Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 135
November 22, 2010
Blogswarm of Love for Pam!
* Blog Love for Pam Spaulding by Karen Ocamb @ LGBT | POV.
* Blogswarm: Let's Show Pam Spaulding Our Love Today! by Keori, Clark67 and puglette @ KOS.
* A blogswarm sending love and good wishes to Pam Spaulding by Joe Sudbay at AMERICAblog.
* Blogswarm: Pam Spaulding, You Get Well Soon! by David Mixner @ Live From Hell's Kitchen.
* Sending Our Love To Pam Spaulding by Joe Jervis @ Joe.My.God
* Get Better Soon, Pam! by Andy Towle @ Towleroad.
* Today Pam's blend could use your sweetmess by Jeremy Hooper @ Good as You
* Wish Pam a Speedy Recovery! by Michelangelo Signorile The Gist.
* Sending Our Love to Pam Spaulding by Rod McCullom @ Rod 2.0.
* Love for Pam Spaulding! by Zack Ford @ ZackFord Blogs.
* Wishing the Best for Pam Spaulding today by Andr?s Duque @ Blabbeando.
* Sending Love to Queen of the LGBT Blogs, Pam Spaulding by Jamie McGonnigal @ Talk About Equality.
* Blogswarm: Love for Pam Spaulding by Bil Browning @ Bilerico.
* Brody's Notes... Pam Spaulding Undergoing Major Surgery Today- November 22nd by Brody Levesque @ Brody's Notes & Scribbles.
The American Family Association must address Bryan Fischer's hateful comments
crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
There is this constant talking point, or rather whine, by many who are involved with conservative Christian groups (i.e. the religious right) that they are under attack by so-called "Godless forces of radicalism" or that they are unfairly called bigots because they simply want to defend "Christian values."
The American Family Association is one of these groups. According to its own webpage, the AFA:
works to promote decency and morals in American culture,
1. to restrain evil by exposing the works of darkness and to promote virtue by upholding that in culture which is right, true and good;
2. to convince men of sin and drive them to Christ's grace and forgiveness; and to
3. to guide and encourage Christians to live-out the new holy identity that is theirs as citizens of Christ's kingdom.
These are seemingly nice qualities for an organization to have, except when one actually listens to the words Bryan Fischer, an employee of AFA:
Homosexuals comprise less than three percent of the population, yet are responsible for one-third of all child sex abuse cases. There is an overwhelming correlation between homosexual preference and pedophilia. This is further evidence that homosexuality is in fact sexual deviancy. For this reason alone, no homosexual should be elevated to the United States Supreme Court.
If we connect the dots here, the inescapable conclusion is that gay sex is a form of domestic terrorism.
Bottom line: every Muslim who enters the United States carries within his bosom the seeds of sedition. It is dangerously foolish for the United States to invite folks inside our borders whose god orders them, through his holy prophet, to murder American infidels.
“Hitler discovered that he could not get straight soldiers to be savage and brutal and vicious enough to carry out his orders, but that homosexual solders basically had no limits and the savagery and brutality they were willing to inflict on whomever Hitler sent them after. So he surrounded himself, virtually all of the Stormtroopers, the Brownshirts, were male homosexuals.
. . .the illegitimacy rate among Hispanic women is over 50%. I’m not sure pro-family values are as strong in the Hispanic community . . .
Fischer is AFA's Director of Issues Analysis and his statements have caused much consternation amongst many people. But his latest statement, criticizing the awarding of the National Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, took the proverbial cake.
Giunta recently received the National Medal of Honor for saving members of his squad during the War in Afghanistan on October 25, 2007.
However, Fischer said:
We have feminized the Medal of Honor.
. . .When we think of heroism in battle, we used the think of our boys storming the beaches of Normandy under withering fire, climbing the cliffs of Pointe do Hoc while enemy soldiers fired straight down on them, and tossing grenades into pill boxes to take out gun emplacements.
That kind of heroism has apparently become passe when it comes to awarding the Medal of Honor. We now award it only for preventing casualties, not for inflicting them.
So the question is this: when are we going to start awarding the Medal of Honor once again for soldiers who kill people and break things so our families can sleep safely at night?
Fischer's comments about Giunta has received a lot of deserved negative attention from many voices, except for one - that of the American Family Association.
As far as it is known, the AFA has said nothing about Fischer's comments regarding Giunta nor any of his other outrageous statements. Nor has any other religious right group, even though Fischer has been sought as a speaker to various religious right functions such as the Values Voters Summit this year, which was also attended by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
By the way, none of these individuals, some who are possible 2012 presidential candidates, have said a word about Fischer's comments.
But it would appear to me that the most important voice in this matter should be the AFA because it is the organization which gives Fischer a platform.
The folks at the AFA seem to be playing dumb in hopes that if they don't acknowledge the controversy, then it will go away.
This behavior has certainly worked for them in the past when the organization was caught selling a video featuring a man who falsely claimed to have been "delivered from homosexuality." (The AFA is still selling the video by the way.)
But for the American Family Association to remain silent about Fischer's comments contradicts everything the organization claims to stand for - truth, virtue, decency, and morality.
Hatred and bigotry lodged in God's name is still hatred and bigotry.
Many, myself included, have on several occasions accused religious right groups of working in the name of a bad facsimile of God which is perverted by their own egos, prejudices, and selfish desires of conquest.
If the AFA continues to be silent about Fischer then they will prove our point better than we have ever hoped to imagine.
What Was Accomplished A Week Ago
Photo courtesy of Talk About Equality.
There are those who say acts of civil disobedience accomplish nothing. That they are merely childish temper tantrums and an embarrassment.
Well, I disagree.
Flashback to an earlier time--just two weeks ago--because it's easy to forget how very quickly the tone of the conversation changed this week.
Following mid-term elections, the gay community noted with dismay, that rumors were circulating the effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would be abandoned. Wall Street Journal declared "Drive to Repeal 'Don't Ask' Policy All but Lost for Now." There were also reports in Washington Post Senate Armed Services Committee Chair, Carl Levin was considering throwing in the towel.
On November 4, President Obama held a press conference and did not list "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal as on the lame duck legislative priorities. The CNBC headline read: Lame Duck Priorities: Taxes and Nukes. When asked by a reporter, President Obama would only say there was the "potential" to repeal DADT in the lame duck. Which isn't news to anyone. There is also the "potential" that Lt. Dan Choi could be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Let us not confuse a "potentiality" with a likelihood or a plan.
Senate Majority Harry Reid, seemed unsure of the path forward. He was quoted on November 4, that he would "try" and went on to explain all the reasons it might not work out.
"During a conference call yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he would try to move the bill once the Senate comes back to session later this month. "The problem we have with a defense authorization bill is that it takes a while to get it done," he said. "If we could get some agreement from the Republicans that we could move the bill without a lot of extraneous amendments, I think it is something we can work out. Time agreements on a few amendments, that would be my goal."
On November 10th, White House Communications director was asked about DADT repeal by National Journal, he said it was "at least, worth a shot":
DON'T ASK. White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer told National Journal that repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military is "at least worth a shot" in the lame-duck session of Congress that starts next week. But lawmakers would have to hang around longer than some might like: The military's study on the proposed repeal isn't due till December 1.
At the time the action was planned, things looked bad. Really bad. Senate Armed Service Chairman was quoted in the Washington Post:
"See that bill?" Levin said as he removed a copy of the bill from a folder. "The bill has 849 pages and only two of them are 'don' t ask, don't tell.' The rest have to do with our troops, they have to do with a whole lot of critically important things."
Uh, oh. More important things to do. That never works out well for the gays.
On Monday, when I was picked up at the jail by a friend, I'd obviously been in media blackout for 8 hours, he handed me his iPhone. On it I saw a huge list of media outlets that were reporting on our action. It was long, and impressive. And I knew we'd done the right thing. We'd help change the conversation.
TOP-TIER, NATIONAL MEDIA:
Associated Press "Don't Ask" Protestors Arrested at White House
The Atlantic Non-Violent Resistance
MSNBC.com 'Don't ask' protesters arrested at White House
Washington Post "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Splitting Gay Rights Groups
CNN Gay Rights Protestors Demand Obama help end "don't ask, don't tell"
Politico Lieberman, Collins seek earlier release of Pentagon DADT report
Huffington Post Gay Rights Activists Accuse Obama of Silent Homophobia
Fox News 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Arrest Outside White House
Politico Don't Ask' protesters target WH outreach
CBS News Dan Choi, Other Gay Rights Protesters Arrested After Chaining Selves to White House Fence
CBS News 'Don't Ask' Protesters Arrested At White House
OTHER NATIONAL MEDIA:
Army Times 13 Arrested During DADT Protest (AP Story)
Air Force Times 13 Arrested During DADT Protest (AP story)
Boston Herald 'Don't Ask' protestors arrested at White House (AP story)
NPR (KPBS) Thirteen People Arrested Today at White House in "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Protest
NPR (KPBS) Veterans, Advocates Hold Vigil Today for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal
NPR(KPBS) The First Living Medal of Honor Winner Since Vietnam War
WTOP-DC 13 arrested outside White House during protest
Keen News Service Two groups send mixed message on DADT repeal timing
The Advocate DADT Protesters Arrested at White House
WIRE and OTHER IMAGES:
Yahoo News Photos Don't Ask Don't Tell
Yahoo News Photos 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy
Washington Blade GetEQUAL Day of Action
SF Chronicle SFGate: Day in Pictures
ONLINE NEWS AND BLOG SITES:
Perez Hilton Lt. Dan Choi Accuses President of "Silent Homophobia"
Alternet Gay activists chain themselves to White House gate
Huffington Post George Heymont: I had a don't ask, don't tell dream (and John McCain's not going to like it)- Lt. Dan Choi reference
BreakingNews.Dir
Gay Rights Activists Accuse Obama Of 'Silent Homophobia'
CITY LOCAL NEWS:
My Fox DC 'Don't Ask' Protesters Arrested at White House
Washington Examiner 13 arrested outside White House during protest
NBC Washington 13 Arrested at Protest Outside White House
KWCH 13 arrested after chaining themselves to White House fence in 'don't ask, don't tell' protest
Minneapolis Star Tribune 13 arrested after chaining themselves to White House fence in 'don't ask, don't tell' protest
Seattle Post 'Don't ask' protesters arrested at White House
Ozarks First Protesters Cuff Themselves to White House Gates
Miami Herald Protesters Cuff Themselves to White House Gates
Boston.com 'Don't ask' protesters arrested at White House
WTAJ Activists Chain Selves to White House Gates
We Are Central PA Activists Chain Themselves to White House Gate
Tucson Citizen BREAKING: Activists chain themselves to White House Fence for DADT
WHSV Protesters Arrested After Handcuff Selves to White House Fence
WSRY Don't Ask Protesters Arrested At White House
WUSA Gay Rights Group Members Arrested At White House For Chaining Themselves To Fence
INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
Agency France Presse (AFP) Gay activists chain themselves to White House gate
Straits Times (Singapore) Gay activists chain selves to White House gate
The Times of India Gay rights activists chain themselves to White House gate (AFP story)
Canada TV U.S. gay military ban unlikely to be repealed soon
The Gaurdian 'Don't ask' protesters arrested at White House
La Raza- La Casa Blanca con el 'Dream Act'
Momarandu Homofobia silenciosa
Portugal Gay-EUA Manifestantes contra DADT sao presos junto ? Casa Branca
CNN International Gay rights protesters demand Obama help end 'don't ask, don't tell'
LGBT NEWS AND BLOG SITES:
AmericaBlog Gay Coverage of GetEQUAL DADT Protests:
Morning,
Edge Boston "Don't ask, don't tell" protesters arrested outside White House
San Diego Gay/Lesbian News BREAKING NEWS: 13 people chain themselves to White House fence to protest DADT inaction
365 Gay.com 13 protesting DADT arrested at White House
Just Out Advocates and Vets Opposing DADT Arrested at White House Fence
Advocate.com DADT Vigil Held at Matlovich Grave Site
Washington Blade 13 arrested at White House in "Don't Ask" protest
Reid's office gives activists non-answers on "Don't Ask"
Towleroad.com 13 vets and DADT repeal advocates chain themselves to White House gate
Pam's House Blend Again, I'm near here the place I was last April
On Top Magazine Dan Choi, Robin McGehee Arrested Protesting DADT At White House
Pink News Thirteen gay activists arrested after White House DADT Protest
South Capitol Street GetEQUAL Hits Up White House Meeting For LGBT Orgs Tonight
Wockner DADT protesters arrested at White House
Black Christian News WATCH: Homosexual Rights Activists Accuse President Obama of 'Silent Homophobia'
Pride In Utah GetEQUAL Kicks Off "Week of Action" With Sunrise Vigil + A Visit To Harry Reid
Firedog Lake DADT Repeal Turning Into Political Chaos
Fire Dog Lake GetEqual Protests the Veal Pen Re: DADT Repeal
365gay.com 13 protesting DADT arrested at White House
So what was accomplished? The headlines for day one of lame duck were all about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This was clearly not the preferred message of the day. I think that would have been START and taxes, sorry to step on that, but we can't wait for our leaders to bring it up. We can't depend on the mainstream media to ask the questions. We have to generate our own press.
And the landscape surrounding repeal has change pretty dramatically in the last week. It may have anyway, it may not. That's something we'll never be able to know.
But last Monday, activists sent a message to the country and to our country's leadership. We're not going to make this easy for you. We're not going to back down. And we're going to give it just "more than a shot," we're giving it our all.
Our leaders want to talk in mealy language about the "potential" for repeal, "giving it a shot" and "trying." They want to talk about how hard it is, and how they have so little time until they get to go home to their families for Christmas. We're reminding them 2010 is yet another year when thousands of servicemembers may not even have the luxury of being able to call their loved ones over the holidays. Many will spend this holiday season alone, as they have many others. We speak for them. We stand for them. And we're asking this country's leadership to do so too.
Our message is: We're not going to quietly go away, just because they have let the clock run out with poorly-timed plan. We are going to act boldly, fearlessly and in no uncertain terms, with a single explicit message: End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." End it now. You promised you would. And we remember.
In the week since I took action, I've also had my creditability on the issue of DADT attacked repeatedly, and I've been accused of lying and being a "media hoe." (A curious accusation since I received--nor have I sought--any attention from "the media," and these are my first words on this action, outside of a few scattered comments on Facebook and Twitter.)
But I worry not about that. I have never presented myself as flawless or unerring advocate. I have only aspired to speak for LGB servicemembers who are compelled by Federal law to not speak for themselves. And I have earned the respect and confidence of that crowd.
And not just the famous ones. Sgt Ian Finkenbinder (last picture), is not only a hero but the group's clown, rarely letting his jocular manner drop. But for just a moment, when we were chained next to each other at the fence, his guard dropped. He looked me in the eye and said, "Thank you for being here." I could see he was grateful I, a civilian with no desire to serve, who had no direct stake in the battle, had involved himself so passionately in this fight. I think, for a moment, he felt less alone, less forgotten.
I've received thanks and praise from all over the country, from vast variety of people. Friends from high school, friends from my current life, fellow activists, even Capital Hill staffers.
And of course, many, many, many current and retired military people. I have been welcomed warmly into their fold. On Thursday night I stepped into Julius gay bar in New York City to join them for a drink. I was humbled to be greeted with a thunderous applause. These moments have meant the world to me and far, far, more than any slings and arrows I suffer from any quarters.
Organizers GetEqual just released this compilation video. It highlights their message, which got lost in the media maelstrom of facile reporting, please take a moment to watch it. I am especially proud of my friend, Specialist Rob Smith at the 0:56 mark challenging the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus to break their silence on this issue. DADT disproportionately affects servicemembers of color. Do they not represent those people of color as well?
Bulk orders of handcuffs and attorney fees and court fines do not come cheap. If you wish to support this action you may donate here.
Pentagon to Release the Fabled DADT "Study" a Day Early
SECDEF Robert Gates has decided to release that DADT "study" to Congress on November 30 instead of December 1st, citing a need to accomodate the Senate Armed Services Committee's desire for time to review and hold hearings on the contents. From the Armed Forces Press Service:
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia, Nov. 21, 2010 – The report of a working group he created to research the ramifications for the Defense Department if the law banning gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military is repealed will be released to Congress and the public Nov. 30, Defense Department officials announced here today.Gates formed the working group in February, appointing Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe, and Jeh C. Johnson, DOD’s general counsel, to lead the effort.
"Secretary Gates is pushing all involved in the Comprehensive Review Working Group's report to have it ready for public release on Nov. 30 in order to accommodate the desire of the Senate Armed Services Committee to hold hearings as soon as possible,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. “Frankly, Dec. 1 was already an aggressive deadline by which to complete the report, incorporate the views of service secretaries and chiefs and for the secretary to make a recommendation on the way ahead, but he has further compressed the timeline in order to support Congress' wish to consider repeal before they adjourn.
“Now,” Morrell continued, “the secretary has instructed his staff, without cutting any corners, to have everything ready a day sooner because he wants to ensure members of the Armed Services Committee are able to read and consider the complex, lengthy report before holding hearings with its authors and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”
A whole day. Wow. Let's not forget that President Obama, the Commander-in-Chief, allegedly started consulting upper-level brass on how to study repeal in March 2009. I'm just curious as to why it took a whole year to formulate a series of biased, derogatory questions at a taxpayer cost of $4.4 million. Well, at least the entire "study" will be released a day early so John McCain can have his hearings. I can't wait for that dog and pony show.
Let's keep in mind the political warfare perpetuated against LGB troops by Republicans, and I don't just mean John McCain. Back in March, during the House Armed Services Committee hearings on DADT, Republican Rep. Joe "You Lie" Wilson accused the Pentagon of having a biased study in favor of repeal, and relying "too heavily" on the 1993 Rand study which showed that repeal of the ban on openly LGB servicemembers would have no impact. He actually used the phrase, "cook the books to the President's desires." It's already been leaked that the Pentagon study is favorable to repeal. John McCain has said that the fact that the study was leaked invalidated the results, and he wants a do-over (presumably, as many do-overs as it takes to get the results he wants). The next talking point will be that the study was biased in favor of repeal. In fact, that talking point has already been around for a while.
As we say in the Navy, "Stand by." The next act in the three-ring repeal circus is about to begin.
Open Thread: "Give Our Fave Blogmistress Pam Some Love" Time!
We would ask that everyone notice the wee PayPal "Donate" widget in the upper lefthand corner of the front page.
If you can, please pop a lil something in there for Pam and Kate. Between boarding for Casey and Chloe, deductibles and other unforeseen expenses coming up, this could come in handy right now.
Thanks!
~Louise, Lurleen, Autumn, Alvin, Keori and Clarknt67
As you all know, Pam's surgery is this morning- so the rest of us thought it an appropriate time to post just WHY Pam means so much to us all personally.
I mean, think about it- there are thousands and thousands of us Blenders! That's pretty amazing, when you think about it- one person's frustration almost exactly 4 years ago with the world as she saw it culminated into her sitting down, tickety-typing her thoughts and views. Hitting "Enter"- and setting up this online coffee shop we know and love so much...
And for anyone who has met Pam and Kate in person, as I was fortunate to do this summer at the 50th birthday party of Americablog's Joe Sudbay, we can all agree that one would be hard-pressed to find a more loving, fun, down-to-earth and genuinely sweet couple than them.
(And I really hope they come back up to Maine next summer! :)
Pam herself is astounding; I can't express how much her generosity in inviting me to come aboard as a barista in 2009 meant and continues to mean to me- and that the email came on April Fool's Day just adds that extra cosmic dash of silly appeal for me. ;)
Because of Pam, I found a voice I never knew that I had, and while Maine isn't where we want it to be regarding marriage equality or even politically right now, we will be. Give me time...
(Sidenote: I spoke with Governor Baldacci at one of the President Clinton rallies this fall; it was very pleasant to get a big hug and talk about our previous conversation. He said that at the time he spoke with me and Snooky he was "just starting to come around" to the idea of marriage equality- and that he is now a strong supporter and advocate. I like to think that our talk helped John "get there"! So, one more thing to thank Pam and indeed the entire Blend family for- you have all helped me find my voice.)
And her generosity to other bloggers? One needs look no further than her post over the weekend letting us all know that SharkFu, aka Angry Black Bitch, is also having the same surgery as Pam today. So, let's give her some love, too!
The numerous accolades that Pam and her blog have received over the years are just a tangible testimony to how so many others, including her peers in the blogosphere, view her- her integrity, her honesty, her personal standards of fairness and true family values are benchmarks that many strive for and few attain.
Yeah, I am kinda fond of the gal... ;) Because of the Blend, I have a family I never imagined. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Thank you, Pam!
So gonna throw this open to all of you Blenders, to express your thoughts, link a video for Pam, send her YOUR love!
November 21, 2010
South Carolina group plans Palmetto State's 'peaceful secession'
How do you expect South Carolina to move forward when you have people who want to go backwards - literally? There's no positive answer. GOP control in the state allows such talk, rhetoric and hysteria to grow.Politics USA quotes the blog's author:A group named Third Palmetto Republic is pushing the "independence movement" throughout the state, announcing an inaugural Charleston chapter meeting tonight. The group insists S.C. has been a full-fledged nation since 1776.
I was born and raised in Bluffton, SC and my family history runs back to before the Revolution. I'm a student of the Austrian school of economics, I hold a BS degree in Computer Engineering and an MBA, and I read any book I can find about free markets, anti-federalists, liberty, and Aristotelian philosophy (among other things.) I want to see the people of South Carolina regain control of their government through the process of peaceful secession.Well as soon as SC gets off of the federal teat, it can show the other 49 states how it's done when it becomes an economic powerhouse.
The last secessionist group that made the news in that state was the failed Christian Exodus movement. That laff-fest set a goal of moving in evangelicals, taking over all aspects of government through running for elected office, and creating a Christian Nation with no homos, no booze, and probably no dancing either.
My retirement plan was to open a t*tty bar right on the NC/SC border and watch the cash flow in on Friday and Saturday nights, and watch the clientele drive back over the border to pray away the sin in church on Sunday.
Thanks, everyone -- see you all on the other side of the slice and dice!
Photos: We had a great early Thanksgiving with my brother and his family -- my sister-in-law Miranda and Mr. E, our nephew. And Mr. E is expecting a new brother in a few months -- Mr. C! Anyway, we celebrated with non-traditional food -- BBQ beef brisket, mac and cheese, caesar salad and scones from Foster's Market, something here in Durham that Tim and Miranda miss dearly up in Delaware. I couldn't eat much, but I had a taste of everything.
We took a nice long walk around the lake near my house with the doggies, and spent the evening playing Scattegories and making fools out of ourselves singing answers to 80s music trivia before turning in last night. My singing is godawful. It's a wonder Casey and Chloe didn't howl when I sang "Take My Breath Away."
They left early this AM and we miss them already. Along with the constant pain from the fibroids, my fibromyalgia has been acting up a lot today, and the diabetic neuropathy in my feet (permanent nerve damage; the good BG control hasn't helped that at all) kicked my posterior after the walk yesterday. But it was worth it to have fun with family in the beautiful fall weather here. The trees are losing their leaves, but there is still plenty of color to enjoy.
The fun begins early
Kate and I have to get up early tomorrow (Monday) -- we have to be over to Durham Regional Hospital at 5:45 AM for the 7:15 AM surgery. Of course I don't expect they'll have me out cold on the table and operating then; none of the surgeries I've had ever started on time. The fact I'm the first one in the queue is good though.
So since I have insulin-dependent diabetes and have spent the last month on a crash course of frequent blood glucose testing, 8-9 needles a day, a new injectable meds and juggling a very carb-restricted diet to get to a stable 8.0 A1C (average almost non-diabetic control), I'm quite ready to get this whole shebang on.
Watching my numbers
My major issue, given the above, is how I handle my oral and injectable meds tonight so that if there are delays, I do not have a hypoglycemic crash during surgery. As many of you know, during the last month this has been my major issue during this stiff regimen. Tight control almost always comes with higher risks of low blood sugar attacks that come out of the blue. And I've had them at night and at work (testing as low as 52; people pass out at 40), but I have been able to stave off passing out by keeping sugar-based stuff (Starbursts/Sweetarts) on me all the time.
So the deal is I can take all of my oral non-diabetes meds tonight; no Glucophage, only 15 units of long-acting insulin (Lantus), and no short-acting insulin (Humalog) tomorrow AM.
All of the painful, irritating run up to this -- the increased number of needles, the low-blood sugar crashes, will all be worth it if I come through this healthy and no infections occur, the increased risk of infection is the biggest risk for anyone with diabetes when it comes to surgery. I'll have to remain on this horrid regimen for several weeks post surgery until I am in the clear re: infection.
The state of health care today (in my case, anyway)
I am fortunate to have health insurance through my employer, but of course these days that doesn't mean people are scot-free when it comes to the vagaries of the health care industrial complex. Some notable amusements:
* the 24-hour turnaround: I am having a total laproscopic hysterectomy, which means I actually get to stay in the hospital overnight, kicked out early on Tuesday (barring complications). If for some reason the surgeon has to switch to an abdominal incision, then I would probably be in another day or so.
* the pre-pay call for $: I received a call last week from the hospital; Kate took the message so I called them back, thinking it was about my pre-op appointment the next day. I call and it's the financial accounting department for the hospital, asking me how I wanted to pay my deductible in advance. I could choose from installment payments or taking the whole hit on my credit or debit card, but it didn't sound like billing you after the fact was an option. When I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago, I don't recall that occurring.
Anyway, I chose to take the full hit now, figuring that if I kick it during surgery, Kate won't be left with that bill. 
Medical power of attorney/patient visitation - no prob
One think we don't have to worry about the matter of patient visitation in hospitals; while the WH announced publication of rules prohibiting Medicare and Medicaid hospitals from denying visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, North Carolina has had this in place for some time now.
Both Kate and I have been hospitalized in this state a few times prior to NC enacting legislation allowing patients to designate their medical proxy and visitors without restriction and have never even had our relationship questioned to prove whether we have medical power of attorney for one another. I do have to bring in my own medical directive information/living will with me tomorrow, but that's standard procedure in any case.
Thank you to all the pre-surgery well-wishes
I've received many emails, Tweets, Facebook messages/comments and healing thoughts from Blenders in the PHB comments. Trust me, I do mean it when I say that all are appreciated - Kate thanks you as well. For those of you who do know me and have sent wishes of support, you know I'll be in touch as soon as I can; much love and virtual hugs.
What's up on the Blend while I'm gone...
I'm officially out of work for a month, but I'll be back online to say I'm alive and kicking without my uterus as soon as I can. I'm not sure if there is cell reception in my hospital room, but Kate will bring my phone so I can Tweet, FB and text if I'm conscious and of sound mind (I know, that's questionable) if there is service.
Well, all of the Baristas will be posting as usual; I've not asked them to do anything more than they normally would, after all, they have lives outside of the Blend, lol. You may see a few guest posts from folks who have asked if they can pitch in;
Most of you don't know me personally, and to take the time to write something should always be acknowledged as important.
I've embedded tonight's vlogging entry here for your entertainment.
It will be interesting to compare notes with fellow blogger Shark-Fu of Angry Black Bitch, who is having a hysterectomy tomorrow as well. Best wishes to her for a successful slice and dice and recovery.
My Vlogging series is here on YouTube. Related blog posts are here.
Kelly Moyer's Keynote Address At San Diego's Transgender Day Of Remembrance Memorium
This is the speech that my friend Kelly Moyer gave at San Diego's Transgender Day Of Remembrance memoriam at the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center. It's not the usual message of sad memoriam, or a message of hope for the future -- she instead focused on how trans people treat each other.
There's a lesson in here too for broader lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community on how to treat our siblings in community.
~~Autumn~~
San Diego Transgender Day Of Remembrance Keynote Address
By Kelly Moyer
November 20, 2010When I was asked to speak at this year's Day of Remembrance, I wasn't sure what I wanted to say.
Some previous speeches have shared messages of hope and change and progress. This will not be one of those speeches. Other speeches called us to action and encouraged us to be out, to educate the people around us and show them our humanity. This will not be one of those speeches either. We do have reasons to be hopeful, and we do need to keep educating people, but there are other issues we need to discuss tonight.
Every year, we read the names and stories of people who were murdered for being - or appearing to be - trans. At the end, we recognize all the victims whose stories were not told, and whose names we will never know. But we never talk about what may be the largest group of victims. Violence does not always involve blows from a fist or bullets from a gun. People who take their own lives - overwhelmed by pain and driven to despair by the hatred, cruelty and intolerance around them - are just as much victims as the people whose names we hear tonight.
News reports talk about a recent epidemic of suicides amongst youth who were bullied for being - or seeming to be - trans, bisexual, lesbian or gay. It is an epidemic, but it is hardly recent. Countless studies have shown that suicide rates in the LGBT community - especially amongst youth and trans people - are many times greater than the overall population, and have been for some time now. A recent survey found that 41% of trans participants had attempted suicide at some point in their lives, which is 25 times higher than the general population... and that only counts the survivors. If you know three trans people, it is likely that at least one of them has attempted suicide at some point. I am one of those survivors.
[More below the fold}
As horrible as the statistics are, it is easy to feel overwhelmed... to feel like there is nothing we can do to stop the deaths. If it doesn't affect us personally, it is easy to think of it as a problem that other people need to solve. But even if you aren't an activist, or can't afford to donate money to organizations, or can't be out in your personal life, there are are some simple things we all can do to make a difference.The first thing each of us can do to help reduce trans suicides is to stop being part of the problem. We can't just talk about the hatred and prejudice directed at us by other people... we have to confront our own. We all have prejudice of one sort or another. It might be based on the color of someone's skin or the language they speak, their political or religious beliefs, the size of their body or a disability they have. Maybe it's directed toward lesbians, or gay men, or straight people. Or perhaps it is directed at members of this very community.
Far too often, we tear each other down instead of building each other up. This person gets cast out because they want an operation we would never consider. That person is shunned because they don't want surgery that we had. He gets excluded from groups because we don't like his ideas about gender, she's left out because she "looks too trans." Nobody talks to her because she does sex work. Nobody talks to him because he's gay. We don't respect them because they don't want hormones, or they're genderqueer, or they crossdress. Or maybe we just aren't quite ready to be seen in public with a trans friend, because who knows what people will think about us.
Making people feel disrespected, isolated and worthless contributes to suicide, and all of that... all of it shows up in our community. We do that to each other! We can't very well demand that the rest of the world treat us better than we treat each other, can we? Think about the way you interact with other community members - the things you say and do, openly or behind their back - and ask yourself how you will feel if you find out tomorrow that they killed themselves tonight.
The second thing each of us can do is to actively be part of the solution. We can do better than just not making each other feel disrespected, isolated and worthless. If we truly act like a community, we can help each other feel respected, accepted and worthwhile. But what does being a community mean? Who does it include? Is it only people like us? Is it only people we like? Does it just mean showing up for a few events each year, or something more? Is it even possible for us to be a community when we are so different from each other? I think so.
Being a community doesn't mean we all have to be friends. It doesn't mean we have to agree about everything. It doesn't mean we have to agree about anything! It doesn't even mean we have to like each other. What it does mean is that we treat each other with respect, even when we disagree or dislike one another. It means knowing that every voice deserves to be heard, and making sure that happens. It means standing up for each other when one of us is being harassed. It can be as simple as sharing information about safe housing, or available jobs, or going to the hospital with someone to make sure they are treated well... or sharing some food. Being a community means understanding that we are stronger together than we will ever be apart... that we need each other, and can count on one another.
Suicide takes too many people from us, and scars many people it doesn't kill. There are members of this community struggling to hang on right now. Some of them aren't here because it was just too hard to step through the front door. Some are sitting in this room right now.
If you are one of them, I want you to know something. We may not know each other, but you are an important part of my community. I feel stronger knowing that you and I are in this together, because you add value to this world that nobody else could ever replace. I care that you are here, and if I found out tomorrow that the pain was too much to bear... that you couldn't hold on any longer... it would break my heart. And I am not the only person who feels that way.
I would like everyone in this room who feels the way I do - who would be devastated by the loss of anyone here - to raise your hand and show our community that you care.
Thank you.
.
What About "Transvestite Clothing" In The Military?
Eek-gads, what a 22-second Moment of Zen we have here from Sen. John McCain from the 1993 Armed Services Committee hearings on Don't Ask, Don't Tell:
Sen McCain had it clarified for him that marching in a "homosexual parade" wouldn't be proof that a servicemember was a "homosexual." Then, Sen. McCain asked a follow up question about crossdressing in a "homosexual parade":
Well, how about, General Powell, if they went in transvestite clothing?
The Wonk Room goes a bit further in what was said in the Senate Armed Services Committee, (July 20, 1993) Don't Ask, Don't Tell hearings after that question from Sen. John McCain:
SEN. MCCAIN: Well, how about, General Powell, if they went in transvestite clothing?GEN. POWELL: I think that would be something that I as a commander would find troubling and I would begin to wonder about that situation, but just the attendance solely at the parade -
SEN. MCCAIN: This policy says marching in a gay rights rally in civilian clothes will not in and of themselves constitute credible evidence that would provide a basis for initiating an investigation.
GEN. POWELL: I would still take a hard look at it to see whether the costuming that was used started to slop over the good browns of ordered discipline.
SEN. MCCAIN: According to this regulation, you can't.
GEN. POWELL: But Senator, this is the problem we've had with the regulations that exist now. We are in court now, and as the Attorney General says -
SEN. MCCAIN: I'm not -- (inaudible word ) -- the present regulations; we're examining the proposed regulations.
"Transvestite clothing"? I don't know if the term transvestite was an pejorative in the United States then, but it certainly would be considered a pejorative by many trans people in the United States now.
But more on point, repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell won't allow transsexual people to serve openly; repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell won't allow crossdressers to serve openly; repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell won't allow those who perform drag frequently to serve openly. I didn't take to the White House fence on April 20th and November 15th this year because the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) will allow trans people to serve openly -- the National Center For Transgender Equality, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, and I am very aware that it won't. But, let's not let that get in the way of hyperbole and outright lies from many voices on the religious right regarding transsexual people, crossdressing people, and drag performers being able to sensationally and flamboyantly serve openly in the five military services should DADT be repealed.
From Accuracy In Media's Cliff Kincaid:
The MASH television spectacle of Corporal Klinger wearing women's dresses to get out of the military may now give way to the Pentagon actually permitting transgendered male soldiers to openly wear women's military uniforms. This is what repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," could mean.While some might scoff at the idea of transgendered soldiers ever serving in the Armed Forces, the transgendered are an essential component of the so-called LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) community pushing repeal of the military's homosexual exclusion policy.
Don't forget that the Obama Administration has already claimed credit for the first openly transgendered appointee to the federal bureaucracy-a man/woman at the Commerce Department named...Amanda Simpson...
From the Center For Military Readiness's Elaine Donnelly:
If [Don't Ask, Don't Tell] is repealed and the military cannot exercise "discrimination" based on sexual orientation in accepting applicants, gender-confused people will join in significant numbers, and have access to the military and veterans' medical systems for their transgender operations. (The Palm Center recently posted a study on the transgender cause titled Summary and Analysis of the 2008 Transgender American Veterans Association Survey.) Defense and Veterans Affairs Department-funded medical coverage is a big deal for the TAVA.A number of practical questions come to mind-where should "transitioning" individuals be housed-in the men's quarters or the women's? Who gets to decide what a person's gender is-and when? And what about women who don't want pre-surgical men sharing their private quarters, or families who are not comfortable with transgender people teaching their kids in DoD schools and child care centers-the largest institutions of their kind in the world? The opposition's policy seems to be "don't ask, don't tell.
From WorldNetDaily's David A. Noebel:
Now it's 2010, and President Obama, a man steeped in radical left-wing politics and a kind of Students-for-a-Democratic-Society commander in chief, wants to allow "open" homosexuals in the United States military. Open homosexuality would have to include the GLBTQ gamut - gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer. Lambda Legal and the ACLU will insist on it. And Sen. Lieberman already proposed on March 8 a bill "legalizing bisexual behavior in the U.S. Military."Allowing "gays in the military," therefore, is misleading. Once gays are openly recruited and accepted in the military, their "cousins" will follow suit (lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, intersexual, queer, etc.)...
...The United States is currently involved in two wars. Is the president out to destroy our military? Can any thinking American wish to see an "open" cross-dressing homosexual Army general trying to gain the trust of his troops (or for that matter, the nation)? Have we as a nation fallen so far that we need to apologize to Sodom?
From 's Mychal Massie:
Is cross-dressing in fatigues next?
From a Robert A. Knight commentary in the Washington Times:
Forcing open homosexuality on the armed forces would destroy the volunteer military and bring back the compulsory draft. Since women are now deployed close to combat, and the only legal reason they are not eligible is their combat exemption, a new draft could include our daughters. And some would face pressure to have on-base abortions in order to complete their tours of duty.Chaplains would be the first victims of Mr. Obama's homosexualization of the military, followed by anyone who violated "zero tolerance" policies for homosexual acceptance. Bible-believing Christians would quickly find themselves unwelcome in Barney Frank's new pansexual, cross-dressing military.
Other fallout includes family housing, reduction in retention, recruitment and unit cohesion, an increase in homosexual sexual assaults and a boost to overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
From OneNewsNow's Chad Groening:
Representative Alcee Hastings (D-Florida) has introduced what he calls the "Honest and Open Testimony Act," which would allow homosexual and transgender members of the military to openly testify in congressional hearings without fear of retribution. Under the 1993 law passed by Congress, such individuals are not eligible for military service in the first place -- but due to Bill Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" directive, they are able to serve as long as they do not reveal their sexual orientation.
Pam's House Blend quoted Rep. Duncan Hunter Jr. {from an NPR interview (emphasis added)}:
Interviewer: Today we turn to California Congressman Duncan Hunter. He's a Republican, and a former U.S. Marine who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Congressman Hunter, welcome to the program.Rep. Duncan Hunter: Great to be with you.
Interviewer: You are not in favor of repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Why not?
Rep. Duncan Hunter: No, because I think that it's bad for the cohesiveness and the unity of the military units. And, especially for those in close combat -- in close quarters -- in country right now. It's not the time to do it. I think the military is not civilian life. I think the folks who have been in the military, that have been in those very close situations with each other -- there has to be a special bond there. I think that bond is broken if you open up the military to transgenders; to hermaphrodites; to gays and lesbians.
Interviewer: Transgenders and hermaphrodites.
Rep. Duncan Hunter: That's going to be part of this whole thing. It's not just gays and lesbians, it's the whole gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual community. If you're going to let anybody in, no matter what preference -- what sexual preference -- they have, that means the military is going to probably let everybody in. It's going to be like civilian life. And, I think that would be detrimental for the military.
There are some on the religious right who know that repeal of DADT won't result in transgender people being able to serve openly in the five military services. From the Traditional Values Coalition (note how Lafferty stoops to using the extreme pejorative "she-male" to make her point, however):
What was conspicuously absent in the discussion of DADT, was any mention of transgendered individuals serving openly in the military. This omission is significant because the LGBTQ movement has fully embraced the gaggle of cross-dressers, drag queens, transsexuals and she-males (males with female breasts and male genitals).These transgendered individuals have a mental disorder known as a Gender Identity Disorder and/or Transvestic Fetishism.
Transgenders are lobbying to serve openly in the military, but they face the obstacle of the military still considering sex change operations and transsexualism to be evidence of disordered thinking.
The LGBTQ movement has deliberately left transgendered persons out of any military discussion because they know this is a "bridge too far" for them to accomplish right now. They will first get their gay, lesbian and bisexual goals done and then come back later to demand that she-males and other mentally disordered persons be permitted to "serve" in the military.
Peter LaBarbera of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality has something to say about this too:
Ultimately, homosexual activists hope to make the military "transgender-friendly," but to crusade for that now would complicate their plans to push the Armed Forces to accept people openly practicing homosexuality.
When Andrea Lafferty and Peter LaBarbera are the ones who publicly state that repeal DADT won't allow transgender people (and non-transgender crossdressing people) to serve openly -- while others on the religious right stoop to hyperbole and lies -- well, that says something about the moral character of most of the public voices on the religious right.
For those who are trans and closeted in the military services, you should be sure to read the advice of the National Center For Transgender Equality regarding coming out as trans while serving in the military, as well as the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's take on what can happen if a trans person comes out while serving in the military. What the religious right says about trans people serving openly is hyperbole and lies, so don't assume that what the religious right states about trans people being able to serve openly if DADT is repealed is gospel.
CNN: Mullen delivers repeal opponent Marine commandant Amos a DADT smackdown
Amos, who has publicly decried that repeal of DADT would apparently jeopardize the mental stability of male service members ("young men - laying out, sleeping alongside of one another) was put into place by Mullen asserting that Amos, of all people, would be more than up to the task of implemtenting repeal. Watch it (via The Wonk Room):
MULLEN: I don't think there is any question he can. In fact, I've spoken to him as recently as last week and he recounted a town hall that he had on the east coast recently and he was very clear and very public to his Marines and he basically said that if this law changes we are going to implement it and we are going to implement it better than anybody else. So I have great confidence in him that if it gets to the change in the law, that the Marine Corps will implement it as he's described.
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