Kentucky Writers to Bevin: Take Your Award and Shove It

They see through you, motherfucker, and will not be condescended to, co-opted, bribed or otherwise disrespected by your Trumpist, austerity-loving, white privileged ass.

From Rich Copley at the Herald:

The Affrilachian Poets, a diverse Lexington-based collective of writers directly or indirectly connected to Appalachia, has rejected its 2016 Governor’s Award in the Arts, citing Gov. Matt Bevin’s positions on education, the humanities and other issues.

“It is the opinion of the group that the governor’s comments, positions and actions regarding education in general, the Humanities specifically, universal healthcare, criminal justice reform, and the LGBTQ community have been reprehensible and go against the core of who we are as writers and educators and as artists committed to resisting oppression,” the group said in a statement posted on Facebook. “It is in the spirit of Kentucky’s rich literary tradition reaching back to William Wells Brown, that we vehemently reject any award given in this governor’s name.”

No comment from Gov, Lying Coward.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/books/article95320137.html#storylink=cpy

Hateful Homophobes Lying and Lawbreaking to Kill Civil Rights in Shelby County

Public commission members violating Open Meeting laws by meeting privately to discuss how to kill a popular proposal? Check.

Commissioners lying about their communications with elected officials?  Check.

Commissioners stonewalling and lying to avoid fulfilling their public duties and thus committing criminal malfeasance? Check.

The Shelbyville and Shelby County Human Rights Commission, and particularly its arrogant and unaccountable chair Gary Walls is desperately pulling every immoral and illegal stunt it can to stop Shelbyville from acknowledging the human and civil rights of its LGBT citizens.

From the Shelbyville Sentinel-News:

After being told by the Shelbyville City Council to approach the Shelby County Human Rights Commission for a recommendation on a Fairness Ordinance, members are now perplexed after being told by the commission that they would only give a recommendation at the council’s request.

“I asked them to go to the Human Rights Commission [for a recommendation to the council],” council member Shane Suttor said. “[Council members Mike] Zoeller, [Donna] Eaton…we all asked them to go to the Human Rights.”

For more than a year, McBride and members of the Shelby County chapter of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth along with members of the Fairness Campaign have been asking the council to accept a Fairness Ordinance, which would protect members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The council has declined to vote yes or no on the subject, only voting to take no more action.

So Leslie McBride approached the Human  Rights Commission chairman, as requested by the council.

But she did not get the recommendation she hoped for.  In fact, she heard no recommendation whatsoever.

Gary Walls, serving as chair of the Shelby County Human Rights Commission, said the commission would not share their recommendation unless the council formally requested it in writing.

“We as a commission decided that we needed a formal request from the council before we would act on that,” Walls said. “We will not respond unless we are formally requested by the council.”

But Suttor said that leaves him a bit confused.

“I was under the assumption that we made that request publically at that meeting,” Suttor said.

Oh, it gets better.  Walls came up with that excuse after he and the other commissioners met privately, in blatant violation of the state's Open Meetings Law, to discuss how to respond to the City Council's request prevent those icky gays from getting civil rights like normal people.

This is a new procedure, that Walls said they put in place specifically for this issue, but Walls said he did not alert the Shelbyville City Council, Simpsonville City Commission or Shelby County Fiscal Court of this decision to require a formal written request.

“That’s not for me to do,” he said.

When asked if the Human Rights Commission had ever made a change like this before, Walls would not answer, stating only “There has never been an issue like this.”

Walls went on to explain that the commission has put together a recommendation, one that was formulated during a special called meeting on Sept. 1.

“It was an emergency situation,” he said explaining that the commission met “prior to the parade, behind the Baptist Church.”

Walls, by the way, is a former repug-lite Blue Dog Democrat who publicly deserted the Democratic Party after it nominated Barack Obama for president in 2008.

No surprise a confessed racist is also a vicious homophobe.

I think Suttor is sincere in his attempts to work the system in a way that will "force" the City Council to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance that council members want nothing to do with.

But I would not be surprised if other council members are in cahoots with Walls to kick this issue back and forth until Fairness proponents give up.

Good luck, assholes; we're never giving up.

Kentucky Married Couple Sues for Legal Recognition.

I'm so happy!  Instead of stumbling in nearly last, behind only Mississippi, Kentucky for once is ahead of the pack, becoming one of  the very first of the gay-bashing constitutional amendment states to get a post-DOMA lawsuit challenging our antediluvian hate laws.

Jessie Halladay at the Courier:

Two Louisville men who were married in Canada in 2004 filed a federal lawsuit Friday challenging the constitutionality of Kentucky laws that don’t recognize same-sex marriages from outside the state.

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision last month giving full federal recognition of legally married gay couples, Gregory Bourke and Michael De Leon decided the time was right to ask a federal judge to require Kentucky to give same-sex couples married outside the state the same rights as heterosexual couples.

The lawsuit — filed against Gov. Steve Beshear, Attorney General Jack Conway and Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw — does not seek to legalize gay marriages within Kentucky, but seeks a permanent injunction requiring that same-sex marriages performed outside the state be recognized here.

Read that again.  This lawsuit is NOT trying to overturn Kentucky's hate-mongering anti-gay-marriage amendment; it's merely trying to force Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states.

Not that it will make any difference to the hysterically screaming freakazoids.

Spokeswomen for both Beshear and Conway declined to comment on the lawsuit saying they had not yet seen it and don’t comment on pending litigation.

Cowards. Doesn't matter.  It's ON, y'all.  It. Is. On.

Ayn Randy Goes for the Gold in Moronic Hate

Ted Cruz is going to have to up his game to compete with this. Or Rick Santorum is going to sue the Tribble-Toupeed One for plagiarism.

Joseph Gerth at the Courier:

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul suggested Wednesday that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act moves the country toward accepting marriages between people and animals.

Paul’s spokeswoman, however, said the senator was being sarcastic.


The comment came after radio talk show host Glenn Beck raised questions about whether the law could prohibit polygamous marriages following the ruling that requires the federal government to treat legally married gay couples the same as heterosexual couples.

“Who are you to say, if I’m a devout Muslim and I come over here and have three wives ... that I can’t have multiple marriages?” Beck asked Paul.

Paul responded: “I think it’s a conundrum. If we have no laws on this, people take it to one extension further, does it have to be humans, you know?

This is the repug game now: Say something over-the-top outrageously stupid and/or hateful to satisfy the slavering beasts of the repug base, then claim you were just kidding to keep the media and not-insane voters from having you committed.

And never forget: Paul beat a primary and then a general election opponent against each of whom he was given zero chance of winning.

This motherfucker is dangerous.

No remark is too stupid or hateful to accomplish both.

Boy Scouts Committing Suicide-by-Homophobia

When they write the Boy Scouts of America obituary, this will be listed as the cause of death.

Andrew Wolfson at the Courier:

The father of an adopted son and daughter, Greg Bourke was revered as a leader of their Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Louisville.

“He upheld the highest ideals of Scouting,” said Donald E. Overton, a fellow assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scout Troop 325 and an Episcopal priest.

Rick Tonini, chairman of the St. Matthews Fire Protection District, described Bourke as “a dignified leader and role model” who led troop members door to door each year helping the fire department raise money for the WHAS Crusade for Children.

And Brooke Hinkle, whose son, Seth, was in Bourke’s Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop, said, “Greg made Seth the person he is,” teaching him responsibility.

But while Bourke, 54, is still a leader in Girl Scout 1575, he no longer is part of the Boy Scouts. The reason: He is gay.



Bourke was forced to resign last week, about three months after he wrote to Boy Scouts of America executives, told them he was an “openly gay person” and asked, “Am I welcome or not?”


Bourke, who has lived with his partner for 30 years and has worked 18 years as a systems analyst for Humana Inc., had to resign under a Boy Scouts policy, enacted in 1991 and reaffirmed last month, that bars gays from being Scout leaders or members.

Actually, the practical effect of the policy is to bar only openly gay Scout leaders and members. The pathetic closet cases frantically throwing more furniture up against the door to maintain their homophobic facade get to keep destroying Scouting from the top down.

Shame On the Freakazoid Homophobes

SHAME on the hateful shits.

From a TPM reader:

People waiting with excitement and pride to show that they do not support equality. I suddenly felt like an alien in my own town, surrounded by people that i see everyday who jumped at the chance to show their evil side. I have spoken with my friends and many of us feel the same way, just utter shock and sorrow. The very existence and support of yesterday’s Chick-Fil-A appreciation day has negative impacts on the well-being of countless gays around this country. I could only wonder what the people in that line would have done had they known that I was gay as I walked by. To fear the anger and resentment of your neighbors for being who you are is not the freedom that the American dream promises. I hope for more, and I hope for better from my fellow Americans.

All I hope for is that every one of those self-righteous monsters dies slowly, painfully, humiliatingly and soon.

Commie, Homo-Loving Eagle Scouts

I belong to the late-hippie generation that ridiculed Eagle Scouts. I take it all back.

 

AP

A Louisville Boy Scout has returned his Eagle badge to protest the organization's stance against allowing gays.

 

SNIP

 

WFPL reports that Jackson Cooper, who is a former senior patrol leader of Louisville Troop 342, says in his letter that he thinks the decision has damaged the organization's reputation."Most people didn't realize this was the policy and my hope in writing the letter is that enough attention would be drawn, regardless of whether they hold those beliefs personally, the leadership would find those positions untenable just as a matter of public relations," Cooper wrote.

 

SNIP

 

"There may or may not have been any homosexual boys in our troop. I can't honestly say that I know. But I do know that my now deceased mother, a lesbian, would not have been allowed to serve as a den mother if her orientation had been public knowledge at the time. The thought that I have invested such a large part of my life with an organization that would have turned my own mother away breaks my heart."

It's a nationsl trend.

Click over to see the letters at Boing Boing. They're great.

Eagle Scouts really do tend to be impressive young men. I remember someone telling me years ago that one should never fail to give an Eagle Scout an interview for a job --- they are almost always stand-up, responsible workers. I don't know that it says anything about their talent or their value as a person, but it does show that they are focused and accomplished.

For that and other reasons, those who achieve the title value being Eagle Scouts quite highly. To resign and turn in their medals means something.

Boycott Yes; Censorship, No

Stay the fuck away from Chik-Fil-A. Boycott the hate-mongering, homophobic, freakazoid motherfuckers. But don't let the shitty place bait us into violating the Constitution.

Chik-Fil-A is a blight on the University of Louisville campus, as it is everywhere it pollutes public space. But it's also a monument to the stupendous power of the First Amendment to protect our fundamental identity as Americans.

Goverment cannot censor speech - any speech. The cure for wrong speech is not less speech; it is more. Don't like what someone is saying? Make your case against it.

Go ahead, you hateful homophobic motherfuckers: shout your stupidity at the top of your lungs. We will respond by shouting facts, reality, humanity and progress at the top of ours.

And the best argument will win.

Fairness in Fayette

In too many - nearly all - of Kentucky's 174 schools systems, it's not OK to be gay. Teachers, staff and students can be disciplined and fired or expelled for being not heterosexual. Others may call them names and bully them with impunity.

But not in the Fayette County school system. Not any more.

From Jim Warren at he Herald:

The Fayette County Board of Education unanimously approved new policy language Monday night to protect students, teachers and school district employees from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Fayette County joins about half a dozen other Kentucky public school districts that specifically prohibit such discrimination.

SNIP


 Shelton said the groups requested the change because they had heard of some reports of bullying or harassment of people based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.

SNIP

Brad Hughes, a spokesman for the Kentucky School Boards Association, said the U.S. Department of Education holds that Kentucky school districts' general prohibition against discrimination based on sexual discrimination covers all discrimination involving gender.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/07/23/2268335/new-fayette-schools-policy-prohibits.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/07/23/2268335/new-fayette-schools-policy-prohibits.html#storylink=cpy

Sure, technically. But the fact is that LGBT students, staff and teachers live under constant threat in school systems with just the gender discrimination ban: toe the line, or out you go.

Good on Fayette, and shame on the 168 school systems still hiding behind homophobia.

Fighting for Fairness in the Foothills

Yes, Richmond, Kentucky, is a college town, but EKU is deserted for the summer, leaving this city in the Appalachian foothills far less populated and far more conservative than during the semesters.

So it's all the more encouraging that even in the dog days Richmond progressives are up for a fight.

Daniel Moore at the Herald:

More than 100 people gathered outside Richmond City Hall on Wednesday to demand a local fairness ordinance after a lesbian couple was told to leave a park after sharing a kiss.

State and local supporters organized the rally after a gatekeeper allegedly told Cheri Chenault and Destiny Keith to leave Million Park in Richmond because "those type of people" weren't welcome there.

Jessica Miller-Poole, owner of 13 Wishes Photography, was photographing the couple for a maternity shoot when they shared a brief kiss, she said.

The couple was in attendance, smiling and chanting along with everyone else. Demonstrators unrolled a banner that read "standing on the side of love" and carried signs that allowed a space for their identity: "I'm a ____ and I support fairness." Identities ranged from "Christian" to "student" to "Richmond resident."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/07/18/2263230/more-than-100-attend-rally-demanding.html#storylink=cpy

No Nice Park Pictures For You!

Apparently because there is no law in Richmond, Kentucky, saying that gay people have a right to have their picture taken in a public park, it is perfectly legal for some mouth-breathing, homophobic goat-fucker to chase them out of the park just because they are gay.

I defy even Texas to beat that.

Daniel Moore at the Herald.
 

A state advocacy group renewed its call Wednesday for a Richmond fairness ordinance after a lesbian couple and their photographer contended they were kicked out of a park there.

"This young couple's plight is a perfect elucidation of the need for a local fairness ordinance in Richmond," Chris Hartman, director of the Fairness Campaign, said in a news release. "In truth, we need an anti-discrimination (law) that will cover the whole commonwealth, but until that law passes, local fairness ordinances in Richmond, Berea and other cities around the state are necessary."

Richmond Human Rights Commission chairwoman Sandra Anez-Powell said there was no law against telling the couple to leave the park because the city doesn't have a fairness ordinance.

Of the 23 human rights commissions in Kentucky, only those in Lexington, Louisville and Covington have "extended jurisdiction" to enforce discrimination against gays, lesbians and transgender people.

The others, including the one in Richmond, have "standard jurisdiction" that does not have those protections.

The issue of fairness in Richmond and nearby Berea was discussed last year, but neither city enacted an ordinance.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/07/11/2255727/call-for-gay-rights-fairness-law.html#storylink=cpy

Kentucky Gets First Two Convictions on Gay Hate Crimes

Ashamed the crime happened here, committed by Kentuckians. So proud Kentucky is the first to use the federal hate crimes law to nail the motherfuckers.

From the Courier:

Two Kentucky women have pleaded guilty to helping kidnap and assault a gay man in the first federal case to use a hate-crime law that protects against attacks motivated by sexual orientation.

Mable Ashley Jenkins and Alexis LeeAnn Jenkins, both 19, pleaded guilty this week to aiding and abetting the kidnapping and hate-crime assault against a man in a southeastern Kentucky park last year. The U.S. District Court in London unsealed the guilty pleas Friday, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Lexington.

Two men, cousins David Jason Jenkins, 37, of Cumberland, and Anthony Ray Jenkins, 20, of Partridge, have been indicted on charges of kidnapping, assault and violating the hate-crime law. All four defendants are facing a maximum sentence of life in prison for the April 4, 2011, attack on Kevin Pennington at Kingdom Come State Park in Harlan County.

SNIP

Federal prosecutors say this is the nation’s first federal case charging a violation of the sexual orientation section of the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was passed in 2009. The women’s guilty pleas were the first convictions under that section of the law.

"No Shit" Story of the Day

In other news, study finds that racists dislike President Obama because he is black.

Think Progress:

“Homophobia is more pronounced in individuals with an unacknowledged attraction to the same sex and who grew up with authoritarian parents who forbade such desires,” a series of physiological studies conducted by scientists at the University of Rochester, the University of Essex, England, and the University of California in Santa Barbara conclude. “Individuals who identify as straight but in psychological tests show a strong attraction to the same sex may be threatened by gays and lesbians because homosexuals remind them of similar tendencies within themselves,” explains Netta Weinstein, the study’s lead author. “In many cases these are people who are at war with themselves and they are turning this internal conflict outward,” says co-author Richard Ryan.

Don't know what the problem is in Essex and Santa Barbara, but here in Kentucky we've known that all homophobes are closet cases for going on 20 years now.

A Death in Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky is the most conservative section of the Commonwealth. No Democratic statewide candidate can ever be assured of victory until the late returns come in from the counties west of Louisville.

But deep in the heart of conservative Western Kentucky, Hopkinsville is rallying to a family mourning the death by suicide of its bisexual teenager.

From the Kentucky New Era:

Miranda’s death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound has sparked a local movement against bullying and teen suicide. The Miranda Campbell Challenge, started Sunday by Felty and kids from the teen center, has a Facebook page with 1,129 likes from users. Many users have left supportive comments for the movement and Miranda’s family.

The school had a memorial service for Miranda in its gymnasium Wednesday night. Friends and family spoke about Miranda during the event.

Travis Campbell, Miranda’s father, said that his daughter dealt with bullying on a day-to-day basis in school, in connection to her bisexuality. Felty, who knew Miranda for more than two years, also said bullying was a factor in her life.

Both Campbell and Felty want the movement to help discourage bullying in schools and the community.

“We are going to use (the challenge) to communicate to parents and teachers in the area the price that can be paid from lashing out and bullying,” Campbell said. “We are making sure we can turn this into something positive.”

Read the whole thing.

Challenging the Haters and the Stoopits

It's almost enough to make up for Michelle Bachman.

TPM:

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) took on a representative of the conservative group Focus on the Family for mischaracterizing a study on "nuclear families" at a hearing on a bill which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, Sen. Franken noted that the group's testimony listed the benefits of children "living with their biological and/or adopted mothers and fathers" as surpassing those of children "living in any other family form." He observed they listed a Department of Health and Human Services study as backing that up.

"I actually checked it out," Franken said in reference to the study FOF's Thomas Minnery has cited. He then observed it uses the term "nuclear families" without specifically mentioning "opposite sex married families."

"Isn't it true, Mr. Minnery, that a married same-sex couple that has had or adopted kids would fall under the definition of a nuclear family in the study that you cite?" Franken asked.

"I think that the study, when it cites nuclear families would mean a family headed by a husband and wife," Minnery said.

"It doesn't," Franken said, getting laughs from the audience.

"The study defines a nuclear family as one or more children living with two parents who are married to one another and are each biological or adoptive parents to all the children in the family," Franken continued. "And I frankly don't really know how we can trust the rest of your testimony if you are reading studies these ways."

The hearing came a day after President Barack Obama signaled his support for the repeal of DOMA. The Justice Department has already stopped defending the law in court because it found that the law is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Once upon a time, children, politicians didn't have to do this kind of basic fact-checking because newspapers and the broadcast news did it as a matter of course. No, seriously.

Back in September, Steve Benen wrote about the epidemic of false equivalence:

It's been one of the most glaring flaws in major American media for far too long -- news outlets can tell the public about a story, but they won't tell the public's who's right. Every story has to offer he-said/she-said coverage, and every view has to be treated as entirely legitimate. ("Republicans today said two plus two equals five; Democrats and mathematicians disagree.")

To tell news consumers about a controversy is fine. To tell news consumers who's objectively correct is to be "biased."

For the public that wants to know who's right, and not just who's talking, it creates a vacuum filled by online outlets. For journalists who want to "tell readers directly what's going on," it creates an incentive to abandon news organizations that demand forced neutrality.

Liberals put facts before ideology.

Hazard Does the Right Thing

You didn't have to be a fly on the wall during the meetings of Hazard city officials to know what went on:

"Dammit, just when we think we've finally risen above the hillbilly, snake-handling stereotypes, something like this happens."

"Fire that idiot. And his boss."

"Can't do that. The preachers will kill us in the next election."

No, it's not all of what they should have done. But it's damn close.

As protesters spoke out on Saturday against the expulsion of two gay men with intellectual and developmental disabilities from a city-owned pool in Hazard, the city took several steps to try to remedy the situation.

Kim Haynes, the city employee who cited the Bible while telling the men and their caregiver to leave the Hazard Pavilion on June 10, will be suspended without pay for five days because of his "failure to be respectful to the public," "unsatisfactory job performance" and "his use of inappropriate language" about pool policies, the city said in a press release.

The release also states the city plans to:

■ Issue a letter of apology to the staff of Mending Hearts Inc., the company that provides care for the two men.

■ Install a new sign that makes clear that the Hazard Pavilion is "available for use without regard to race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, age, sexual orientation or physical/mental disability as required by federal and state law."

■ Modify its rules-for-conduct sign to include its previously unwritten prohibition against "excessive public displays of affection," and

■ Provide additional training to the pavilion staff regarding non-discrimination laws and regulations.

Read the whole thing.

Still waiting for a bible verse citation on swimming pool etiquette ....

Media Czech Slays the Ark Park Dineysores

That wasn't even much of a challenge. Looks like the Flintstones Truthers are going down in the first round.

Ken Ham and the good folks at Answers in Genesis are in full out damage control mode. Getting caught red-handed discriminating against what they perceived to be a gay couple, they now realize that their chance to get a $40 million welfare hand out from the government to build a giant Dineysore Boat is now seriously in jeopardy.

And they didn't help their cause much by finally admitting to the AP (which was published everywhere) that despite their previous lies, they did have a policy that no gays were allowed in the Creation Museum:

Museum spokesman Mark Looy told The Kentucky Enquirer that the promotional material for the Date Night made it clear the event was for heterosexual couples only.

Of course, that itself is a lie (as I've already pointed out, there was no such disclaimer on their promotion), but at least they no longer are denying the fact that they do discriminate. Not against insane people that shoot folks in the head, but definitely gay people.

Which of course means that their $40 million government welfare handout is in serious jeopardy. As Gov. Steve Beshear previously stated:

Gov. Steve Beshear said Thursday that he will require the state’s contract with developers of a Noah’s Ark-based theme park in Northern Kentucky to prohibit the project from receiving state tax incentives if there is discrimination in hiring based on religion or other attributes.

*****

“We’re going to require that anybody that we deal with is going to obey all of the laws on hiring and not discriminate on hiring,” Beshear said. “As a matter of fact, part of the language that will be in agreements … is that they are going to abide by the law in terms of hiring and that they agree not to discriminate, so we will certainly have the ability to deal with it if we find that it happens.”

Add to that the fact that their advertisements for Ark Encounter jobs already are requiring a Christian Purity Pledge, and I think you can pretty much put the nail in the coffin on their $40 million government welfare handout to build a giant boat and tell kids that a 600-year old man herded T-Rexes and Sauropods onto it a few thousand years ago.

Seeing their $40 million scam go up in smoke, it's no surprise that the con artists at Answers in Genesis are lashing out. An AiG flak was on hate radio merchant Bill Cunningham's show today, lying repeatedly (they make a good living off of that, so they know how to do it well by now) about what happened and, get this, calling me "intolerant" because I don't believe that gay people are going to hell, humans used to ride on saddled dinosaurs, and they should get $40 million in tax breaks to spread this.

SNIP

Yes, Ken Ham tried really hard to be part of the Dependency Class, but it looks like the gig is up. I wish Ken Ham the best of luck building his Giant Dineysore Boat without the financial assistance of the government, but I'm not sure that he'll be able to. He definitely has proven his ability to con weak-minded people into believing that the Flintstones was a documentary and build a business model that takes advantage of kids' love of dinosaurs (and now dragons). Ham is a skilled grifter, I will concede that point. But can he pull off a $150 million scam? Prove me wrong Ken, Brandon and I would love to visit!

Follow MC's coverage of Ark Encounter here.

And the Hate Rolls On

Covington is spitting distance from Florence, where the frightwing hatemongers are still pissing and screaming over a tiny religious minority holding services in a nondescript building.

Scott Wartman from the Kentucky Enquirer:

Two days after the Covington City Commission held a press conference reaffirming the city's human rights ordinance, people in the MainStrasse neighborhood woke up Thursday to dozens of anti-gay fliers posted on poles and placed on windshields.

The fliers come in the wake of a series of crimes that police and residents believe have targeted the city's gay community.

The Covington Police are investigating who is responsible for the fliers. The person or persons could face fines for violating of the city's sign ordinance, which prohibits signs and advertisements to be attached to lamp posts and utilities, said City Solicitor Frank Warnock. Fines can range from $100 to $500 per violation to a maximum of $10,000.

"We are locating them and removing the hateful remarks from the public areas," said Spike Jones, assistant chief with the Covington Police. "They are violating city ordinances being posted on trees and poles. We are very concerned about the message this flier contains."

Read the whole thing.

Almost thirty years ago, Rosalind Carter nailed both the attraction and the horror of Ronald Reagan with this: "Reagan makes us comfortable with our prejudices."

Such an innocent time. If only the worst thing we faced today was open prejudice, instead of hate-driven violence against everyone who is not white, Xian, hetero, repug and male.

Run Away, Geoff! It's Teh Gheys!

Geoff Davis is terrified of teh gheys. The Kentucky 4th District repug just signed a hysterical letter throwing a temper tantrum over a low-level White House staffer who has no power to implement the non-existent "homosexual agenda."

Does little Jeffie realize that D.C. has probably the third-highest per capita population of gay people in the world, after San Francisco and New York? Does he realize that teh ghey concentration is even higher than that on Capitol Hill? That several of them work on his very staff, in his very office? That they accidentally-on-purpose touch him?

Get out of there Geoff! Resign and come back home to Northern Kentucky, where there are way more homosexuals than you can possibly imagine, but where they have the simple decency to stay in the closet, where you can't see them.

Trey, Rand, the Gays and the Pork

On this Fancy Farm Eve, as they start slurping up the bean soup at the Marshall County Bean Soup Supper and Political Speech Practice Round, Media Czech has a provocative post on the disturbing lack of homophobes among republicans running for Jim Bunning's Senate seat next year.

Gay-hating KY Republicans don't have much to cheer in the 2010 Senate primary.

With the tail-between-legs withdrawal of Senator Jim Bunning from the 2010 Senate race, good ole homophobe gay-hating Republicans in Kentucky are faced with a dilemma. The 2 remaining viable candidates, Trey Grayson and Rand Paul, do not have an rich history of protecting America from the scourge of pedophile molesters who want to tear married spouses away from each other with the lure of the dirty gay sex.

Rand Paul has absolutely nothing bad to say about The Gays on his campaign website, and assuming he has the same states' rights libertarian bent of his Papi, he will certainly face the wrath of good Bible-thumping Gay-haters in the 2010 primary.

Trey Grayson also has a bit of a problem with The Gays. Trey tends to be rather two-faced on this issue, as he shows tolerance towards gays in some rooms, then plays up the God, Guns and Gays routine when amongst the crazy base. Grayson will be forced, very soon, to publicly pick a side in this battle: Does he support DOMA and DADT, while opposing the Hate Crimes Bill and domestic partner rights? Or will he seek to separate himself from the Neanderthal base by moving the Republican Party in a direction that won't turn off voters 30-ish to younger who by a wide-margin are in favor of GLBTQ rights? We'll find out soon. If I had to bet, he'll choose the former.

But if he doesn't, the Republican base is going to be angry and totally apathetic about this Senate race. Republicans do not have a prayer in competitive statewide races if they do not rally the Bible-thumping social conservative hate-mongers among their base. They will not contribute, and they certainly will not turn out to vote in numbers great enough to beat Jack Conway in the general election.

This is why I'm betting that Trey Grayson will find the old-time Gay-hating religion very soon. The question in this case would be, do Republicans trust this last-hour conversion? If not, you can expect 2 things: (1) depressed turnout among the conservative base, and (2) a semi-viable social-Neanderthal Republican challenger popping up at the last minute.

Anyway... maybe somebody will ask Trey these questions at Fancy Farm. Yes?

I won't be there this year, but Media Czech will, and you won't have to wait until Sunday for the news - he'll be bringing it to you via Twitter all day tomorrow.