I really urge everybody to read the CPAC 2010 straw poll results (PDF DOWNLOAD). Many have been belittling the poll, including FOXNews, because Ron Paul became CPACs candidate of choice for president in 2012. Yet if you look at the numbers, the results are rather eye-opening:

64% of respondents identified as male and 85% of all respondents to the poll are below the age of 55. This is significant given that it puts them all at odds with the media age of members of Congress (which is 56 years).

So for the vast majority of "the future" (aka, the youth and young and younger middle aged) of the conservative movement, abortion, gay marriage and immigrant criminalization are close to zilch in importance. Even national security (aka "War On Terrorism") comes in at a distant 18% as a second choice. In the first choice round is just but 8% compared to the whopping 35% of "reduce the federal government".

For reproductive rights, immigration and LGBT rights advocates, this poll is actually a treasure trove of counter-talking points.

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• Diaz isn't a bigot @Markos! Didn't u know some of his best friends & relatives are gay? He <3's the gays just not enough 2 give 'em = rights 
   
• gay marriage fails In NY? I expect this in Alabama but NY? So much 4 our northeast gay liberal elitist secular culture war
   
• Monserrate IS all about family values. He was so concerned when his gfriend walked into piece of glass he was holding #nymarriageequality
   

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Lest I am accused of not forewarning people, you may find yourself mildly attracted and/or aroused by the naked photograph of Tigerhawk. And let me be frank, I can't believe a Republican can be that hawt when they have "leaders" that look like Rush Limbaugh and the Pillsbury Doughboy.

But TigerHawk's I stand in naked solidarity with Carrie Prejean made me laugh:

So here it is: in an effort to advance the concept of civil discourse, and to protest the lack of it in this case, I will post a naked, but tasteful picture of myself. Ironic, huh? I stand in naked solidarity with you, Carrie Prejean, so that you can express your views without being attacked personally, even if I disagree with you -- especially if I disagree with you.

I am not going all Code Pink here, since I have no intent to disrupt any kind of official public proceeding with shouting and nakedness.

Yes, I understand the argument that she is now in the public eye and therefore has a target on her back, or front, or whatever, and is fair game, and yes, I understand that she will do fine financially as a result of her new-found fame. But honestly, can you even remember the name of any other runner-up to any other beauty contest? It was her answer to Hilton's question that put her in the limelight, and she answered it straightforwardly and almost apologetically, then stands behind her response, and for that she receives a media colonoscopy.

Media Colonoscopy?
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National Rally to be held at city halls everywhere in the United States on Jan 10th at 1:30pm EST/10:30am PST. The LGBT community is protesting the Defense of Marriage Act and urges President-Elect Barack Obama to repeal this act.

For more information go to JoinTheImpact.com

After decades of being persecuted for their nontraditional marriages, Mormons were thrilled to organize their members to support Proposition 8, a California amendment which stripped gays and lesbians of their right to wed, a right which the California Supreme Court had granted. The Church of Latter Day Saints, renounced polygamy in 1890, but they continue to worship a text which exalts it and follow a religion which breads fundamentalism. The Mormons feared that, if not stopped, equal rights would creep into other states. Spokesman Mike Otterson said "If same-gender marriage is approved in California...other states will follow suit." The Church issued a letter, which was read in every congregation, urging members to donate their "means and time" to pass Prop 8. The Yes on 8 campaign estimates that up to 40 percent of its donations come from Mormons. And so, the people who had insisted that marriage is between a man and a woman and a woman and a woman...would not stand for a marriage between two men or two women.
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When I found out California and Florida were state's #29 and #30 in the banning of same-sex marriage, I was aghast. Yet what really pissed me off was the fact that the Church of Latter Days Saints alone spent 20 million dollars in pushing for a ban on same-sex "marriage" in California.

Why the outrage? Because it proves my point about the anti-gay marriage laws : they are laws meant to use civil law to enforce a Christian Nationalist and Dominionist article of faith. The passing of Proposition 8 shows The Church's hand in legislating, crossing the constitutional line that is meant to separate Church and State.

It's not the only reason why I believe anti-gay marriage laws, including the Defense of Marriage Act, are anti-constitutional. I believe all marital rites performed by the state should be banned. The word "marriage" should be stricken out of the books and replaced with "civil union" and "marriage" and marital rites should be the domain of churches. For that matter, civil "marriages" should be replaced by civil unions that would not be able to discriminate based on sex, gender, ability or citizenship status as well have full "family rights" under domestic, family and inheritance law. You want a "marriage"? Then go to your church, temple, mosque or sinagogue to get one.

This takes me to the obvious question : Why in the world are gays fighting for marriage by the state if it is absolutely obvious that marriage is a religious construct?
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