The Religion News Service has reported the formation of a new organization called — And I am not making this up — Evangelicals for Marriage Equality. It was launched on Tuesday and immediately began collecting signatures from evangelicals who support same-sex marriage. Its advisory board includes several evangelical luminaries: author and speaker Brian McLaren, former National Association of Evangelicals vice president Richard Cizik and former USAID faith adviser Chris LaTondresse.
Some of you may recall news articles awhile back, when Cizik resigned from his position with the National Association of Evangelicals, citing his support for same-sex civil unions.
It is immensely heartening to see significant evangelicals come to a realization that if the institution of marriage is good for society, and good for opposite-sex couples, it should be equally good for same-sex couples. This new organization is yet another expression of the growing recognition that fidelity and stability require social acceptance — that when you demonize people, when you deny them respect and equal civil rights, you are encouraging destructive behaviors.
So — you may be late to the party, Evangelicals for Marriage Equality, but we certainly welcome you.
That said, there may also be an element of self-preservation in this sudden turnaround. Over the past few years, membership in these conservative churches has been declining. Young Christians, especially, have rejected a theology that seemed to place homophobia at the very center of its belief structure.
Polling has confirmed that the demographic split that characterizes the broader American society is equally pronounced among adherents of conservative and evangelical Christianity. Not that young evangelicals are leading the charge to embrace equal rights for their lesbian, gay, bi & trans peel's, but they are demonstrably less homophobic than their elders and changing (for the better) with dizzying rapidity.
Hey all… just got this in… if you fit the bill or know someone who does, please let them know:
Are you an engaged or soon to be engaged couple whose family disapproves of your relationship? Have family members made it clear that they will not attend your upcoming wedding? Have you found the love of your life, and desperately want the support of your whole family?
Introducing a new docu-series that follows star-crossed lovers who have family that disapproves of their relationship because of race, religion, sexual orientation, class, or culture? The series will work to break down barriers separating couples and their disapproving families.
If you fear the moment when the officiant asks those who do not approve to rise, we want to hear from you! Are you ready to put your love to the test?
To be considered for the show, please submit a brief bio, contact info, and recent photos of yourself and your significant other to:
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Kinetic Content Casting Department 310-752-0846 – Main line This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.kineticcontent.com
University Theatre presents CABARET Book by Joe Masteroff Based on the play by John Van Druten and Stories by Christopher Isherwood Music by John Kander Lyrics by Fred Ebb Directed by J Daniel Herring Musical Director: Matthew Wheeler Choreographer: Josh Montgomery Stage Manager: Daniel Vaughn
December 5 - 6th & 9th - 13th 2014 at 8pm December 7th at 2pm Fresno State John Wright Theatre For information & tickets: www.fresnostate.edu/theatrearts
CABARET, the winner of 12 Tony Awards, is currently running on Broadway and is considered one of the most acclaimed and beloved musicals of all time. CABARET is a sensational, edgy, sexy, scary, mesmerizing and extremely entertaining look at a dark time in history. CABARET receives a PG-13 rating. CABARET contains mature themes, brief violence, drug use, partial nudity, sensuality, adult language, but the content does not reach the restricted R rating category.
“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it..." A quote always attributed to Mark Twain, though according to www.quoteinvestigator.com it might have actually been written by a little-known editor at The Hartford Courant named Charles Dudley Warner. But regardless, its a well-known saying and gives me an opening to ask: where and how do you get your weather info? And do you trust the places you go? Really?
With a computer, tablet or smartphone, these days there are not a few, not a hundred, but literally thousands of places to turn for the local temperature, forecast and data.
So where to go and why?
Well, for this weather-holic writer the first place I always turn is the national or government weather office in whatever country or territory where I am seeking the weather. I know this can be a bit tougher than just using my iPhones built in weather app (which I "stored” in some folder, can’t find and don’t miss) or WeatherBug or any of the others people wave at me if I dare ask the temperature, but why go elsewhere when in most (not all, but a lot) of cases, the forecast and temperatures are actually from the government employee working for the National Weather Service, Environment Canada, Britain’s Met Office or any of the myriad of other national forecasters? In other words, who wants or needs 2nd or 3rd hand info that may or may not be as reliable as what comes from the person who really knows his or her local climate?
So now that we have told you this little gem, how to find the forecast for Zurich, Switzerland, Hamilton, Bermuda, or Ogunquit, Maine?
Someone not too long ago asked if we were a computer column and I told them not totally, but I asked them why they were inquiring. I was told that computers are fun and interesting, but what about other things electronic.
It got me to thinking, and I sat there trying to think what these days does not have a computer (or several smaller ones or chips) hidden somewhere in the innards. I really, aside from a jar of ketchup and a pound of meat was pretty hard-pressed to come up with anything. In fact, the ketchup and meat might have RFID chips on or in the packaging to let inventory control systems and cash registers which use such items work.
But lets look at things which are a bit more obvious. Or maybe not. This all came to mind recently when our washer broke down. It’s a 2009 model made by a major manufacturer and it's packed with chips and computer controls which make it almost impossible to fix or work on (per the repairman the local shop sent).
The days when one selected regular wash and timed the cycle with a big dial are long gone, aside from a very few base bottom-of-the-line models. These days instead the machine wants to think for you (and I) and often this results in disastrous consequences.
No longer do we throw in the jeans, select a water temperature, turn a dial and hit start, but instead there’s a "jeans” cycle. There's one for woolens, delicates, perma-press, whites and things one wishes to sanitize — and all of that information about spin speeds, water temperatures and whatever else the machine needs to know (or thinks it does) are hidden in computer chips somewhere in the bowels of the washer. The issue is what if you do not want to use what someone in some factory has been told to program? Or what if something goes wrong whilst the cycle is underway — like a power glitch or water issues or worse?
A Special Performance of THE NORMAL HEART in conjunction with the Bulldog Pride FundThurs. Sept. 25th • 8:00pm Bonner Auditorium • Fresno Art Museum • 2233 N 1st St $30 per person • Limited Seating
The story of a city in denial, THE NORMAL HEART unfolds like a real-life political thriller—as a tight-knit group of friends refuses to let doctors, politicians and the press bury the truth of an unspoken epidemic behind a wall of silence. A quarter-century after it was written, this outrageous, unflinching, and totally unforgettable look at the sexual politics of New York during the AIDS crisis remains one of the theatre’s most powerful evenings ever. Winner of the 2011 Tony Award® for Best Revival of a Play.
FRESNO REEL PRIDE KICKS-OFF WEDNESDAY WITH "HELICOPTER MOM"
HELICOPTER MOM
Tower Theatre
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
7:30 p.m.
Oh, how far we’ve come from the dark days of rampant homophobia. But teenager Lloyd Cooper (Jason Dolley) may think society—or at least his mother—has progressed a bit too far on this topic. Lloyd’s mom Maggie (a hilarious Nia Vardalos) says she would not only accept a gay son, she actively encourages it, as it would be “really cool” to have one. In fact, Maggie becomes so convinced that Lloyd himself is gay that she “outs” him to his entire high school. Like any good “helicopter mom,” who hovers over every aspect of her children’s lives, Maggie takes control of Lloyd’s social life, setting Lloyd up on dates with boys whom she has approved and filing for a gay student college scholarship. There’s just one wrench in her grand plans: Lloyd doesn’t even know whether he’s gay or not. But the mother is willing to accept her son for who he is—or at least who she thinks he is.
DirecTV did not announce the ad before it aired during Thursday's game, prompting a flurry of generally positive comments on social media after viewers met the cute couple with a "friendly rivalry."
This week we mark the one year anniversary of our Supreme Court victory in Hollingsworth v. Perry that returned marriage equality to the nation's most populous state, California.
Join us tonight to relive history by watching The Case Against 8 on HBO. The moving film premiers tonight at 9pm in all time zones and is also available on HBO On Demand and HBOGO.
This documentary, created and directed by Ryan White and Ben Cotner, is a unique behind-the-scenes look at AFER's fight to restore marriage equality in California. Produced independently from the Foundation, the film team was given exclusive access into our meeting rooms and the lives of our four courageous plaintiffs.
Awarded the Directing Award for a U.S. Documentary at Sundance Film Festival, the film offers unprecedented insight into the courtroom battle and the emotional journey we had taking the case to the Supreme Court.
The San Francisco Chronicle calls it "a riveting film," and The Village Voice reviewed it as "highly entertaining and beautifully human."
The film, which tells the story of the four plaintiffs and their families throughout their personal fight for equality, has also won the Audience award at SXSW and the award for Best Documentary at Vail Film Festival. Make sure to catch this powerful film as we get ready to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Perry decision on Thursday. May it remind us of how tough battles are won and of the tremendous amount of work we have ahead of us. Sincerely, Adam Umhoefer Executive Director American Foundation for Equal Rights
Bring the kids for a super fun event! We are very excited to announce Oklin Bloodworth will be singing and performing! It will be a great time to hear this talented children's musician live and with a small audience.
Kids Day at the U-Farm is a day for kids (and adults) to play on the farm and enjoy the tree house, rope swing, face paintings, sing-a-longs, bounce houses and other farm games. Bring a picnic or eat with us. Food will be available for purchase.
$10 per kid. Order tickets online in advance for $8 per kid. Adults get in FREE! As always, fun is included.
Sunday night (9pm), HBO presents a new TV version of "The Normal Heart," Larry Kramer's 1985 play about the early years of the AIDS crisis. Kramer himself wrote the screenplay adaptation, which stars Mark Ruffalo and Julia Roberts. Almost 30 years later, the drama is both presented and viewed differently. If you miss it, you can catch it in reruns and on HBO Go. Those with VOD/HBO Go can also catch special extras, as well.
Hey all… just got this in… if you fit the bill or know someone who does, please let them know:
Join us tonight to relive history by watching 
