Soulforce Launches 2008 Equality Ride as Liberty U. Welcomes Them

The gay Christian group Soulforce kicked off its annual Soulforce Equality Ride yesterday with a visit to Liberty University, now run by Jerry Falwell, Jr., the son of its founder. His father, the Reverend Jerry Falwell died in May of last year.

This year's ride will visit 15 schools in the South, of various denominations. The ride's goal is to converse with students and faculty, as well as hold public forums and worship services in an effort to promote tolerance and facilitate a welcoming atmosphere for all students at the school. This year 17 LGBT young adults are on the ride.

Said Katie Higgins, Co-director of the Equality Ride last week, before yesterday's event: "We are in contact with Liberty students who have been waiting for the Equality Ride to return. We cannot let them down. We bring hope to students who fear expulsion or other sanctions just for being themselves. We tell them that God loves them just as they are, and we speak up for a community where everyone can learn without fear."

In 2006, Soulforce 24 Soulforce riders were arrested at Liberty U. after Jerry Falwell, the University's founder, warned them they were not welcome. Yesterday, Soulforce riders were met by students who welcomed them on to the campus, and into the campus library.

Watch a report on the visit, which could not have been more different, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Bionic Eye, 'Celeb' Ads, Tammy Baldwin, Underwear

LGBT groups demand action on Michael Causer gay bashing death in Liverpool. Outrage! activist: "It was going to happen sooner or later and I am stunned how the local media here in Liverpool have downplayed coverage of this story which I feel is due to the lack of a vocal LGBT community in Liverpool."

Chace Crawford on gay rumors: "I just don't even want to speculate on that. It's just one of those things that rolls off my back. There's not one seed of truth to it, so it'll just go away in the end. I have actually met Perez Hilton a couple of times. He's normally very nice. But if he covers an untrue rumour, then I have to accept that it will become one of those things people will speculate about."

Just when you think you've heard it all (warning: graphic).

Tina Brown to unleash The Daily Beast after fictional newspaper of Evelyn Waugh's Scoop.

"Celeb" ads hurting Obama in the polls — response too soft?

Behind the scenes of the Paris Hilton John McCain spoof. Director: "I was literally in my car and thought Paris must respond. It's her duty as a citizen. Within three hours I was on the phone with her and she was into it. Our next goal is a town-hall-style debate between Paris, McCain and that sea creature that washed up in Montauk."

McCain and the age issue: "Some older people may have mild cognitive problems without meeting criteria for dementia. Mild cognitive impairment might affect attention, language, judgment, memory, reading, or writing. It may be noticeable to the individual or to other people, but it does not severely impair activities of daily living."

Scientists unveil first step to the bionic eye.

Apple pulls $999.99 "I am Rich" iPhone App that did nothing, but someone actually bought it while it was still available.

Shia LaBeouf may lose a finger.

Two Spoons: Play about gay dads to open in New York in September.

Made in Brazil and Kenneth in the 212 check out National Underwear Day.

Jerry Falwell died poor.

Kansas lesbian loses primary after last -minute anti-gay smear campaign by opponent: "Inga Taylor, a Victory-Fund endorsee, had outraised and out-organized her opponent, Gail Finney. But Finney and her supporters launched a late mail, e-mail and phone campaign highlighting Taylor’s sexual orientation and contributions to her campaign from the Victory Fund."

Great piece from AfterElton featuring broadcast news pundits and their thoughts on gay issues.

"Ex-gay" wingnut James Hartline claims lesbians rampaged during San Diego Pride march: "Calling itself San Diego Dyke March, the group of approximately 300 lesbians so disturbed a number of residents in the community of North Park, that one fearful churchgoer who resides in the area has alleged that a number of other church members were forced to keep their children indoors to avoid being exposed to the disgusting activities of the women. During the march, one shirtless woman exposed her bare chest."

Ryan Phillippe sweats bullets.

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin: Why I am backing Barack.

Attorney for Knoxville anti-gay church shooter Jim Adkisson lays groundwork for insanity plea: "Stephens said Tennessee law requires that the case get to the criminal court level before the defense receives money to pay for a mental evaluation. 'It is my burden to prove that he was insane at the time of the commission of the offense, Stephens said outside court. 'It is absolutely critical a mental health expert see him now at this critical stage.'"

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Mike Huckabee: God and Prayer Responsible for His Recent "Surge"

At the Liberty University (the Jerry Falwell-founded institution) Convocation Ceremony, the man who believes gay marriage will destroy civilization explains the reason for his recent "surge" in the polls.

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Tinky Winky Under Investigation by Polish Authorities

Jerry Falwell may be gone but the controversy surrounding purple, purse-carrying Teletubbie Tinky Winky lives on in Poland.

A government-appointed childrens rights watchdog there, Ewa Sowinska, says she's asked psychologists to look into the character's sexuality: "I noticed (Tinky Winky) has a lady's purse, but I didn't realize he's a boy. At first I thought the purse would be a burden for this Teletubby ... Later I learned that this may have a homosexual undertone."

It's just the latest in a series of anti-gay statements and actions by members of Poland's government.

In March, a Polish Education Minister said teachers thought to be "promoting homosexuality" would be fired from their jobs, a mandate supported by Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kacyzinski, who responded to the announcement, saying, "Nobody is limiting gay rights in Poland. However, if we're talking about not having homosexual propaganda in Polish schools, I fully agree with those who feel this way. Such propaganda should not be in schools; it definitely doesn't serve youth well. It's not in the interest of any society to increase the number of homosexuals — that's obvious."

However, at least one parliament speaker, Ludwig Dorn, warned Sowinska of making comments "that may turn her department into a laughing stock."

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Foiled Falwell Bomber was Targeting Westboro Baptist Protestors

Mark David Uhl, a Liberty University student, was arrested after a family member's tip led authorities to homemade bombs in the trunk of his car. Uhl had apparently told the family member that he planned to target protestors from Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church who were planning a demonstration at Reverend Jerry Falwell's funeral. The soda can-sized bombs were described by police as "sort of like napalm".

The Associated Press reports: "The Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church sent about a dozen members to protest across the street from the funeral, claiming Falwell was a friend to gays. The group also has picketed soldiers' burials, claiming the deaths are God's punishment for a nation that supports homosexuality. Falwell frequently spoke against homosexuality, and gay rights advocates have consistently opposed him. A group of Liberty University students staged a counterprotest; it wasn't clear whether Uhl was involved.

...Jesse Benson, 19, of Zanesville, Ohio, said he lived with Uhl this year and that both shared the view that the Westboro group is a 'sorry, disgraceful bunch of people,' but that he was certain Uhl would never have done anything to harm them. 'He had a very, very deep respect for Jerry Falwell, as do I,' Benson said in a telephone interview. 'Jerry Falwell would not have approved him harming anybody for any reason. Out of respect for Jerry Falwell, he never would have done anything.'"

Just one more incident that goes to show how full this country is of really screwed-up, religious people.

The Associated Press reports that 33,000 people viewed Falwell's body over a period of four days.

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Ann Coulter's Latest Diarrheatribe on Jerry Falwell

Coulter's ode to Jerry Falwell is a real gay-hating gem. Here are a few choice excerpts.

Coulter: "Let me be the first to say: I ALWAYS agreed with the Rev. Falwell. Actually, there was one small item I think Falwell got wrong regarding his statement after 9/11 that 'the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians — who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle — the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say, 'You helped this happen.'' First of all, I disagreed with that statement because Falwell neglected to specifically include Teddy Kennedy and 'the Reverend' Barry Lynn."

And that's just the beginning of a lengthy anti-gay, anti-liberal rant:

"I note that in Falwell's list of Americans he blamed for ejecting God from public life, only the gays got a qualifier. Falwell referred to gays and lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle...What Falwell was referring to are the gay activists — the ones who spit the Eucharist on the floor at St. Patrick's Cathedral, blamed Reagan for AIDS, and keep trying to teach small schoolchildren about 'fisting.' Also the ones who promote the gay lifestyle in a children's cartoon."

If you're interested in reading the rest, which includes her encyclopedic knowledge of the culture's grasp of Tinky Winky, click here.

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15-year-old girls charged with felony hate crimes for targeting one of their male classmates with homophobic flyers.

Taj Mahal to get facial: "According to the BBC, Indian officials have concluded that a 'deep-cleansing mud pack may be the only way to return a yellowing Taj Mahal to the cultural landmark's former white marble glory.' By 'caking the building in clay,' we read, those same officials can actually 'draw out surface impurities'.

Queer Eye's Thom Filicia to renovate W hotels starting with the W Los Angeles-Westwood.

Paris Hilton gets lighter sentence - should be in the coop for only 23 days, if that: "The L.A. County sheriff's office announced that they recognize her good behavior including showing up at her recent court date. Paris will also serve her 23-days in a special unit. These cells are specifically reserved for high-profile inmates who might otherwise be targeted by fellow prisoners. She will also get an hour a day to make phone calls, watch TV and shower."

Homeless gay youths finding home in specialized shelters: "Many experts estimate that while gay men and lesbians make up 3 percent to 5 percent of the general population, more than 20 percent of homeless youths under age 21 in many urban areas are gay, according to recent surveys of street youths and shelter workers published in peer-reviewed academic journals, and a study released in January by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless."

How the GOP candidates responded to Falwell's death — 5 strong supporters, 3 weak supporters, two made no comment at all.

Bogus tip to tech blog Engadget about delay of iPhone knocked $4 billion off Apple's market capitalization yesterday as the stock dropped from $107.89 to $103.42 in six minutes (11:56 - 12:02). Since then the stock has recovered.

Evandro Soldatti and a "legion of male models" attend Mario Testino's 'honorary citizenship" party in Rio.

In case you were wondering, your prayers have helped Britney Spears.

West Hollywood gay activist Larry Sprenger dies at 65: "In the mid-1980s, Sprenger was co-chairman of the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles, then one of the nation's most influential gay political groups. He was instrumental in the group's controversial stand in 1985 urging the owners of gay bathhouses to voluntarily shut down their operations because of the baths' possible role in the spread of AIDS."

Amazon to challenge iTunes with DRM-free music download service: "The Amazon service will launch later this year with support from EMI, the third-largest record company, and more than 1,000 smaller labels...David Card, an analyst at Jupiter Research, said Amazon’s clout would increase the pressure on EMI’s competitors to follow suit. 'Getting another big, big player to endorse DRM-free is a big deal.'"

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Christopher Hitchens Challenges Credibility of 'People of Faith'

"Author and outspoken atheist" Christopher Hitchens went off on the late Reverend Jerry Falwell to Anderson Cooper last night, beginning his interview by saying, "I think it's a pity there isn't a hell for him to go to." He ended it by condemning the theocratic sensibility that has taken over conservative American politics and the White House.

You certainly don't have to be an atheist to agree with his points.

Here are some excerpts from the rest of the interview...

"The empty life of this ugly little charlatan proves only one thing, that you can get away with the most extraordinary offenses to morality and to truth in this country if you will just get yourself called reverend. Who would, even at your network, have invited on such a little toad to tell us that the attacks of September the 11th were the result of our sinfulness and were God's punishment if they hadn't got some kind of clerical qualification?

People like that should be out in the street, shouting and hollering with a cardboard sign and selling pencils from a cup. The whole consideration of this -- of this horrible little person is offensive to very, very many of us who have some regard for truth and for morality, and who think that ethics do not require that lies be told to children by evil old men, that we're -- we're not told that people who believe like Falwell will be snatched up into heaven, where I'm glad to see he skipped the rapture, just found on the floor of his office, while the rest of us go to hell.

How dare they talk to children like this? How dare they raise money from credulous people on their huckster-like (INAUDIBLE) radio stations, and fly around in private jets, as he did, giggling and sniggering all the time at what he was getting away with?

How dare he say, for example, that the Antichrist is already present among us and is an adult male Jew, while, all the time, fawning on the worst elements in Israel, with his other hand pumping anti-Semitic innuendoes into American politics, along with his friends Robertson and Graham...encouraging -- encouraging -- encouraging the most extreme theocratic fanatics and maniacs on the West Bank and in Gaza not to give an inch of what he thought of was holy land to the people who already live there, undercutting and ruining every democratic and secularist in the Jewish state in the name of God?

I think he was a conscious charlatan and bully and fraud.

And I think, if he read the Bible at all -- and I would doubt that he could actually read any long book of -- at all -- that he did so only in the most hucksterish, as we say, Bible-pounding way.

I'm going to repeat what I said before about the Israeli question. It's very important. Jerry Falwell kept saying to his own crowd, yes, you have got to like the Jews, because they can make more money in 10 minutes than you can make in a lifetime. He was always full, as his friends Robertson and Graham are and were, of anti- Semitic innuendo.

Yet, in the most base and hypocritical way, he encouraged the worst elements among Jewry. He got Menachem Begin to give him the Jabotinsky Medal, celebrating an alliance between Christian fundamentalism and Jewish fanaticism that has ruined the chances for peace in the Middle East.

Lots of people are going to die and are already leading miserable lives because of the nonsense preached by this man, and because of the absurd way that we credit anyone who can say they're a person of faith.

Look, the president endangers us this way. He meets a KGB thug like Vladimir Putin, and, because he is wearing a crucifix around his neck, says, I'm dealing with a man of faith. He's a man of goodwill.

Look what Putin has done to American and European interests lately. What has the president said to take back this absurd remark? It's time to stop saying that, because someone preaches credulity and credulousness, and claims it as a matter of faith, that we should respect them."

(via wonkette)

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Westboro Baptist to Picket Jerry Falwell Funeral

The haters can't even stand each other.

Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church has announced plans to picket the funeral of Reverend Jerry Falwell. They say: "WBC will preach at the memorial service of the corpulent false prophet Jerry Falwell, who spent his entire life prophesying lies and false doctrines like 'God loves everyone'. There is little doubt that Falwell split Hell wide open the instant he died. The evidence is compelling, overwhelming, and irrefragable."

According to their lovely website, GodHatesAmerica.com,

"1. Falwell was a true Calvinistic Baptist when he was a young preacher in Springfield, Missouri, and sold his soul to Free-Willism (Arminianism) for lucre.

2. Falwell bitterly and viciously attacked WBC because of WBC's faithful Bible preaching -- thereby committing the unpardonable sin -- otherwise known as the sin against the Holy Ghost.

3. Falwell warmly praised Christ-rejecting Jews, pedophile-condoning Catholics, money-grubbing compromisers, practicing fags like Mel White, and backsliders like Billy Graham and Robert Schuler, etc. All for lucre -- making him guilty of their sins."

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Reverend Jerry Falwell Has Died at 73

The Reverend Jerry Falwell has died after being found "unresponsive" in his office at Liberty University this morning. He was rushed to the hospital according to MSNBC:

"Ron Godwin, Liberty's executive vice president, said Falwell, 73, had been found unresponsive around 10:45 a.m. and was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. Godwin said he was not sure what caused the collapse, but noted that Falwell 'has a history of heart challenges.'...'I had breakfast with him, and he was fine at breakfast,' Godwin said. 'He went to his office, I went to mine and they found him unresponsive.' Falwell, a television evangelist who founded the Moral Majority in 1979, became the face of the religious right in the 1980s. He later founded the conservative Liberty University and served as its chancellor."

The televangelist had a long history of spewing hate toward the gay community. During the AIDS crisis he declared, "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals." And following 9/11 he appeared on Pat Robertson's 700 Club and said "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"

Falwell was pronounced dead just after noon after CPR and other efforts to revive him failed.

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