Some conservative/religious critics have expressed concern that the inauguration is turning “gay”, thanks to a gay marching band, a gay bishop, and all the immoral and decadent social functions that will be happening in and around Washington D.C. as Obama is sworn in as President.

As reported on the ever venerable Fox News (tongue planted firmly in cheek):

Jennifer Giroux, founder and president of Women Influencing the Nation, a group that focuses on restoring traditional family values, said, “I think (the) inauguration should be kept away from that. Christians may love the individual, but they are offended by the gay lifestyle. It’s unhealthy — spiritually, emotionally and physically.

“It’s not a day where a group that feels like it has some payback coming should be putting its decadent lifestyle on display.”

and

Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality, an organization that describes itself as “devoted exclusively to exposing and countering the homosexual activist agenda,” is worried less about what happens in public and more about what may go on behind closed doors.

“I think most Americans would be put off if they knew what went on at these parties,” LaBarbera said. “Every special interest group has a ball of some sort, but this is not just any special interest group. More than half the country considers their behavior immoral.”

and finally

“For all their cries of inclusion and openness, there are few groups out there more intolerant and hateful than the gay community.”

James T. Harris, a Christian conservative radio host who famously told John McCain to “go after” Barack Obama at a rally in Wisconsin, said he thinks the inauguration will provide a chance for conservatives to showcase their tolerance.

“The gayer inauguration, the better,” Harris said. “I hope that all of San Francisco turns out, and turns the inauguration into a gay pride festival. Then liberals can see how open and tolerant conservatives are.

“Let America see liberalism in all of its self-absorbed lunacy. Then maybe America will only have to tolerate four years of the madness.”

Not a surprise really. These folks will never be happy and will never accept us under any circumstances. Any “to know us is to love us” effort will be lost on them and frankly isn’t worth the time. I so look forward to the day when they and their ilk are marginalized, and their cries of victimhood fall on deaf ears. They will finally have a taste of what’s been like for the gay community for so many years.

View original Fox News article

If you weren’t able to join one of the Light up Night for Marriage Equality vigils yesterday evening, please enjoy the video clip below from the event in San Francisco. After watching the video we were very sad to have missed it.

Of all things we can take away from the events of the past few months, and perhaps the most important, is that we can no longer remain invisible. It is easy to ignore, what you cannot see. And we must be seen and heard, to change minds, whether it’s in Washington, or our own neighborhoods.

I’d like to take this time to wish all my readers a happy and prosperous Thanksgiving. I know we have a lot to be thankful for this year, our health, our families and friends, and honestly, employment, but for many these are difficult times. To them I wish the very best in the hope that better times are ahead.

While it is a joyful day, I’d be remiss not to acknowledge the horrible events and terrible loss of life in Mumbai, India over the last several hours. Our thoughts go out to them.

And finally, it was exactly 30 years ago today that Harvey Milk and George Moscone were assassinated by City Supervisor Dan White here in San Francisco. The anniversary of Harvey’s death is especially poignant due to the release of the film Milk yesterday. Please check it out over the long break. You won’t regret it.

Below is a NO on Prop 8 ad I somehow missed during the campaign. The audio is from one of Harvey Milk’s speeches. It’s pretty darn moving, and appropriate on this day of thanks, and much needed hope.

According to an article published today in the San Francisco Chronicle, Mormons were invited to lend support to Proposition 8 by Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco months before the election.

“The June letter from Niederauer drew in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and proved to be a critical move in building a multi-religious coalition – the backbone of the fundraising, organizing and voting support for the successful ballot measure. By bringing together Mormons and Catholics, Niederauer would align the two most powerful religious institutions in the Prop. 8 battle.

“Ironically, it made San Francisco, center of the nation’s gay community, a nexus in the fight against the recently gained gay right to marry.”

The article also details the dramatic shift in polling numbers on election day, likely attributed to a final push by churches on Sunday November 2 to vote Yes on Proposition 8.

Find out more about the Catholics involvement here in the SF Bay area.