Ugh.

[c9]

Looks like the circus is coming back to town!

Halifax local celebrity (Canadian almost-Idol) Gary Beals is taking part in an anti-gay rally in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on March 5th -- the day before the March of Hearts on Parliament Hill in Ottawa! (www.marchofhearts.ca )

Aliant (the Atlantic Canada version of Bell) is currently running a half-dozen different television ads with Gary Beals teaching people how to use their cell phones. I just called Aliant to complain about using him in their commercials if he's going to be involved in this sort of anti-equality event.

I encourage other Atlantic Canadians (or everyone) to do the same if you agree. 1-800-222-7074 (you may need to be transferred if you don't have a cell phone, and they take your name and complaint and pass it on to a Manager).

I especially like that they're charging money for this event. More information from www.fotf.ca -- a horrid place, really.

"Marriage on the Rock Rally in Halifax

Dartmouth Sportsplex in Halifax will host a major rally for marriage on Friday, March 5th from 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Featured speakers include Dr. Darrel Reid (President of Focus on the Family Canada) and the Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast (Archbishop of Halifax). Music is by Gary Beals, noted Canadian recording artist. Tickets are $8.00 each. For more info, contact 865-1731."

Cameron MacLeod
Halifax
...I want to go protest, but it would just give me an ulcer.

Update:

I called the Dartmouth Sportsplex and bitched at their voicemail too! Man, I'm in a complaining mood today.

Comments

[x-23.livejournal.com]

Why would Gary Beals be at an anti-gay rally when he is a gay himself? That doesn't make any sense.

Re:

[c9.livejournal.com]

a) He is in the closet, and religion is a fun place to hide when one is not yet ready to face one's true nature yet.
b) He thinks that the only way to eke out a recording career after finishing second place in a *Canadian* Idol contest is to go after the religious CD-buyers.
c) He's not out to his parents yet, and they're managing him the way they think his career ought to go.

Also, when did "a gay" (gay as noun) start? It drives me batty, and I'm wondering where it came from?

Re:

[x-23.livejournal.com]

Well, it started with me. I've been talking to my family all week and my Miramichi accent has been flaring up. I also typed that very quick and didn't edit it. My mistake.

Re:

[c9.livejournal.com]

No, no, I'm not bitching about your specific use of it, I just mean in general. Yes, it drives me bonkers, but I know the entire usage isn't your fault. :)

(besides, if I was going to bitch about your grammar and spelling I'd start with-- er, I mean, never mind.)

Re:

[gueny.livejournal.com]

I think the original source of the term "a gay" traces back to a woman named Claudine (I will not expose the last name, for fear her career might end), and it has been since promoted by nihilicious. I really like the term- especially when used in plural (i.e. "the gays").

I refer to our group of friends as "the gays" on a regualr basis. I strongly recommend using this term whenever possible.

Re:

[c9.livejournal.com]

"The Gays" is a totally different usage than "gays and lesbians." I don't mind "the gays" (some of my best friends are gay, badum-bump), but I can't stand "news reports say several gays were standing near the protesters." I'm not a big fan of evolving language. Eventually, its' "going" to 'make' ANYthing allow'able.

[finfinaud.livejournal.com]

GAry BEals AND his younger brother are both gay!

[finfinaud.livejournal.com]

I called and made a complaint :)

I'm shocked

[sappiboi.livejournal.com]

I'm shocked... [Feb. 11th, 2004|01:23 pm]
[

GARY BEALS IS MORE GAY THAN A DRAG QUEEN IN A LITTLE BO PEEP OUTFIT LICKEN' A RAINBOW LOLLYPOP! This is unbelievable. I'm going to email Canadian Idle with the concerns that this may look that it reflects thier views of homosexuality and equality. How would they like to know that one of thier "precious" is influencing young people everywhere with anti-equality bullshit?? I say we all head to the Canadian Idle website and email them directly. We should all Subject our emails "Gary Beals does anti-equality rally"...
This just enrages me to no end. I've called Aliant and I'm in the process of sending out a mass email to everyone I know to do the same

Re: I'm shocked

[c9.livejournal.com]

Uh-oh, I've created a monster...

[kdborg.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize Beals was gay. Oh well.

Going to the protest would probably end his ability to get advertising contracts.

You could call his numbers from his website (http://www.garybealsonline.com/).

Re:

[c9.livejournal.com]

To be fair, I have no proof that he's gay, though I do agree he has several of the warning signs I read about. :-)

I may call his office number, but I'm getting too busy at work this afternoon, making it harder to be all ornery.

[joecdn.livejournal.com]

Maybe he's trying to infiltrate the religious. That would be hilarious - if he were to be on stage singing - then all of a sudden he went off on some rant. Wouldn't that be fun?! Boy would those religious people feel dumb then! LOL

[ratonil.livejournal.com]

I thought those groups only exist here in Chile. I'm really surprised, considering that Canada is one of the most advanced countries in gay issues.

Re:

[c9.livejournal.com]

Ahh, we're pretty advanced in the fighting equal rights department too. I think it floats across the border from the USA. We tend to do the right thing, but not without religious and conservative groups complaining a lot along the way...

[ratonil.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Even though you could agree or disagree with some points of view. It's good that different groups express their ideas... this helps to create new things and set a debate about many issues!!!.

Unfortunately, here in Chile there are not many groups which can do it because there is no interest. Most of the civil-groups are mostly conservative because they have money to support their ideas.

how did you find out??

[sappiboi.livejournal.com]

Cam how did you find out about this Rally?? If it was an email could or some type of publication could you either send me the email or the name of the publication? I've been talking to Lynn Coveyduck of customer relations for Aliant telecom and she would like a copy of the document.

Re: how did you find out??

[c9.livejournal.com]

Two different references:

http://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/tfn/2004/021004.html (bottom of page)

http://gatewayhalifax.com/what's%20happening.htm


I'll also include this email I sent, to someone who mentioned that it all looks very pro-marriage and religious, not anti-gay:

Rallies like this are always started, and promoted, as pro-marriage and pro-religious marriage and all sorts of positive things like that. But how many pro-marriage rallies were held before equal marriage became an issue in Canada? None. Now we're at one per month.

The whole thesis behind the rally is "Biblical marriage is right" -- which inevitably leads to "equal marriage for anybody else is wrong." Maybe they'll be nice about it, maybe they won't, but they are, clearly and inarguably, saying that I'm not allowed to get married cause I'm not good enough. Which is crap.

Re: how did you find out??

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

I disagree with you. The messages involved in this issue are complex. Like it or not, you have more in common with the "pro-marriage, anti-gay" people than you think. You agree with them (at least to some extent) that marriage as an institution plays an important social role, which should be valued. You agree with them that the state has a legitimate interest in supporting the institution of marriage. You just disagree about gay marriage.

Mind you, that's a big difference.

But it's a different difference than someone like me, who is basically "anti-marriage, pro-gay". I'd find it hard to strike up a meaningful friendly conversation with anyone at that rally, unless it was about their right to free speech. Whereas you can sympathize with some of their values, and from there, might be able to find some common ground.

Re: how did you find out??

[c9.livejournal.com]

The issues are complex, I agree. And you're right, I'm closer to them than I would normally feel. But I think that may be a difference that only registers when you find someone who is anti-marriage -- because that allows you to see that the spectrum actually goes further than everyone else thinks. To me, the bad guys and the good guys (so to speak) seem much further apart, because I'm focused on such a small section of the possible opinions.

To be honest, I'm really up in the air about marriage sometimes. I see ceremonial commitment as emotionally valuable, and I see some legal relationship/welfare protection as valuable, but I don't really see much reason for the state to be in the marriage business. BUT, since I'm reasonably certain the government will never just drop out of the business altogether (here comes polygamy, run away, run away!), I am of the opinion that we should make sure that what they do offer is completely legal and secular.

Once we advance the government to that point, it's easier to talk about why they even are involved in the first place.

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

One thing I defintitely agree with is that this shoudl be given some public light. Kudos to Cam for discovering the issue, and I hope that it gets some media publicity. I support Gary Beals' right to to support whatever, but he should be doing it in the sunshine.

Re:

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

*should

And by "doing it in the sunshine," I don't mean what you think I mean.