An Open Letter of Invitation to Nathan and Sandra Deal, and Karen and Steve Handel to Dinner in the Home of a Gay Georgia Couple

So I'm turning over this post to Volunteer dad. He has an invitation for two politicians in our state, and he wants to share with my readers and fans his letter that he'll submit to the Atlanta Journal Constitution this evening. Take it away dad!!

As I began to craft this letter, my rationale was anger. I wanted to take fierce opposition to Nathan Deal’s campaign attacks on gay Georgians, and most notably gay teenagers.

Instead, I decided the anger tactic has been done with little or no success. So, I erased countless paragraphs that told of gay and lesbian suicide rates 2.5 times higher than straight teenagers. I erased comments on the wonderful services Youth Pride provides to teenagers in need of support as they struggle to understand their sexuality. I erased the multiple paragraphs that told of the sad fact that many gay and lesbian teenagers have been abandoned by their families. And I erased the countless proof points of why gay and lesbian Americans should be celebrated for their contributions to business and community. I could debate Mr. Deal and Mrs. Handel for hours on the need for gay youth support programs, the important role gay and lesbian taxpayers play in our society and why our family deserves the same rights and protections as their families.

I decided I would make a public invitation to the Deal and Handel families to spend an evening at my home in Atlanta – with my partner Steve and our two wonderful rescue pups Arlie Rufus and Foster (a family similar to Mrs. Handel’s). My family welcomes the Deal and Handel families to meet us; talk to us as constituents; learn how we contribute to society as successful businessmen and community activists; hear our concerns for the many challenges facing our city, state and country; get to know us personally and learn of our Christian upbringings. You get it; normal, regular conversations – one more thing straights and gays have in common.

I have written this letter before the results of the run-off have been finalized. Why? Because it really does not matter who wins this run-off. Instead, what is most important to my family is the position that has been at the forefront of this run-off –the denial of equal rights to gay and lesbian taxpaying Georgians.

So I ask the Deal and the Handel families to contact me either at the email or phone number listed below (if this is allowed) or through the AJC and let my family know possible dates over the next month when they would be free to visit our home. I will make formal invitations to your respective campaign offices and will allow both of your families to determine the best evening for our dinner and even the desired menu. It is my hope that by breaking bread with my family, the Deal and Handel families will open their eyes to how critical it is for our leaders to build up ALL of our youth; work for equality for ALL taxpaying Georgians; and most importantly see that my family is just as strong, vibrant and quite honestly – important as theirs. We look forward to welcoming you to our home.

Best Regards,

Ed Patterson

edvol@bellsouth.net

404-213-3106

Boycott Hawaii!

Just today, equality took a step backward. Republican Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle vetoed a civil unions bill passed by both houses of the Hawaii State Legislature to grant civil union rights to gay and lesbian taxpaying Hawaii citizens. These same citizens who pay the salary of Linda (she doesn't deserve to be called governor) are still second class citizens according to her actions.

No other statement conveys what Linda did more than this one from a leader of PFLAG in Hawaii:

"Today, on July 6, 2010, Gov. Linda Lingle denied social justice when she vetoed HB444 for Civil Unions,” said Rev. Carolyn M. Golojuch, President of PFLAG-Oahu. “Her denial is a violation of the integrity of her office and a violation of her oath of office. Governor Lingle’s denial of equal rights, benefits and protections for one segment of our citizens is a denial for all of our citizens of Hawaii.”

Integrity. A word that Linda never seemed to learn before taking office. Like many other hate-filled individuals who see equal rights for LGBT as a "threat" to marriage and traditional families (and I welcome any debate on how "straights" are holding up marriage and traditional family values...bring it on!), Linda forgets that if not for trailblazing women in the early part of the 20th Century, her bigoted ass would be doing nothing more than picking pineapples and being thankful if she got only one smack from her husband. You see, Linda, it's not been that long ago that you were denied equal rights. So what does this mean today? It means Linda will have to answer for why I and others will demand a boycott of her state and hit her where it counts most...her hate-filled pocket book.

I ask my fans to please write Linda's office, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau via the hyperlinks and tell them "no equal rights, no money from me!" Ironic as it is, Linda can talk "values" but she is beholden to the all mighty dollar like so many others in office. Individual rights and freedoms do not matter. Money does. So, I thank you for your support and speaking loudly with your voice and your wallet. Good night all.

Arlie Rufus

Shame on Conklin Farms and Gary Conklin

I'll keep this one short and sweet and let my new friend Jamie Lee Curtis do the talking. Many of you have seen the hidden film from Mercy Animals showing the extreme animal cruelty at Conklin Farms in Ohio. If you have not, the link I'm attaching from Jamie Lee has it and although disturbing, demands you watch and learn and act!

Jamie Lee has a link to change.org that is a petition demanding Mr. Conklin's and his cohorts arrest for animal cruelty. I urge you and all my fans to sign it and pass it on. Until we learn, speak and act these sad excuses for human beings will keep on abusing animals -- and in many cases other humans (yes my friend, look at the research -- if you abuse an animal you are more likely to abuse a child or another human!).

So I have four assignments for you:
1. watch the video...and troubling as it it
2. sign the petition
3. pass it on
4. do anything else in your powers to stop this madness!!

You are my friends and fans -- and as my profile says -- speak for those with no voices!

Bless you!

Arlie Rufus

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-lee-curtis/an-open-letter-to-gary-co_b_591730.html

Animal Cruelty is NOT a first amendment right!

I listened in amazement last week as the Supreme Court of these United States upheld the ruling of a lower court that found the 1999 Depiction of Animal Cruelty Act "overboard" and might capture depictions protected by the first amendment. The case in question overturned a convinction in 2005 over dogfighting videos (remember, he's playing football, but I'll bite anyone who ever forgets this tragedy). Are you out of your ape crap mind! I have had it up to here (I'm pointing at Foster's nose) with all this "throw the constitution" to support "free speech". If videos of nasty skank women high heeling a defenseless animal is free speech, then America -- re-write the damn constitution. That's right, the visuals this ruling protects are these kinds of visuals -- a slut high heels crushing animals. We love to scream "freedom of speech" when we say and do things stupid and harmful to human beings all the time. And quite frankly, I've been sick and damn tired of it for years! Our constitution was not written to give hate-filled people the right to spew their hate. And up til now, I've let you humans just look like fools for using it to speak hate. But this has crossed the line -- it's crossed the line to impact me, my brothers and sisters. The U.S. Humane Society has posted a recent statement with the names of members of congress who have introduced and sponsored HR 5092 to crack down on these so-called crush videos. Look at this link and if your member of congress is not on the list, call and write them -- and be damn mad at them for not! Tell them if they do not support this legislation you WILL take action at the polls in November. If they have sponsored, call and write them to say thanks -- and demand they strong arm their fellow members to sponsor and pass this NOW!

You know, there was a sign in my last post dads saw at last year's March for Equality that read "I cannot believe we still have to protest this crap" and this is exactly how I feel. We have to introduce legislation to stop videos -- for profit mind you -- that help stop animal cruelty? What are you humans thinking? Stop spending time on bills that let you carry a gun in a restaurant, church or bar -- hell a school campus for that matter -- and spend your time, and dads' tax payer dollars on laws that protect animals. What a crock!