Born This Way Banned... AGAIN?!

Yep, you heard it. Lady Gaga's epic gay-loving album, Born This Way, has been banned in yet another country.

There's Gaga above, who won the Fashion Icon prize this week at the CDFA Fashion Awards.

Also this week, BTW was banned in Lebanon, after Father Abdo Abu Kassm, director of the Lebanon Catholic Information Centre announced the following:

"If they are going to offend us we are going to cancel the album. We will not accept that anyone insult the Virgin Mary or Jesus or Christianity ... Call us traditional, call us backward, call us whatever you want. We will not accept it."

So basically, Father Kassm is inviting us to call his people ridiculous. Surely if those religious people that this records 'offends' hate the idea of religious 'insults' so much, they just wouldn't buy it?

Also, have Lebanon not heard how Gaga herself is Catholic?

Gaga frequently mentions her love for God and her faith, prays every time she goes on-stage and her tweets reflect that fact.

Furthermore, she has explained the meaning of the song 'Judas' - one of the songs which is causing this controversy, and have revealed that Judas is simply a metaphor for a guy she dated and kept going back to, even though he betrayed her. (Which is sort of what happened in the Bible).

I'm also pretty sure that Gaga's hit single Born This Way, which contains the lyrics "No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to survive", were some of those words that also offended said Catholic religion mongers.

Why don't they just censor or cut those words from the album? I mean, I'm sure Gaga would be opposed to it, but it doesn't mean that those in Lebanon who are struggling with their sexuality should be forbidden from hearing her song about individuality.

Personally, I find this ridiculous that today, free speech and freedom to purchase which music records you want to purchase are forbidden in certain countries.

Which country do you think will ban Born This Way next? Comment below!

Oranges Aren't The Only Fruit

In the past, I've blogged about the more homophobic goings on at my college. However, for once, I have some positive to write about on the gay front.

I was casually strolling past the DVD section in our college library (I was actually about to leave) when what should I see but the movie version of Jeanette Winsterson's Oranges Aren't The Only Fruit.

'Oranges' follows a lesbian girl and her partner who is adopted into a religious family. Obviously, the fact that this DVD even existed in such a close proximity to my own home (clearly ignoring my personal DVD collection) surprised me because in a small town like ours, most people have very old-fashioned views on homosexuals.

The fact that the movie was there for everyone to see - it wasn't pushed to the back, gathering dust, it was actually on the front row! - put a smile on my face and simply inspired me to write this blog.

So whoever put it there or suggested it should be available for rent in a public library, I salute you.

P.s. Since when could you take out DVDs in a library? Surely that is what Blockbuster is for...

Message to all gays: GO TO HELL!

This morning, as a Christian, I picked up my Bible to re-read the book of Corinthian. Now I know that the Bible isn't the most gay friendly book of all time, but the following extract made me briefly hate religion in its entirety.

"1 Corinthians 6:9,10,13
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God."

Now I'm not saying the Bible is wrong - maybe homosexuals are forbidden from going to heaven - but surely, if God is as 'all-giving' and as 'all-loving' as Christianity implies, shouldn't all people, no matter what their race or beliefs are, go to heaven?


Usually, I believe in everything the Bible says, but this extract made me question if I believed in this statement against homosexuals. Then I realized, maybe I do believe this phrase to be true. Maybe it's true that deceased homosexuals reside in hell, next to the murderers and rapists.

No, I'm turning against gay people and 'changing my lifestyle' to become a heterosexual, I'm simply stating that I would rather go to hell than betray myself and my fellow gay people. I'm saying now that I'd rather be gay and happy in my lifetime, and go to hell as a result, than be walking around pretending to be heterosexual and have an extremely unhappy life, just so that I can walk through the pearly gates.

If the Bible says I go to hell for being gay, then so be it. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am going to hell. I am going to hell for committing a 'crime' that doesn't even exist among Western culture. I am going to hell because I am not a liar and I am not in denial. I am gay and proud now, and I will continue to be when God asks me if I have sinned during my time on Earth.

So gays, go to hell. I'll see you there!

A Place of Love and Beauty

This is Peter in his jumperoo for the first time. He LOVES this thing.

Here we go... another day, another group of pictures.

Today was actually a really good day. Robert watched The Buppy (Peter) pretty much all day (from 10 am to 4 pm) while I went to the temple! (Thanks, Honey!) It was so wonderful. Robert and I like to go together, but it's hard with the baby, so we're going to start going separate regularly, then making a date of it whenever we can swing a babysitter. All the same, it felt amazing to be there. I just hope I can keep the Spirit I felt in the temple with me until the next time I go.

If you did the math, you probably wondered what took so long at the temple (10 am to 4 pm). Well, the whole temple part of this morning took about 5 hours (including 2.5 hours of driving; some of that driving downtown--AKA in front of the White House--because I missed my freeway entrance, haha). After that, I went to the grocery store, which I usually hate to do, but without the baby, it was kind of nice. Who knew a trip to the grocery store could feel like such a mini vacation?

I feel like I'm in a boring mood right now, so I will spare you any more reading. :) Just know that I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (in case you don't know what religion I belong to) is the true church on the earth today. The temple confirmed that knowledge again today. I also know that each of us is a beloved child of God. What an awesome fact to consider. I hope I will remember that truth every day; about myself and about others. (How different would the world be if every person absolutely knew that?) Awesome. Love to all! (-Jocelyn)

You can't really tell, but Peter's sleeping with his rear end sticking up into the air. It's one of his favorite ways to sleep now, and it' oh so cute. Look at those cheeks! :)
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For Robert's birthday, I totally decked out the dining room and kitchen area (the spot you see when you walk out the hallway), so he'd be greeted properly for his birthday. I was pretty proud of my handiwork.
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Robert and his birthday cookies (instead of cake, which he doesn't like). We thought two candles would suffice. They represent twenty-five candles (24 years and 1 to grow on).
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Until next time... :)