Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 117

Open thread: President Obama signs Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010

President Obama signs Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010

U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC

DONE! Now on to full repeal and implementation...

***

Here's the open thread for the DADT signing ceremony. I have the Twitterfeed of Baristas and some of the attendees who are Tweeting this historic event in the sidebar; the feed in the post is of people using the hashtags #DADTDone and #RIPDADT.

You can also participate in the live chat on the WH Facebook page. The White House site.

UPDATE (8:45 AM ET): Steven Thrasher of the Village Voice just put up interview with Dan Choi at the DADT repeal ceremony. It's "not a repeal," Choi told us.

UPDATE: 9AM ET - Information from the White House about the program for the signing's participants and the attendees.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 22, 2010

BACKGROUND ON THE PRESIDENT'S DON'T ASK DON'T TELL REPEAL BILL SIGNING TODAY

US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

In the morning, the President and the Vice President will deliver remarks and the President will sign into law the Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 in a ceremony at the Department of the Interior. The audience will be made up of approximately 500 attendees, including Administration officials, Members of Congress and key advocates and stakeholders.

STAGE PARTICIPANTS

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Majority Leader

Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Majority Leader

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)

Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA)

Representative Susan Davis (D-CA)

Eric Alva, Former Staff Sgt, US Marine Corps

Zoe Dunning, Former Commander, US Navy

Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva was the first American wounded in the war in Iraq. On March 21, 2003, he was traveling in Iraq in a convoy to Basra with his battalion when he stepped on a landmine, breaking his right arm and damaging his leg so badly that it needed to be amputated. Alva was awarded a Purple Heart and received a medical discharge from the military.  Alva has been working with the Human Rights Campaign to speak out against the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy banning lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans from serving in the armed forces.

Commander Zoe Dunning has been a tireless advocate for fighting the military's policies prohibiting open gay service. Dunning is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. In January 1993, while a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserves, Dunning publicly came out as a lesbian at a political rally outside the gates of California's Moffett Field. Dunning won her subsequent two-and-a-half year legal battle to remain in the Navy Reserves. The Navy promoted her twice and awarded her the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal since her coming out. She retired in June 2007 and holds the distinction of serving her country as an openly gay member of the U.S. military for over 13 years.

Pre-program participants and attending Members of Congress are below the fold.
***

PRE-PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

Pledge of Allegiance: COL Margarethe Cammermeyer, US Army (Ret.)

Margarethe (Grethe) joined the US Army and after graduating from college, served seven years on active duty and married a fellow military officer.  Awarded the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam, she was forced to leave the military after becoming pregnant with her first child.  When military regulations changed in 1972 and women were allowed to serve in the military with dependents, Margarethe returned to the Army Reserves.  She later transferred to the National Guard, ultimately serving 31 years in the military prior to retirement as Washington State Chief Nurse.  In 1989 Grethe disclosed, in a security clearance investigation, that she was a lesbian which resulted in her discharge in 1992.  She challenged her discharge.  In 1994 she was reinstated in the military as though never discharged.  In June 2010 she was selected as a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, (DACOWITS).

Invocation: Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff

Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff is a consultant on interfaith values and interreligious affairs; a former line officer who served in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, followed by assignments with Naval Intelligence before attending rabbinical school; a retired Navy Chaplain who earned the Defense Superior Service Medal for his work with military and civilian leaders throughout Europe, Africa, and the Mid-East while serving as the Command Chaplain for the U.S. European Command;  and a former National Director of Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee.  From June 2005 to June 2006, he served as  Special Assistant (for Values and Vision) to the Secretary and Chief-of-Staff of the U.S. Air Force, with the equivalent military rank of Brigadier General.  Headquartered in the Pentagon, this appointment took him to Air Force bases in more than ten countries around the world, including those in Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.  On June 16, 2006, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne presented him with the USAF Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service--the highest award that the Air Force can present to a civilian. In addition to rabbinic ordination, he has three masters degrees, in International Relations, Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs, and Rabbinics, and a doctorate from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.      

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS EXPECTED TO ATTEND

Senator Harry Reid, D-NV

Senator Dick Durbin, D-IL

Senator Joe Lieberman, I-CT

Senator Susan Collins, R-ME

Senator Barbara Boxer , D-CA

Senator Sherrod Brown, OH

Senator Ben Cardin, D-MD

Senator Bob Casey, D-PA

Senator Al Franken, D-MN

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY

Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ

Senator Patrick Leahy, D-VT

Senator Jeff Merkley, D-OR

Senator Patty Murray, D-WA

Senator Mark Udall, D-CO

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA

Representative Steny Hoyer, D-MD

Representative Rob Andrews, D-NJ

Representative Tammy Baldwin, D-WI

Representative Jim Clyburn, D-SC

Representative John Conyers, D-MI

Representative Joe Courtney, D-CT

Representative Susan Davis, D-CA

Representative Barney Frank, D-MA

Representative Gabrielle Giffords, D-AZ

Representative Jane Harman, D-CA

Representative Martin Heinrich, D-NM

Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-TX

Representative Hank Johnson, D-GA

Representative Frank Kratovil, D-MD

Representative Jim Langevin, D-RI

Representative Rick Larsen, D-WA

Representative John Lewis, D-GA

Representative Jim Moran, D-VA

Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA

Representative Scott Murphy, D-NY

Representative Jerrold Nadler, D-NY

Representative Glenn Nye, D-VA

Representative Chellie Pingree, D-ME

Representative Todd Platts, R-PA

Representative Jared Polis, D-CO

Representative Mike Quigley, D-IL

Representative Carol Shea-Porter, D-NH

Representative Vic Snyder, D-AR

Representative Nikki Tsongas, D-MA

Representative Tim Walz, D-MN

***

Photo of the auditorium for the event (via @ChrisGeidner:

***

Oh, BTW, check out this FAIL by the pitiful Senate Republicans (NYT):

Last-Ditch Move to Block Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Fails

Just hours before President Obama planned to sign on Wednesday the repeal of the military's 17-year ban on gays serving openly in the armed forces, Republicans tried one last legislative maneuver to block the change.

Republicans in the Senate filed an amendment to a sweeping defense authorization bill that would have required the four military service chiefs to be part of the certification process called for in the bill that repeals the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

That would have put Marine Corps chief General James Amos, a vocal opponent of the repeal, in line to delay or potentially prevent its implementation. The amendment was filed late Tuesday to the defense measure, which could be voted on in the Senate on Wednesday.

But Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader from Kentucky, said late Tuesday night that an objection from a senator had been registered to the last-minute amendment and that it would not be included as part of the defense authorization bill.

From The Official Ceremony Site, Anticipating Viewing The Signing Into Law Of The DADT Bill

I started this piece on the plane ride from San Diego to Philadelphia, which was followed by a plane ride to Baltimore. In a few hours I'll be in DC for the DADT repeal bill signing ceremony -- these were my thoughts while I was traveling on short notice today.

~~Autumn~~

Well, I received an early morning call from Dan Choi this morning (December 21, 2010). I'm writing this message of traveling to DC for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) repeal bill signing as a direct result of that phone call.

I'm on a first fight of a two flight itinerary to Washington DC. I'll be attending the Presidential signing of the DADT repeal legislation passed by the House and Senate in recent days.

The passage of this compromise language legislation that the President will sign Wednesday, December 22nd is an extremely significant moment in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community history. It's the first piece of federal legislation that will actually  further LGBT community equality, as opposed to federal hate crime legislation which holds the promise of federal response to hate violence.

But, of course, as I've written previously this is also a somewhat meloncholy moment for me. Although repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell forwards the LGBT community's interests, it only directly benefits lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers, and future servicemembers, but won't result in transgender people being able to serve openly in the military services. And too, the more pressing issues for transgender community members in the LGBT community include employment and housing protections. Passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would have addressed transgender people's community needs better than repeal of DADT.

I'm still happy for my broader community. I go to join with other activists in celebrating a historic moment. I'm glad I played a very small part in the DADT bill's passage in joining with other veterans and activists on the White House fence.

I'll be honored and humbled to be going to the bill signing with my friend Dan Choi. My hopes and prayers will be that Dan will be able to rejoin the Army very, very soon, along with all of the other veterans who were unjustly discharged from the military services who wish to again serve their country in uniform.

For me, after this legislative win comes work on employment opportunity for the LGBT community -- one that is fully inclusive of our entire community. My efforts are in the coming years are going to turn to fighting for basic civil rights to include basic civil rights for all trans people.

If while working on basic LGBT civil rights, others in community comment that they think they should only fight for sexual orientation employment and housing protections to the exclusion of transgender employment and housing protections, I will remind them I went to jail to end DADT, and the repeal of DADT didn't result in trans people's ability to serve as openly as lesbian, gay, and bisexual will soon be able to serve openly.. My goal will be to remind them of my sacrifice for others in community, and will seek to inspire them -- or shame them (I don't care which) -- to also work for others besides themselves.

I intend to play that card as often as I feel is needed to make the point that basic civil rights isn't about me, it isn't about you, it isn't about our respective subcommunities in the LGBT community, or any other demographic characteristics about me, you, or our respective subcommunities. This is about us...all of us. If an issue is an issue for just one subcommunity of the LGBT community, then it is my issue -- and it should be your issue too.

That means I hope that many LGB people -- as well as many T people -- will learn something from an example I hoped to set. And the something I wanted to show by example is one of treating my peers in community exactly how I want to be treated by those peers in community.

All these thoughts and a signing ceremony in the morning too. I wonder if in a few hours I'll feel meloncholy or joy at the DADT repeal bill being signed into law. My guess is I'll probably feel a bit of both, mixed in with a bit of jet lag on the side.

Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert shares his homoerotic fantasies

Via LezGetReal, the latest bigot eruption by one of the more homo-obsessive elected officials out there, Rep Louie Gohmert (R-TX), who represents the 1st district in the Lone Star State. I feel sorry for his constituents, because Gohmert clearly couldn't have been elected to focus on male homosexuality.

"I know when I was in the army at Fort Benning and a young man there in the barracks could not control his overt feelings of homosexuality, and so he misread indications from another person in the barracks and found out that he had misread when he crawled into his bunk with him late one night, and his advances were not met with the kind of affection that he had hoped. That's not good for the good order and discipline. When we had people who cannot control their hormones no matter whether it's heterosexual, homosexual, whatever. They're an impediment to the military."

You know, usually men who are this obsessed about male homosexuality end up getting caught in men's bathrooms like Larry Craig did. In fact, many of them seem to be really upset because the legitimization of homosexuality has resulted in them no longer being able to do things like go out and find brief hookups in men's rooms.

Below the fold are some reactions to Louie's steamy fantasy.
From my Facebook page:

Related:

* TX Rep. Louie 'oriented toward animals...corpses' Gohmert destroyed on Rachel

* Gohmert: the Matthew Shepard Act holds soldiers' well being hostage

* Texas wingnut Rep. Louie Gohmert: demons are inside the Beltway

Guest column by Jake Goodman: A Coalition Gathers in Brooklyn: Hate is the Abomination (Not Queers)

A Coalition Gathers in Brooklyn: Hate is the Abomination (Not Queers)

by Jake Goodman

This past Thursday, a broad coalition of Jewish and queer New Yorkers gathered on in sub-freezing temperatures for a protest march through the heart of the Jewish neighborhood in Flatbush.  The event, titled "In God's Name," was organized by grassroots activist group Queer Rising - of which I am a proud member.

"In God's Name" turned out to be one of the most powerful, effective events I've experienced.  I'd like to take a moment to explain why.

Why We Fight:  October 2010

Who could forget October 2010?  Suicides by queer youth made headlines every day.  Young people faced harassment, terror and shame so extreme that they felt compelled to take their own lives.  At the same time, reports of hate crimes against LGBT people surfaced.  In New York City alone, gay men were attacked in Chelsea and at the historic Stonewall Inn, of all places.  Most horrifying to me, in the Bronx a group of kids ages 16-23 calling themselves the Latin King Goonies tricked, trapped, then tortured three men for being gay.  

On October 10th, at the very height of this violent epidemic, NY gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, in an anti-gay speech written by Rabbi Yehuda Levin, the infamously homophobic fringe rabbi of Flatbush, Brooklyn, said,  "I don't want [children] brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is an equal valid and successful option.  It is not."   I watched, mortified, as the media repeatedly replayed the video of ultra-Orthodox Jews applauding and approving this inciting speech.

In that moment, the link between anti-LGBT rhetoric and the recent rash of suicides by queer youth became tragically clear for me.  Radical-Right religious and political leaders, role models to many, spew hateful speech that strips queer people of their humanity and dignity.  Others hear this rhetoric (aided by an ill-informed media machine) and internalize it as tacit permission to enact violence onto individuals who are, not to mince words, called abominations.

The fact that such vitriol was coming from the mouth-or rather, the pen-of someone who purported to be a spokesperson for my religion was beyond the pale.  As was stated by the always-eloquent Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), "As Jews, we are horrified at the anti-LGBT bigotry coming in the name of Judaism at many of our youth, Jewish and non-Jewish.  We want religion to be a force of liberation, not a force of oppression."

How We Fight: Building Coalition "In God's Name"

When planning "In Gods Name," we had a choice.  Initially, we wanted to do an action that directly attacked Rabbi Yehuda Levin on his home turf, shaming him for his vicious homophobic rhetoric, accusing him of having blood on his hands for the deaths and wrecked lives of people who listened to and internalized his words.  After speaking with many people within diverse Jewish communities (Orthodox, ultra-Orthodox, Reform, unaffiliated, queer), we quickly realized this was not the right tack to take.

Yehuda Levin is a fringe rabbi.  Despite the picture the media paints, he has very few actual followers-maybe 14?-and we do not want to elevate him.   Oftentimes, protesters simply compare homophobic Jewish leaders to Hilter, inciting a community that is hyper-sensitive to attacks of anti-Semitism and dashing any support that might otherwise exist. Finally, and most importantly, what would an angry protest accomplish?  We would have made our point, sure, but what would change?  Nothing.

So we decided instead to build a coalition. We communicated with over 100 rabbis from every denomination.  We visited support groups for ex-Orthodox gay Jews.  We partnered with other organizations and communities that were doing related work.  We mobilized both Jewish and queer organizations to collaborate.

In the end, the success of "In God's Name" can be measured by who showed up:  people of every sexual orientation, Jews of every denomination (including the unaffiliated), non-Jews, atheists, old people, young people, white people, Latino people, African Americans.  Rally speakers included a lesbian rabbi (Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum), an Orthodox rabbi (Rabbi Maurice Appelbaum), an Israeli nonprofit executive (Idit Klein) and a gay union leader (Stuart Appelbaum).  We were endorsed by synagogues large and small, queer and AIDS-related activist groups, hospitals, arts youth groups, community centers, etc.

Together, in solidarity, we demanded an immediate end to anti-LGBT rhetoric spoken "in God's name."  We vowed that we would no longer stand idly by when we personally heard such hateful speech.  We proved that there is strength through community.  This community will rise up again and again, growing larger and more diverse, into a mass movement affirming that HATE IS THE ABOMINATION: NOT QUEER PEOPLE.

In God's Name - Hate Is the Abomination from David Wallace on Vimeo.

Endorsing Partners:  Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), Keshet, Storahtelling, Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, Jewish Chicks Rock, Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives, Nehirim, The Power, Project ACHIEVE & Columbia University Medical Center

BREAKING: UN restores "sexual orientation" to the resolution against executions

The United Nations General Assembly has just adopted the USA's amendment to restore "sexual orientation" to the Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions.  The vote on the amendment was 93 yes, 55 no with 27 abstentions.  The General Assembly then went on to adopt the Resolution itself by a vote of 122 to 0, with 50 abstentions.

Today the Unite Nations sends a strong message that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are entitled to the fundamental human right to life.

Today's amendment was necessary in the aftermath of a vote last month in the UN's Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian & Cultural), where 79 countries voted to strip "sexual orientation" from the UN Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions.  Only 70 countries supported retention of the term, while 43 countries abstained or didn't vote.

This is the only UN resolution to include an explicit reference to sexual orientation, so today's vote was crucial to keeping international focus the fact that LGBT people are specifically targeted for human rights abuses around the world.

Update: Statement by Ambassador Susan Rice and other reactions are below the fold.

Related:

* Demand that Governments of the World Condemn LGBT Executions

* Association of British Muslims criticizes UN for removing sexual orientation protections

* Gays on safari in Kenya are now themselves fair game
Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, After Adoption by the General Assembly of a US-led Amendment to the Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary, and Arbitrary Executions

Susan E. Rice

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations

U.S. Mission to the United Nations

New York, NY

December 21, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, the United Nations General Assembly has sent a clear and resounding message that justice and human rights apply to all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation.

Several weeks ago, on November 16, the General Assembly's Third Committee voted by a narrow margin to eliminate any mention of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals from a resolution condemning extrajudicial killing of vulnerable people around the world. The United States fought hard for that reference when it came to a Committee vote, and we lost. As I have said before, I was incensed by that vote.

In the weeks following that setback, the United States was proud to introduce an amendment to restore this critical language to the biennial resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary, and Arbitrary Execution before it came for a final vote of the full UN General Assembly. On December 10, at an event marking Human Rights Day, I announced our effort and said, "We're going to stand firm on this basic principle, and we intend to win."

The U.S built a broad coalition of partners and together we galvanized member states to support this effort - and to win.

Today, the General Assembly voted by a significant margin, 93 to 55, to approve the U.S.-led amendment and condemn the extrajudicial killing of people around the world due to their sexual orientation.

The voices of civil society and human rights defenders around the world have been heard today, and for that my delegation is especially proud. Less than two weeks after we celebrated the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, today's vote ensures that the principles enshrined in that Declaration are put into practice - and indeed live on - in the 21st Century.

Rick D. Barton, U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

Remarks by Rick D. Barton, U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, on the Vote on the General Assembly Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary, and Arbitrary Executions contained in the Report of the Third Committee

Ambassador Rick Barton

U.S. Representative

New York, NY

December 21, 2010

AS DELIVERED

Mr. President,

Thank you for this opportunity to take the floor after the vote.

The United States would like to thank countries for their support. We applaud those member states that have stood with us to oppose efforts seeking to block language on "sexual orientation" from this resolution.

Along with many countries in this room today, the United States was deeply disappointed by the vote in the third committee, which eliminated any mention of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals from this resolution condemning extrajudicial killing of vulnerable people around the world.

The voices of civil society and human rights defenders around the world have indeed been heard by the member states of the United Nations - and for that my delegation is especially grateful. The General Assembly has sent a clear signal today that justice and human rights apply to all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation.

As Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said this year on Human Rights Day, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights applies to all human beings without exception and that "violence will end only when we confront prejudice."

Having just celebrated the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, today's vote ensures that the principles enshrined in that Declaration are put into practice and indeed live on in the 21st century. We have reaffirmed that "all human rights apply to all." We hope that we can continue to make progress on this at the UN and that all member states will consider signing the statement on LGBT human rights before the UNGA.

We thank the member states of the General Assembly for their support today.

Thank you Mr. President.

Statement by Secretary Clinton - UN General Assembly Action on Sexual Orientation

For Immediate Release                                                                                      December 21, 2010

2010/1850

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY CLINTON

UN General Assembly Action on Sexual Orientation

I am pleased by the UN General Assembly's action today to include sexual orientation in a resolution condemning extrajudicial and summary executions.  The United States introduced this language to send an unequivocal message in concert with our many international partners: No one should be killed for who they are.  

Sadly, many people around the world continue to be targeted and killed because of their sexual orientation.  These heinous crimes must be condemned and investigated wherever they occur.  We look forward to continuing our work with others around the world to protect the human rights of those facing threats or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Statement by the Press Secretary on Adoption of U.S. Sponsored Amendment to Ensure Gays and Lesbians Are Covered By UN Resolution on Extrajudicial Execution

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

December 21, 2010  

Statement by the Press Secretary on Adoption of U.S. Sponsored Amendment to Ensure Gays and Lesbians Are Covered By UN Resolution on Extrajudicial Execution

   President Obama applauds those countries that supported the amendment offered by the United States to ensure that "sexual orientation" remains covered by the United Nations resolution on extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary execution.   Killing people because of their sexual orientation cannot be rationalized by diverse religious values or varying regional perspectives.  Killing people because they are gay is not culturally defensible - it is criminal.  

   While today's adoption of an inclusive resolution is important, so too are the conversations that have now begun in capitals around the world about inclusion, equality, and discrimination.   Protecting gays and lesbians from state-sponsored discrimination is not a special right, it is a human right.  Today's vote in the United Nations marks an important moment in the struggle for civil and human rights.  The time has come for all nations to redouble our efforts to end discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

'Porno' Pete LaBarbera and his hate group gets called out by Chicago news station report

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Anti-Gay Chicago Groups Make 'Hate List': MyFoxCHICAGO.com

The national media doesn't seem to get it when it comes talking about anti-gay hate groups and the Southern Poverty Law Center. But the local media seems to be getting it.

The local media in Chicago, Fox Chicago News, recently presented an excellent report about our friend, (and Paul Cameron enabler) Peter LaBarbera and his hate group, Americans for Truth About Homosexuality. Words can't do this report justice but I will try. The report is clear, concise, and gets to the heart of  the matter. Just watch it and spread it around online.

 

UPDATE - Another reason to love this report? LaBarbera is NOT happy with it.

Va. Lawmaker: 'Not in my Militia'

crossposted at Get-The-Skinny.com  

My wonderful state delegate, Bob Marshal, (R) Manassas, VA, who proudly displays an endorsement by the Family Research Council, would like to ensure that Teh Ghey doesn't infect the Virginia National Guard by passing a counter-legislative bill at the state level. (Photo Credit: Advocate.com)

"This policy will weaken military recruitment and retention, and will increase pressure for a military draft,'' Marshall said. "After 232 years of prohibiting active, open homosexuals from enlisting in our military, President Obama and a majority in Congress are conducting a social experiment with our troops and our national security...In countries where religions and cultures find homosexual acts immoral, the Obama administration's repeal policy will work to the detriment of all American troops in securing local cooperation with our nation's foreign policy goals."

The Senate's vote to repeal the 17-year-old federal ''don't ask, don't tell' policy came a week after the House approved it. President Obama has said he will sign the bill.

Marshall, who is considering running for U.S. Senate in 2012 [to unseat Sen. Jim Webb (D)], is one of the House's most conservative members. He said Article 1, Section 8, Clause 16 of the Constitution gives Virginia the authority to uphold the ban by "reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress.

Source: WaPo Virginia Politics Blog

Equality Virginia's Claire Guthree Gastanaga thinks that any attempt at the state level to enforce such legislations would be nullified by existing federal law.

"Any state statute seeking to set different standards for the Virginia National Guard would be a nullity with no effect,'' she said. "It is a shame that Delegate Marshall would dishonor the brave men and women serving in our National Guard by seeking to make political points at their expense and waste the time of his colleagues in the Virginia General Assembly who have pressing matters to attend to like balancing the budget and finding solutions to the traffic problems that are the real and present concern of his constituents."

Marshall insists that according to the Constitution the States retain the rights to appoint officers to Militias it's fully within the rights of Virginia to ban open service.

Contact info below the fold:

http://delegatebob.com/contact

Remember, be respectful when contacting the state delegate to tell him how you really feel.

Robert G. Marshall
Delegate of 13th District
P.O. Box 421
Manassas, VA 20108

703 – 361 – 5416 (office and fax)
703 – 853 – 4213 (cell) (preferred)

Southern Poverty Law Center is making wingnut Matt Barber delirious

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

You want to hear the funniest reaction from the religious right to the Southern Poverty Law Center profiling them for their anti-gay lies? Check this out:

Sometimes the most effective way to deal with a bully is to simply pop him in the chops. While it may not shut him up entirely, it usually gives him pause before he resumes flapping his toxic jaws. It also has the effect of showing the other kids in the schoolyard that they have nothing to fear. Though the bully struts about projecting the tough-guy image, he's typically the most insecure pansy on the block.

Such is the case with the bullies over at the fringe-left Southern Poverty Law Center. Having been recently "popped in the chops," if you will, for a series of hyperbolic and disingenuous "anti-gay hate group" slurs against a dozen-or-so of America's most well respected Christian and conservative organizations – the SPLC now finds itself publicly struggling, outside of an extremist left-wing echo chamber, to salvage a modicum of mainstream credibility.

In response to the SPLC's unprovoked attacks, a unified coalition of more than 150 top conservative and Christian leaders across the country has launched a shock-and-awe "Start Debating, Stop Hating" media blitz to educate America about the SPLC's ad hominem, politically driven smear campaign.

The mainstream pro-family conglomerate already includes presumptive Speaker of the House John Boehner, former presidential contender Mike Huckabee, four current U.S. senators, three governors, 20 current or newly elected members of the House of Representatives and many more.

As the controversy wears on and the facts become public, the moribund SPLC has understandably become increasingly defensive, strongly suggesting that it has come to regret this gross political overreach.

That passage is by the right-wing Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber in a recent column published by World Net Daily.  It's obvious that Barber has obsessed over gay sex so much that he is losing leave of his senses.

Barber's entire piece is empty hyperbole from a man claiming to win a poker game while he is playing with a dud hand.

What Barber calls a media blitz is an ignorant campaign by groups who don't want admit their wrongdoings teaming up with a bunch of shortsighted legislators and conservative leaders who themselves have engaged in ugly spin doctoring against the lgbt community . Their campaign hasn't resonated anywhere except for the lgbt community where we are rubbing our hands with glee while salivating over the notion that these individuals so easily (and stupidly) have put their necks on the chopping blocks and are waiting for us to come down with the axe at our leisure.
You see for the first time, the issue is not about whether or not lgbts have the right to equality. That's something which never needed to be argued. The issue is now, and deservedly so, why are these so-called moral groups saying these untrue and thereby unChristian things about the lgbt community.

Not exactly "shock and awe," is it?

But what's even more hilarious is the fact that Barber actually accuses the SPLC of taking comments out of context:

. . . the SPLC has begun to grease the skids. Quotes cherry picked, taken out of context and misapplied are a powerful tool of the propagandist. Such are the Maoist techniques of the SPLC.

It's interesting how Barber uses that opening to claim that SPLC distorted a comment he made about hate crimes. But he conveniently ignores how the SPLC calls him out regarding the following comment he made:

There is nothing "conservative" about "one man violently cramming his penis into another man’s lower intestine and calling it 'love'";

I would love to hear how that comment is a distortion. Or how about these from other religious right groups profiled by SPLC:

•Homosexual behavior ought to be outlawed;

•Gay sex ought to carry criminal penalties;

•Gays ought to be prohibited from serving in public office;

•Gay sex is domestic terrorism;

•"Hitler recruited around him homosexuals to make up his Stormtroopers ... [because] homosexual soldiers basically had no limits [to] the savagery and brutality they were willing to inflict."

Then Barber does the standard religious right dodge - citing statistics from the CDC and other health organizations regarding health issues affecting the lgbt community.

Of course Barber conveniently omits the fact that the none of these organizations ever said that the lgbt orientation is indicative of bad health. They have said that homophobia leads to lgbts not getting the information or health care that they need. What Barber is doing is no different than a racist citing health organizations to claim that the African-American community is inferior.

Finally, Barber says the following, which pretty much nails down the fact that he has gone delusional:

Indeed, the SPLC and its allies are flailing violently as they swim upstream against a torrent of settled science, thousands of years of history and the unwavering moral precepts of every major world religion.

It's little wonder they've resorted to childish name calling.

Well Barber ought to know about name-calling. And the irony that he actually talks about "settled science" when he and his organization has gone against "settled science" when demonizing the lgbt community is the very height of audacity.

But lastly, Barber seems to have his fingers in his ears and his eyes closed.  It's sad really. While the Family Research Council tries to fight SPLC, Barber has actually convinced himself that the SPLC and the lgbt community is retreating in this controversy.

Hardly.

The lgbt community has had an excellent year. In courts, we've beaten DOMA and Proposition 8, gay adoption in Florida is now allowed after over two decades, George Rekers, a peddler of anti-lgbt propaganda was taken down, then there is that very interesting that happened this weekend. What was it? Oh yeah, the repeal of DADT after 17 years.

The lgbt community, nor the SPLC, aren't swimming upstream. We are coasting on a hot wave.

And you and your side are coasting, too.  But in the other direction. All of your phoniness about being moral and pro-family while engaging in a 20+ year of lies and propaganda against the lgbt community is finally coming to light.

You aren't just flailing. You are already dead on the water.

Tool of the day: Col. Bill Spencer - 'What moral madness awaits us next' after repeal?

Good grief. This former military officer has written a ridiculous screed at Daddy D's CitizenLink lamenting the passage of DADT repeal, "With 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' It's Too Late to Care Now"

Since the advent of "don't ask, don't tell" in 1993, no idea or position forwarded by homosexuals has been tied to improved mission readiness and effectiveness - none. The media's sound bite that there would be a loss of skilled personnel if the policy remained was nothing more than a smoke screen. The political reality is that we have a commander in chief who has never served in the military who had promised repeal to a special-interest support group. And Democratic majorities in the House and Senate could make it happen, regardless of the fact that the 111th Congress has fewer veterans than any Congress in history.

What can change this now? Sadly, I think only a future war will have us rethink how we best organize our troops to fight and win wars. At that time, cooler heads will prevail, and we'll determine who best should be fielded to defend us. The social curiosity that will have been the openly gay service experience will vanish as the nation - at great cost - rediscovers the real purpose for having a military.

He also has a vivid imagination. This is what Col. Bill Spencer (Ret.) believes currently serving heterosexual service members will have on their minds post-repeal.

I fear that our military members in the field are left with these thoughts: "Does my country not think of me that much? Does the country think it should hobble its forces in the field with these distractions during time of war? Does the country require us to deal with this, as well? Am I indeed a patriot without a country? What moral madness awaits us next? When bullets are flying at me, and everyone back home is apparently just thinking about themselves and their own private behaviors, it's too much to ask of me to sacrifice my life."

Over at a former soldier's blog, One Angry Queer, this was the reaction:

I sometimes feel the need to reiterate to chumps like this fogey: America wasn't founded on the principle that the majority can discriminate against the minority, asshole. Any soldier who believed that his place in the Armed Services, the finest group of men and women I have ever met, was to reinforce the backwards ideals and homophobic notions of fringe bigots-- it isn't his place to be in the military. He needs to get out, and he needs to become an out-of-work plumber. Somewhere else.

Because of this simple reason: This is America, goddammit. I swore to protect the Constitution of the United States of America, and that document doesn't have room for your hatred. I am flabbergasted at the notion of any soldier I have ever known-- patriots all-- thinking something this selfish and disgusting. They would promptly be drummed out at best, or locked up for treason at worst. To be frank, it doesn't exist.

Thank God.

***

BONUS FUNDIE TOOL -- Watch Alex Nicholson of Servicemembers United go up against Peter Sprigg of the documented hate group, the Family Research Council.

White House invites Dan Choi, Robin McGehee, bloggers to DADT Repeal Act of 2010 signing ceremony

I think this is a big step for the direct action group GetEqual, whose tactics didn't receive a lot of establishment respect. The White House, while shaken by some of the protests, clearly offered the olive branch by inviting both Lt. Dan Choi and Robin McGehee to Wednesday's White House signing ceremony.

The signing will not be held at the White House. The invite list is apparently quite long -- the ceremony is being held in an auditorium.

In case you're wondering, your blogmistress, despite being one of the thorns in the side of the WH at times, has also received an invitation.

That's heartening, since it also means recognition of the Netroots. Via Twitter I know that John Aravosis (certainly not a WH fan), Andy Towle, and other bloggers are invited, so perhaps the White House would like to use this opportunity to start anew. Time will tell, of course.

As far as my attendance goes, it is a life filled with an abundance of hilarious bad luck, bad timing and bad health. Usually it's a conflict with my day job when it comes to invites of this nature; this time it's the damn hysterectomy. YES the plumbing of the damned -- it's removed and it's still screwing with me, lolol.

Let's put it this way - I drove a few miles today and mailed a couple of small boxes at the PO, went to one store and came home. My abdomen is now throbbing sore and definitely feels like I overdid it (like stitches pulling). Anyway, attending would be a logistical nightmare for me. I'm not physically ready for a long drive, dealing with flying/the airport or standing for long periods yet. Also, I cannot lift more than 10 lbs for quite a while, so no bag or laptop and gear for me either. Crushing fatigue can strike without warning too. Oh, and folks have to be on site by 7AM on Wednesday. LOL. The reality is (even as I hilariously, sadly bargained with Kate about how it might be possible to go) it takes months to fully recover from a hysterectomy even without complications involving my other issues (fibromyalgia, neuropathy). The smart thing is to sadly and politely decline attending the historic event.

I do hope to see, as I watch the event on the tube on Wednesday with the rest of you, that there are many members of the military attending -- those who lost their jobs due to DADT, and we can, in ceremony, close this chapter and move on to full impementation of repeal.