The Homo Politico

IN THE LIFE, the three-time Emmy Award nominated program documenting the lives and experiences of gay people nationally and abroad, presents its new episode, “Challenging Convention.”  I was lucky to get a preview of the April episode (one of the perks of blogging for The Bilerico Project) and wanted to share my review with all of you.

To put it simply: It is a must see.

While I have always been a fan of ITL, this episode is especially interesting and timely.  I found myself glued to my computer watching the entire show.

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A group of around 30 LGBT activists and supporters carried picket signs with pictures of hate crimes victims and bearing placards that called for an end to hate speech by public officials outside of the March 13 prayer breakfast hosted by Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle.  The protest was organized by the activist groups Fight OUT Loud and Gay American Heroes.

The keynote speaker at the prayer breakfast was Jim Daly, president of the ultra right-wing religious organization Focus on the Family.  FOTF is among the most aggressive opponents of the gay rights movement and one of the primary backers of an expansive anti-gay marriage amendment that goes before voters this November in Florida.

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Ellen DeGeneres is on a roll!  First, she comes out against the murder of Lawrence King on her day-time talk show.  Now she’s taking on Sally Kern, the hate-spewing Oklahoma Legislator. 

Check out the video HERE…

After much outcry from around the country, the City of Fort Lauderdale has removed the “Focus on Fort Lauderdale” newsletter with Mayor Jim Naugle’s bigoted message against the LGBT community from the city’s website.  The city also decided that the mayor’s column in Fort Lauderdale’s bi-monthly publication will be permanently removed, giving Naugle one less platform from which to spew hate.  A special thanks to Commissioners Hutchinson and Moore for standing up for the respect and equality of all residents.

This shows the power and influence of a united LGBT community. Fight OUT Loud issued an Action Alert to its over 20,000 members, many who have written in to express their outrage over this.  Great sites like The Bilerico Project and Pam’s House Blend helped get the word out about the call to action and within 1 day the offensive language was removed from the city website and Naugle’s message were removed from future publications.

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Mayor Jim Naugle of Fort Lauderdale has once again used his office to spread fear and hate about the gay community.  In the latest city newsletter, paid for by the city and available on the city’s website, Naugle again used misinformation and bigotry to paint the LGBT community as predators and a danger.

In the official Mayor’s message, on the very first page of the newsletter, Naugle again makes the claim that gay men are making our parks and public places unsafe for children and that we need to be “curtailing these illegal activities in the future.”  This echoes his continued attacks and claims that he wants to “stop an attempt by gays to take over Fort Lauderdale.”

This newsletter, mailed to businesses and homes across the city, was sent out on February 16, 2008, only days before both the tragic shooting of Simmie Williams Jr and the savage gay-bashing on Las Olas Blvd.  We cannot deny the dangerous effects of Mayor Naugle’s words any longer.

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