Away on "sensitivity training"

For the next two weeks, I will be in Dayton, Tennessee on sensitivity training (just joking). :)

Last Tuesday, the commissioners passed a measure making it illegal to live in Dayton if you are gay. On Thursday, the voted 8-0 to rescind their action on Tuesday. They said it was all a "misunderstanding". Yeah right...

That's ok. I didn't really wanna live in good ole Tennessee anywayz. If they have time to dedicate to stuff like this, I guess their unemployment is low, business is good, jobs are thriving, educational programs are doing well, etc.

Commissioners in rural, conservative Rhea County never intended to create the "wildfire" of reaction that resulted from banning gay people, the county attorney said after the board reversed its 2-day-old decision.

The original vote was meant to show support for the state's ban on same-sex marriages, county Attorney Gary Fritts said Thursday.

"They wanted to send a message to our (state) representative and senator that Rhea County supports the ban on same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is what it was all about," Fritts said. "There has just been so much misunderstanding about this. It was to stop people from coming here and getting married and living in Rhea County." (story)

Other news
Three gay couples unofficially married outside N.Y. City Hall - Three same-sex couples were married by clergy members on the steps of City Hall, and the Manhattan prosecutor said he would not seek to sanction those who officiated.

The unions Thursday will not be officially recognized because of the state's ban on gay marriages. The couples had been turned away a few hours earlier from the city clerk's office when they sought marriage licenses.

Quebec Legalizes Gay Marriage - MONTREAL -- The Quebec Court of Appeal has ruled the province's current definition of marriage to be in violation of constitutional guarantees of equal treatment under the law and given the right of gay and lesbian residents of the province to marry.

The ruling is the latest to send shockwaves across the North American landscape on the question of whether same-sex couples should be entitled to the full rights and responsibilities of marriage.

Spain Moves to Back Gay Unions - MADRID -- The incoming Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, announced on Thursday he will move to legalize gay unions, though his new may not go as far as activists have urged and grant full marriage equality to gay couples.

The new Socialist government, which was swept into power on the heels of terrorist bombings that killed more than 200 people, wasted no time in staking out a new agenda for the country.

Anti-Defamation Group Has Criticism And Praise For 50 Cent - It's no surprise that the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation would express concern over controversial comments made by 50 Cent against homosexuals. What's surprising is that the organization is praising the rapper for his honesty.

GLADD, you like honesty? How 'bout this? ARE YOU NUTS? Recent quotes from 50 Cent:
"I ain't into faggots. I don't like gay people around me, because I'm not comfortable with what their thoughts are. I'm not prejudiced. I just don't go with gay people and kick it - we don't have that much in common. I'd rather hang out with a straight dude. But women who like women, that's cool."

"It's OK to write that I'm prejudiced. This is as honest as I could possibly be with you. When people become celebrities they change the way they speak. But my conversation with you is exactly the way I would have a conversation on the street. We refer to gay people as faggots, as homos. It could be disrespectful, but that's the facts."

Geez, and I support GLADD.