Rapist of 14 Year-Old Gets 30 Day Sentence

What's Next For Kaitlyn Hunt?

From Think Progress: 

The family is hoping that public pressure will improve the offer from the State Attorney. Her father said Kaitlyn would be willing to plead to a misdemeanor, but not a felony. If the position of the State Attorney does not change, Kaitlyn and her family are prepared to go to trial. 

The family’s attorney, Julia Graves, has assembled a table of experienced defense lawyers that will convene next week to discuss Kaitlyn’s legal options. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn is scheduled to appear in court again on June 20. At that time, if a plea agreement is not reached, the judge could set a date for trial.

You can see the original story HERE. There is also a link to a petition urging the prosecutor to drop/reduce the charges which can be found HERE.

#FreeKate

CNN Fails Miserably On Rape Coverage

This has got to be some sick joke. These two young men were found guilty of a violent, unconscionable act against an innocent girl, and CNN is talking about how this conviction has destroyed the lives of the convicted rapists?

If you watched this clip, you will notice there was zero mention of how the 16 year-old victim has been affected. No mention of the physical trauma that may or may not heal. No mention of the emotional trauma that will last for a long time to come. None. Were this Fox, I would not be surprised, but this is a very poor indictment on CNN, the self-styled "most respected name in news." I for one hope that this conviction helps to bring at least some closure to the victim of this violent act, though only time itself will be able to heal the wounds that can be healed.

There is yet another element that CNN got completely wrong. This conviction did not destroy the lives of the young men found guilty, their own decisions and actions destroyed did that. They made the choice to take advantage of this young girl and they will pay the price for it. They will be branded as sex offenders for the rest of their lives because of what they did. If they do not like that, then tough. Perhaps if they had thought how reprehensible it is to expose a vulnerable person in such a callous manner, they would have vastly better futures ahead of them. It is a true shame they made the choice to tread down such a dark path.

There is no gray area here. Forcing yourself on someone is not morally ambiguous. It is wrong, it has always been wrong, and it will always be wrong. One does not have to be particularly intelligent to understand that, they just have to be decent human beings. What happened to these rapists is their own fault and they have no one else to blame but themselves for their lot. Justice was served and I for one will not be shedding a tear for either of these guys. If any good can come from this, it is that this crime and the verdict may serve as a cautionary tale for other people who hear this story.

So much for CNN being the most respected name in news. This was a sorry excuse for journalism.

Tweet of the Day: March 8, 2013

Gay Go-Go Dancer Saves The Day

Can the Pope Be Prosecuted?

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in Action

5 Bush Mistakes Continued By Obama

Two Men Acquitted of "Looking Gay"

From CNN:

"The acquittal of two Cameroonian men jailed for looking gay because they wore women's clothes exposes the systematic discrimination against perceived homosexuals in the country," Amnesty International said in a statement.

The conviction was based on stereotypes because authorities never saw them engage in homosexual acts, according to their lawyer.

 

"The judge who originally sentenced them had stated that the way they dressed, the way they spoke, and the fact that they drank Bailey's Irish Cream proved they were gay," their lawyer, Alice N'Kom, told global gay rights group All Out, which launched a petition demanding the men's release.

The court overturned the conviction Monday, but it was unclear whether they have left prison.

Homosexuality is illegal in Cameroon, where sodomy laws were introduced during colonialism. Sentences for homosexual acts vary between six months to five years.

If drinking Bailey's Irish Cream proves people are gay, then there were zero straight guys in my fraternity.

3 Years in Jail For Being Gay

From the New York Times:

Activists said the court's ruling in Yaounde, the capital, marked yet another setback for gays and lesbians in Cameroon, widely viewed as the most repressive country in Africa when it comes to prosecuting same-sex couples. 

Jean-Claude Roger Mbede, 32, had been provisionally released on bail in July after serving a year and a half in prison. His lawyer has 10 days now to file an appeal to the country's Supreme Court. 

Holding back tears Monday, he said he wasn't sure whether he could withstand more jail time given the conditions he faced there. 

"I am going back to the dismal conditions that got me critically ill before I was temporarily released for medical reasons," he told The Associated Press by telephone. "I am not sure I can put up with the anti-gay attacks and harassment I underwent at the hands of fellow inmates and prison authorities on account of my perceived and unproven sexual orientation. The justice system in this country is just so unfair."

Note to self: never set foot in Cameroon.

Teen Sentenced To 10 Years...Of Church

From ABC: 

Anybody who knows Oklahoma District Court Judge Mike Norman probably yawned at the news that he’d sentenced a teen offender to attend church as part of his probation arrangement, and that the judge’s pastor was in the courtroom at the time.

Not only had he handed down such a sentence before, but he’d required one man to bring the church program back with him when he reported to court.

“The Lord works in many ways,” Norman, 69, told ABC News today. “I’ve done a little bit of this kind of thing before, but never on such a serious charge.”

Norman sentenced Tyler Alred, 17,  Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in August for killing friend and passenger John Luke Dum in a car crash.

Dum died on impact in December after Alred crashed his Chevrolet pickup truck, ejecting Dum. Alred was 16 at the time of the crash and had been drinking prior to the deadly accident.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol issued a Breathalyzer at the time, and although Alred was under the state’s legal alcohol limit, he had been drinking underage.

The judge could have sent Alred to jail but, instead, taking into account his clean criminal and school records, sentenced him to wear a drug and alcohol bracelet,  participate in counseling groups and attend a church of his choosing – weekly. He must also graduate from high school...

Obviously this is better than going to jail (and I probably would have taken the deal were I in this young man's shoes), but this is a blatant violation of the separation of church and state set up in the first amendment to the United States Constitution. The fact that this is a pattern with this particular judge shows that he is not fit for the bench.

Sidenote: if this young man went to a Muslim Mosque, do you think THAT would be okay with this judge?

Arrest Made in Virginia Voter Fraud Case

From WHSV:

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in the investigation of voter registration fraud that began on the afternoon of Oct 15, when law enforcement received a citizen complaint of voter registration application forms being found in a dumpster behind a business in the City of Harrisonburg.

Colin Small, 31, Phoenixville, Pa was a Voter Registration Supervisor employed by Pinpoint, an independent private organization contracted by the Republican Party of Virginia, for purposes of general voter registration.

Small is charged with destruction of voter registration application, disclosure of voter registration application and obstruction of justice.

These charges are based on lengthy consultation with and assistance from the Rockingham County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office regarding the investigation.

Justice Scalia: Ruling Against LGBT Rights is Easy

From Truth Wins Out:

In a recent lecture and book-reading at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative D.C. think tank, the notoriously controversial Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia rattled off a list of hot-button issues that he considers no-brainers, tipping his hand about how he’s likely to vote on any of the LGBT-related cases that are poised to be reviewed by the high court:

“The death penalty? Give me a break. It’s easy. Abortion? Absolutely easy. Nobody ever thought the Constitution prevented restrictions on abortion. Homosexual sodomy? Come on. For 200 years, it was criminal in every state.”

For the record, I haven’t suddenly started entertaining pie-in-the-sky hallucinations about Scalia casting a pro-equality vote. I just think it’s more than a little imprudent to be making specific comments about an issue that’s almost certain to go before the Supreme Court in the upcoming term. And “homosexual sodomy?” Come on, Tony, show some respect in the terminology you use. You’re supposed to be an allegedly impartial arbiter of the law, not a hellfire-and-brimstone fundamentalist preacher...

Penn State Football's Death Penalty

Lowlights & Highlights: June 23, 2012

When most of us found out that Dharun Ravi would only get 30 days in jail (and 300 hours community service) for the invasion of privacy that ultimately led to the suicide of Tyler Clementi, many of us were outraged. I know I sure as Hell was. I'm not saying that the book should have been thrown at him or that he should have gotten the maximum jail sentence (which I believe was 10 years). However, what he DID get was a mere slap on the wrist. I could not have imagined him getting less than a year in jail for video taping Clementi and a male companion like that against their will and live-streaming it on the internet, especially given Ravi's lack of apparent remorse.

Well as if that had not been bad enough, it gets even worse. He was released from jail after a mere 20 days. That's right, that slap on the wrist was apparently not a soft enough "punishment" (I'm using that word extremely loosely). I have no idea what the decision-maker was thinking, or if he/she was thinking at all. Not only this, but Ravi's defense team is appealing the conviction. These people just can not seem to get enough of tap-dancing on Clementi's grave, and that is what it seems like they are doing. Saying this is sad would be the understatement of the century. I can not begin to imagine what Clementi's family is going through, but it seems like all of this just adds insult to an already tragic scenario.

***

In things that were completely predictable, Bristol Palin's "reality" show bombed. Seriously, her mother was the popular one and even SHE didn't last more than a season on her show. Nobody cared about her, and they do even less so now since she has cashed in much of her Tea Party credibility by endorsing "establishment" candidates (like Orrin Hatch) over Tea Party backed candidates. Why did Lifetime, the network that airs Bristol's show, think anyone would care about her? Not only that but were I a woman, I would have been pissed off that "Television For Women" aired a show featuring such an ignorant female. The show has not been cancelled. However, with the way networks sometimes work, a quick increase in ratings is necessary for this show to live on...which I have to hope does not happen (and I don't see it happening either).

I don't generally like to revel in someone's failure, but fame-whores leave a bad taste in my mouth. The fewer on television and elsewhere, the better. Now if I could just see the Kardashians off of the air...

The Wrap-Up: June 19, 2012

After winning his recall vote two weeks ago, Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) officially has someone riding his coat-tails: Mitt Romney.

For those who were angry about Dharun Ravi ONLY getting 30 days in jail for his actions against Tyler Clementi, I suggest you take a deep breath before reading this article.

Here is one way to help close the budget gap: stop subsidizing religious organizations (which is also probably unconstitutional) to the tune of $71,000,000,000 per year. That and big oil subsidies.

Mitt Romney, flexing his conservative credentials, refuses to compromise.

Not only does Romney refuse to compromise, he also refuses to detail his plans for America.

As President Obama prepares for the Autumn debates, his Romney stand-in will be Massachusetts senior Senator John Kerry.

Campaign finance is one of those rare issues on which I agree with John McCain.

I like to think that the fact that Indiana Republicans are uninterested in having "protecting traditional marriage" in their platform is indicative of how "protecting marriage" from the big bad gays is an increasingly losing electoral battle.

And lastly, LZ Granderson tells us what the gay agenda is really about.

Lowlights & Highlights: June 16, 2012

All too often, stories come along that test my faith in humanity. This week brought a very big test (though the story stems from last June, there have been resent developments). A four year old boy was killed by the leader of a religious cult (who also killed a 28 year old woman) because he thought the boy was acting gay. The man behind the killings was charged and pled guilty. He will serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole (assuming the judge agrees to the plea deal, which took the death penalty off of the table).

This is one of those stories that is just sad beyond words and my condolences go out to the families and those effected by this tragedy. It's is incredibly sad to see people taken away who have so much potential. The family of the boy who was killed are not happy with the plea deal and , even though I'm on the fence where the death penalty is concerned, I can't really blame them. Were it my kid, I can't really say I wouldn't do something like Samuel L. Jackson's character in the aptly named "A Time to Kill."

Some people just do not deserve to share oxygen with the rest of us.

***

Study after study has shown us that the people who exhibit high amounts of homophobia have a tendency to be wrestling with their own sexual attractions. Many of us in the blogosphere and in social media use these findings against people who regularly rail against us, especially leaders of homophobic organizations. We look at the findings of the studies, set them up against these folks, and say that these organizations are full of self-hating closet cases. Obviously not all of these people are in the closet. However, surely some of them have more in common with Ted Haggert than they would like to admit.

Having said all of that, I don't think that Brian Brown (who regularly rails against LGBT people) of the National Organization for Marriage Discrimination was really helping himself with this graphic:

Apparently the "mo" was supposed to be for momentum. I don't think anyone will get that though. I'm really hoping this isn't a hoax. Reality can be really hilarious at times.

Lowlights & Highlights: June 2, 2012

The New York Times is reporting that Cardinal Timothy Dolan authorized payments topping out at $20,000 to sexually abusive priests in order to get them to leave the priesthood (or at least not contest being defrocked)...instead of doing the morally right thing and handing these priest over to criminal authorities.

But a document unearthed during bankruptcy proceedings for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and made public by victims’ advocates reveals that the archdiocese did make such payments to multiple accused priests to encourage them to seek dismissal, thereby allowing the church to remove them from the payroll. 

A spokesman for the archdiocese confirmed on Wednesday that payments of as much as $20,000 were made to “a handful” of accused priests “as a motivation” not to contest being defrocked. The process, known as “laicization,” is a formal church juridical procedure that requires Vatican approval, and can take far longer if the priest objects. 

~

The newly revealed document is the minutes of a meeting of the finance council of the Milwaukee archdiocese from March 7, 2003, which Cardinal Dolan attended. The archdiocese was facing a flood of potential lawsuits by people claiming abuse, and the church’s insurance company was refusing to cover the costs because it said the church had been negligent. The minutes noted that “unassignable priests” — those suspected of abuse — were still receiving full salaries.

This is why I can't understand why anyone would give money to the Catholic Church. This is what those dollars go to: protecting abusive priests from the law instead of, oh, I don't know, helping the poor, sick, needy, and hungry. This is also why I do not understand why people believe this organization has any moral high ground whatsoever. They tell others how they should live their lives, what to do, what not to do, be honest, and so forth, only for stories like these (and there have been many) to come out against them.

The Catholic Church has zero moral credibility, ZERO!!!

***

On Thursday, I received the birthday present of having parts of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act ruled as unconstitutional by a Federal District Court, the highest court to rule on the law so far.

Now let's get real here folks. This does not mean that the law is now null and void, it does not mean that marriages of same-sex couples will now be recognized throughout the land. The court put a stay on the decision (meaning it is not yet in effect) and even if that had not happened, it would only have effected that particular federal district (most of New England plus Puerto Rico).

Essentially what the ruling said was that it was unconstitutional for the federal government to deny same-sex married couples the rights that opposite-sex married couples have in the states that recognize same-sex marriages in that particular federal district. These rights are things like taxes, spousal benefits, and so forth.

The stay that I mentioned was put in place because it is likely that the decision will be appealed by the United States House of Representatives (gee, thanks Speaker Boehner) to the United States Supreme Court. In other words, this law is one step closer to the Supreme Court, which is where most people on either side of the issue believed it would ultimately end up anyway. What happens there is anyone's guess. Hopefully SCOTUS will see this law for what it is: an unconstitutional tyranny of the majority that never should have been law. Keep your fingers crossed folks!

Lowlights & Highlights: May 26, 2012

Unless you live in a cave, you are probably aware the the sentence for Dharun Ravi - the Rutgers roommate of Tyler Clementi, whom he videotaped in an intimate incident with another man ultimately leading to Clementi's suicide - came down this week. I'm using the word sentence fairly lightly here.  Ravi faced a possible 10 year sentence which I, and many others, deemed to be far too harsh if it came to that given the charges. however, the actually sentence he received was...a slap on the wrist seems like an understatement. 30 days in jail, a $12,000 fine, 300 hours community service, and probation. To put this in perspective, New Jersey law mandates 90 days in jail for shoplifting. There are people who go to jail for far longer for simple marijuana possession.

This is what I like to call an abortion of justice, especially given how the judge noted Ravi's lack of remorse and how he offered no apology. This sentence is a stain on the justice system.

***

Since the last time that I posted this feature, it appears there may be a huge change happening within the African-American community. It has been reported numerous times that black people, though generally more liberal and tending to vote as such, are quite socially and religiously conservative (i.e. against LGBT equality and homosexuality). This is becoming less and less the case however. Last Saturday, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) officially came out as supporting marriage equality. This is a fairly big deal, especially given that this is the nation's oldest and best known civil rights organization. Of course, there were some naysayers but there has also been a huge positive response.

Not only this, but Outsports has been reporting that numerous people associated with the National Football League - from retired players (including former Green Bay Packer Ahman Green) to rookies (including Robert Griffin III who had a gay teammate in high school in Texas) - would have no problem with having an openly gay teammate. Many of the people that were asked were black. Perhaps the perception that black people tend to be homophobic is finally beginning to crumble, yet another bastion of homophobia going by the wayside. We have seen it with the military, we are seeing it in sports, and even in the religious community (even an increasing number of Evangelicals are in agreement with LGBT equality). Being someone who is black, I am absolutely thrilled to see this happening.

I gotta say though, given Griffin's support, it's sad to see him go to the Redskins...

The Wrap-Up: May 22, 2012

If you weren't one of the people that bought Facebook stock in its IPO, be glad you didn't (at least for right now). So much for all of the fanfare.

Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker (one of President Obama's surrogate's and someone I generally like) made a fairly large error on Meet the Press this Sunday.

And here is laid out my main problem with the death penalty: frame-ups and massive amounts of time that can never be recovered.

Apparently there was a nomination for a third party candidate...which ended without a third party candidate. The two-party system lives on (for good or/and ill).

Showing how much of a Christian he is, a North Carolina pastor state that gays should be fenced off and left to die. Obviously, it's what Christ would have done.

Today in stupid political comparisons to Nazis...

It's President Obama's fault that $10,000,000 in racial-attack ads will be on the air against President Obama. Then again that's the opinion of the RNC chair, so it's only worth so much.

The GOP's long-term problem goes far beyond the fact that the best candidate they can muster is Mitt Romney.

This is why Democrats and President Obama should run on their health care record, not from it.

And lastly, a Pastor has a warning for Home Depot. My warning, however, would be beware false prophets.