Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

ADAM & STEVE: Gay Dance Off

In my search for a specific Parker Posey clip from ADAM & STEVE, I found this gem:

Monday, June 15, 2009

The GA Supreme Court Made Me Smile



Sometimes it pays off to have the news as background noise. 11 Alive just gave a report that made smile. In fact, the news makes me want to give each of the Justices of the Georgia Supreme Court a high five; however, I don't think it would be well received. But you have to admit, it would be a great photo moment to see a happily flaming me high-fiving the seven Justices in their robes. You know you'd pay to see it.



The following is from Sovo:

Ga. Supreme Court rules against ban against allowing kids around father's gay friends

The Georgia Supreme Court tossed out part of a Fayette County court’s decision that kept a divorced gay father from allowing his children to interact with his gay friends, according to a ruling today from the state Supreme Court.

In the ruling, Justice Robert Benham wrote the high court acknowledges that trial courts have the discretion to "limit a parent’s exposure of the children to certain people, if it can be shown that the children would be adversely affected."

In this case, the Supreme Court justices rejected Fayette County Superior Court Judge Christopher Edwards' ban on having the gay father bring his gay friends around his children. Edwards has been nominated to fill the a seat on the state Supreme Court after Chief Justice Leah Sears steps down at the end of June.

“The blanket prohibition against exposure of the children to members of the gay and lesbian community who are acquainted with husband is another matter,” says today's opinion. “There is no evidence in the record before us that any member of the excluded community has engaged in inappropriate conduct in the presence of the children or that the children would be adversely affected by exposure to any member of that community.”

Hannibal Heredia represented the gay father, Eric Mongerson, in an appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court and said the order created an unreal living situation for his client.

“He literally could go into a mall with his and if he saw one his friends he'd have to go the other way, that's how openly worded the order was,” he said today.

The opinion by Benham further states: “The prohibition against contact with any gay or lesbian person acquainted with husband assumes, without evidentiary support, that the children will suffer harm from any such contact. Such an arbitrary classification based on sexual orientation flies in the face of our public policy that encourages divorced parents to participate in the raising of their children…and constitutes an abuse of discretion.” As a result, “we vacate the blanket prohibition against exposure of the children to husband’s gay and lesbian acquaintances."


Click here for the rest of the article.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Obama and The Gays

Yesterday, President Obama released a press statement proclaiming June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. This is fine and dandy, almost like a hard candy Christmas.

I think it is great that President Obama references Stonewall. I think it is great that he calls on Americans to end discrimination; however, I would rather President Obama his promise of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Back in January, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs answered questions from the Public on Youtube. "Thadeus of Lansing, Mich., asks, 'Is the new administration going to get rid of the "don't ask, don't tell policy?'" Gibbs answered,"Thadeus, you don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much. But it's, 'Yes.'" We need to call on President Obama and ask him to cash in that "yes."

Back in April of 2008, I interviewed two veterans and asked about Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Check out that interview here.


Below is the President Obama's proclamation as it appears on www.whitehouse.gov:

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country's response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Links: Stimulus $ to Gay Cop Ban to Liberty College & More!

recovery.GOV vs recovery.ORG


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Peru has announced that it will ban homosexuals from the police force for damaging the image of the institution.


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A May 28 press release from Housing Works alerted the media that as many as 60 Canadians had been turned away from the U.S. border in spite of "stated U.S. policy that foreigners living with HIV would no longer be barred from entering the country."


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A survey of dozens of women who fled violence in Darfur found that a third of them reported or showed signs of rape, and revealed a widespread fear of sexual violence in their refugee camp in Chad, a human rights group reported Sunday.


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Taking a semester off to travel and focus on writing isn't that unusual for a student at Brown University. But instead of studying comparative literature in Europe, Kevin Roose decided to go to Lynchburg, Va., and enroll at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.


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General Motors’ bondholders finished voting Saturday on the company’s plan to exchange their debt for an ownership stake as high as 25 percent in G.M., the final obstacle to an orderly bankruptcy for the ailing carmaker.


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Tony Awards: Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre. My Dolly is nominated!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Brenda Lee's Letter to President Obama




Here is the letter written by self-proclaimed Catholic Priestess Brenda Lee:
Dear President Obama,

I am praying for you. You are the most powerful man in the world and GOD placed you there to do HIS WILL. On March 18th, you mentioned that you would rather have one good term than eight mediocre years as president. You will always be the first African American President; the challenge is for you to be A Great African American President, but to become a great president you must keep your hands in GOD’S HANDS.

I am begging you, as a father of two daughters, to establish America as a GOD fearing country and to stand against the gay life that threatens to tear America apart.

Same sex marriage is a GOD ISSUE not a Civil Right Issue. The pursuit of happiness and safety in the context of the law protects the human race not only individuals. GOD’S WRATHS, Aids and VD threatens the population at large. There has never been and never will be total happiness.

No one has addressed the abused children who were given to gay couples in the State of California or the breaking of the law by California Attorney General Jerry Brown and the five justices when they lifted the ban on gay marriage without due process of the law, which they swore to uphold. To the American people, it appears that they are above the law.

No one has spoken of the ramification of the gay life style. How will children be conceived, how much will it cost, who will be able to afford it and who will over see the doctors? Which races will disappear? These are only a few of the complex questions that must be answered.

Who is qualified to take GOD’S PLACE and who will rule in Truth and Fairness? Once people can decided which sex they would like to be listed as, chaos will follow.

Your daughters and my grandchildren may not have the legal right to know the true sex of their potential spouses. You cannot image the opening of Pandora’s box. I pray that moralists will come to your aid in the coming months and let you know how they feel about these issues

I will continue to pray for your family, America and the world.


GOD BLESS You,
Rev. Brenda Lee




I'm going to write more on this topic, and I plan to share Brenda Lee's response on what happened!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Miss California Thoughts & Links


There is much buzz about Carrie Prejean's (AKA Miss California) comments and her appearance in the National Organization for Marriage sponsored commercial (that you can watch above). I know people are angry about what she said, but she was honest and respectful-------respect, something the Perez Hilton video lacks.

I do not agree with with Miss California comments, and I don't have to-- this is the beauty of our country. No two people are required to have the same opinion. While I disagree with Miss California's opinion, I am happy that we live in a country where she can state her opinion as I can mine. Plus, I like knowing where she stands on the issue. Knowing who is against is 80% of the battle plan.

It seems Miss California-Carrie Prejean wants to be the next Anita Bryant. Go ahead, sister. Remember that Anita lost her contract promoting Florida orange juice because of her crusade against gays. You can have a form of tolerance and acceptance and not agree on an issue. Miss California better learn this quickly before she loses more than a crown.



Joe The Plumber: I Would Never Let "Queers" Near My Children

Adoption by Gay Families Continues to Roil UK

Gay Marriage Advances in Maine, New Hampshire as Conservative Rhetoric Evolves

NH demographic change shows in Legislature votes

Judge to oversee DeKalb schools bullying review (Jaheem Herrera)

‘THEY KILL PEOPLE LIKE US,’ SAYS GAY IRAQI

Thursday, April 30, 2009

House Passage of Hates Crimes Bill

Pelosi: House Passage of Hates Crimes Bill Honors Our Commitment to Ideals of Justice, Equality and Opportunity

To: POLITICAL EDITORS

Contact: Brendan Daly, Nadeam Elshami or Drew Hammill of the Office of the Speaker of the House, +1-202-226-7616

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement this afternoon on the House passage of H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. The House passed the legislation by a vote of 249 to 175.

"Throughout our history, this nation has sought to uphold the ideals of our founding - that all are created equal and endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, with the passage of federal hate crimes legislation, we have affirmed these ideals and the inclusiveness that our nation stands for by extending the protection of its laws to all: 'one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'

"All Americans have a fundamental right to feel safe in their communities. This legislation will help protect Americans against violence based on sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or gender identity.

"Congress has been debating federal hate crimes legislation for 17 years. It was more than 10 years ago that Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered. The time for debate is long over. I am proud that today the House has acted and in so doing, honored this nation's commitment to the ideals of justice, equality and opportunity."

Taken from here

Friday, April 24, 2009

"At vigil for Jaheem, mother weeps over his suicide"

At vigil for Jaheem, mother weeps over his suicide
Family says 11-year-old was bullied at elementary school

By CHRISTIAN BOONE, KATIE LESLIE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

A crowd of about 60 gathered Tuesday night at the DeKalb home of Jaheem Herrera to remember the fifth-grader who committed suicide last week. The 11-year-old boy hanged himself at his home after — according to his family — relentless bullying at Dunaire Elementary School.

Masika Bermudez, the boy’s mother, spoke briefly at the vigil that started about 7 p.m.


After a short prayer, Bermudez told friends and parents to make sure their children understand that whatever problems they have “don’t be afraid to talk to your mother.”

As Bermudez spoke, she clung to two daughters — Ny’irah, 7 and Yerralis, 10. Yerralis discovered her brother’s body last Thursday after school.

“His sister was screaming, ‘Get him down, get him down,’” said Norman Keene, Jaheem’s stepfather.

When Keene got to the room, he saw Yerralis holding her brother, trying to remove the pressure of the noose her brother had fashioned with a fabric belt.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Jennifer Errion, assistant director of student support services, prevention-intervention for DeKalb schools.

DeKalb County schools have programs in place to combat the types of bullying and violence that may have led to Jaheem’s death, but a Errion acknowledged the prevention program is “not a vaccine.”

Two years ago, DeKalb public schools adopted an anti-bullying program called “No Place for Hate,” she said. The program, sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League, helps train faculty and students on accepting differences, promoting diversity and inclusion.

“We’ve created the idea that bullying is a rite of passage, and I don’t think it is,” said Errion.

At the vigil, the mother of Jaheem’s best friend relayed a story from Jaheem’s last day.

“Jaheem asked if anyone would miss him if he wasn’t here,” said Alice Brown, mother of Jaheem’s 10-year-old classmate A.J. “[A.J.] told him ‘He was his friend and he would miss him.’ “

Keene said the family knew the boy was a target of bullies, but until his death they didn’t understand the scope.

“They called him gay and a snitch,” his stepfather said. “All the time they’d call him this.”

Earlier this month the suicide of a Massachusetts boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover — who suffered taunts that he was gay — attracted national attention.

He was also 11. His mother found him hanging from an extension cord in the family’s home.

Bermudez also said her son was being bullied at school. She said she had complained to the school.

School officials won’t discuss allegations that bullying may have contributed to the boy’s suicide. Davis said Tuesday morning that officials are legally unable to comment on student-related records, such as whether the school had received complaints that Jaheem was being bullied.

The family has hired an attorney.

AJC article may be found here.

Other Articles:
Anti-Gay Bullying Claims Another: Jaheem Herrera, 11, Kills Himself
My bullied son's last day on Earth
Georgia Family Blames 11-Year-Old Boy's Suicide on Severe Bullying
Six ways to stop bullying

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Busy Day: KSU LGBT Summit & Poet's Dinner



I started off my day by going to Kennesaw State University for the KSU LGBT Summit. I gave a "lecture" on Online Social Networking-- Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, and the Blogosphere. I listened in on a presentation by Melanie Janus, and she was great. I'll give you one line from her presentation: "Capitalism may have taken my virginity, but Coke-Cola called me back the next day." I won't elaborate because I plan on interviewing her for I Was Born Doing Reference Work in Sin.

I think my part went well. I received a number of compliments, and I was happy that a handful of students stuck around after to chit-chat. Good times.



Then... There was a flat tire:
Unfortunately, I was stuck on the bridge that you see in the background of this picture. Luckily, I was able to make to asphalt. I was a bit nervous during the whole incident.



THEN.... It was off to the Poet's Dinner!

In the front: Cleo Creech and Beth Gylys.
The rest-- L to R: Dustin Brookshire, Julie Bloemeke, Megan Volpert, Collin Kelley Rupert Fike, and Christine Swint


It was yet another great time with talented poets.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Amazon Becomes a Drama Mama



The blogosphere is buzzing with the with the Amazon drama, so I'm not going to write a lengthy post on the topic. I think anyone who spends two minutes knows my opinion on the drama-- lame. If you are asking, What drama, well, you need to visit at least one of the links below.

Queerty: Gay Lit Too "Adult" for Amazon.com

Mark R. Probst: Amazon Follies

Pam's House Blend: Amazon: LGBT books too "adult" to be ranked

Deep Dish: Sign Petition Protesting Amazon's LGBT Discrimination

Democratic Underground: Amazon on an anti-gay crusade? Removing sales rankings from LGBT titles.

Ingrid Díaz: Amazon.fail

Publishers Weekly: Amazon Says Glitch to Blame for "New" Adult Policy

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

David Trinidad to Judge '09 Atlanta Pride Poetry Contest



CONTEST DETAILS

• All entries must be the poet’s own original, unpublished work.
• Poems must address one of the following topics:
(1) Pride Begins With You
(2) LGBT Civil Rights
(3) Stonewall
• Two pages is the max length per poem submitted for the contest.
• Poets entering may not have been a student of the contest judge.
• All entries must be received no later than midnight on May 11, 2009.
• Poems should appear in the body of an email as well as in an attached Microsoft Word Document. The first page of the Microsoft Word document should contain the poet’s name, email address, phone number, and titles of poems submitted. The first page is the only page that should contain the poet’s name, email address, and phone number.
• Entries should be submitted via email to poetrycontest@atlantapride.org with a subject line of :“*Insert Name Here*-- Atl Pride Poetry.”
• The contest winner agrees to acknowledge the Pride Magazine as the first publisher in future reprints of books,anthologies, website publications, podcasts, radio, etc. Copyright reverts back to authors upon appearance in the Pride Magazine.
• The final contest judge is David Trinidad. Trinidad will announce the contest winner by June 30, 2009.


PRIZE

• Atlanta Pride will split the collected entry fee money, 50%-50%, with the contest winner.
• An announcement regarding the contest winner will be posted on the Atlanta Pride website.
• The winning poem will be published in the ‘09 Pride Magazine with a brief bio of the winner.
• The winner will be featured at the Atlanta Pride Literary Event as well as a reading at Outwrite Bookstore & Coffee House.
• The winner will receive a brief interview to be featured in Limp Wrist, an online magazine with queer sensibility.
• Please note the contest winner is responsible for his/her transportation to and from the Atlanta Pride Festival, as well the reading at Outwrite.


FEES

• Poets may submit three poems with an entry fee of $5. Poets may submit an additional three poems with a fee of $2 per poem.
• Payments must be postmarked by May 11, 2009.
• Payment should be in the form of check or money order and made out to Atlanta Pride Committee.
• Mail to:
Atlanta Pride Committee, Inc
Attn: Poetry Contest 2300 Henderson Mill Rd Suite 125
Atlanta, GA 30345

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

First Annual Queer Voltage Queer Poets Competition

From the fingertips of Christopher Soden:
Queer Voltage: the theatre that produced the award-winning Queer Anarchy is pleased to announce a fundraiser : The First Annual Queer Voltage Queer Poets Competition. Any poet who self-identifies as GLBT may enter. 10-15 Finalists will be invited to read at a special event at 7PM, May 16th, 2009 at Teatro de La Muse in Plano, Texas. 1st (150.00) 2nd (75.00) and 3rd (50.00) place prizes will be awarded with three honorable mentions. All Finalists receive certificates and will be featured in a commemorative chapbook released at the Finalist's Reading. We hope to provide actors to read for finalists unable to attend, and a video tape of the event. You need not be present to win.

Entry fee is $5.00 per poem. Poets may submit three poems for $15.00 and a copy of the winning chapbook. No poem should exceed 3 pages. Contestant's name should not appear anywhere on poems. A cover sheet including contestant's full contact information (Name, address, phone number, email address) poem titles and brief bio should be enclosed. Checks and money orders should be made out to Queer Voltage. Entries must be postmarked by March 31st, 2009. Christopher S. Soden, Director : Queer Voltage, 7706 Meadow Road # 121, Dallas, Texas 75230. 469-228-1575. We accept email submissions : jlgdrd@gmail.com

Poems will be judged on craftsmanship, originality of language and subtlety. Poets must self-identify as GLBT poems submitted needn't queer issues. Judges are respected members of the literary community and represent a variety of disciplines and orientations. Top six winners will be chosen by preeminent Queer Poet and Pulitzer Prize Nominee, Cyrus Cassells. Queer Voltage is dedicated to the performance of ground-breaking, poignant and provocative drama to advance understanding and appreciation of the Queer Community as a whole.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Dustin Lance Black ~ MILK: Best Original Screenplay

Here is Dustin Lance Black's acceptance speech for winning the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for MILK:

Oh my God. This was, um, this was not an easy film to make. First off, I have to thank Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg and all the real-life people who shared their stories with me. And, um, Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco and our entire cast, my producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, everyone at Groundswell and Focus for taking on the challenge of telling this life-saving story. When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope one day I could live my life openly as who I am and then maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married.

I wanna? I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

"Sex experts speak out at Capitol"











Rep Hill to the left. Rep Byrd to the right.

A couple of weeks ago I pointed my finder at State Representative Calvin Hill because he was pointing his finger at some distinguished professors at Georgia State University.

Here is a 2/10/09 update from the AJC

Legislators back off, praise GSU experts on sex issues

Instructors testify that they have done research on HIV, teen sex attitudes
By AARON GOULD SHEININ

An expected showdown over sex experts at Georgia State University failed to materialize Tuesday after the school’s professors wowed the House Higher Education Committee and a leading legislative critic backed off.

The minor controversy had flared last week after Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Canton) e-mailed supporters lambasting the University System of Georgia for offering classes in oral sex, male prostitution and “queer theory,” which is a field of of gender studies. He later learned the document he saw was not a course listing, but rather a copy of GSU’s experts guide, which provides journalists and policy researchers access to faculty with different expertise.

But Hill also learned several other universities in the state offer classes with the word “queer” in the title. He was joined by Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock) who took the House floor to criticize universities for paying for experts in oral sex and male prostitution.

Two of those experts spoke to the House committee Tuesday. Kirk Elifson is listed as an expert in male prostitution. He said he became an expert while serving as a captain in the Army in Vietnam and later became a professor. The Centers for Disease Control, he said, sought out his expertise to help with the growing AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

“We’ve done some cutting-edge research in HIV,” he said. “I’m proud of the work I’ve done.”

....Click here for the rest of the article......



ALSO...

Here is an AJC article from 2/11/09:

Sex experts speak out at Capitol

Legislator blames media for distorting his criticism
By Aaron Gould Sheinin

An expected showdown over sex experts at Georgia State University failed to materialize Tuesday after the school’s professors wowed the House Higher Education Committee and a leading legislative critic backed off.

The minor controversy had flared last week after Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Canton) e-mailed supporters lambasting the University System of Georgia for offering classes in oral sex, male prostitution and “queer theory,” which is a field of gender studies. He later learned the document he saw was not a course listing, but rather a copy of GSU’s experts guide, which provides journalists and policy researchers access to faculty with different expertise.

But Hill also learned several other universities in the state offer classes with the word “queer” in the title. He was joined by Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock), who took the House floor to criticize universities for paying for experts in oral sex and male prostitution.

.....Click here for the rest of the article.....

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Sunday, December 28, 2008

"Prayers for Bobby"

I definitely tune in for this Lifetime Original: