EQUALITY RIDERS - 2008

Under everyone's radar screen is Soul Forces' Annual 2008 Equality Ride. Each year students between the 18-28 get in a huge bus and travel around the country to mostly conservative religious college campuses in order to advocate for the LGBT community and for religious tolerance.

Six young adults (above) were arrested when they attempted to walk into the DeSantis Family Chapel at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday.

"You are an unwanted guest," campus security director Terry Wheeler said to riders, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "We have asked the police department to enforce the trespassing law,"

The arrests took place after the Equality Ride bus was damaged Sunday night. The windows were smashed in, shattering two panes of glass, and small portions of the vinyl wrap were also scratched off.

A list of their stops this year is here as is other information. It's director Mel White is a friend from a long time ago. There is a part of me that wishes I was there, too.

DEBUNKING PROP 8

NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY

National Coming Out Day is held on October 11th every year to commemorate the first March on Washington by LBGT people. The March took place in October of 1987 and highlighted the lesbigay struggle for acceptance. The first National Coming Out Day was held on October 11, 1988.

The purpose of National Coming Out Day is to promote honesty and openness about being lesbian, gay or bisexual. LAMBDA celebrates this day with activities and resources designed to support coming out. LAMBDA also conducts ongoing projects to help enable our queer brothers and sisters to take their next steps out of the closet.

Or read about celebrating National Coming Out Day here.

MCCAIN, PALIN AND POLITICAL INTOLERANCE ..

Years and years of political character assassinations, lies and distortions has breed a huge segment of the American public that is now reacting in ignorance and fear to an Obama Presidency. Witness the ugly public behavior at the forefront of McCain/Palin campaign rallies.

People are shouting the most horrific things, “Hang him.” “Shoot him.” “Treason!" "Terrorist!" "Kill him!" in reference to Senator Obama. Even when McCain tries to bring reason to chaos, he is taunted with boos! There is no common sense or decency.

Four generations of Republican Party leaders have made rank appeals to our worst natures and preached intolerance, bigotry and hatred ... anything to win. They have sowed those seeds and now America will suffer the whirlwind.

CONNECTICUT, CALIFORNIA & PROP 8...

HARTFORD, Connecticut - Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples have the right to marry, making that state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions.

Enjoy it while you can Connecticut ... I remember not too long ago how joyful that news was here in California. But now once again Californians are fighting the forces of intolerance and religious bigotry. There is now a California voter initiative on the November ballot that would change the state constitution to prevent same sex marriages.

The world is faced with so many difficult issues and loving someone is an issue!?! So if you live in California, visit the no on 8 site or or here for a number of concrete actions you can take to defeat Proposition 8. Wherever you live, you can help pay the costs of getting our message out. Donate to the campaign at here.

There is also a DisHonor Roll here that Californian Against Hate have published of the people and organizations that have funded Prop 8.