• Home
  • About
    • Merchandise
    • My Coming Out Story
  • Books by David W. Shelton
    • The Rainbow Kingdom
      • Steps to Reconciliation
      • Stories of Reconciliation
    • Unification: Rise of the Thunderblade
  • Sections
    • General Commentaries
    • Coming Out & Outings
    • Gay Rights
    • Gay Christians
    • Gay Marriage
    • Hate Groups
    • Politics
    • News
    • Scandals
    • Humor
    • Piccolo Memes
  • Top Posts
  • Conversation over Coffee
  • Contact
Skipping to the Piccolo
  • Home
  • About
    • Merchandise
    • My Coming Out Story
  • Books by David W. Shelton
    • The Rainbow Kingdom
      • Steps to Reconciliation
      • Stories of Reconciliation
    • Unification: Rise of the Thunderblade
  • Sections
    • General Commentaries
    • Coming Out & Outings
    • Gay Rights
    • Gay Christians
    • Gay Marriage
    • Hate Groups
    • Politics
    • News
    • Scandals
    • Humor
    • Piccolo Memes
  • Top Posts
  • Conversation over Coffee
  • Contact
Posts / View All
  • New York City Skyline as seen from Jersey City. Photo by David W. Shelton

    Remembering the September 11, 2001 attacks

    September 12, 2019
  • Unification: Rise of the Thunderblade

    Unification: Rise of the Thunderblade

    May 8, 2019
  • Battlestar Galactica and the quest for a great story

    May 6, 2019
  • Image copyright by CBS/Paramount Pictures.

    Lessons from Star Trek are timeless

    March 9, 2019
  • Star Blazers: The power of a great story

    March 5, 2019
  • Finger pointing at viewer while holding a Bible

    “I am a Christian, therefore…”

    February 26, 2019
  • Same-sex marriage rights under attack again in Tennessee

    February 17, 2019
  • The Irony of “Keep Christ in Christmas”

    December 22, 2018
  • GLAAD poll finds LGBTQ support slipping

    January 28, 2018
  • Adam West (1928-2017)

    June 10, 2017

Same-sex marriage rights under attack again in Tennessee

By David W. Shelton On February 17, 2019 · Add Comment · In Gay Marriage, Gay Rights
The Tennessee legislature will consider a new bill that would nullify all existing same-sex marriages and deny new licenses for gay couples in Tennessee.
Read More »

Legislators, leave your gay neighbors alone

By David W. Shelton On January 25, 2016 · Add Comment · In Gay Marriage, Gay Rights
Same-sex couples have the right to legally marry in Tennessee. This statement is also true in all of the other 49 states in the union. Naturally, the backlash has become a tour-de-force of anti-gay rhetoric and misinformation with the very clear goal of stripping gay couples of the dignity and respect they have as lawfully [...]
Read More »

Four Words: It’s Good Policy

By David W. Shelton On December 24, 2012 · Add Comment · In Gay Rights, General Commentaries, podcast

There are times where nuance and detailed explanations just don’t have enough punch where plain truth is far more effective. I’d love to say that certain members of our community are misinformed or just not sharing the whole truth when it comes to their anti-gay politics, but lately, I realize that I’m being overly generous. When I hear otherwise reasonable people say in a public forum that a policy — that would prevent discrimination by the City for employment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression — would make our city “less attractive” to businesses that we might recruit to the area, there’s no nice way around it. So I’ll just say it.

Bigotry is dumb.

Read More »

Four Words. Foresight. For Clarksville.

By David W. Shelton On December 18, 2012 · Add Comment · In Gay Rights, podcast, Politics

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting compelling reasons and examples of nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. I have asked the City of Clarksville, Tennessee to expand its own internal policy to include both sexual orientation and gender identity to its internal nondiscrimination policy. Such a change would not affect any business or organization that is not managed by the City’s human resources department.

Interestingly, local anti-equality activists have started a smear campaign against this common-sense policy, and as usual, their tactics include an astonishing amount of disinformation and known falsehoods.

Read More »

Anti-transgender “Police the Potty” bill adds to Tennessee shame

By David W. Shelton On January 12, 2012 · Add Comment · In Gay Rights, Politics
Chattanooga State Representative Richard Floyd filed a bill this week that would have targeted the use of bathrooms by transgender people. The Senate version was withdrawn shortly after it was filed.
Read More »

Male rape victim shamed, ridiculed by Franklin police

By David W. Shelton On January 3, 2012 · 3 Comments · In Gay Rights, General Commentaries
Not all rape victims are women. We might know this to be true, but it's a dark side of life that affected one man's life in Franklin, Tennessee.
Read More »

Tennessee blotted with anti-gay hate

By David W. Shelton On October 12, 2011 · Add Comment · In Gay Rights, Hate Groups
Despite a general “live and let live” policy by most Tennesseans, a few outspoken troglodytes have sullied the state with new assaults and bullying against gay residents. Worse yet, these assaults are from “leaders.” I’ve long understood that there are members of my family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances that “disagree” with “homosexuality.” I get that. [...]
Read More »

My letter to the County Commission

By David W. Shelton On March 7, 2009 · 3 Comments · In Politics
As many of you know, I’m in the running for the open County Commission seat here in Montgomery County, TN. Below is the letter that I’ve sent to the members, who will vote on Monday, March 9th to decide who joins them: Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m David W. Shelton, and I’m a [...]
Read More »

Anti-gay adoption bill filed in Tennessee – again!

By David W. Shelton On February 4, 2009 · Add Comment · In Gay Rights, Politics
Republicans have been in power in the Tennessee State Legislature for mere weeks, and already they’ve set their crosshairs on the gay and lesbian community once again. Two years ago, Tennessee was the battleground for “marriage protection amendment” to the state’s constitution which prevents gay and lesbian couples from marrying. That amendment passed in 2006 [...]
Read More »

Anti-gay adoption bill filed in Tennessee

By David W. Shelton On January 31, 2008 · 1 Comment · In Gay Rights, News
Discriminatory legislation should be rejected Yesterday, Rep. John Deberry (D-Memphis) and Senator Paul Stanley (R-Memphis) filed companion bills that would prohibit “any individual who is cohabitating in a sexual relationship outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state from adopting a minor.” The companion bills are SB3910 and [...]
Read More »
 
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • Comments
  • Tags
  • Relief from Constipated ChristianityIn an unlikely pairing of words I’ve decided to define [...]
  • Respect, Trust, Communication, and Sex: All parts of a great relationshipWhat is the formula to a great relationship? It’s really [...]
  • Offended by the American Flag? Nope.A trend for right-wing followers is to display bumper stickers [...]
  • Those mean old homosexuals!The last two years have been simply incredible for the [...]
  • Remembering the September 11, 2001 attacksIt’s been 18 years since our country was attacked. Our [...]
  • Unification: Rise of the ThunderbladeI’m excited to present my new book Unification: Rise of [...]
  • Battlestar Galactica and the quest for a great storyThere were many sources of inspiration to my book Unification: [...]
  • Lessons from Star Trek are timelessStar Trek’s lessons for all of us are just as [...]
  • "Holy cow, are you ignorant. First off, sex isn"
    on Homosexuality is Not […]
  • "Gay man here. 100% agree... although I'm a lot mo"
    on James Franco Movie, […]
  • "Hello! I was reading one of the religious forums w"
    on James Franco Movie, […]
activism AFA American Family Association announcements Barack Obama bigotry Bryan Fischer Christian Community Church of Clarksville christianity Christianity and Sexuality civil rights don't-ask-don't-tell Exodus International FRC gay christians gay marriage Grace homosexuality Humor Jesus liars marriage equality Peter Labarbera Religion sexuality Ted Haggard tennessee the Bible The Rainbow Kingdom Tony Perkins
  • Like me on Facebook!

  • Click to subscribe to my podcast on iTunes!
  • Search this site:

  • Subscribe to Skipping to the Piccolo

    Get the latest Skipping to the Piccolo blog post delivered to your email!
  • Follow me on Twitter!

    Follow @dwshelton
  • The Christian Left Facebook Page
  • Check out David’s Book!

    The Rainbow Kingdom: Christianity & the Homosexual Reconciled - Order yours TODAY!
  • Recent Comments

    • John on Homosexuality is Not a Sin.
    • Spaceman, MD on James Franco Movie, ‘I am Michael’ ‘True Ex-Gay” NOT Ex-Gay
    • Lety Ortiz on James Franco Movie, ‘I am Michael’ ‘True Ex-Gay” NOT Ex-Gay
    • David W. Shelton on Homosexuality is Not a Sin.
    • John Mitten on Homosexuality is Not a Sin.
  • Archives

  • Recent Posts

    • Remembering the September 11, 2001 attacks
    • Unification: Rise of the Thunderblade
    • Battlestar Galactica and the quest for a great story
    • Lessons from Star Trek are timeless
    • Star Blazers: The power of a great story
  • Blog Information Profile for Radroz
  • Exposing Anti-Gay Rhetoric

    • Box Turtle Bulletin
    • Equality Matters
    • Ex Gay Watch
    • Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
    • Right Wing Watch
    • Truth Wins Out
  • Gay bloggers

    • Joe. My. God
    • John M. Becker
    • Towleroad
  • LGBT Resources

    • GayChurch.org – Find an Affirming Church
    • Impact Magazine
    • It Gets Better Project
    • Soulforce – Gay Christian Pamphlet
    • Tennessee Equality Project
    • The Gay Christian Netowrk
    • The Trevor Project
    • Whosoever – Gay and Christian
  • Recommended Sites

    • CanyonWalker Connections
    • Coffee Party USA
    • Dr. Warren Throckmorton
    • Egberto Willies
    • Imagine Media Solutions
    • John Shore
 
  • Latest Posts

    • Remembering the September 11, 2001 attacksIt’s been 18 years since our [...]
    • Unification: Rise of the ThunderbladeI’m excited to present my new [...]
    • Battlestar Galactica and the quest for a great storyThere were many sources of inspiration [...]
  • Recent Comments

    • "Holy cow, are you ignorant. First off, sex isn"
      on Homosexuality is Not […]
    • "Gay man here. 100% agree... although I'm a lot mo"
      on James Franco Movie, […]
    • "Hello! I was reading one of the religious forums w"
      on James Franco Movie, […]
  • Top Categories

    • General Commentaries (173)
    • Gay Rights (133)
    • Politics (74)
    • Gay Christians (53)
    • Hate Groups (49)
    • Gay Marriage (43)
  • About Skipping to the Piccolo

    David W. Shelton is a writer, graphic designer, activist, and business owner. He currently lives in Clarksville, TN, and has had works appear in The Leaf-Chronicle, The Advocate, The Tennessean, and Impact Magazine.
© 2021 Skipping to the Piccolo