News and Commentary About My Gay World
Monday, January 10, 2011
DADT Repeal Will Snow Ball
DADT repeal is the snow flake that will start the ball rolling.
After we are fully integrated into the armed services we will want the same benefits as the rest of our fighting forces. Housing and health benefits for our families. There will be many who have children as well as legal spouses, if only in certain states, who will want and need the safety and security str8 families receive.
The federal government does not discriminate against us in some federal jobs and currently offer limited partner benefits which will make it easier to gain them as soldiers. If we are doing the same job as others then we are entitled to the same benefits. If we are equal as soldiers then we should be equal as citizens.
ENDA could pass thru the house and senate quicker than we think because they will have to face the equality of our soldiers. Once that is in place, DOMA will be a breeze because the courts are already on our side. They have proved that the opposition is full of lies and animus and they will just have to bite the bullet on gay marriage. As for the rest of the 300 million people in this country, they are coming around, often quicker than the law.
I don’t care if we gain our freedom thru the courts or thru lengthy debate and filibuster to become law. Either way we will become first class citizens in our own country, maybe in my lifetime.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Her Name Was...
Her name was Christina Taylor Green and I just read that she was born on 9/11. Her picture was in the Faces of Hope - Babies Born on 9/11 book. Her neighbor took her to the event thinking she would enjoy it because she had just been elected to the student council at her school.
My heart goes out to the Greens. May Christina become the new face of hope that we stop hate and violance against our fellow Americans.
My heart goes out to the Greens. May Christina become the new face of hope that we stop hate and violance against our fellow Americans.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Today Another Child is Dead
Among the 6 people who died today in the shooting in Tucson AZ. was a 9 year old girl. I have said a prayer for her family. I have prayed for all those who died and were injured when a nut job took his cue from 3 very public people.
First is Sharren Angle who said "They're afraid they'll have to fight for their liberty in more Second Amendment kinds of ways?", not just once but many times and the media played it over and over. She hints that taking up arms is the way to get things done!?
Second is Michele Bachmann, 2009: I Want People "Armed And Dangerous" Over Obama Tax Plan: ARMED AND DANGEROUS!!!!!???
Third, from the strange world of Sarah Palin who last year posted this on her web site.
Her use of gun references and the crosshairs graphic on this map helped to find his target.
When this map came out there was a big stink about the implications it carried. After voting on the health care bill Rep. Gabrielle Giffords headquarters was vandalized. In this video she makes a comment about the possible effects of Palin's map.
Today Jared Loughner shot at and hit Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) at a Tucson Supermarket . She took a bullet thru the head and current reports state she is in recovery. They don't know much for now but I am sure a bullet thru the brain will leave its mark.
This deranged young man took his cue from this kind of thoughtless language used by these women.
Words are the tools we use to convey ideas and information. When we use them without thought they can cause great damage. There are sick people out in the world who use the hateful things others say and print as an excuse to act out. Everything from verbal and physical bullying to the extreme of grabbing a gun, running into a crowd, and firing on innocent people.
I am all for the freedom of speech but there is a limit when it creates hate, discrimination in any form, or excuses and compels acts of violence.
How do we expect our children to understand tolerance and understanding when we allow Politicians to bully each other to gain office or groups that knowingly spread lies and hate, and the media that supports both?
I can only hope these women learned a lesson today.
One more child will never have the chance.
First is Sharren Angle who said "They're afraid they'll have to fight for their liberty in more Second Amendment kinds of ways?", not just once but many times and the media played it over and over. She hints that taking up arms is the way to get things done!?
Second is Michele Bachmann, 2009: I Want People "Armed And Dangerous" Over Obama Tax Plan: ARMED AND DANGEROUS!!!!!???
Third, from the strange world of Sarah Palin who last year posted this on her web site.
Her use of gun references and the crosshairs graphic on this map helped to find his target.
When this map came out there was a big stink about the implications it carried. After voting on the health care bill Rep. Gabrielle Giffords headquarters was vandalized. In this video she makes a comment about the possible effects of Palin's map.
Today Jared Loughner shot at and hit Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) at a Tucson Supermarket . She took a bullet thru the head and current reports state she is in recovery. They don't know much for now but I am sure a bullet thru the brain will leave its mark.
This deranged young man took his cue from this kind of thoughtless language used by these women.
Words are the tools we use to convey ideas and information. When we use them without thought they can cause great damage. There are sick people out in the world who use the hateful things others say and print as an excuse to act out. Everything from verbal and physical bullying to the extreme of grabbing a gun, running into a crowd, and firing on innocent people.
I am all for the freedom of speech but there is a limit when it creates hate, discrimination in any form, or excuses and compels acts of violence.
How do we expect our children to understand tolerance and understanding when we allow Politicians to bully each other to gain office or groups that knowingly spread lies and hate, and the media that supports both?
I can only hope these women learned a lesson today.
One more child will never have the chance.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
GLAAD To CNN: Stop Using Hate Groups To "Balance" Gay News Stories
GLAAD has issued a call to action, asking its supporters to write CNN to demand that representatives of hate groups no longer be used to "balance" the network's stories on LGBT rights. As a recent example, GLAAD cites the appearance of the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg, who was invited to counter the opinion of DADT repeal activist Alex Nicholson. Among Sprigg's many detestable remarks is his call for all homosexuals to be deported from the United States.
Nicholson's qualifications were clear. As an openly gay, former Army intelligence officer, he gave firsthand accounts of how the policy played out in the day-to-day lives of gay and lesbian service members.Sprigg's qualifications, however, came exclusively from his job at the Family Research Council. There, Sprigg has worked to advance some of the most hurtful, dangerous, and demonstrably false notions about the lives of LGBT people that our country has seen in recent years. And yet, by pairing him with Nicholson in this segment, CNN told its millions of viewers that both of these men should be seen as equally valuable to this discussion.Sign GLAAD's petition to CNN here.
Is it important for the media to take these groups on? Of course it is. But that's not what CNN and other media organizations are doing when it invites these groups to take part in otherwise reasonable discussions. The media is elevating their hurtful messages and attitudes to the level of rational discourse. The media is saying that people like Alexander Nicholson, who can speak to real-life experience and firsthand facts, need to be "balanced" by people like Peter Sprigg, whose claim to fame is arguing that being gay should be outlawed. If CNN wants to interview a gay person who believes being straight should be outlawed, THEN Peter Sprigg would be an acceptable "balance."
CNN and the rest of the media are doing nothing but exposing their viewers to dangerous anti-gay rhetoric when they invite members of these anti-gay groups onto their programming. Starting in 2011, this needs to stop.
"Museum of Censored Art" to Launch "
By Advocate.com Editors
Two men who were ejected and banned for life from the Smithsonian last month for protesting the censorship of a video piece from a gay exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery say they plan to set up a “Museum of Censored Art” in a trailer parked outside the building.
That piece is one of many that will appear inside the trailer.
"The goal of course is to hold the Smithsonian accountable," says Blasenstein. "If this gallery on their doorstep doesn't convince them to do the right thing and restore the video, then the only other way we can think of to hold the Smithsonian accountable is to call for [Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution] Wayne Clough to answer for his actions in a public forum."
Michael Blasenstein and Michael Iacovone have a permit to park the trailer on the 700 block of F Street NW in two parking spaces outside the museum, according to the Washington City Paper.
The two men were kicked out of the gallery after they displayed Wojnarowicz's "A Fire in My Belly"on an iPad. The video piece was removed from gallery’s “Hide/Seek” exhibit in December amid pressure from conservatives led by then House Speaker-elect John Boehner and incoming House majority leader Eric Cantor. That piece is one of many that will appear inside the trailer.
"The goal of course is to hold the Smithsonian accountable," says Blasenstein. "If this gallery on their doorstep doesn't convince them to do the right thing and restore the video, then the only other way we can think of to hold the Smithsonian accountable is to call for [Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution] Wayne Clough to answer for his actions in a public forum."
NEW JERSEY: Gov. Chris Christie Signs Sweeping Anti-Bullying Law
He waited until the very last minute, but New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie this morning signed what is being hailed as the nation's most comprehensive anti-bullying legislation. Garden State Equality exults: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today signed the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which enacts a new paradigm in America to counter school bullying and provides a template for anti-bullying laws in other U.S. states. The bill passed both houses of the New Jersey legislature on November 22, 2010 – by 73 to 1 in the Assembly and 30 to 0 in the Senate. Though New Jersey and 44 other states have had anti-bullying laws, experts say those laws have been based on a vague, loophole-riddled model that gives vast discretion to local school districts to do whatever they want or don’t want, and have lacked teeth to work in the real world. The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights corrects that problem with a sweeping overhaul of New Jersey's current anti-bullying law, enacted in 2002.The complete text of the law is here.
“We are grateful to the prime sponsors, Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Mary Pat Angelini, and Senators Barbara Buono, Diane Allen and Loretta Weinberg, for their leadership that brought Democrats and Republicans together rapidly,” said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality. The overwhelmingly bipartisan support for this landmark legislation will give impetus to other states across America, whether they are blue or red, to adopt anti-bullying laws just like ours. The era of vagueness and loopholes in anti-bullying laws is over, and hope for our children has begun.”
Shut Them Down !
I think we are not doing enough to shut NOM and other anti-gay hate groups down. While NOM has money, just saw their tax info, we have Orgs. the have money too. We need our orgs. like the HRC to put it to better use. As a blog reader and writer I know we have the power to sign all kinds of petitions and polls. Why cant we band together and flood NOMs web site with facts. NO HATE MAIL, just facts about our community. We have the power to keep their people very busy reading and deleting tons of mail and comments. If every person who reads this would go to NOM and make a comment Every day for say.....a week. They would have to shut down their server. We can NOT think that HRC and other orgs. are going to do the job.
The internet is great for putting the news and info out there but it can also be a tool for forcing sites to overload and shut down. Not all of us are able to go to a protest or march for many reasons so the internet is our only way to express ourselves. For those still in the closet this is a way for them to pitch in and help make a difference. Again, NO HATE, just the FACTS. We do NOT want to give them anything to use against us.
The internet is great for putting the news and info out there but it can also be a tool for forcing sites to overload and shut down. Not all of us are able to go to a protest or march for many reasons so the internet is our only way to express ourselves. For those still in the closet this is a way for them to pitch in and help make a difference. Again, NO HATE, just the FACTS. We do NOT want to give them anything to use against us.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Rebecca Drysdale - It Gets Better
I have seen tons of video for the "It Gets Batter" project and this one is GREAT!
Rebecca Drysdale is a lesbian comedian. There is alot of adult language so be warned.
Rebecca Drysdale is a lesbian comedian. There is alot of adult language so be warned.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Arizona teen warns school officials: stop anti-gay bullying or face consequences
Love this. Caleb Laieski isn't messing around:
A teenage activist has notified officials at every school in Arizona that they need to put a stop to bullying of gay and lesbian students or face a lawsuit.The article reports that Laieski already has a winning track record on anti-bullying issues.
Caleb Laieski, 15, e-mailed a letter to more than 5,000 school administrators, city-council members and state lawmakers demanding improved measures to fight discrimination.
The letters, sent to school and government officials in early December, state that gay and lesbian youths face more bullying than their heterosexual peers and offer to refer officials to organizations and experts.
The letters warn school officials that they must institute policies specifically prohibiting gay harassment by students, teachers and administrators. Schools that fail to stop bullying will encounter "legal ramifications."
"This is more not to threaten a lawsuit but to put resources out there," said Laieski, founder of Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination. "But if they don't want to cooperate, there's going to be consequences."
Monday, January 3, 2011
CALIFORNIA: Pastor Who Backed Prop 8 Held On Multiple Child Molestation Charges
Crosspost from joemygod.com
Pastor Tom Daniels of Rio Linda, California is being held on $6M bail after being charged with multiple felony counts of sexual assault on a child. Lavender Newswire reports that Daniels twice made donations to Protect Marriage, the backers of Proposition 8.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
DADT Repeal's Relief
Happy New Years from Dallas regarding DADT
Last night, my partner and I spent New Years Eve in Dallas, Texas counting down the end of 2010 on the balcony of JR's Bar and Grill in Dallas, Texas. It is within walking distance of our condo and was a great location to view the fireworks and the people driving and carousing in the streets below. More importantly, I struck up a conversation with a group of Native American kids celebrating. One of them asked if the hat Charlie was wearing was an OU hat because she had graduated from the University of Oklahoma. It wasn't, but that led to the discussion that followed about Native American politics in Oklahoma, and their gay friend's graduation from boot camp. I was able to tell him my story and ask him about Don't Ask Don't Tell.
It made for a positive and inspirational New Years Eve to have this young Native American soldier profusely thank me for what I had done to help pave the way for him, and relay to me how much the military has already changed in welcoming the policy. I've said before that those who hysterically worked against us were a bunch of overwrought "Chicken Littles" and his story proved it. He told me how the military was already telling the soldiers not to worry about their bunkmate's sexual orientation before Don't Ask Don't Tell was passed and that one day a gay or lesbian soldier might just save their lives. For someone who remembered the homophobic statements, "Not in my Navy!" by the older more homophobic supposed leaders in the military regarding service of openly gay and lesbian sailors, it was refreshing to see and hear first hand from a young Native American soldier testifying just how welcoming the military already has become. I'm impressed by the obvious foresight, military bearing and leadership and hope that same tone will be set in the other branches, especially considering the ridiculous assertions by General Amos during the Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal fight. I still think Amos should be asked to resign for his outrageous insubordination.
The new young gay soldier was also excited to hear I would be writing about our conversation on AMERICAblog Gay, but didn't want his name used because he wanted to continue to blend in as "just another soldier who just happened to be possibly gay." He said some of his friends knew he was gay, and would kid him by asking, "Are you gay?" and then follow it up with teasing laughter then shaking a finger while giggling, "Don't Ask Don't Tell!" Like those before him, he expressed how relieved he is to know if he does choose to come out then he will get to keep his career and benefits.
We must keep fighting, but we are winning this war for inclusion of LGBT Americans in all the promises laid out in our U.S. Constitution, and that chat with that one Native American soldier was most definitely the highlight of the evening besides the long kiss I shared with my man on the balcony of JR's
It made for a positive and inspirational New Years Eve to have this young Native American soldier profusely thank me for what I had done to help pave the way for him, and relay to me how much the military has already changed in welcoming the policy. I've said before that those who hysterically worked against us were a bunch of overwrought "Chicken Littles" and his story proved it. He told me how the military was already telling the soldiers not to worry about their bunkmate's sexual orientation before Don't Ask Don't Tell was passed and that one day a gay or lesbian soldier might just save their lives. For someone who remembered the homophobic statements, "Not in my Navy!" by the older more homophobic supposed leaders in the military regarding service of openly gay and lesbian sailors, it was refreshing to see and hear first hand from a young Native American soldier testifying just how welcoming the military already has become. I'm impressed by the obvious foresight, military bearing and leadership and hope that same tone will be set in the other branches, especially considering the ridiculous assertions by General Amos during the Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal fight. I still think Amos should be asked to resign for his outrageous insubordination.
The new young gay soldier was also excited to hear I would be writing about our conversation on AMERICAblog Gay, but didn't want his name used because he wanted to continue to blend in as "just another soldier who just happened to be possibly gay." He said some of his friends knew he was gay, and would kid him by asking, "Are you gay?" and then follow it up with teasing laughter then shaking a finger while giggling, "Don't Ask Don't Tell!" Like those before him, he expressed how relieved he is to know if he does choose to come out then he will get to keep his career and benefits.
We must keep fighting, but we are winning this war for inclusion of LGBT Americans in all the promises laid out in our U.S. Constitution, and that chat with that one Native American soldier was most definitely the highlight of the evening besides the long kiss I shared with my man on the balcony of JR's
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