seventeen. updated.

I am taking this from my friend RQKidd, and I want as many of you to pass this on as possible. Please be aware that we are not going to sit down and be quiet anymore. Peace to you all!

My friends and I are all about holding people and organizations accountable for their actions and words. When it comes to social networking sites they are no different and when it comes to sites that allow LGBT people to be out on them I hold them in higher regard. However when a site makes light of a user's comment about a homophobic remark on their domain I feel that the social networking site needs to be held accountable for their words and actions or in this case lack there of.

eSpin, an online spin the bottle/social networking site has never said one way or another how they feel about LGBT issues but a recent comment from a user has made me question just how much they back the LGBT users on their site. When "spinning the bottle" eSpin comes up with bottle facts which are displayed at the bottom of the screen. The fact that a friend of mine got as a gay man stated "the 55 dudes who wrote the Constitution drank 152 bottles of booze at the after party (we really hope they did not play spin the bottle with the empties.)" When my friend brought this to their attention they responded with " it was only meant in good fun" and that "You don't have to be homophobic to think that an elderly Benjamin Franklin making out with George Washington is gross" I don't know about you guys, but since when,regardless of who is kissing, it okay to be homophobic on a site that has an LGBT population? I have included the messages and responses from eSpin as well as a screen shot of the bottle fact he received. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you can help us shed some light on this folks.

R.Q Kidd

Dear eSpin
One of you\'re bottle facts when \"spinning the bottle\" states
that you hope none of the men who wrote the constitution played spin the
bottle with the \"empties.\" For a website that is okay with
homosexuality and half-supports it, this sounds like a very anti-gay
statement. I have saved a picture of the screen on my computer in case I
need to email it to you, but I would be very happy if there weren\'t
comments like this on here because it sounds very anti-gay or
homophobic.


-We're sorry that you were offended by one of the "bottle facts" on the spin page. We assure you that it was only meant in good fun and doesn't represent any anti-gay feelings. I mean, think about it. You don't have to be homophobic to think that an elderly Benjamin Franklin making out with George Washington is gross (especially if you consider the wooden teeth). Thanks, eSPIN

- eSPIN, Excuse me, but if Ben Franklin wanted to make out with George Washington then that is thier topic of discussion not mine. It may have been meant to be "good fun" but something like that and your comment are both very offensive. I would not have a problem with Ben Franklin or George Washing making out if it was thier decision and to give you an example i know two "elderly" men who are in a happy and comitted relationship and I think it would be cute if I saw them kiss. So about the bottle fact, I hope it was removed because a few of my other friends have found it and are not happy either and to comment your example, do not tell me what is gross or not because your comment leads me to believe you have an age descrimination on making out. My concerns are meant to be taken seriously not lightly and I enjoy clean good fun as long as it is not at the expense of others.

**UPDATED**
Espin.com later replies with the following message on January 9, 2009...

You're absolutely right. If Benjamin Franklin and George Washington want to make out with each other, it is completely their business and we should stay out of it. (Though they should probably check with Martha first.)

We've considered your suggestion and have decided to leave the bottle fact up. If you don't think that eSPIN is a place where you want to hang out anymore, we regretfully understand.

Thanks,
eSPIN

Please HELP us stop this homophobia and discrimination that this site is obviously not sorry for and plans to continue to practice! I am asking you all to spread the word about eSPIN.com to your friends, family and coworkers. We need to let them know that they will no longer receive our business if they choose to practice such grotesque practices. Stand up for justice!



Please keep in mind that we are not done speaking to Espin about this and hopefully I will have an update for you in the next few days.

Yours freely,
Tennessee James

sixteen.

Sometimes when I am talking to people about our work I feel like Billy Mays.
You know the one I am mean. He is the guy who sells oxygen cleaning supplies, orange juicers, and super glue on TV. He is the one who yells his entire sales pitch.
You and I both know that when he comes on the television set nine out of ten people either mute him or make fun of him. I do not want to discredit his work because he is obviously doing something right if all these companies keep hiring him, but what about the majority of us that try to tune him out?
I feel like him because I am trying to find the best sales pitch to convince others about how important our work is. I have tried the soft approach. I have tried the "actions are louder than words" approach. I am not giving up on them. I just need to learn to be braver.
I think bravery is my theme this year. I want to be braver. Whenever I see a place I am limiting myself, I want to change and make that a different story.
I want to be Billy Mays. I have something important to tell people and I am going to stand on the rooftops until I know they understand why we have to finish this work.

Yours freely,
Tennessee James

fifteen.

I wonder sometimes why so many of us start off with large dreams but never see them come to fruition. Do we burn out or just give up? How many of us never even try?
I do not know what will become of our efforts. I would like to believe that we really can change the world. I would love to know that we are not the only five people in Virginia who care and that we are not the only ten people who care in the United States.
Sometimes the fight seems like it is just you against the world. Then I turn to my friend and I remember that even if it is just us against everyone else that it is worth it just to say that we never gave up on our dream.
I have so much faith in what we are doing. I know that if we continue on we really can change the world. That is a big dream that I am not willing to give up on so easily.
What is your dream? How are you going to leave your mark on the world? Will you be remembered by the person who needs you the most right now?
Stand up. Know that with out your help we can not make this happen.
We need you to believe in yourself and your dreams. I know I do.

Yours freely,
Tennessee James

fourteen.

I just wanted to take a second and let everyone know what is happening on the home front here in Lynchburg, Virginia.
I have been asked to step up and participate with the organization Students for Equality. You can check them out at studentsforequality.com
They are conducting a day of equality. January 27th every high school and college student is encouraged to wear the Students for Equality shirt. You can order yours through the website. I am asking all of you to consider helping out with this amazing cause. They need more volunteers and if you live in Virginia please contact me because I will be needing help finding other supporters.

Also, if you live in Lynchburg there is a new event coming up. Join the Impact has come to our area and we are having a meeting on Saturday, January 10th. Feel free to check out the facebook event.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1554755823&ref=name#/event.php?eid=41796704693&ref=mf

I hope to see a great turn out.
I know this year is going to be amazing simply because of all of your efforts. Thank you so much for your hard work and I can not wait to see you all out there for the next protest. Let us bring an end to oppression in 2009. Let us finish what our brothers and sisters started 40 years ago. Stand tall and stand strong because I have no doubt in my mind that we will succeed.
Be blessed!

Yours freely,
Tennessee James

thirteen.

I am taking the rest of the month off. I just wanted to let everyone know that their efforts in 2008 have been amazing and very appreciated.
Thank you so much for all your hard work. You are really changing lives and making the world a better place.
I am going to take a moment to take care of my family. Please, keep them in your prayers!
I have so much faith in all of you and your abilities. Remember that no matter what we will succeed and we will win this battle and eventually the war that the other side started.
Love and peace to you all!

Yours freely,
Tennessee James

twelve.

I am sitting in a hotel lobby waiting to get on a bus to go to Washington, D.C. to protest the passing of Prop. 8.
I love that what started with just one young woman out in Seattle has turned into a movement of over a million people. This is what change can do when we come together to fight injustice.
Today, my friend is going to carry a sign that says "No More Mr. Nice Gay". I think this sums up how most of us feel. We are tired of being treated as second class citizens. It is one thing to deny us our rights in the first place, but to give them to people in California and then take them away is plain unconstitutional.
We will not be played with any more. We will not bend over and keep letting them screw us. Stand tall my friends. All over the country we will be joining together to create change. Watch it happen!
I would love to hear the stories of your march. Please let me know what happens in your cities!

Yours freely,
Tennessee James

eleven.

Will separate but equal work?
I am so glad Obama was elected last week, but how long will we have to settle for separate, but equal. All the conservatives are running around saying that Obama is for gay marriage, but let me tell you the truth.
According to Obama and Biden, marriage is between a man and a woman. They will let us have civil unions and partnerships, but marriage is reserved for heterosexuals.
Didn't we learn a long time ago that separate but equal DOES NOT WORK?
I want to see true change in America and that just won't happen until we stop settling for second best and remember that we own houses, pay taxes and participate in the democratic process, too.
I am a citizen who will not be shut up. Will you speak up with me?


Yours freely,
Tennessee James

ten.

I am so tired.
I feel like I am fighting against the tides. You are thwarting my best efforts to create change, but I will not give up on you.
Every time I think you are close to acceptance you say something that sets us back two spaces. I will not stop loving you. I will not stop trying to see the best in you. I will not stop praying for you and blessing your family.
I am sitting here with my cats, and I am wondering what would happen if they treated each other like you treat people. I think how my house would be a wreck and then we would be standing around staring at them asking for an explanation. They, of course, would not answer and we would be left to pick up the mess.
I am offering to pick up the mess with you, but what I demand that the cats can't give me is an explanation. Please, explain to me why you think it is OK to tear apart our church in the name of Christ when Christ said division is bad. Why do you choose to exclude the "counter culture" when Christ was considered "counter culture" in his day? There is plenty of room in the church pews for people of all walks of life, yet you are content to let starving people sit outside because they make you feel uncomfortable. Put aside the fact that that is not only blatantly against scripture and try to understand that could be you. Would you change who you are for the people who exclude you? Would the fact that people yell at you and tell you that you deserve to die want to change how you live your life? I would say more than likely not.
Have compassion. Our generation is dying a spiritual death because you wont tell them about the saving truth until they "clean up" their "lifestyle." Do you see the misguidance in that? I do.
God have mercy on those who boast in themselves and not in the Lord. I have been sent with a message and I will happily help you clean up the mess. Whats your explanation?

Yours freely,
Tennessee James

nine.

So my friend Anna asked me to write a letter to the President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for her and some of the other Equality Riders to read as they are performing civil disobedience on that campus. Here is the letter I wrote.

President Patterson and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary,
I am writing to you today as a student who goes to a school that holds discriminatory policies against me. I was raised by a father that studied at your school when I was a child. We lived in your family townhouses and I was raised with your teachings and theologies. I can tell you as a kid who grew up in that environment that I was taught to love God with my whole heart. I was told that if I simply believed in my heart, and confessed with my mouth that he is Lord then I would be saved. Why then do you and other teachers of the word of God say that it takes more than that to call yourself a Christian? You will try and quickly correct me by saying that that is not what you believe, but every time you say you respect without accepting people for who they are is saying to me that you view me as less than the person God has made me to be.
Galatians says that when you teach salvation is found in anything else other than the saving grace of Christ it is a lie. What I am asking you to do today is put aside all the extra stuff you hold over people and remember that we are all one in Christ. We are no longer Jew or gentile, free or slave, male or female but we are all true children of Abraham and are now covered by the covenant that was made by him and God. What I ask of you today is simple. Remember that I am your sister in Christ. Remember that I believe in the same Savior that you trust for your salvation. Now with that being said, I ask you to accept my friends onto your campus and have a discussion with them about the issue at hand. I can tell you as a young lady I grew up with a very negative view of the church because for the majority of its people there is no room for discussion and the possibility that different does not necessarily mean wrong. Please listen to them as they speak about truth and love and know that they mean well and are not coming from a place of hatred but of absolute love for you and your students. Peace be with you, sir, and please know there are many of us that pray for you daily as you educate the future of our American church.
Peace and Truth to you,
Tennessee James

Short, sweet and to the point. I cannot wait to see change in the church.

Yours freely,
Tennessee James

eight.

Recently, I have found myself wanting to become more. Just more. I do not know what that means right now, but I know there is more. I want to be a part of more. I want to experience and see more.
I want to start taking chances that take me out of my comfort zone. I want to be challenged to not be afraid of anything.
I am ready to take on the world. Just let me do it in a peaceful, nonviolent way. Pray that I do not stop for anyone or anything. Pray that I will jump hurdles and climb over obstacles.
This is the time for action and I am ready to take on this challenge. Now, I am looking for people to take on this adventure with me. Will you be one of those?

Yours freely,
Tennessee James