what plans his own ministry has posted on their own website. Sorry Pastor that is direct and blatant promulgation in the public marketplace which means your Church is no longer a private entity and is fair game for counter protests as well.

Disturb the Reverend, get thrown in jail.

State Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, is drafting legislation to make disrupting a religious meeting a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and a year in prison. Jones, a former Eaton County Sheriff, said in an interview that in Michigan an invasion and disruption of a religious service is already a misdemeanor offense. Jones’ legislation would make the infraction a high misdemeanor and make penalties more severe than the existing $1,000 maximum fine. He said he would introduce this legislation during the 2009 session.

This is political pandering in its finest form. He actually had to backtrack at one pointe and clarify that it would be for all "houses of worship". I wonder if he included the Gay Churches in there as well? If this does pass into law it will probably get shot down on appeal as unconstitutional.

UPDATE: Just to prove that F6 strives to be balanced in its reporting, here is an additional Associated Press story from Tim Martin of the Chicago Tribune, which takes a more conservative tactic on the issues at hand and provides a national coverage to Bash Back activities. Included in the report was that footage from the event has been played on Fox New's O'Reilly Factor. I am now looking for that footage and as soon as I find it I will post the link here. Hat tip: An Outsider's Perspective

The Christian Coalition is trying to put together a survey representing American values to send to the government. Take a few moments to fill out the survey (whether you're Christian or not!) in order to give them a survey that really represents the opinions of America!

EDITOR'S NOTE: That is enough for now. To review F6's previous reporting and commentary on the above story from Michigan click here. I will update this post further throughout the day if necessary, as well as add others. My apologies for not being able to post the second post last Wednesday or the two planned on for Saturday. Verizon has been giving me a service migraine like nothing you have ever seen. Fortunately, F6 is back up and burning the midnight oil to recover the week lost in publication, resources, and production schedules. As for now I am going to bed.

Indiana and Michigan dont know where each other are and other news of govenment gone amuck! amuck! amuck?

*PLEASE NOTE: THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED*

Yes you heard correctly loyal readers, according to a recent post over at Indiana Law Blog, sourcing a story from The Associated Press, Michigan told Indiana that after four years it cant figure out where the 104 mile long border is between the two States. They lost most of the wooden survey markers due age and degradation over time. Whom was the idiot, even back in 1827, that decided to mark out the Border of the State with wooden stakes? Especially in this climate, at least use concrete and metal to begin with.

Apparently the only thing signifying where the border is a possible few marker posts and one lone confirmed marker they found in the middle pointe of the border. Here are some statements of interest from the article:

• Michigan in 1900's reset its borders with Wisconsin and Ohio.
  
• Professional surveyors can only recover & confirm originals.
  
• Those that are lost can only be replaced by a joint action of the Indiana and Michigan legislatures or, if those bodies cannot agree on the border's location, the U.S. Supreme Court.
  
• Once that happens, property that for years was believed to lie in one state could turn out to be in another, creating quandaries regarding property and income taxes, police jurisdictions, school districts and numerous other matters.
  
• When the state line is re-established, it could end up moving north or south up to a few hundred feet

Why did Michigan wait until an entire century later to refortify its border with Indiana? Also another statement from the personal interest profile part of the story, The State of Michigan does not charge income tax on disability checks but Indiana does. Isnt that just wrong? The very nature of a disability check is already a. taxpayer money and b. a reduced rate of income so why are we charging people income tax on very little to begin with, they can barely survive on disability income. Yet we say as a State we want some of it back?

Sounds a little hypocritical to me. Then again I am a Libertarian and we dont believe in high taxes or income taxes or government assistance. Which I do disagree with The Party on the last one in most situations. Poor relief doesnt belong primarily in the Churches either because of historical and current ritual abuse and proselytizing. It belongs in the Township level of government but as Citizens never fund it fully, well that is another discussion for later.

Can you spare an extra three thousand dollars a year?

Anyhooch on to more local matters, Fort Wayne City Council approved yesterday the City budget for 2009 in a 7-2 vote which only cut 2.5 million and pretty much left us screwed with a projected 9 million dollar deficit for the year after. So one way or another the City budget will have to be trimmed excessively when it is dropped back on the table next year otherwise the taxpayers will get the rim job of a lifetime in the next five years to come. You can find additional coverage on Around Fort Wayne.

Currently as the budget stands now at just above 130 million dollars, at 250 thousand (men, women, children) that breaks down to about $520 per resident each year. This means the City currently spends $2600 per year for a five person household. In the next five years (as projected) they want to raise it at minimum another 20 million dollars or $80 per resident or $400 per household.

This is ridiculous folks our local government doesnt need to be this bloated. They should be able to operate on half of that amount easily, Im even willing to agree to two thirds, but seriously, $2600 - $3000 for an average family, and they dont even get to spend it! This is what happens when you just choose between the lesser of two evils rather than making a clear choice for limited government and increased personal freedom. Next time you get the chance, vote with liberty in mind. I do have to give mad props to Councilpersons Brown and Harper for standing up to the Henry Administration and the Democrat members of Council on this piss poor budget plan.

I have more to write about in regards to local government. There are few updates on the Harrison Square project and how another necesary component is failing yet again. You can catch up on the Harrison Square stuff via F6's Feeds & Jump Page with the blogs that are linked to in the right column. They have already covered the recent debacles with Harrison Square in detail.

There Is No Rest For The Weary!

Apparently there is also now a law suit brought by three City Police Officers against the Chief for failing to honor compensated time and overtime. On top of it, as reported by other venues, if they win the City not only will have to reimburse them for all the hours denied respite; but also by virtue of their contract, the fine to the City is doubled and the Officers receive a windfall while the City is in the middle of a budget crisis.

Suit claims city denies comp time to police
Rebecca S. Green The Journal Gazette
14 November 2008

Three Fort Wayne police officers sued the city in federal court, alleging violations of fair labor laws in how the city handles officers’ overtime. Officers Jeffery Burkholder Sr., Martin Grooms and Sofia Rosales seek overtime pay, liquidated damages and a declaratory judgment for violations that have occurred over the past three years, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Fort Wayne.

The Fair Labor Standards Act allows police departments to pay employees overtime by granting compensatory time off with full pay instead of paying cash. Under the law, employees have the right to take the compensatory time off whenever they choose, according to court documents. Employers must grant an employee’s request to use the compensatory time within a reasonable time if it will not disrupt the operations of a public agency, according to court documents. “Under the (Fair Labor Standards Act), mere inconvenience to the employer is an insufficient basis for denial of a request to use compensatory time,” the lawsuit reads.

Fort Wayne uses compensatory time to pay its police officers, but the three officers filing the lawsuit allege the city violates the law by imposing arbitrary staffing requirements allowing the “arbitrary approval or non-approval of compensatory time,” according to court documents. “The plaintiffs’ compensatory time requests have been denied because granting the requests would require the payment of overtime to another officer,” according to the lawsuit.

Police Chief Rusty York was surprised by the lawsuit Thursday because the issue had never been mentioned by the police union, the Patrolman’s Benevolence Association, he said. The officers’ interpretation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and how time should be granted are at odds with the way the police department has traditionally handled the issue, York said. “Usually the union would mention it to us or file a grievance before a suit is filed,” York said, adding that there are union elections scheduled for today. Union head Greg Cassel referred questions about the lawsuit to the attorney for the union, Richard E. Beers, who would not comment regarding pending litigation....

Perry Moore receives three accolades in a row. PRIDE HIGH 7 is released. And other queer comics and superheroes that you just cant go without knowing

*PLEASE NOTE: THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED*

Producer of the Chronicles of Narnia, Perry Moore, has hit the big time after last years expose identifying him as PEOPLE Magazine's Sexy Man of the Week in its 16th of November issue. The issue in and of its self was groundbreaking for most Americans, as it was the first time they can recall, that PEOPLE displayed a gay man as being a jock as well as being in a committed romantic partnership, for as of now, fourteen years.

SHOWTIME has announced that Perry Moore's coming out young adult, Lambda Literary Award novel HERO will be turned into an hour long series with the help of the godfather of comics Stan Lee under his own label. Ht: Prince Gomolvilas

HERO tells the story of Thom Creed's ("Doubting Beliefs") journey of self discovery and dealing the angst of growing into one's own self and having an understanding of the powers that lie within, all while trying to keep three life changing secret from his father (a dejected superhero of his generation), that he is both gay and a super healer, and has joined with the same organization that once turned his father away in disgrace.

Here is some other commentary both pro and con from the across the gay blogosphere:
BILERICO | TV Junkie | The Chaser | After Elton Interviews: Stan Lee | Perry Moore |

In all actuality this story is Perry's tribute to his father and you can hear or read more about this aspect of HERO's background story in this interview that Perry Moore did with Tommy Roddy Creator of PRIDE HIGH. Yes I know that was a really obvious segue. F6 has, with great honour for their work and advocacy, previously covered some pretty intense issues regarding PRIDE HIGH and the issues surrounding racial bias in comics and challenges for the gay community as a whole.

In SPRING FORWARD, the seventh issue in the series which is available online for two dollars, continues to cover the Sophomore year for the students of Poseidon Preparatory School and is definitely worth checking out, along with the previous six issues. If you want to get a feel for the PRIDE HIGH series beforehand, there are short story clips of the first four issues available on line. For another pointe of view of the series as a whole check out the THE GAY COMIC GEEK's review from earlier this summer or one of the original reviews and interviews over @ LUCKY LEGENDARY, a Web 2.0 Gay Entertainment Magazine, To give you an additional tip the Legendaries crew will be making appearances in at least one of the next three issues of PRIDE HIGH ... I cant wait to see that!

Aaron Johnson is KICK ASS hottie
(right click on pic to view story)
Not forgetting to acknowledge my lesbian readership out there, all four of you that I know of, Terry Moore, creator of the Strangers In Paradise comic series, announced back in February he is also in partnership with Steven Sears (Producer, XENA Warrior Princess) to begin production on a live action version of the now retired series. No further word on this has been delivered but I have requests for information out through email. As soon as I hear back from somebody, I will let you all know. Just check back here on this post occasionally for any further details, please.

Stephen Rader from Chicago already covered this in detail but Exterface Studio a French photo art web forum by Julien and Stéphane released their latest project BOY WONDER with 27 year old circus performer and model and actor Guilherme Wandresen of Nevada (MySpace) (You Tube). For all you queer fanboiz and lovers of everything Batman and Robin check this out, you will not be disappointed. (S.R.: I will kiss you!)

THE CIDE (MySpace) has released their sophomore issue of a new Web 2.0 Comic Series published by Videns Pictures. The Cide tells the story of Kevin Grace, a young reporter and photo journalist, and eight other friends.

If you are going to watch it, please make sure your ADOBE FLASH PLAYER is up to date.

THE CIDE: NEW COMIC 2.0


STAR TREK COMMAND The latest release in the franchise, directed by J.J. Abrams, is due to be out in theatres on the 8th of May 2009 but already there have been leaks of pictures, screen captures, and cast photos. The movie features Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto as the old and young Spock. Chris Pine is Kirk. The movie also features Eric Bana, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Bruce Greenwood, John Cho, Simon Pegg and Anton Yelchin.

Also reportedly, they have remixed and remastered the Original Series and are going to be showing all episodes in certain markets from December to May, stay tuned and look out for the original crew in a new way on your television set. There will be a new HD Trailer for the movie released in less than a day. You can find out more here, as well as MySpace.

I have to give a shout out to Christian Yanik for the link to the Trailer video which is below.



Well I think that covers everything for now. I do apologize for the post being published late, I wanted to give time for Authors and Production Houses to send me their updates and then also cross reference the stories I already had written out. As always, please check out all F6 stories and commentaries about Queer Comics, Animation, and Science Fiction and our vast list of resources and cross adverts on F6's Links Page.

See you all then on Wednesday as we are trying to return to a normal publication schedule.

Loyal Readers: Do you think F6 should add Mondays as part of the regular schedule or just stick with the current Wednesdays and Saturdays and Holidays? Leave your answers in the comments below please.

Does recent activity in Michigan By BASH BACK violate Freedom of Assembly and Association?

EDITOR'S NOTE: So keep in mind I am writing this out while still under the influence of prescription narcotics so if it doesnt make since, I mean sense, I will go back and edit it later. Just stating for the record I dont like it when I am put in a position where I almost have to agree with Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League. That is just bad news and it is giving me an ulcer just thinking about it!

Over the last weekend there was a protest and objective raid and riot in Michigan by the local Bash Back Lansing Chapter and other affiliates from Chicago, Memphis and Milwaukee, at Mount Hope Church a mega evangelical major institution nesting northeast of the I96 and I496 junction, in Eaton County. Reports coming from the incidents describe a rather raucous protest going on outside while thirty of the Bash Back membership blended in with the congregation for their 11:30 Sunday morning modern Worship service. At the appointed time during the worship service a combined strategy tactic was deployed and put the rest of the chaos into motion. Here is an account from a reporter embedded with the group:

Bash Back began picketing outside the church doors soon after the 11:30 service began. The group also handed out fliers, which were much calmer in tone and targeted more at the curious than the angry. “We specialize in confronting homophobia, transphobia and every and all other forms of oppression,” the fliers read. “We strive for the liberation of all people.”

After a few minutes of protesting in front of the church doors, the “outside team” was asked to move its protest to the street, about 100 yards from the building. The team, standing beneath a row of tall flags that flank the entrance to the fortress-like church, focused its energy on the passing cars. About 40 minutes into the service, the “inside team” ran from the building to their cars and drove away.

The Rev. John Elieff, “Helps Minister” at Mt. Hope Church, said Bash Back members disrupted the service by bursting into the sanctuary, throwing fliers, hanging a banner from the balcony and pulling fire alarms. Elieff acknowledged the group’s right to protest, but he said the church’s civil rights were infringed upon when the service was disrupted. No one was arrested at the church, and, Elieff said, as far as he knew, no arrests have been made. “I would have preferred that they had all been taken in,” he said.

Gay anarchist 'action' hits church by Nathan Harris
CITY PULSE 11th of November 2008

From the blog Right Michigan it states in their reporting of the incident from "a source inside" the Church:

Prayer had just finished when men and women stood up in pockets across the congregation, on the main floor and in the balcony. "Jesus was gay," they shouted among other profanities and blasphemies as they rushed the stage. Some forced their way through rows of women and kids to try to hang a profane banner from the balcony while others began tossing fliers (pdf) into the air. Two women made their way to the pulpit and began to kiss.

The "open minded" and "tolerant" liberals ran down the aisles and across the pews, hoping against hope to catch a "right winger" on tape daring to push back (none did). And just in case their camera missed the target, they had a reporter in tow. According to a source inside the church yesterday there was a "journalist" from the Lansing City Pulse along for the ride, tipped off about the action and more interested in getting a story than in preventing the vandalism, the violence and anti-Christian hatred being spewed by the lefties. We'll see what he files and what his editors see fit to print.

Props were readily on display too, though some of the condoms may have been put to even more nefarious use. An hour after police and security had collected and removed who they thought were the last of the liberals, a volunteer security person discovered two more, hiding, together, in a public restroom. While their compatriots engaged in openly violent protest in front of everyone these two snuck away to potentially stage their own protest of sorts, and only by the grace of God did one of the hundreds of kids at the church not happen upon that particular restroom in those moments. Precisely how long they'd been there and precisely what they'd been up to we don't know.

There were several accusations directly made against Mount Hope by Bash Back including establishment of a Halloween "Hell House", which garnered a Community outcry for insensitive and demonic attribution with tawdry displays. Most people thought it was just your run of the mill haunted house, until it was too late. It was disgusting.

Yeah, well, this is the church that, a few years ago, created a "Haunted House" at Halloween full of "horrors". When you went through, WITH your children, their horrors were: A room depicting a young woman about to get an abortion. A pedophile about to get head from a young boy. Two gay men about to have anal sex. A date rape. A terrorist beheading. And, oh yes, a marriage between two men ... performed by Satan himself. These were just a few of the atrocities they depicted with manequins and actors. It was disgusting and it took a few days before the press finally publicised it enough to force them to give it a rating and warn parents before taking their children in. ~by second gen on 11 November 2008 The Daily Kos

and another record of account and review

This Halloween season, Mt. Hope Church, the largest, most cult-like church in Lansing, has decided to host a House of Horrors. What they failed to mention is that it is a "realistic" house of horror. The depict everything from teen suicide to abortion to child molestation to gay marriage. According to one parent, she pulled out her children when "an older man started unbuckling his pants while a teenaged boy got down on his hands and knees." Their only warning about this "house of horrors"? Children under 11 should be accompanied by an adult. That's right--ELEVEN! Not only that, they charge $6 to see such "horrors". Conveniently, at the end of the tour, there is a pastor waiting indicating that you can be "saved" from this "Hell" by becoming a member of the church. This is completely irresponsible behavior for a church to engage in. You can see why my view of organized religion is a bit jaded. ~Reid Sprite 28 October 2004

The other complaint by Bash Back which prompted the protest and raid this past Sunday is that "the church works to institutionalize transphobia and homophobia through several repulsive projects including organized “ex-gay” conferences. Mt. Hope is complicit in the repression of queers in Michigan and beyond." This is in fact true! through its Dunamai Ministry (direct link) it partners with and specifically supports Pure Life Ministries in Northern Kentucky. What? Wait a minute. That name sounds familiar, like Ive reported on them before....

PLM was previously covered on F6 throughout last winter. PLM came up at the end of the stories last year on the Prayer Movement on I35 from Laredo, Texas to Duluth, Minnesota. PLM was involved in the scandal involving the reporting by Pat Robertson's 700 Club on the 'conversion from homosexuality' of James Stabile (pic to right), because of the "purity sieges", which James later recanted and exposed the Evangelist Joe Oden and PLM in his interview with the Dallas Voice. James exposed the practices which were employed and put PLM under national media scrutiny in the past for physical and psychological abuses above and beyond what normal behaviour modification camps attempt for success of their "client/patients".

According to the Church website, they draw their curriculum directly revised by Steve Gallagher founder of PLM primarily and a secondary curriculum Dr. Douglas Weiss, from Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado (Focus on the Family's back yard).

So was the ACTION by BASH BACK still in fact a legitimate protest?

I would say yes since the Mount Hope Church's Dunamia Ministry's end goal is to "With this in place, we want to reach out to other churches in the area as we grow and are able to work with them in a cooperative effort to reach the city of Lansing and the surrounding areas. We, ultimately, would hope that this would eventually reach the secular realm when they see the success and freedom found by these men through Jesus Christ and realize the severity of the problem in this area." So we have a direct link and complete correlation now to both the accusations by Bash Back and the threat that Mount Hope Church intends to pose to the Gay Community members and all secular citizens of Lansing and all of Michigan, spearheaded by bad theology and science.


The question I am left to answer is, Was the action, protest, and riot/raid justified? Yes and No!

First of all realizing that Bash Back members are anarchist, it will do little to no good to bitch at them for breaking the law and violating the 1st Amendment and Civil Rights and Protections of the Church members by their direct infiltrating and inciting an attack and disturbing the peaceful assembly on private property. While I do think local law enforcement should investigate I dont think that it mandates a Federal or State investigation as of yet.

What we in fact have is a battle between the same types of protected associations and so therefore they are both mute and what is left is the violation of Private Property rights. Even though I must publicly condemn their riot and raid actions in so far as they violated the private property and the freedom of of the Church members to public assembly and have an expressive association (versus an intimate association, as previously explained in the bottom portion of this post from last Saturday). I cannot deny the validity of the protest outside either Mount Hope deserved every bit of protest it received last Sunday, because a Church cant have it both ways either.

However if the Church is a private entity it needs to stay that way and get the fuck out of public politics. They dont pay taxes; Gays however do pay taxes, typically at a higher percentage rate! Therefore, I condemn the Church also for being ignorant enough to follow a book (that has been mistranslated on a political basis so many times) "at face value" in order to validate their own bigotry and assumptions without looking at authentic sources to verify such ideas and thereby harm innocent queers by trying to "train them in self mastery".

In less than an hour I am having my wisdom teeth extracted

So here is something to tide you over until I recover. The Shelter, directed by Jonah Markowitz starring Brad Rowe, Trevor Wright, and Tina Holmes, was released by Here Networks, in 2007, is an awesome gay flick! Take 90 minutes out of your day or night and seek out The Shelter and what new queer cinema is all about. When you get a chance I would recommend adding this to your collection soon. The film can be purchased for 19 dollars through TLA Releasing. You can also visit the official website on HERE NETWORKS. The last five videos in the player below contain reviews from AndyJ (as previously mentioned) from 5 Awesome Gays, The Gay Comic Geek, and The Gadget Freak along with behind the scene footage from the producers and actors as well as the official trailer for the first video in the player.




UPDATE: So Doc only pulled the one tooth up from up front (from my carjacking 5 years ago), apparently it turned out after he pulled (using the term lightly) the tooth, I didn't in fact need to loose my wisdom teeth. So I am not in as much pain as I thought I would be... thank God! Although now instead of just being a ghetto redneck I look like a hillbilly with my missing front tooth. You win some you definitely loose some too. I probably shouldn't be making this blog post update, since I am still under the influence of perscription narcotics and a lack of nicotine; but here goes everything, balls to the wall. Thank you for your prayers.

Update: The New Yorker on the legacy following Major Rogers sacrifice for our freedom!

F6 EDITOR'S COMMENTS: This is a follow up report of a story previously covered in this forum with great detail for all parties involved and my interested readers. While I normally would clip, highlight and analyze a story, I think that just redirecting my readers to the story at this time would be best, and by doing so, applaud the work done diligently by Ben McGrath at The New Yorker.

However his story is so detailed and lengthy that I am still not done reading it and I've been reading it off and on for the last two days. If you have any concerns over the article you may contact Ben here on the Q & A blog post for this article. I invite you to click here to read the entire article in printable format at your leisure. Please right click on the banner below to view article on the website.


The honorable death in time of war Major Alan Rogers also extended my acquaintance and this blogs outreach to several other GLBT Service Member Organizations across this great land. I also ask The New Yorker to keep the article available indefinitely for he truly is a hero who sacrificed everything including his personal freedom for our liberty and his own salvation.


EDITOR'S NOTES:

F6 has and always will hold the men and women of this Country's Uniformed Service in the highest esteem possible and will at all times give them the honor and respect above and beyond that which they inheritable deserve from each citizen.

F6 as an issue of editorial policy will challenge any assertion that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is either Constitutional or proper policy in our great Country, especially in a place where all men are created equal!

F6 has several resources and commentaries regarding GAYS IN THE MILITARY for your perusal.

What is better than a man in uniform?

Triplets in white undies with their
camos going down around their knees!

meet adult film performers
Joey, Jason, & Jimmy Visconti
from Hungary

Who Are The Brave? Never forget those whom gave their lives!

Who are the brave? Those who go to war? Who are the brave? Those who fight no more? Those who gave their lives protecting freedom's shore. Who are the brave? Those who serve in war.

Who are the brave? Those who live with pain? Who are the brave? Those whose lives are plain? Those with healthy bodies, Those protecting the unsure. Who are the brave? Those who serve the poor.

Who are the brave? Those whose speech is free? Who are the brave? Those loving liberty? All those with heart and mind, Protecting all they find. Who are the brave? Those who serve mankind. These are the brave.

performed by Heartland Mens Chorus
& lyrics by J. Paul Williams & arranged by Joseph M. Martin

SOCE headlines KUNT CRUSADERS show INDY, Friday @ ZONIE'S CLOSET

He is SOCE, the Elemental Wizard he is a Jewish, Gay, White MC. A Yale graduate computer programmer on Wall Street by day... Level 27 Hip Hop Spellcaster at night. Even with three CDs out on the market Im In My Own World, Dream de la Dream, The Lemonade Incident, and an active tour and work schedule SOCE does live shows throughout NYC in not only hipster bars and clubs, but also at high schools, colleges, theaters, museums, community centers and synagogues. Additionally, he co-hosts a math bee once a month with comedian Jennifer Dziura at Chelsea Market, and he does interviews and show reviews for NYC comedy blog The Apiary.

The Lemonade Incident has the controversial tracks called Im So Gay and Sucking Dick, as discussed in the October 2005 issue of OUT Magazine (page 35), "everybody metaphorically has to suck a little dick now and then to get along in this world", you can read the rest of it here. If you've ever had to struggle, been in love, enjoyed a good role-playing game, or just wanted to experience rap music where you can actually relate to every word spoken, SOCE'S music is for you!

This is his second show and He is excited to be back!!! It is hosted by The KUNT Crusaders, a group of women whom are actively bringing GLBT Musicians and artist to the local area. The show which will be opened @ 8 PM by local spinner DJ Fate at Zonie's Closet @ 1440 East Washington in Indianapolis this Friday the 14th. So come on, what are you waiting for? The cover is only five dolla's!


UPDATE: On the 15th SOCE will be performing for free @ 5p.m. in 609 East Mulberry Street, Bloomington, Illinois during a book signing for his friend Matthew Fish's (MySpace) (You Tube) newest release Fireflies in Winter and Softland as a combined book which you may purchase @ Amazon for 19 dollars.

RECAP SOCE LINKS: Website | You Tube | Collab | Rapture Press | MySpace | The Aviary |