There is nothing about the new movie Milk that I can say that has not already been said. In my mind it should have received every award that it was nominated for. Sean Penn has never been captivated by a role so totally as when he played Milk. His performance was stunning. His acceptance speech at the Oscars is something I finally understand. When Anita Bryant (that soulless devil and destroyer of hope) brought her evil Proposition 6 to California she has seen success all across the country - but in California she failed.
And this is why Sean Penn said that the people who voted for Proposition 8. He said that because California stopped the hatred and the fear with their defeat of Proposition 6 and they should have stopped it again by denying Prop. 8. But LGBT people have faced adversity and betrayal before and we forgive easily if we are shown that people want to do the right thing.
It's time to fight back - not in a few election cycles but in the very next one. We will call of the followers of Milk and we will call on his spirit to guide us. We will call on all those who have gone before and who have yet to come to unite behind this effort as we have never united before. We will prevail. Harvey Milk said "If a bullet should enter my brain let that bullet destroy every closet door." I call on the leaders of the LGBT community to once again raise the call for people to come out - come out to your friends, co-workers, parents, families and congregations. Come out to everyone every chance you get. Tell them that you are gay and when they next go to the polls to vote on gay people remind them that if they vote to hurt gay people they are voting to hurt you.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
BOYCOTT PRANKPLACE.COM!!!!!!
PrankPlace.com, an online Internet gag store, is advertising magnetic bumper stickers meant to be placed on unsuspecting people's cars as jokes. Featured on the site are numerous bumper stickers with various gay-themed slogans. Attaching a gay themed slogan sticker to some one's car is absolutely a dangerous business practice and here's why:
- It makes a mockery of the struggle for LGBT equality, an important struggle held close tot he hearts of many
- It creates a potentially dangerous situation for the victim of the prank as anti-gay violence is a very real and serious problem faced by many LGBT motorists. Incidence of road-rage and assault because of gay-themed bumper stickers is quite real.
- It creates a potentially dangerous situation for anyone observing the victim's false bumper sticker - someone may assume the person is gay and approach them, leading to a potential homophobic or violent outburst against an unwitting observer
- The site compares bestiality, and criminal activity to being gay - which is at best an unfair comparison and at worst a type of corporate gay-bashing.
The site proudly advertises these products thus:
Slap one of our hilarious magnetic bumper "sticker" signs on someone's (sic) car and laugh your butt off as they drive down the road. These signs are printed on magnetic sheeting so they will not damage the vehicles finish, but we CANNOT guarantee what they do to the ego of the driver! Stick one on someone's (sic) car... They won't notice for days!
While many of PrankPlace.com's products are amusing this product has the potential to do serious harm. Email PrankPlace.com today and tell them to remove this product!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Pope is an Idiot
The Pope said today that condoms are not the answer to the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa but instead people should practice abstinence and fidelity.
The Pope is a moron. African leaders are also right to suggest that the Pope cares more about religious dogma than the lives of African citizens. Especially since condoms are frequently proven tools to the reduction of HIV transmission.
The Pope, however, should not be looked to as a world leader but as a spiritual leader. According to the Christian faith the Pope is not really interested in saving your life but in saving your soul. it should come as no surprise, then, that he does not advocate for the use of condoms as a tool to fight HIV and AIDS. In fact I am surprised that he is concerned with worldly ailments at all. Of course this makes me wonder if he goes in for health checkups and takes any effort to prevent his body being afflicted with disease.
The Pope is a moron. African leaders are also right to suggest that the Pope cares more about religious dogma than the lives of African citizens. Especially since condoms are frequently proven tools to the reduction of HIV transmission.
The Pope, however, should not be looked to as a world leader but as a spiritual leader. According to the Christian faith the Pope is not really interested in saving your life but in saving your soul. it should come as no surprise, then, that he does not advocate for the use of condoms as a tool to fight HIV and AIDS. In fact I am surprised that he is concerned with worldly ailments at all. Of course this makes me wonder if he goes in for health checkups and takes any effort to prevent his body being afflicted with disease.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Lou Dobson Resigns - Focus on the Family struggles
Lou Dobson is resigning from the anti-gay organization Focus on the Family after 3 straight years of heavy financial losses that add up to tens of millions.
He is an absolute horror of a human being and I can't think of anything better to brighten my day. Once men like this are removed from their bully pulpits the path to freedom and equality will be much less difficult for all those who seek it.
Good riddance.
He is an absolute horror of a human being and I can't think of anything better to brighten my day. Once men like this are removed from their bully pulpits the path to freedom and equality will be much less difficult for all those who seek it.
Good riddance.
Gay Things Need to Die
Yep that's what he said. He said "gay things need to die." In reference to beating a transgender kid to death with a fire extinguisher.
Thank God Colorado has a hate crimes law.
Now if we could just get the real perpatrators of crimes like this to be held accountable. I am, of course, referencing certain politicians like those recently named in utah and Idaho who advocate the extreme oppression of gay people.
Hateful speeches lead to hateful acts. Hateful motivation leads to hateful deeds. Hate begets hate, acceptance begets acceptance. I once again call for the resignation of Rep. Stevenson - without further delay. he is an enemy of equality and an abomination to American and Western values.
Thank God Colorado has a hate crimes law.
Now if we could just get the real perpatrators of crimes like this to be held accountable. I am, of course, referencing certain politicians like those recently named in utah and Idaho who advocate the extreme oppression of gay people.
Hateful speeches lead to hateful acts. Hateful motivation leads to hateful deeds. Hate begets hate, acceptance begets acceptance. I once again call for the resignation of Rep. Stevenson - without further delay. he is an enemy of equality and an abomination to American and Western values.
Man charged with knowingly transmitting HIV
Kerry Thomas was charged with knowingly spreading HIV, according to a report from KTVB.com.
Idaho law on this is very clear. Any person who is knowingly HIV positive who engages in acts with another person known to possibly transmit HIV is guilty of a felony. The defenses against this are either full knowledge and consent or advice or direction from a medical professional that the person is not infectious.
Let me explain why this law is fundamentally flawed. First of all it completely negates the responsibility of the individual to protect themselves. If two adults are engaged in consensual sex it is up to both partners to protect themselves. The reason is because you can never be sure what sort of diseases you may carrying or what your partner may be infected with. Secondly there is no way to establish proof that someone did or did not disclose and obtain consent. It become a he-said-she-said type of situation. There is no substantive way to prove that disclosure did or did not happen. In theory this law should be completely unenforceable. The only time this law could be enforced is when someone who has tested positive in Idaho (the state keeps a list of names of people who are HIV positive which is supposedly confidential - though I have serious misgivings about any lists of names that a government keeps - it always reminds me that the Nazis kept lists of people too) goes and attempts to donate blood or sperm (or some other body fluid or part for use in another individual).
In short Thomas should be acquitted and this law should only apply to people who are on the state's list who attempt to donate body fluids or parts.
Idaho law on this is very clear. Any person who is knowingly HIV positive who engages in acts with another person known to possibly transmit HIV is guilty of a felony. The defenses against this are either full knowledge and consent or advice or direction from a medical professional that the person is not infectious.
Let me explain why this law is fundamentally flawed. First of all it completely negates the responsibility of the individual to protect themselves. If two adults are engaged in consensual sex it is up to both partners to protect themselves. The reason is because you can never be sure what sort of diseases you may carrying or what your partner may be infected with. Secondly there is no way to establish proof that someone did or did not disclose and obtain consent. It become a he-said-she-said type of situation. There is no substantive way to prove that disclosure did or did not happen. In theory this law should be completely unenforceable. The only time this law could be enforced is when someone who has tested positive in Idaho (the state keeps a list of names of people who are HIV positive which is supposedly confidential - though I have serious misgivings about any lists of names that a government keeps - it always reminds me that the Nazis kept lists of people too) goes and attempts to donate blood or sperm (or some other body fluid or part for use in another individual).
In short Thomas should be acquitted and this law should only apply to people who are on the state's list who attempt to donate body fluids or parts.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Western Days Cancelled for 1st time in 30 years
Read the story on KTVB.com here.
Western Days has been a staple of celebration in Twin Falls for 30 years. During those 3 decades nothing of controversy ever marred the experience, until a few years ago. The Southern Idaho GLBT Community Center wanted to enter a float into the parade but were denied, Lisa Cuellar the organizer of the event said the float did not reflect Twin Falls' values and that gay people had no place in a community parade.
Now the event has been cancelled and Cuellar sites economic downturn as the primary reason. She contents that they have not heard back from major sponsors of the event about continuing their sponsorship. When I went to the parade the year it was denied I had the opportunity to speak with several members of the community. Among these were representatives from some of the major sponsors who said that they would seriously have to reconsider whether to continue sponsoring an event which so blatantly denies participation to segments of the community.
While economic downturn may be the reason that some sponsors are giving for suspending their contributions I imagine that they remember the bad taste that discrimination left in the mouths of so many people. They likely found this was a good time to save a few bucks and discontinue funding for an organization which treats people unfairly.
For Cuellar and others this should serve as a lesson: it may be convenient and easy to discriminate against people in good economic times but consequences of doing the easy thing versus the right right thing will always be brought to bear. Put simply: you made your bed now you get to lay in it.
Western Days has been a staple of celebration in Twin Falls for 30 years. During those 3 decades nothing of controversy ever marred the experience, until a few years ago. The Southern Idaho GLBT Community Center wanted to enter a float into the parade but were denied, Lisa Cuellar the organizer of the event said the float did not reflect Twin Falls' values and that gay people had no place in a community parade.
Now the event has been cancelled and Cuellar sites economic downturn as the primary reason. She contents that they have not heard back from major sponsors of the event about continuing their sponsorship. When I went to the parade the year it was denied I had the opportunity to speak with several members of the community. Among these were representatives from some of the major sponsors who said that they would seriously have to reconsider whether to continue sponsoring an event which so blatantly denies participation to segments of the community.
While economic downturn may be the reason that some sponsors are giving for suspending their contributions I imagine that they remember the bad taste that discrimination left in the mouths of so many people. They likely found this was a good time to save a few bucks and discontinue funding for an organization which treats people unfairly.
For Cuellar and others this should serve as a lesson: it may be convenient and easy to discriminate against people in good economic times but consequences of doing the easy thing versus the right right thing will always be brought to bear. Put simply: you made your bed now you get to lay in it.
Idaho Equality faces setbacks, looks to future
I'm sure most of you have heard the news regarding the IdahoHuman Rights Commission vote, the Idaho Senate State AffairsCommittee vote, and the Moscow City Council vote. If not, hereare some links to those stories:
Idaho Human Rights Commission vote:http://citydesk.boiseweekly.com/2009/02/idaho-human-rights-commissions-big-but.html
Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee vote:http://www.idahostatesman.com/idahopolitics/story/674857.html
Moscow City Council vote:http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-mar0309-moscow_gender_discrimination.2055bfcc.html
We are getting a lot of national coverage for all three stories,but I thought I'd include the local coverage.
Needless to say, we are extremely dissapointed and attempting torecover as quickly as possible. Many of us are meeting on aweekly basis to develop a plan and if you would like to beinvolved, please contact me. We have decided to hold a rally inresponse to the lack of support for equal rights on April 4th at1:00pm in front of City Hall. I expect ALL of you to be there.
If you can show up to protest the passing of an anti-gayProposition in California, you can show up to protest anti-gaysentiment in your own backyard! We don't have many details as ofyet, but I will be sending out updates on a regular basis.
Keep your heads up Idaho. In a 1965 speech in Montgomery,Alabama, slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.uttered the following words: "How long will justice becrucified, and truth bear it? I come to say to you ... howeverdifficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will notbe long, because 'truth crushed to earth will rise again.' ...How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe islong, but it bends toward justice."
In solidarity,
Idaho Equality
--------------------------------------------------
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
http://eqfed.org/join-forward.html?domain=yffn&r=71eFq4sq7WAg
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up forIdaho Equality at:
http://eqfed.org/yffn/join.html?r=71eFq4sq7WAgE
Idaho Human Rights Commission vote:http://citydesk.boiseweekly.com/2009/02/idaho-human-rights-commissions-big-but.html
Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee vote:http://www.idahostatesman.com/idahopolitics/story/674857.html
Moscow City Council vote:http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-mar0309-moscow_gender_discrimination.2055bfcc.html
We are getting a lot of national coverage for all three stories,but I thought I'd include the local coverage.
Needless to say, we are extremely dissapointed and attempting torecover as quickly as possible. Many of us are meeting on aweekly basis to develop a plan and if you would like to beinvolved, please contact me. We have decided to hold a rally inresponse to the lack of support for equal rights on April 4th at1:00pm in front of City Hall. I expect ALL of you to be there.
If you can show up to protest the passing of an anti-gayProposition in California, you can show up to protest anti-gaysentiment in your own backyard! We don't have many details as ofyet, but I will be sending out updates on a regular basis.
Keep your heads up Idaho. In a 1965 speech in Montgomery,Alabama, slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.uttered the following words: "How long will justice becrucified, and truth bear it? I come to say to you ... howeverdifficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will notbe long, because 'truth crushed to earth will rise again.' ...How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe islong, but it bends toward justice."
In solidarity,
Idaho Equality
--------------------------------------------------
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
http://eqfed.org/join-forward.html?domain=yffn&r=71eFq4sq7WAg
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up forIdaho Equality at:
http://eqfed.org/yffn/join.html?r=71eFq4sq7WAgE
Ballot measure to overturn Prop 8
3 seperate ballot measures will take aim at Proposition 8 in California. With the California Supreme Court likely to uphold Prop. 8 I also beleive it is likely that one of these ballot measures will pass. http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/1560578.html
From the Blade A national march for equality?
From PrideDepot.com: Utah lawmaker follows the anti-gay herd
From Towleroad: Man Charged with Murder of Gay Man on London Doorstep
From the Blade A national march for equality?
From PrideDepot.com: Utah lawmaker follows the anti-gay herd
From Towleroad: Man Charged with Murder of Gay Man on London Doorstep
Right-wingers, Lies & Videotape; Deconstructing Bryan Fischer
Just a repost of a GREAT article. You have to read it:
Right-wingers, Lies & Videotape; Deconstructing Bryan Fischer
From the most fabulous PrideDEPOT.com
Right-wingers, Lies & Videotape; Deconstructing Bryan Fischer
From the most fabulous PrideDEPOT.com
Monday, March 9, 2009
Family Guy (Gay)
Ha! The Family Guy did an episode last night where Peter was subjected to various medical experiments. One of which was an injection of the gay gene. The ensuing episode was hilarious. Naturally there are those in the gay blogosphere who think the episode was not politically correct and that Family Guy was not being sensitive to gay issues.
Give me a break.
Anyone who is upset by last night's episode obviously doesn't watch Family Guy at all. When has the show ever been sensitive to any political issue? They have a baby who tries to kill his mother with guns, a dog who is alcoholic and drives while intoxicated, a sadomasochistic housewife who tolerates all types of abuse, a pedophile always going after kids, need I go on? The whole premise of the show is to make fun of various situations in a completely over-the-top skits. It's much like South Park. The show gives us a chance to laugh at all the things we are usually forced to be uptight about. The show has even made fun of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the assassination of President Lincoln.
Gay prudes of the world: stuff it up your cornhole.
Give me a break.
Anyone who is upset by last night's episode obviously doesn't watch Family Guy at all. When has the show ever been sensitive to any political issue? They have a baby who tries to kill his mother with guns, a dog who is alcoholic and drives while intoxicated, a sadomasochistic housewife who tolerates all types of abuse, a pedophile always going after kids, need I go on? The whole premise of the show is to make fun of various situations in a completely over-the-top skits. It's much like South Park. The show gives us a chance to laugh at all the things we are usually forced to be uptight about. The show has even made fun of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the assassination of President Lincoln.
Gay prudes of the world: stuff it up your cornhole.
The Alice Club Sucks
Fromw Towlerroad.com:
Bay Area Reporter: "[Consultant Steve] Smith also acknowledged that the campaign should have used then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's stated opposition to Prop 8. Instead, little use was made of Obama's opposition in a letter last June to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, and right before Election Day the Yes on 8 campaign sent out a mailer featuring Obama's image and quotes that he is opposed to same-sex marriage.
Enough said. They had this letter, the opposition used Obama's image - Alice club dropped the ball. I think the gay community needs to take a close look at leadership. The club whines that it was widely covered but what did they do to capitalize on the coverage? Did they frame a media campaign around the issue? No. Fire the bosses, if you don't have the stones to be a leader then get the hell out of the way.
Bay Area Reporter: "[Consultant Steve] Smith also acknowledged that the campaign should have used then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's stated opposition to Prop 8. Instead, little use was made of Obama's opposition in a letter last June to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, and right before Election Day the Yes on 8 campaign sent out a mailer featuring Obama's image and quotes that he is opposed to same-sex marriage.
Enough said. They had this letter, the opposition used Obama's image - Alice club dropped the ball. I think the gay community needs to take a close look at leadership. The club whines that it was widely covered but what did they do to capitalize on the coverage? Did they frame a media campaign around the issue? No. Fire the bosses, if you don't have the stones to be a leader then get the hell out of the way.
Friday, March 6, 2009
John A. “Bert” Stevenson is a bigot - or worse
Read the article on PrideDEPOT.com.
Then ask yourself what this type of crap does for people who are itching for an excuse for a delightful afternoon of gay-bashing.
Here's what I sent in to the house leadership in Idaho:
I am more than outraged at Bert Stevenson’s remarks on air Feb. 25th. As a NATIVE gay Idahoan I cannot begin to describe the type of violence and suffering that I have faced over the past 15 years. I have had guns pointed at my face, I have been run off the road, my car was vandalized to the point it couldn't be driven, my family has been harassed and I have been attacked on more than one occasion. I don't file police reports because this is just the way gay people in Idaho expect to be treated by the few ignorant people we share our state with who just don't have anything better to do. The line that I brought it on myself because I am gay is getting a little old as well - it happens because I choose to speak out against injustice. In the last 2 years a gay man was murdered and stuffed in a barrel in Twin Falls and 4 of my gay friends have chosen to end their lives rather than face the daily struggle of being gay.
Then I hear Stevenson’s remarks: "[gay] people...will do away with the human race." Let me tell you what that does when another ignorant, violent person hears it. It gives him permission to go out and ATTACK gay people - maybe even kill them. We aren't a bunch of perverts trying to get into little boys locker rooms - we are productive, tax-paying citizens of Idaho. We deserve better and our representatives in the statehouse should KNOW better. This hateful diatribe is DANGEROUS because it leads to VIOLENCE. You know what I worry about when I hold hands with someone? I don't worry about being called a faggot, because that happens all the time anyway, I worry about having the crap kicked out of me again - or worse. A friend of mine spent 3 weeks in a coma because of gay-bashing...and woke up with two years of his life wiped from his memory. Stevenson is inciting violence against Idahoans - I am not asking for censure or reprimand: I want his immediate resignation.
Gay people are no longer a simple annoyance in the political process: our voices are rising in a chorus and we're mad as hell. I am directly related to other voters throughout the state who all support me despite the fact that I am gay, they are beginning to understand what my life is like and when they start seeing the Idaho Legislature turn a deaf ear to this kind of tripe they are going to start asking why.
Then ask yourself what this type of crap does for people who are itching for an excuse for a delightful afternoon of gay-bashing.
Here's what I sent in to the house leadership in Idaho:
I am more than outraged at Bert Stevenson’s remarks on air Feb. 25th. As a NATIVE gay Idahoan I cannot begin to describe the type of violence and suffering that I have faced over the past 15 years. I have had guns pointed at my face, I have been run off the road, my car was vandalized to the point it couldn't be driven, my family has been harassed and I have been attacked on more than one occasion. I don't file police reports because this is just the way gay people in Idaho expect to be treated by the few ignorant people we share our state with who just don't have anything better to do. The line that I brought it on myself because I am gay is getting a little old as well - it happens because I choose to speak out against injustice. In the last 2 years a gay man was murdered and stuffed in a barrel in Twin Falls and 4 of my gay friends have chosen to end their lives rather than face the daily struggle of being gay.
Then I hear Stevenson’s remarks: "[gay] people...will do away with the human race." Let me tell you what that does when another ignorant, violent person hears it. It gives him permission to go out and ATTACK gay people - maybe even kill them. We aren't a bunch of perverts trying to get into little boys locker rooms - we are productive, tax-paying citizens of Idaho. We deserve better and our representatives in the statehouse should KNOW better. This hateful diatribe is DANGEROUS because it leads to VIOLENCE. You know what I worry about when I hold hands with someone? I don't worry about being called a faggot, because that happens all the time anyway, I worry about having the crap kicked out of me again - or worse. A friend of mine spent 3 weeks in a coma because of gay-bashing...and woke up with two years of his life wiped from his memory. Stevenson is inciting violence against Idahoans - I am not asking for censure or reprimand: I want his immediate resignation.
Gay people are no longer a simple annoyance in the political process: our voices are rising in a chorus and we're mad as hell. I am directly related to other voters throughout the state who all support me despite the fact that I am gay, they are beginning to understand what my life is like and when they start seeing the Idaho Legislature turn a deaf ear to this kind of tripe they are going to start asking why.
Are hate crimes up?
Maybe hate crimes (or perhaps "gay bashing" is a better term since many places don't consider beating the living Christ out of someone for being gay a hate crime) are up or maybe they're just being reported more. In any case there seems to be a lot of them listed around the net today, especially here
That link takes you to a blog that lists all sorts of gay news and trivia of interest to gay men. In one posting there are 5 references to hate crimes against gays. At least I count 5, many wouldn't consider a bill being legislated in Uganda to spare gays a prison sentence in favor of forced reversion therapy in government mental facilities a crime. The fact that homosexuality is still a crime there is - in and of itself - a crime against all of humanity.
Also on the list: the murder and attempted murder of a gay couple in London, a gay-bashing a DePaul University, a protest of a high school in Vermont, and the muder of a gay truck Driver.
So back to my continual rant about things like Prop. 8 passing in California: what sort of message does it send to the perpatrators of these crimes when we tell the world that gay people are lesser people, that they do not have as much value as others? Something to think about.
That link takes you to a blog that lists all sorts of gay news and trivia of interest to gay men. In one posting there are 5 references to hate crimes against gays. At least I count 5, many wouldn't consider a bill being legislated in Uganda to spare gays a prison sentence in favor of forced reversion therapy in government mental facilities a crime. The fact that homosexuality is still a crime there is - in and of itself - a crime against all of humanity.
Also on the list: the murder and attempted murder of a gay couple in London, a gay-bashing a DePaul University, a protest of a high school in Vermont, and the muder of a gay truck Driver.
So back to my continual rant about things like Prop. 8 passing in California: what sort of message does it send to the perpatrators of these crimes when we tell the world that gay people are lesser people, that they do not have as much value as others? Something to think about.
Mystified by being boycotted
"We gave $20,000 for Yes on Proposition 8," he says.
And once that was known, retaliation was swift. "We soon started getting very nasty e-mails and letters and phone calls by the hundreds," he says.
Leatherby says he was mystified, because the Creamery had always enjoyed good relations with the gay and lesbian community. (link)
He was mystified? Really? Let's see, he pretented to be a friend of the gay community then contributed $20,000 to hurt us. $20,000 - from a business that eagerly went after gay business - was spent to hurt gay people.
Folks, if you give $20K to the Klan and get protested by the black community, would you be suprised? Remember the Klan hides behind religous freedom, or tries to. Exercise your freedom of religion, but don't be suprised if we exercise our right to free speech and our right to spend money elsewhere. It's not like the people who donated to Yes on 8 are being slandered or libeled - it is public record that they gave money to a group that used it to do great harm to an entire class of people. If you go out of your way to hurt us don't expect us to sit idly by.
Simply put folks: we're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore.
And once that was known, retaliation was swift. "We soon started getting very nasty e-mails and letters and phone calls by the hundreds," he says.
Leatherby says he was mystified, because the Creamery had always enjoyed good relations with the gay and lesbian community. (link)
He was mystified? Really? Let's see, he pretented to be a friend of the gay community then contributed $20,000 to hurt us. $20,000 - from a business that eagerly went after gay business - was spent to hurt gay people.
Folks, if you give $20K to the Klan and get protested by the black community, would you be suprised? Remember the Klan hides behind religous freedom, or tries to. Exercise your freedom of religion, but don't be suprised if we exercise our right to free speech and our right to spend money elsewhere. It's not like the people who donated to Yes on 8 are being slandered or libeled - it is public record that they gave money to a group that used it to do great harm to an entire class of people. If you go out of your way to hurt us don't expect us to sit idly by.
Simply put folks: we're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore.
A LETTER TO OUR PRESIDENT By Harvey Fierstein
I had to re-post this. -JD
A LETTER TO OUR PRESIDENT
By Harvey Fierstein
Read at the DEFYING INEQUALITY benefit on Monday, February 23, 2009.
Dear President Obama.
While fighting for the abolition of slavery, one politician qualified his stance, "I have never been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people."That politician was Abraham Lincoln.
Obviously time and experience brought Mr Lincoln to what would have been called the extremist view; that freedom cannot be compromised just to appease the majority.
And so he made a grander gesture reminding us of "...a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal". Passing a law would change the course of slavery, but those words changed the course of the history.
Mr Obama, I have heard you speak eloquently in favor of inclusion for gays and lesbians. But then you sternly state your opposition to marriage rights. It leaves me wondering if you are straining to be politic or, if like Lincoln, your views still need maturing.
Days after your historic election an aide of yours told me that you plan to do away with the military's DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL. I applaud the gesture. But don't kid yourself. Redefining that policy will do little to end discrimination against us.
With or without the Pentagon's permission gays and lesbians have been serving in the military since the birth of this nation.
We may have served in silence.
We may have fought in secret.
But a complete ban of gays did not stop us from fighting and dying for our country.
Abolishing DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL won't bring us into the military or end discrimination against us.
Legalizing gay adoption won't end discrimination against our children in the playground.
Even legalizing gay marriage won't bring about the whole cloth change our nation needs.
When you, leader of the free world, accept, tolerate and even invite bigots into your fold changing a policy is not enough.
In any case, we don't need you to fight our small battles for us.
We will eventually win these on our own. Property matters, adoption rights, and even gay marriage will be won in courts of law as they are now being won in courts of public opinion.
Given time, our constitution, and the American values of fair play and justice, will prevail. We will win equal rights.
But what only you can give us is the grand gesture.
Mr President, we need you to be more than another reasonable voice.
We need you to raise yourself up out of the mire of majority opinion.
We need you to rise above the daily politics of compromise.
We need you to mount that bully pulpit our blood, sweat and tears have erected, and speak to the greater ideal.
America needs to hear you say, "We will no longer tolerate the oppression of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles. They are our family. They are we and we are they."
The nation needs to hear you say, "We must prove ourselves worthy of the title Americans; protectors of the weak, standard bearers of freedom, and guarantors of equal rights for all."
Mr President, history will record the day you say, "From this day forward no amendment, statute or law that seeks to deny full rights of citizenship on the basis of sexual preference will be tolerated. Hatred and bigotry are here forth banished to the dark recesses of small minds."
Let the Pledge of Allegiance light our way to tomorrow as "...one nation, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all.'"
That, dear son of Lincoln, is the grand gesture we need from you.
We need a hero, and you have been elected.
Sincerely,Harvey Fierstein
A LETTER TO OUR PRESIDENT
By Harvey Fierstein
Read at the DEFYING INEQUALITY benefit on Monday, February 23, 2009.
Dear President Obama.
While fighting for the abolition of slavery, one politician qualified his stance, "I have never been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people."That politician was Abraham Lincoln.
Obviously time and experience brought Mr Lincoln to what would have been called the extremist view; that freedom cannot be compromised just to appease the majority.
And so he made a grander gesture reminding us of "...a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal". Passing a law would change the course of slavery, but those words changed the course of the history.
Mr Obama, I have heard you speak eloquently in favor of inclusion for gays and lesbians. But then you sternly state your opposition to marriage rights. It leaves me wondering if you are straining to be politic or, if like Lincoln, your views still need maturing.
Days after your historic election an aide of yours told me that you plan to do away with the military's DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL. I applaud the gesture. But don't kid yourself. Redefining that policy will do little to end discrimination against us.
With or without the Pentagon's permission gays and lesbians have been serving in the military since the birth of this nation.
We may have served in silence.
We may have fought in secret.
But a complete ban of gays did not stop us from fighting and dying for our country.
Abolishing DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL won't bring us into the military or end discrimination against us.
Legalizing gay adoption won't end discrimination against our children in the playground.
Even legalizing gay marriage won't bring about the whole cloth change our nation needs.
When you, leader of the free world, accept, tolerate and even invite bigots into your fold changing a policy is not enough.
In any case, we don't need you to fight our small battles for us.
We will eventually win these on our own. Property matters, adoption rights, and even gay marriage will be won in courts of law as they are now being won in courts of public opinion.
Given time, our constitution, and the American values of fair play and justice, will prevail. We will win equal rights.
But what only you can give us is the grand gesture.
Mr President, we need you to be more than another reasonable voice.
We need you to raise yourself up out of the mire of majority opinion.
We need you to rise above the daily politics of compromise.
We need you to mount that bully pulpit our blood, sweat and tears have erected, and speak to the greater ideal.
America needs to hear you say, "We will no longer tolerate the oppression of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles. They are our family. They are we and we are they."
The nation needs to hear you say, "We must prove ourselves worthy of the title Americans; protectors of the weak, standard bearers of freedom, and guarantors of equal rights for all."
Mr President, history will record the day you say, "From this day forward no amendment, statute or law that seeks to deny full rights of citizenship on the basis of sexual preference will be tolerated. Hatred and bigotry are here forth banished to the dark recesses of small minds."
Let the Pledge of Allegiance light our way to tomorrow as "...one nation, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all.'"
That, dear son of Lincoln, is the grand gesture we need from you.
We need a hero, and you have been elected.
Sincerely,Harvey Fierstein
Thursday, March 5, 2009
It's health care, stupid
Socialized government-run health care? Oh my God, the humanity!!!!! What are our political leaders afraid of? Do they think the government cannot adequately and efficiently provide care to Americans? We've only been doing it for over 75 years in this country. Today the VA is the best health care model in the United States and serves millions of veterans with varying levels of need.
Some points about the VA:
Some points about the VA:
- it distributes medications at the most affordable rate in the country, even the best nationally-available healthcare plans do not provide prescriptions at such a low rate
- it is one of the most efficient inpatient healthcare systems in the world
- the VA (now) has a great track record for reducing nosocomial infections
- the safety record at the VA has been improving dramatically for the past several years
- veterans are provided with services and procedures in a timely manner (though there are waiting periods for less urgent needs - emergency needs are treated immediately)
- the VA leads the nation in training and education
So if congress is looking for a model on healthcare perhaps they should look at something they already have.
Hardest jonb in the world. Training period: 3 mos.
Obama has been in the White House now for less than 3 months. Already he is being blamed for the economy (I don't remember him sitting int he Oval office when the last budget was passed...) and is being accused of playing the usual partisan politics. Yes the President has a tremendous goal for this country and he wants to achieve it in record time...but Republicans in Congress do not want to play ball. Even Republicans are blaming Republicans for the mess that we're in. Did anyone really expect President Obama to fix everything before the echoes of his inaugural address faded from the Washington Mall?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Gay Mass. couples sue for Fed. Benefits
The title of this entry links to the ABC news story.
It was only a matter of time before something like this was going to happen. Gay married couples in Massachusetts are suing the Federal Government for their rights as legally married couples. This phenomenon is something that legal scholars around the country have been predicting will happen and now it has. The complaints take on a wide range in this case and appear to be a combination of several different complaints by gay couples throughout the country and could have far-reaching ramifications.
At the heart of the issue is yet another Clinton-era blunder on the rights of LGBT people in this country: the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA covers a wide range of rights that second-class gay citizens might try to acquire if ever they somehow gained the right of marriage in a state (DOMA was enacted rapidly when it appeared that Hawaii might grant same-sex marriage rights to gays). The first thing that it does is make it possible for one state to not recognize a same-sex union from another state (a same-sex marriage in Massachusetts is not recognized as such in Idaho, for instance). The second thing it does is prevent the Federal Government from extending marriage rights to gay married couples. While a same-sex marriage is fully legal in Massachusetts the state can only extend the handful of marriage rights to same-sex couples which it controls, it cannot extent rights such as Social Security, citizenship and the very numerous rights which the Federal Government grants to married couples.
This lawsuit will seek to attack only the second part of DOMA, which prohibits Uncle Sam from extending rights. What the couples are seeking is the Social Security death benefit, property and inheritance rights and spousal status for Federal employees. Though a same-sex marriage is just that in Massachusetts and a Federal employee who is married in that state with full legal state recognition the state cannot force the persons employer (in this case the Federal Government) to extend benefits such as retirement and health insurance to the legal spouse of the employee.
This lawsuit has been a long time coming and hopefully will be met with ultimate success but I can guarantee it will be along process that will eventually end up at the highest court in the land. The basic premise of the lawsuit, from my vantage point, is that the Federal Government is doing two things by not extending these benefits to legally married couples: first off they are infringing upon the state's right to govern; and secondly they are actively harming the life and well being of United States Citizens. Legal organizations have been waiting for years for the political climate to shift in Washington DC to file these suits. Years ago I was approached casually about whether my then-husband (married in the church but not in the state), would be willing to participate in such a lawsuit since I am a Federal employee. Now that I am no longer married I saw no point in seeking out to join the potential class-action lawsuit.
If successful this lawsuit will invalidate part of DOMA. It is the second section of DOMA which many believe infringes upon a state's right to govern. The first part of DOMA actually protects state's rights by not forcing them to recognize marriage laws passed in other states. The huge upside is that if the Supreme Court can be swayed to grant benefits for Federal employees who are married in one state but not another the Federal Government will then be forced to find a way to extend the same benefits to domestic partners in other states, whether they are officially recognized or not. It is an exciting legal situation that has far-reaching ramifications for the millions of Federal employees (counting the military and Veterans) who are LGBT.
It was only a matter of time before something like this was going to happen. Gay married couples in Massachusetts are suing the Federal Government for their rights as legally married couples. This phenomenon is something that legal scholars around the country have been predicting will happen and now it has. The complaints take on a wide range in this case and appear to be a combination of several different complaints by gay couples throughout the country and could have far-reaching ramifications.
At the heart of the issue is yet another Clinton-era blunder on the rights of LGBT people in this country: the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA covers a wide range of rights that second-class gay citizens might try to acquire if ever they somehow gained the right of marriage in a state (DOMA was enacted rapidly when it appeared that Hawaii might grant same-sex marriage rights to gays). The first thing that it does is make it possible for one state to not recognize a same-sex union from another state (a same-sex marriage in Massachusetts is not recognized as such in Idaho, for instance). The second thing it does is prevent the Federal Government from extending marriage rights to gay married couples. While a same-sex marriage is fully legal in Massachusetts the state can only extend the handful of marriage rights to same-sex couples which it controls, it cannot extent rights such as Social Security, citizenship and the very numerous rights which the Federal Government grants to married couples.
This lawsuit will seek to attack only the second part of DOMA, which prohibits Uncle Sam from extending rights. What the couples are seeking is the Social Security death benefit, property and inheritance rights and spousal status for Federal employees. Though a same-sex marriage is just that in Massachusetts and a Federal employee who is married in that state with full legal state recognition the state cannot force the persons employer (in this case the Federal Government) to extend benefits such as retirement and health insurance to the legal spouse of the employee.
This lawsuit has been a long time coming and hopefully will be met with ultimate success but I can guarantee it will be along process that will eventually end up at the highest court in the land. The basic premise of the lawsuit, from my vantage point, is that the Federal Government is doing two things by not extending these benefits to legally married couples: first off they are infringing upon the state's right to govern; and secondly they are actively harming the life and well being of United States Citizens. Legal organizations have been waiting for years for the political climate to shift in Washington DC to file these suits. Years ago I was approached casually about whether my then-husband (married in the church but not in the state), would be willing to participate in such a lawsuit since I am a Federal employee. Now that I am no longer married I saw no point in seeking out to join the potential class-action lawsuit.
If successful this lawsuit will invalidate part of DOMA. It is the second section of DOMA which many believe infringes upon a state's right to govern. The first part of DOMA actually protects state's rights by not forcing them to recognize marriage laws passed in other states. The huge upside is that if the Supreme Court can be swayed to grant benefits for Federal employees who are married in one state but not another the Federal Government will then be forced to find a way to extend the same benefits to domestic partners in other states, whether they are officially recognized or not. It is an exciting legal situation that has far-reaching ramifications for the millions of Federal employees (counting the military and Veterans) who are LGBT.
Wrong time to repeal DADT
Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) is introducing a bill in Congress this week to repeal the military's Clinton-era and much-loathed Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy concerning gays in the military. The DADT policy is a fundamentally flawed piece of policy that never should have seen the light of day in the first place, but it was a messy bit of compromise from the Clinton Administration and conservative lawmakers. At it's core it is a mistake, and aberration, and a shining example of the worst of policy decisions. It should be repealed - but right now is not the time to do it.
Introducing new policy decisions into a military that is already stretched thin a with low morale would be a mistake. There are lesbian and gay soldiers serving right now in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places throughout the world and they are doing a superb job. Many of them are out already to one degree or another.
This is not an important military decision, in fact making this change probably ranks near the bottom of the list of priorities for our new Commander-in-Chief - as it should. President Obama, and our elected legislature in Washington, D.C., should be focusing on better funding for the military, better pay for soldiers and better compensation for their families, they need to get better equipment, increase the signing bonuses and ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is ready and prepared for the arrival of new combat veterans. Once all of these things are in place (not to mention cleaning up DoD hospitals) then we should begin looking at DADT and to best change the policy to better reflect American values. DADT amounts to employment discrimination and as the LGBT community continues to grapple with that very issue on a local and national level the new administration must make sure any changes it makes to the military's policy on gays does not go too far, too fast and risk further damaging the morale of our troops or the safety of LGBT servicemen and women.
Introducing new policy decisions into a military that is already stretched thin a with low morale would be a mistake. There are lesbian and gay soldiers serving right now in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places throughout the world and they are doing a superb job. Many of them are out already to one degree or another.
This is not an important military decision, in fact making this change probably ranks near the bottom of the list of priorities for our new Commander-in-Chief - as it should. President Obama, and our elected legislature in Washington, D.C., should be focusing on better funding for the military, better pay for soldiers and better compensation for their families, they need to get better equipment, increase the signing bonuses and ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is ready and prepared for the arrival of new combat veterans. Once all of these things are in place (not to mention cleaning up DoD hospitals) then we should begin looking at DADT and to best change the policy to better reflect American values. DADT amounts to employment discrimination and as the LGBT community continues to grapple with that very issue on a local and national level the new administration must make sure any changes it makes to the military's policy on gays does not go too far, too fast and risk further damaging the morale of our troops or the safety of LGBT servicemen and women.
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