Question:
>The christian fundamentalist movement in the USA has declared that the >Washington Monument is a phallic symbol for homosexuals and as such, >must be sheated in cloth to hide its features from public view.
So, just to recap: The same people who think birth control is eeeeevil now want to put a condom on a 55 story representation of the male organ…. in PUBLIC, no less? Now I know these assloaves don’t have a mind to make up! Belated Happy MLK,Jr.Day — Bonnie Bitch
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children. > The wacky square yellow SpongeBob is one of the stars of a music video > due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers — the > nonprofit We Are Family Foundation — say the video is designed to > encourage tolerance and diversity. > But at least two Christian activist groups say the innocent cartoon > characters are being exploited to promote the acceptance of > homosexuality. > "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences > being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article > for the American Family Association. > The video is a remake of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family" using the > voices and images of SpongeBob, Barney, Winnie the Pooh, Bob the > Builder, the Rugrats and other TV cartoon characters. It was made by a > foundation set up by songwriter Nile Rodgers after the terrorist > attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to promote healing. > Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge > on the foundation’s Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual > identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and > race. > "Their inclusion of the reference to ’sexual identity" within their > ‘tolerance pledge’ is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral > line," James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a > statement released Thursday. > Rodgers said he was astounded by the attack. > "That is so myopic and harsh," he told Reuters. "You have really got > to look hard to find anything in this that is offensive to anyone. The > last thing I am going to do is taint these characters." > Dobson was quoted by the New York Times on Thursday as having singled > out the wildly popular SpongeBob during remarks about the video at > dinner this week in Washington, D.C. > SpongeBob, who lives in a pineapple under the sea, was "outed" by the > U.S. media in 2002 after reports that the TV show and its merchandise > are popular with gays. His creator, Stephen Hillenburg, said at the > time that though SpongeBob was an oddball, he thought of all the > characters in the show as asexual. > It is not the first time that children’s TV favorites have come under > the critical spotlight of the Christian right. In 1999, the Rev. Jerry > Falwell described Tinky Winky, the purse-toting purple Teletubbie, as > a gay role model. > Fundamentalist Christians could find something about an orgasm to complain > about.
Well, not if it’s achieved within the context of a marriage certified by an ordained minister . . . and it occurred during the act of intended for procreation. — Alric Knebel http://www.ironeyefortress.com/C-SPAN_loon.html
Response:
A controversial website is under attack by the feds for its content. Cryptome is operated by John Young, a 69 year old architec from Texas who now lives in NYNY. For years, John has published every document sent to him with the promise that nothing would be taken off his site without a court order. Thus, John is a true American who stands firmly behind the US Constitution. He exercises his right to free speech, but promises that he will abide by any court ruiling to remove a document. Yet, this is not good enough. The US Federal government is on the attack. Just a couple of days ago, Johns site was said to have been "taken down", a new phrase for the times we live in, by the feds. But why would the feds force the shutdown of Cryptome when John clearly states that he will abide by any court order to remove a document? The answer to that question is bothersome, but simple: The feds do not have to get a court order to shut down a site, but limiting the free speech of an American is much more difficult using the courts, as it should be. Therefore, rather than take John to court to request that a certain document be removed, BIG BROTHER was said to have decided to "take down" Johns site. So whats the problem here? An extensive article HERE <http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/jan05.asp> states that John has no banned, or top secret articles given him and posted on his page. No, all that John has done is post a "sensitive" item that was sent to him. The truth may be that John Young is more American than those who are attacking him. The attackers are using schemes rather than law to go censor an American citizen. It may very well be that the "feds" have waited in the wings for John to post a document that they didn’t like so that he could be "taken down". So much for due process of the law, and for First Amendment rights of American citizens. Big Brother hates real free speech, and here is an article that explains why : Big Brother Hates Free Speech. <http://tracey5190.tripod.com/> If America were founded today, you would never be allowed all the liberty laid out in our wonderful Consitution. Clearly, some in washington think Americans are too free, and in less than a week after President George W. Bush talks about helping nations around the globe to achieve liberty and freedom, his own administration attacks an AMERICAN because they dont like what he’s posted on his website. Are we turly free, or are you free as long as your existance doesn’t upset someone in our government? Will the God hating radicals over at the ACLU come running on this one?
Response:
This just in: The christian fundamentalist movement in the USA has declared that the Washington Monument is a phallic symbol for homosexuals and as such, must be sheated in cloth to hide its features from public view. Similar treatment is required for the Seattle Needle, and the Bush regime is urged to put pressure on canada to sheath its obervation towers on the canadian side of the Niagara Falls site since those pornographic phallic symbols are visible from the USA. "Family values are very important to americans and we must pursue whatever it takes to preserve them and prevent western decadence from destroyaing our morality". In a related news story, there is now strong speculation that it was the christian fundamentalists who hired Ossama Bin laden to destroy the twin towers since they obviously portayed homosexuality, with two long hard erect penis next to each other". Some say that this was jealousy since the fundamentalists felt rather inadequate compared to the size of the towers. There is widespread agreement, even amongst the most victorian of the christian fundamentalist movement that the right to air Victoria’s Secret ads on TV at any time of the day should be enshrined into the USA constitution. "While any display of the female or male body is unacceptable in public, watching Victoria’s Secret commercials while in the privacy of your own home or office is healthy education for all males, especially senators or congressman for whom watching those commercials may avoid the need to hire hookers and cheat on their wives.
Response:
female alter egos, porned: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->This just in: >The christian fundamentalist movement in the USA has declared that the >Washington Monument is a phallic symbol for homosexuals and as such, >must be sheated in cloth to hide its features from public view. Similar >treatment is required for the Seattle Needle, and the Bush regime is >urged to put pressure on canada to sheath its obervation towers on the >canadian side of the Niagara Falls site since those pornographic phallic >symbols are visible from the USA. >"Family values are very important to americans and we must pursue >whatever it takes to preserve them and prevent western decadence from >destroyaing our morality". >In a related news story, there is now strong speculation that it was the >christian fundamentalists who hired Ossama Bin laden to destroy the twin >towers since they obviously portayed homosexuality, with two long hard >erect penis next to each other". Some say that this was jealousy since >the fundamentalists felt rather inadequate compared to the size of the towers. >There is widespread agreement, even amongst the most victorian of the >christian fundamentalist movement that the right to air Victoria’s >Secret ads on TV at any time of the day should be enshrined into the USA >constitution. "While any display of the female or male body is >unacceptable in public, watching Victoria’s Secret commercials while in >the privacy of your own home or office is healthy education for all >males, especially senators or congressman for whom watching those >commercials may avoid the need to hire hookers and cheat on their wives.
Interesting piece of pornographic writing there, JF. Why do you spend so much time obsessing about the sex lives of Americans? Is your sex life with your mom leaving you hungry for more?
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> This just in: > The christian fundamentalist movement in the USA has declared that the > Washington Monument is a phallic symbol for homosexuals and as such, > must be sheated in cloth to hide its features from public view. Similar > treatment is required for the Seattle Needle, and the Bush regime is > urged to put pressure on canada to sheath its obervation towers on the > canadian side of the Niagara Falls site since those pornographic phallic > symbols are visible from the USA. > "Family values are very important to americans and we must pursue > whatever it takes to preserve them and prevent western decadence from > destroyaing our morality". > In a related news story, there is now strong speculation that it was the > christian fundamentalists who hired Ossama Bin laden to destroy the twin > towers since they obviously portayed homosexuality, with two long hard > erect penis next to each other". Some say that this was jealousy since > the fundamentalists felt rather inadequate compared to the size of the towers. > There is widespread agreement, even amongst the most victorian of the > christian fundamentalist movement that the right to air Victoria’s > Secret ads on TV at any time of the day should be enshrined into the USA > constitution. "While any display of the female or male body is > unacceptable in public, watching Victoria’s Secret commercials while in > the privacy of your own home or office is healthy education for all > males, especially senators or congressman for whom watching those > commercials may avoid the need to hire hookers and cheat on their wives.
LOL, reminds me of "sex is evil, it could lead onto something worse, like dancing!" 
Matty
Response:
>| alt.atheism: >| >| >As if little Johnny is going to be gay because of some subliminal >| >message he got watching cartoons when he was four. Are these fundies >| >claiming that the influence of dad, the pastor, and all the guys at the >| >fish-n-bait shop are out-influenced by one imaginary sponge? >| >| This is the same mindset that will tell you that the majority of >| people in the world believe in the Christian god, but that Christians >| are a persecuted minority.
I wonder if they wear neckbraces to stop their tiny heads from spinning?
Response:
said in alt.atheism: >Just one question…is SpongeBob a ‘top’ or a ‘bottom’?
Who says he’s in the lifestyle? — "If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, mother, wife, brothers, and sisters and even himself, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26 (random sig, produced by SigChanger) rukbat at verizon dot net
Response:
>> "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences > being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article > for the American Family Association. >Here’s a man who can see the inner gay beneath all cartoon surfaces. >How could one possibly parody this? >As for Jerry "The Twink" Falwell… the man has issues. >As if little Johnny is going to be gay because of some subliminal >message he got watching cartoons when he was four. Are these fundies >claiming that the influence of dad, the pastor, and all the guys at the >fish-n-bait shop are out-influenced by one imaginary sponge?
Yes. ’Faith’ is so fragile. >Kermit
– Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale. Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme Court who will ensure church and state are joined at the hip like clergy and altar boys. America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Gay says… > Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children. > Just one question…is SpongeBob a ‘top’ or a ‘bottom’? > FB
He’s a sponge, with a lot of holes in him… he can be pretty much anything. — "Only Buddhism is compatible with science. It covers the smallest particles to the largest creations of the cosmos. It is the only religion capable of scientific truth." Albert Einstein
Response:
>Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video >Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ >LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups >accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney >and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to >children.
Just one question…is SpongeBob a ‘top’ or a ‘bottom’? FB
Response:
> Bob the Builder is gay too???
Duh! 
> Well, I always thought his jeans were a little too tight. I was just > hoping my son wouldn’t notice and start asking questions.
– Robyn Resident Witchypoo #1557
Response:
> It is not the first time that children’s TV favorites have come under > the critical spotlight of the Christian right. In 1999, the Rev. Jerry > Falwell described Tinky Winky, the purse-toting purple Teletubbie, as > a gay role model.
As if any self-respecting purple gay man would carry a red handbag!
Response:
alt.atheism: >As if little Johnny is going to be gay because of some subliminal >message he got watching cartoons when he was four. Are these fundies >claiming that the influence of dad, the pastor, and all the guys at the >fish-n-bait shop are out-influenced by one imaginary sponge?
This is the same mindset that will tell you that the majority of people in the world believe in the Christian god, but that Christians are a persecuted minority. — "Damn. Looks like all of usenet agrees that you don’t have the logical faculties to prove the statement ‘dogshit is not peanut butter’ if we gave you a jar of each and a box of crackers" – John Hattan to Tichy (random sig, produced by SigChanger) rukbat at verizon dot net
Response:
These people need to get a grip and worry about their own issues. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children. > The wacky square yellow SpongeBob is one of the stars of a music video > due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers — the > nonprofit We Are Family Foundation — say the video is designed to > encourage tolerance and diversity. > But at least two Christian activist groups say the innocent cartoon > characters are being exploited to promote the acceptance of > homosexuality. > "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences > being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article > for the American Family Association. > The video is a remake of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family" using the > voices and images of SpongeBob, Barney, Winnie the Pooh, Bob the > Builder, the Rugrats and other TV cartoon characters. It was made by a > foundation set up by songwriter Nile Rodgers after the terrorist > attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to promote healing. > Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge > on the foundation’s Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual > identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and > race. > "Their inclusion of the reference to ’sexual identity" within their > ‘tolerance pledge’ is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral > line," James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a > statement released Thursday. > Rodgers said he was astounded by the attack. > "That is so myopic and harsh," he told Reuters. "You have really got > to look hard to find anything in this that is offensive to anyone. The > last thing I am going to do is taint these characters." > Dobson was quoted by the New York Times on Thursday as having singled > out the wildly popular SpongeBob during remarks about the video at > dinner this week in Washington, D.C. > SpongeBob, who lives in a pineapple under the sea, was "outed" by the > U.S. media in 2002 after reports that the TV show and its merchandise > are popular with gays. His creator, Stephen Hillenburg, said at the > time that though SpongeBob was an oddball, he thought of all the > characters in the show as asexual. > It is not the first time that children’s TV favorites have come under > the critical spotlight of the Christian right. In 1999, the Rev. Jerry > Falwell described Tinky Winky, the purse-toting purple Teletubbie, as > a gay role model.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children. > The wacky square yellow SpongeBob is one of the stars of a music video > due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers — the > nonprofit We Are Family Foundation — say the video is designed to > encourage tolerance and diversity. > But at least two Christian activist groups say the innocent cartoon > characters are being exploited to promote the acceptance of > homosexuality. > "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences > being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article > for the American Family Association. > The video is a remake of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family" using the > voices and images of SpongeBob, Barney, Winnie the Pooh, Bob the > Builder, the Rugrats and other TV cartoon characters. It was made by a > foundation set up by songwriter Nile Rodgers after the terrorist > attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to promote healing. > Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge > on the foundation’s Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual > identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and > race. > "Their inclusion of the reference to ’sexual identity" within their > ‘tolerance pledge’ is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral > line," James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a > statement released Thursday. > Rodgers said he was astounded by the attack. > "That is so myopic and harsh," he told Reuters. "You have really got > to look hard to find anything in this that is offensive to anyone. The > last thing I am going to do is taint these characters." > Dobson was quoted by the New York Times on Thursday as having singled > out the wildly popular SpongeBob during remarks about the video at > dinner this week in Washington, D.C. > SpongeBob, who lives in a pineapple under the sea, was "outed" by the > U.S. media in 2002 after reports that the TV show and its merchandise > are popular with gays. His creator, Stephen Hillenburg, said at the > time that though SpongeBob was an oddball, he thought of all the > characters in the show as asexual. > It is not the first time that children’s TV favorites have come under > the critical spotlight of the Christian right. In 1999, the Rev. Jerry > Falwell described Tinky Winky, the purse-toting purple Teletubbie, as > a gay role model.
Good grief. A few weeks ago Sam Seder (sp?) from Majority Report (AAR) phoned a similar organization after hearing this and proposed that "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" promotes a gay agenda. Hey! The man he was speaking to agreed. Cheers, Morgs MPGS http://home.earthlink.net/~nomo1521/
Response:
> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children.
C’mon now…. Saying Spongebob is gay is like saying Bugs Bunny is gay. Now we ALL knew Tinky Winky was queer from the start. In fact, my 3-year-old’s gaydar went off almost immediately. He woke me up one night and whispered, "Daddy… I fink Tinky Winky is a fag." Then he went back to bed. My son is 8 now and I trust his perceptiveness. Trust me (and him)… Spongebob is not gay, nor is Patrick. Squidward? We’re not sure about him, but Sandy IS a lesbo, that we’re sure of. Steve
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > http://www.tabletnewspaper.com/vol2iss_19/lit/comiccavalcade.htm > Kweers in Comics > by Justin L. Haines > For a long time, queers had no representation in mainstream comics only > allusions and allegories. > Actually in the 1954, Batman was outted as the first queer in comics, at > least from the perspective of Dr. Fredric Wertham. The elder psychiatrist > launched a campaign against comics that in true McCarthy style ended up in > congressional hearings. These hearings nearly destroyed the comic industry > as sales plummeted. The few publishers that survived the attacks were forced > into self-regulation through the adoption of the Comic Code Authority > (comics to this day still bear the code’s seal of approval). Most of > Wertham’s attacks focused on the fact that young people would emulate the > crimes they saw being committed in the comics. > In Wertham’s book Seduction of the Innocent he made a special attack on > Batman. Wertham devoted four pages to pointing out that Batman and Robin > were gay and this would influence other young boys to take the same path to > damnation. "They live in sumptuous quarters, with beautiful flowers in large > vases, and have a butler. It is like a wish dream of two homosexuals living > together. The Batman type of story may stimulate children to homosexual > fantasies." Wertham’s claims were based on his experience working with > queers at his clinic who sometimes fantasized switching places with Batman > and his all male household. Please, most queers would have imagined a cute > houseboy not some old troll butler like Alfred! > In the next decade, Batman’s writers, artists, and publisher would try and > prove Batman’s heterosexuality. The most obvious responses was to create new > female Bat characters to complete the family set. There was a Batwoman, a > blond Batgirl, and the round out the family, a Bat-dog! There was no > mistaking Batwoman was in fact a woman since instead of a utility belt she > carried a Bat-purse filled with useful crime fighting devices like lipstick > cases filled with tear gas and a compact filled with sneezing powder. > Storylines were not unlike situational comedies with the most memorable > being the marriage of Batman and Batwoman, a scenario which turned out to be > a dream that Robin had. Any shred of mistaken queerness was banished for > another 15-20 years.
What about Dr. Quest and Race Bannen? I think they had something going on. Where was Jonny’s mother? As far as we know, Jonny and Hadji were rent boys.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children. > The wacky square yellow SpongeBob is one of the stars of a music video > due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers — the > nonprofit We Are Family Foundation — say the video is designed to > encourage tolerance and diversity. > But at least two Christian activist groups say the innocent cartoon > characters are being exploited to promote the acceptance of > homosexuality. > "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences > being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article > for the American Family Association. > The video is a remake of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family" using the > voices and images of SpongeBob, Barney, Winnie the Pooh, Bob the > Builder, the Rugrats and other TV cartoon characters. It was made by a > foundation set up by songwriter Nile Rodgers after the terrorist > attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to promote healing. > Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge > on the foundation’s Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual > identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and > race. > "Their inclusion of the reference to ’sexual identity" within their > ‘tolerance pledge’ is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral > line," James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a > statement released Thursday. > Rodgers said he was astounded by the attack. > "That is so myopic and harsh," he told Reuters. "You have really got > to look hard to find anything in this that is offensive to anyone. The > last thing I am going to do is taint these characters." > Dobson was quoted by the New York Times on Thursday as having singled > out the wildly popular SpongeBob during remarks about the video at > dinner this week in Washington, D.C. > SpongeBob, who lives in a pineapple under the sea, was "outed" by the > U.S. media in 2002 after reports that the TV show and its merchandise > are popular with gays. His creator, Stephen Hillenburg, said at the > time that though SpongeBob was an oddball, he thought of all the > characters in the show as asexual. > It is not the first time that children’s TV favorites have come under > the critical spotlight of the Christian right. In 1999, the Rev. Jerry > Falwell described Tinky Winky, the purse-toting purple Teletubbie, as > a gay role model. > Fundamentalist Christians could find something about an orgasm to complain > about.
Fundies don’t have orgasms (at least that they admit to). — John Hachmann aa #1782 Intelligent Design has as much to do with science as reality television has to do with reality. – Barry Lynn on CNN 12/25/04
Response:
> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children.
http://www.tabletnewspaper.com/vol2iss_19/lit/comiccavalcade.htm Kweers in Comics by Justin L. Haines For a long time, queers had no representation in mainstream comics only allusions and allegories. Actually in the 1954, Batman was outted as the first queer in comics, at least from the perspective of Dr. Fredric Wertham. The elder psychiatrist launched a campaign against comics that in true McCarthy style ended up in congressional hearings. These hearings nearly destroyed the comic industry as sales plummeted. The few publishers that survived the attacks were forced into self-regulation through the adoption of the Comic Code Authority (comics to this day still bear the code’s seal of approval). Most of Wertham’s attacks focused on the fact that young people would emulate the crimes they saw being committed in the comics. In Wertham’s book Seduction of the Innocent he made a special attack on Batman. Wertham devoted four pages to pointing out that Batman and Robin were gay and this would influence other young boys to take the same path to damnation. "They live in sumptuous quarters, with beautiful flowers in large vases, and have a butler. It is like a wish dream of two homosexuals living together. The Batman type of story may stimulate children to homosexual fantasies." Wertham’s claims were based on his experience working with queers at his clinic who sometimes fantasized switching places with Batman and his all male household. Please, most queers would have imagined a cute houseboy not some old troll butler like Alfred! In the next decade, Batman’s writers, artists, and publisher would try and prove Batman’s heterosexuality. The most obvious responses was to create new female Bat characters to complete the family set. There was a Batwoman, a blond Batgirl, and the round out the family, a Bat-dog! There was no mistaking Batwoman was in fact a woman since instead of a utility belt she carried a Bat-purse filled with useful crime fighting devices like lipstick cases filled with tear gas and a compact filled with sneezing powder. Storylines were not unlike situational comedies with the most memorable being the marriage of Batman and Batwoman, a scenario which turned out to be a dream that Robin had. Any shred of mistaken queerness was banished for another 15-20 years. In the 1980’s, queers still hadn’t made it out of the closet, but we had the next best thing, the X-men. While none of the X-men actually queer but they mutants as a whole acted as a metaphor for queers. Let’s go through the laundry list of mutant queer/connections: 1. Mutants were stigmatized, hated, and feared by the general populace just for being born different 2. They developed the "powers" at puberty when they were forced to accept their status as mutants 3. Mutants were safest amongst their own kind and often sought out such living arrangements like at Professor X’s mansion or in the "underground scene" of New York’s Morlock separatists. 4. Mutants suffer from the Legacy Virus, a deadly virus that targets mutants specifically and slowly causes them to have skin disfigurement (like KS lesions) and to waste away (not unlike AIDS) 5. It was important for many storylines that the mutants keep their identities and true natures a secret in the mutant closet 6. The occasionally were the targets for mutant bashing and Professor X was once beaten so badly he had to be hospitalized after an attack by some kids that he was teaching at the community college. The first truly queer mutant came out in the early 1990’s when Northstar of Alpha Flight burst out of the closet. Northstar has maintained his queerness to this day as he just appeared in the current X-men titles and joked about it with his uptight and homophobic teammate from Brooklyn. Queers are almost to the point of being normalized in mainstream comics. In the latest stack of 20 or so comic titles I just brought home, five of the titles had primary or supporting queer characters. Wonder Woman’s highly praised new artist/writer Phil Himenez is openly gay and is noted as having brought new life to the 60 year old heroine in articles appearing in the Washington Post and New York Times. In her latest issue, Wonder Woman was doing some volunteering for AIDS work with her ex-managers queer brother. Green Arrow, whose comic is a number one seller consistently, live with an older queer benefactor who pulled his homeless ass of the street. There have even been queer lead characters in Young Heroes in Love, Starman, Top Ten, Alpha Flight, and Legion of Super Heroes. The best queer couple, who even won a GLAAD award for positive representation of queers was Apollo and Midnighter from DC/Wildstorm’s the Authority. The Authority is a team not unlike the Justice League with Apollo being modeled after Superman and Midnighter being modeled after Batman. They kick major ass and one storyline had Midnighter exacting some revenge on a super-baddie who beat up his boyfriend. Midnighter whipped out a device that looked like a bazooka crossed with a dildo with the implied intention of blasting the bad-guy’s ass to kingdom come. We have come a long way since the 1950’s closet Batman. Comic as with most mediums mirror the times. As queers are regular fixtures on Must-See TV, queers are filling our comic book imaginations and are more than victims. While we will never see Batman and Superman waking up in bed together, we have our own Apollo and Midnighter.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children. > The wacky square yellow SpongeBob is one of the stars of a music video > due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers — the > nonprofit We Are Family Foundation — say the video is designed to > encourage tolerance and diversity. > But at least two Christian activist groups say the innocent cartoon > characters are being exploited to promote the acceptance of > homosexuality. > "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences > being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article > for the American Family Association. > The video is a remake of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family" using the > voices and images of SpongeBob, Barney, Winnie the Pooh, Bob the > Builder, the Rugrats and other TV cartoon characters. It was made by a > foundation set up by songwriter Nile Rodgers after the terrorist > attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to promote healing. > Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge > on the foundation’s Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual > identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and > race. > "Their inclusion of the reference to ’sexual identity" within their > ‘tolerance pledge’ is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral > line," James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a > statement released Thursday. > Rodgers said he was astounded by the attack. > "That is so myopic and harsh," he told Reuters. "You have really got > to look hard to find anything in this that is offensive to anyone. The > last thing I am going to do is taint these characters." > Dobson was quoted by the New York Times on Thursday as having singled > out the wildly popular SpongeBob during remarks about the video at > dinner this week in Washington, D.C. > SpongeBob, who lives in a pineapple under the sea, was "outed" by the > U.S. media in 2002 after reports that the TV show and its merchandise > are popular with gays. His creator, Stephen Hillenburg, said at the > time that though SpongeBob was an oddball, he thought of all the > characters in the show as asexual. > It is not the first time that children’s TV favorites have come under > the critical spotlight of the Christian right. In 1999, the Rev. Jerry > Falwell described Tinky Winky, the purse-toting purple Teletubbie, as > a gay role model.
Please don’t paint all Christians with the same brush. I’m not sure why they would be called Christians, other than their own Orwellian use of the term. Homophobia and other hate crimes derive from fears that have absolutely nothing in common with the teaching of Christ or the example of His life. There’s not one word in any of the four Gospels where Christ or his disciples discuss or disparage homosexuality. In fact, Christ expressed a life-philosophy of universal love and tolerance and forgave those who murdered him upon the cross. Most of today’s Christians understand this, and only a handful of radicals misanthropes who mistakenly call themselves Christians look for evil under every rock and flower. If Christ were alive today, these are the very folks who would demand his crucifiction. — ipgrunt
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> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children.
Don’t blame all Christians for the actions of a few ultra-conservative fundamentalist morons! — Rick Visit the Entropy Productions homepage at http://www.kringlecityconspiracy.com/entropy.htm
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Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to children. The wacky square yellow SpongeBob is one of the stars of a music video due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers — the nonprofit We Are Family Foundation — say the video is designed to encourage tolerance and diversity. But at least two Christian activist groups say the innocent cartoon characters are being exploited to promote the acceptance of homosexuality. "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article for the American Family Association. The video is a remake of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family" using the voices and images of SpongeBob, Barney, Winnie the Pooh, Bob the Builder, the Rugrats and other TV cartoon characters. It was made by a foundation set up by songwriter Nile Rodgers after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to promote healing. Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge on the foundation’s Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and race. "Their inclusion of the reference to ’sexual identity" within their ‘tolerance pledge’ is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral line," James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a statement released Thursday. Rodgers said he was astounded by the attack. "That is so myopic and harsh," he told Reuters. "You have really got to look hard to find anything in this that is offensive to anyone. The last thing I am going to do is taint these characters." Dobson was quoted by the New York Times on Thursday as having singled out the wildly popular SpongeBob during remarks about the video at dinner this week in Washington, D.C. SpongeBob, who lives in a pineapple under the sea, was "outed" by the U.S. media in 2002 after reports that the TV show and its merchandise are popular with gays. His creator, Stephen Hillenburg, said at the time that though SpongeBob was an oddball, he thought of all the characters in the show as asexual. It is not the first time that children’s TV favorites have come under the critical spotlight of the Christian right. In 1999, the Rev. Jerry Falwell described Tinky Winky, the purse-toting purple Teletubbie, as a gay role model.
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> "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences > being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article > for the American Family Association.
Here’s a man who can see the inner gay beneath all cartoon surfaces. How could one possibly parody this? As for Jerry "The Twink" Falwell… the man has issues. As if little Johnny is going to be gay because of some subliminal message he got watching cartoons when he was four. Are these fundies claiming that the influence of dad, the pastor, and all the guys at the fish-n-bait shop are out-influenced by one imaginary sponge? Kermit
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video > Conservative groups criticize maker’s ‘tolerance pledge’ > LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Conservative Christian groups > accuse the makers of a video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney > and a host of other cartoon characters of promoting homosexuality to > children. > The wacky square yellow SpongeBob is one of the stars of a music video > due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers — the > nonprofit We Are Family Foundation — say the video is designed to > encourage tolerance and diversity. > But at least two Christian activist groups say the innocent cartoon > characters are being exploited to promote the acceptance of > homosexuality. > "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences > being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article > for the American Family Association. > The video is a remake of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family" using the > voices and images of SpongeBob, Barney, Winnie the Pooh, Bob the > Builder, the Rugrats and other TV cartoon characters. It was made by a > foundation set up by songwriter Nile Rodgers after the terrorist > attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to promote healing. > Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge > on the foundation’s Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual > identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and > race. > "Their inclusion of the reference to ’sexual identity" within their > ‘tolerance pledge’ is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral > line," James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a > statement released Thursday. > Rodgers said he was astounded by the attack. > "That is so myopic and harsh," he told Reuters. "You have really got > to look hard to find anything in this that is offensive to anyone. The > last thing I am going to do is taint these characters." > Dobson was quoted by the New York Times on Thursday as having singled > out the wildly popular SpongeBob during remarks about the video at > dinner this week in Washington, D.C. > SpongeBob, who lives in a pineapple under the sea, was "outed" by the > U.S. media in 2002 after reports that the TV show and its merchandise > are popular with gays. His creator, Stephen Hillenburg, said at the > time that though SpongeBob was an oddball, he thought of all the > characters in the show as asexual. > It is not the first time that children’s TV favorites have come under > the critical spotlight of the Christian right. In 1999, the Rev. Jerry > Falwell described Tinky Winky, the purse-toting purple Teletubbie, as > a gay role model.
Fundamentalist Christians could find something about an orgasm to complain about. — "Shake says that books are from the devil, and that TV is twice as fast" – Meatwad "The Constitution was written on reefer by dudes with wooden teeth" – OG Loc aa #2133 ap #19
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