Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 137
November 19, 2010
AmericaBLOG Gay's Joe Sudbay Interview With GetEQUAL's Robin McGehee
Joe Sudbay, of AmericaBLOG Gay, interviewed GetEQUAL's Robin McGehee about her meeting at the White House. The interview was posted in the piece GetEQUAL's Robin McGehee discusses her meeting at the White House. In an over 17-minute long interview, Robin explains in detail what she told White House Staffer Brian Bond in her November 17th meeting. Here is Joe Sudbay's interview, presented in two parts:
The arguments against repealing DADT rooted in outlandish fear and homophobia
crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
In the fight to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the argument of the lgbt community has been consistent.
Sexual orientation should not be used a criteria to keep people from serving their country. Lgbts can and have served in the military admirably and should not have to lie to continue to do so.
Now on the other side of the fence, the arguments of those who want to keep DADT (or keep lgbts out of the military altogether) have ranged from distortions to downright outrageous lies.
Let's look at the top five:
5. Gays will go "rape crazy" on military men - This year, discredited researcher Paul Cameron actually had the audacity to come out with a "study" claiming that gays are four to seven more times likely to rape their fellow servicemen. He even says that some perpetrators of heterosexual sex assaults can be termed as gay because apparently some gay men "like women too."
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, while saying nothing about Cameron's phony study, actually echoed its main points:
Our military exists to fight and win wars, not engage in radical social engineering. Forcing soldiers to cohabit with people who view them as sexual objects would inevitably lead to increased sexual tension, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault.
4. Heterosexuals will abandon the military if DADT is repealed - Last year, The Military Times came out with a survey claiming that a majority of respondents (58%) said they opposed openly gay service and 10% said they would not re-enlist if the ban was lifted. However, the Palm Center and Gary Langer who headed polling for ABC News skewered the survey for numerous errors.
Robert Knight of the right-wing Coral Ridge Ministries earlier this year said the following:
" . . .25 percent of people in the military have said they'll either resign or they wouldn't re-enlist. It would hurt recruitment because the military draws from traditional populations that have very traditional values. It would hurt unit cohesion."
However, it was discovered that the poll he was citing was nonexistent. Knight's claim originated from a quote by World Net Daily writer Mychal Massie. World Net Daily is a publication not necessarily know for its credibility. Amongst other things, it pushes the belief that President Obama is not a United States citizen.
3. Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal will lead to the draft, forced abortions, pansexual cross-dressing, forced abortions - Robert Knight again:
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.
Can you believe that? He forgot the wanton cannibalism.
2. Gays in the military will lead to increased diseases - Earlier this year, a right-wing group, America's Survival, put out a video claiming that gays serving openly in the military will lead to an increase in diseases like AIDS. The video was so offensive that it was removed from youtube.
America's Survival is led by Cliff Kincaid, head of the right-wing group Accuracy In Media. Kincaid and AIM has a long history of smearing the gay community.
Earlier this year, AIM was forced to retract a story on its web page which inaccurately accused Obama appointee Kevin Jennings of being a pedophile.
And Kincaid is probably one of the only few people in this country who openly defends Uganda's anti-gay bill including the part about the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality."
Now what can top all of these ridiculous reasons? This one by the Traditional Values Coalition:
1. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell will lead to "sodomy on the battlefield" and sex parties:
Imagine the impact that the rampant spread of STDs, including HIV would have on the military? How will the military handle the spread of these diseases in the barracks? How will the military handle sodomy in battlefield situations? . . . what about the unrestrained drug and sex antics committed by young male homosexuals?
The reasons for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell are good enough to stand on their own. But the claims of the opposition add credibility to these reasons simply because they are totally unprovable, illogical, and add nothing to the argument. They mainly come from a desire to exploit fear and ignorance. And a place of desperation.
Fear, ignorance, and desperation are qualities which have never had a place in our Armed Forces. And they don't deserve to be accommodated now.
But those who have served admirably and will continue to do so, regardless of sexual orientation, should be allowed in through the front door.
FAIL part 2: Bryan Fischer takes another crack at the 'feminization' of the Medal of Honor
Bryan Fischer, the "Director of Issues Analysis" of the American Family Association hate machine, got a virtual ass-kicking all over the Internets for his um, moronic and offensive column the other day. He bleated that the Medal of Honor has been 'feminized' because it's no longer being awarded to soldiers who rack up a high-enough body count.""[W]e now award it only for preventing casualties, not for inflicting them...We have feminized the Medal of Honor," Fischer wrote. He also quoted General Patton: "Gen. George Patton once famously said, 'The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other guy die for his.'"So what does Fischer do? Apparently try, try, again works in fundie world. Alas it does not in the reality-based world. Take a look at this "clarification" laff-fest, "The feminization of the Medal of Honor - Part II" --
The blowback to my column of two days ago, in which I argued that we seem to have become reluctant to award the Medal of Honor to those who take aggressive action against the enemy and kill bad guys, has been fierce. It has been angry, vituperative, hate-filled, and laced with both profanity and blasphemy.Fischer, who has not served in the military, still doesn't understand the criticism lobbed at him because he touts his bloodlust yet again. We are the feeble ones, you see, because we are just not paying attention to the muscular, ass-kicking Jesus and have become a bunch of wimps....I'm not saying that our soldiers have become feminized in the least, especially those who have earned the Medal of Honor. It's not our soldiers who have become feminized, it is the awards process that has become feminized.
What I am saying is that I am observing a trend in which we single out bravery in self-defense and yet seem hesitant to single out bravery in launching aggressive attacks that result in the deaths of enemy soldiers.
Jesus, in words often cited in ceremonies such as the one which will take place this afternoon, said, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). So it is entirely right that we honor this kind of bravery and self-sacrifice, which is surely an imitation of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.Let's just say this revisionism of his first piece has generated some feedback in his comments section that confirm FAIL part 2 for Fischer. See a few choice ones below the fold.
I'm not sure there is a clearer or more forceful way for me to say it than I did right there, that we surely ought to continue doing what we have done, which is to grant our highest award for valor to those who risk their lives and even forfeit them, as our Lord and Savior did, in defending the lives of their friends.
...It is striking that a certain amount of the criticism I have received actually verifies my thesis. In response to my call to also honor those who have killed bad guys in defense of our country, I have been called everything from savage to brute to bloodthirsty to anti-American to un-American to traitor to "expletives deleted" to the antichrist himself.
Surely some of this supports my contention that we have become too squeamish to honor such valor. It's almost as if it embarrasses us, as if we feel there is something inappropriate about awarding our highest honor to those who kill the enemy in battle. It is as if our culture has become so soft and so feminized that it makes us enormously uncomfortable to think about praising such actions. It's like we know such warfare needs to be waged, but we're hoping we don't have to find out very much about it.
Bryan, you are an incredibly embarassing person for Christians. The public sees people like you and avoids the church for the very fear of being lumped in with your ungratefulness of our military and your homophobia. I'll pray that God helps you realize that criticism isn't the way to aknowledge our armed forces or anyone for that matter.I don't see anything in the many and varied responses to your thoughts that match the profanity and hate-filled stupidity of your two blog posts. Of course, matching the war-like anger of the Old testament God to the loving meekness of Jesus is a job no logical brain could complete. But as a point of history, 19 soldiers won the Medal of Honor at the Little Big Horn by filling canteens under fire. Perhaps too "girlie" for you, Bryan, but I'd love to hear about your combat record.
***
What is truly hilarious is that you essentially say "We should especially honor the soldiers who kill exceptional numbers of enemies because that's what Jesus would do." Um, perhaps you should re-read the New Testament for content.
***
Bryan, The reason there is so much "blowback" from your article is very simple. Every article that you write, every broadcast on afa, is full of hate and ignorance. You should be grateful that you have an outlet to spew your filth and get paid for it. Assuming that there is a God, you will have a lot to answer for.
***
What happened to "Blessed are the peace makers?" This entire episode makes me sad.
***
Wow, Chickenhawk, you sure have some "stones"! You say, "It's like we know such warfare needs to be waged, but we're hoping we don't have to find out very much about it." How about we task you to pick-up the enemy's pieces after a missile strike and you can smell and feel your victory.
***
Sgt. Giunta got the Medal of Honor for shooting and killing two Afghanis who were trying to drag off his injured buddy. He didn't do so by singing "Kumbayah" at them. In other words, your whole thesis is founded on your own lack of reading comprehension.
***
Bless your heart, Mr. Fischer. Bless your heart. I learned long ago that you can't reason with ignorance or hate. If there's tremendous "blowback" to your column, you might take the weekend to review your words and deeds to see why so many people are offended by your thought processes and interpretation of scripture.
***
Wow, Brian. You took a caning over the previous article and, instead of learning, continue to make exactly the same mistakes, over and over again. Tell you what lad, you do a couple of tours on the front with actual real soldiers/heroes in Afghanistan, then come back to us with your ideas.
***
Speaking as the son and grandson of members of the military i am appalled by this. Something that i was told throughout my young life was that a soldiers duty was to protect and defend his country and brothers in arms, only to kill when necessary and never to take joy from it. You say that the scriptures praise high amounts of dead, have you ever been to a battlefield? have you seen the horrors of war? until you have sit down and shut up. you know nothing of what you speak.
***
After reading your follow-up I'm still not buying it. Your use of the term 'feminized' in this context is offensive and stupid. Check your history: many who received the Medal of Honor died while defending their comrades, and valor and honor do not depend on a body count. Sorry, but I think it's typical and ridiculous that you've never served in our military, yet feel free to pontificate...
***
So you write an entire follow-up article castigating the masses for not understanding how completely, totally and unbelievable right you were but you've removed the original article from your blog-roll? Way to stand by what you wrote, tough guy.
***
Nope, you're still a wimpy chickenhawk. Were these column have been written by a warrior, we could have considered them intellectually. As it is, we have a person who uses feminization as an implied negative, while remaining able to weasel out because you twice made a point of praising that action. You need to join the military, rise through the ranks, and help change its culture. After all, it is the military you are criticizing. And that is truly admirable, to criticize the military during wartime. That takes a lot of nerve. Good luck.
November 18, 2010
Gays on safari in Kenya are now themselves fair game
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and ARC International are deeply disappointed with yesterday's vote in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly to remove a reference to sexual orientation from a resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The resolution urges States to protect the right to life of all people, including by calling on states to investigate killings based on discriminatory grounds. For the past 10 years, the resolution has included sexual orientation in the list of discriminatory grounds on which killings are often based. ..."This vote is a dangerous and disturbing development," said Cary Alan Johnson, Executive Director of IGLHRC. "It essentially removes the important recognition of the particular vulnerability faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people - a recognition that is crucial at a time when 76 countries around the world criminalize homosexuality, five consider it a capital crime, and countries like Uganda are considering adding the death penalty to their laws criminalizing homosexuality."
The full press release and how the different countries voted is below the fold. What is particularly repulsive is South Africa voting to amend. Sexual orientation is a protected class in the South African constitution, and every South African is supposed to have the constitutionally-guaranteed right to human dignity and life. New asterisk: unless you're gay.
9. Equality
1. Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
2. Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. To promote the achievement of equality, legislative and other measures designed to protect or advance persons, or categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair discrimination may be taken.
3. The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.
4. No person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds in terms of subsection (3). National legislation must be enacted to prevent or prohibit unfair discrimination.
5. Discrimination on one or more of the grounds listed in subsection (3) is unfair unless it is established that the discrimination is fair.
10. Human dignity
Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
11. Life
Everyone has the right to life.
Governments Remove Sexual Orientation from UN Resolution Condemning Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions11/17/2010
For Immediate Release
Contact:
John Fisher
Co-Director
ARC International
ph: +41-79-508-3968
john@arc-international.net
www.arc-international.net
Sara Perle
Ric Weiland Research & Policy Associate
IGLHRC
ph: 212-430-6015
sperle@iglhrc.orgThe International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and ARC International are deeply disappointed with yesterday's vote in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly to remove a reference to sexual orientation from a resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The resolution urges States to protect the right to life of all people, including by calling on states to investigate killings based on discriminatory grounds. For the past 10 years, the resolution has included sexual orientation in the list of discriminatory grounds on which killings are often based.
The removed reference was originally contained in a non-exhaustive list in the resolution highlighting the many groups of people that are particularly targeted by killings - including persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, persons acting as human rights defenders (such as lawyers, journalists or demonstrators) as well as street children and members of indigenous communities. Mentioning sexual orientation as a basis on which people are targeted for killing highlights a situation in which particular vigilance is required in order for all people to be afforded equal protection.
The amendment removing the reference to sexual orientation was sponsored by Benin on behalf of the African Group in the UN General Assembly and was adopted with 79 votes in favor, 70 against, 17 abstentions and 26 absent.
"This vote is a dangerous and disturbing development," said Cary Alan Johnson, Executive Director of IGLHRC. "It essentially removes the important recognition of the particular vulnerability faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people - a recognition that is crucial at a time when 76 countries around the world criminalize homosexuality, five consider it a capital crime, and countries like Uganda are considering adding the death penalty to their laws criminalizing homosexuality."
This decision in the General Assembly flies in the face of the overwhelming evidence that people are routinely killed around the world because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, and renders these killings invisible or unimportant. The Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions has highlighted documented cases of extrajudicial killings on the grounds of sexual orientation including individuals facing the death penalty for consensual same-sex conduct; individuals tortured to death by State actors because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation; paramilitary groups killing individuals because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation as part of "social cleansing" campaigns; individuals murdered by police officers with impunity because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation; and States failing to investigate hate crimes and killings of persons because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.
"It is a matter of great shame that the responsible Committee of the United Nations General Assembly failed in its responsibility to explicitly condemn well-documented killings based on sexual orientation," said John Fisher, Co-Director of ARC international. "The credibility of the United Nations requires protection of all persons from violations of their fundamental human rights, including on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. We thank those States which supported the inclusion of sexual orientation in the text, and will redouble our collective efforts to ensure that Member States of the United Nations maintain the standards they have sworn to uphold."
The amendment runs counter to other positive developments in UN and regional human rights systems where there is increased recognition of the need for protection from discrimination regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. At a September 2010 panel held in conjunction with a session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon unequivocally recognized "the particular vulnerability of individuals who face criminal sanctions, including imprisonment and in some cases the death penalty, on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
Sixty-eight countries have also signed a joint statement in the UN General Assembly on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity which calls for an end to "human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity ... in particular the use of the death penalty on this ground [and] extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions."
IGLHRC and ARC International urge all States, regardless of their vote on this amendment, to sign the UNGA joint statement affirming support of the human rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity and to continue in efforts to decriminalize same-sex conduct and to end other discrimination, including violence, on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The votes to amend the resolution were as follows:
In favor of the amendment to remove sexual orientation from the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (79):
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Dar-Sala, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Opposed to the amendment to remove sexual orientation from the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (70):
Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (FS), Monaco, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela
Abstain (17):
Antigua-Barbuda, Barbados, Belarus, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Colombia, Fiji, Mauritius, Mongolia, Papau New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Absent (26):
Albania, Bolivia, Central African Republic, Chad, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Marshall Island, Mauritania, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Sao Tome Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan
LezGetReal's Melanie Nathan: What GetEQUAL's Robin McGehee Told The White House
I asked permission of Melanie Nathan to crosspost her LezGetReal piece from November 17th, entitled EXCLUSIVE: What GetEQUAL's Robin McGehee Told the White House Today. Melanie said yes, and the article is below this header.
For transgender people, and those who care about transgender people's civil rights, there is an important message to note from the piece in these two paragraphs from Melanie's piece (emphasis added):
[GetEQUAL Executive Director Robin] McGehee said although she was there about DADT- she could not allow the opportunity to be exclusive to that as the only LGBT issue; and so she pulled out a picture of her two children and introduced them to the group. She said that Although she realized DOMA may not be repealed at this time, she wanted the President to revert to his old pre- Presidential campaign position on marriage equality where he did support same sex marriage. "Everyday that our families live without dignity, the President should think of going back to his original stand and he must support marriage equality- as person of faith he should think of our dignity. Remember he came out and said that his religious beliefs precluded him from endorsing same-sex marriage for gays- well, as a person of faith the President ought to reflect on his denying our families and community the right to live with dignity.Additionally she asked that the White House stop all future Federal Contracts that do not include protections for Transgender people; and she informed him it was her belief that if in fact this happened it would encourage more corporations who wanted to Contracts to do the same.
I was there in the room when GetEQUAL's short list of example actions of things that could be accomplished only with President prerogative, without any need of any Congressional action to accomplish. I didn't bring up any transgender specific issue in that room -- someone else made that suggestion that businesses that want to contract with the U.S. Government be required to have equal opportunity policies that included protections based on gender identity. I chimed in and agreed, but my intra-community LGBT community allies in that room were acting as the transgender community allies they are without me prompting them to do so. Fierce advocacy for T-issues by people associated with GetEQUAL is the main reason why I agreed to be on GetEQUAL's Provisional Board, as well as participate in GetEQUAL actions. I would not work with GetEQUAL if I didn't think those associated with GetEQUAL considered T specific issues as equal to LGB specific issues.
I asked Robin -- that is, Robin McGehee -- to expand for trans people and allies why she, on behalf of GetEQUAL, made that transgender specific request to the White House in her meeting with staffer Brian Bond:
It wasn't even a question when we got inside yesterday's meeting that we were going to use that opportunity to strongly advocate that the President use his bully pulpit to do everything he can to lobby for passage of a fully-inclusive ENDA.And, given the make-up of Congress next year, if legislative passage of a fully-inclusive ENDA is not possible, then the President should use his full executive authority to end federal contracts and funding to entities without fully-inclusive discrimination policies, or any other measures he can execute outside of Congress. As far as I'm concerned this isn't a political issue as much as it is a moral imperative, and it's vital that the President show leadership on this issue. The minute the President shows leadership, I firmly believe that others will follow.
~~Autumn~~
11-17-2010 - Today Robin McGehee did something most unusual for a school mom turned activist. A lesbian mom and executive Director of an LGBT organization GetEqual Robin took the words of LGBT grassroots into the White House.
From, yesterday chained to the fence of the White House, to being dragged off, feet scraping ground, by two burly arresting police officers , to a meeting inside the White House with Brian Bond and a Member of the President's Domestic Policy Council and a White House legal Counsel on LGBT issues.
Robin called me moments after the meeting, her voice breaking with emotion as she walked down the Pennsylvania Blvd, cell phone in hand, another moment of true grass roots activism.
She told me, "when the White House found out that the bloggers had been informed and broken the news of our meeting they were angry. But I told them that I was not willing to do any back room deals - but that I wanted to be transparent. That I wanted my LGBT community to see and hear everything that happens. It is their equality at stake and they deserve that. She said she would rather leave than not be transparent."
Mr. Bond told Robin McGehee, who points out that she was there as an activist, a mother, a lesbian and representing GetEQUAL, that he would then be unable to speak because he did not want what he said "used against them" but that he would listen. She told, he listened and he made notes.
McGehee told him that she would like to hear from the White House where LGBT equality legislation stood, specifically that she wanted to hear about Don't Ask Don't Tell.
She asked for an Executive Order by years end. She asked why the White House was not going ahead with an executive order to stop discharges; she said the LGBT community was insisting on it at the very least; Why is DADT different from any other legislation? Why is the President not pushing and persuading Senator Snowe and Collins, the fence sitters? Why is the President not spending some political capital here for DADT?
She told Bond that not one single member of the Military should be discharged and that the President ought to be reflecting that by his actions.
Mr. Bond told Robin that they are working as hard as they can; saying " we want to see that happen" - Robin pushed further and said there is a difference between wanting to make it happen and making it happen. It must happen.
McGehee said although she was there about DADT- she could not allow the opportunity to be exclusive to that as the only LGBT issue; and so she pulled out a picture of her two children and introduced them to the group. She said that Although she realized DOMA may not be repealed at this time, she wanted the President to revert to his old pre- Presidential campaign position on marriage equality where he did support same sex marriage. "Everyday that our families live without dignity, the President should think of going back to his original stand and he must support marriage equality- as person of faith he should think of our dignity. Remember he came out and said that his religious beliefs precluded him from endorsing same-sex marriage for gays- well, as a person of faith the President ought to reflect on his denying our families and community the right to live with dignity.
Additionally she asked that the White House stop all future Federal Contracts that do not include protections for Transgender people; and she informed him it was her belief that if in fact this happened it would encourage more corporations who wanted to Contracts to do the same.
We also asked for the LGBT community to have a cabinet position.
Two weeks ago I had a meeting with Robin McGehee and Kathy Drasky from OUT4Immigration at a fabulous San Francisco Sushi Restaurant - thank you BLOWFISH.
It was there, while talking about the Uniting American Families Act and my hope it would be included with the DREAM Act in the lame duck session. I also showed Robin my Binational Visa and Pledge campaign. I spoke to Robin about the binational same sex community 's dissatisfaction and desperation. That we were fed up with being the unnoticed of all gay issues, yet our UAFA- having the highest amount of co-sponsorship of all LGBT equality bills, in Congress. We also discussed my views and writings about UAFA being stuck in Immigration reform.
SO Robin did not let us down and she spoke up "I told Mr. Bond that we wanted to see passage of the Uniting American families Act. That not one more person who has an American partner should be deported, separated or living in exile. I told him, Mel about your binational Visa as a stop gap measure, and asked the President to get it done - and he wrote it down. I stressed he must stop the deportations of gay and lesbian spouses and partners. If we do not get UAFA this lame duck session then the President must ensure no more deportations and getting our permanent partners Visas to come into the Country.
Robin McGehee did the Lgbt movement a great deed today. The White House may well have heard the voices of everyday gays and lesbians. I believe we will see action and if we do not there will be more fences, more chains, and more noise. Robin is inviting transparency as we move towards our basic civil rights, in the form of a real movement that is birthing as we speak. The movement that demands full equality.
In the meantime - call your Senators and ask what they are doing to broker the REPEAL of DADT in this Session and while you are at it, mention UAFA being included with DREAM ACT in this lame duck session.
Senator Patty Murray calls DADT repeal "the most pressing of defense policy concerns"
Calling repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell "the most pressing of defense policy concerns", Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) called today on Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin and Ranking Member John McCain to repeal DADT as a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act. First elected in 1992, Senator Murray was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Washington and is currently the Senate Majority Conference Secretary, making her the fourth highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate. Washington voters just re-elected Senator Murray, choosing her over an anti-repeal, anti-choice Republican.
Full text is below the fold.
Senator Murray Calls for Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to be Brought Before Full Senate
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin and Ranking Member John McCain urging the Committee to keep language that would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 as it is brought before the full Senate for consideration.
"As you know, thousands of servicemembers have been separated from the military, including many with critical military skills, under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I have heard the stories of some of the thousands of patriotic servicemembers whose valuable military talents have been lost to our military. These men and women volunteered to serve their country in a dangerous time, and their exclusion from the ranks of the Armed Forces represents a glaring injustice as well as a limitation on our military effectiveness," wrote Senator Murray.
The full text of the letter appears below:
The Honorable Carl Levin
Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510The Honorable John McCain
Ranking Member
Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain:
I believe that now is the time for Congress to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the military by repealing the statute underlying "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It was a huge step forward when the Senate Committee on Armed Services included a repeal provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. Now I urge you to ensure that this provision remains in the bill as it is brought before the full Senate for consideration.
As you know, thousands of servicemembers have been separated from the military, including many with critical military skills, under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I have heard the stories of some of the thousands of patriotic servicemembers whose valuable military talents have been lost to our military. These men and women volunteered to serve their country in a dangerous time, and their exclusion from the ranks of the Armed Forces represents a glaring injustice as well as a limitation on our military effectiveness.
As a cosponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010, I support a responsible path towards repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." On May 27, 2010, the Armed Services Committee adopted a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal amendment to S. 3454, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. This amendment reflects a compromise agreement that would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute - but it would do so sixty days after the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that repeal "is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces." It also ensures that the views of servicemembers and their families on how repeal should be implemented are understood and considered. I believe this represents a sound legislative approach that would protect the civil rights of American servicemembers while minimizing any potential disruption to military personnel policies.
Thank you for your continuing work on behalf of U.S. national security and the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. I look forward to working with you in the days ahead to pass a comprehensive defense authorization bill during this Congress that addresses the most pressing of defense policy concerns - the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
United Church of Christ activates their Justice & Witness Ministries for DADT repeal
No category of citizens of the United States should be regarded as second class and singled out for discrimination. More than 13,000 gays and lesbians have been discharged from the military under Don't Ask Don't Tell, and an uncounted number of others have left prior to completing full careers due to the pressures imposed by this policy.Gay and lesbian service members pay a terrible personal cost for their service. The 111th Congress has a small window of opportunity to rectify this injustice before their term ends. With the release of the highly anticipated Pentagon report due out next month, the time for courageous action is now.
Tony Perkins: if DADT is repealed soldiers will bail and we'll need the draft
Barack Obama is opposed to the draft as a matter of principle, to be sure. So are most politicians in both parties. But the president's drive to repeal the ban on open homosexuality in the military could have this unintended consequence: It could bring back the draft.
...The military is not a red state/blue state institution. It unifies our country. It draws its dedicated members from all regions. Still, it is no secret that the military is a socially conservative institution. It recruits heavily from rural areas in the South, the Midwest, and the Inter-Mountain states.
In our larger cities, black and Hispanic recruits are encouraged to consider the military - which has historically been a great ladder of achievement for racial and ethnic minorities.
These are the very areas and groups who have been most resistant to the demands of the homosexual lobby. These are the very regions and groups who have rallied to our side whenever we put a defense of marriage initiative on the ballot
If these regions and groups do not enlist in our all-volunteer force, President Obama will be driven to the place he does not want to go: the military draft.
Pentagon's Working Group co-chair: release of DADT study before Dec. 1 unlikely
In an update, Igor Volsky notes that one key vote is that of Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), who in the hearing praised the comprehensive nature of the report. Surf over to see that video.
HAM: "Mr. Chairman, I think it will take until the first of December. The key factor remaining for us in the review group is to receive the review and comment by the Service Chiefs and service secretaries, which is ongoing. We anticipate their comments soon, Mr. Johnson and I will review those comments, make final adjustments to the report, which is currently in draft form and deliver to the Secretary of Defense on 1 December.
LEVIN: Would you make every effort to deliver prior to December 1, if possible?
HAM: "Yes sir, in consultation with the Secretary's office."
Vice President Biden: It Gets Better
The life that lies ahead is so much greater than the difficulties that lie behind you. It will get better,” said Vice President Biden in a video message, joining thousands of Americans that have come together to share their messages of hope and encouragement for LGBT youth who are struggling as part of the It Gets Better Project.
Vice President Biden wanted to share his message of support following the tragic suicides of so many young people due to bullying and taunting. Like President Obama, he wanted to speak directly to youth out there that are experiencing incredible pain and feelings of isolation because they may be or are perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
If you are a young person who’s been bullied or harassed by your peers, or you’re a parent or teacher who knows a young person being bullied or harassed, here are a few resources that can help:
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is determined to end suicide among LBGTQ youth by providing resources and a nationwide, 24 hour hotline. If you are considering suicide or need help, call: 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386).BullyingInfo.org
BullyingInfo.org is a project of the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP) focused on providing tools and resources for youth, parents, teachers and mental health providers to prevent and address bullying.It Gets Better Project
Vice President Biden’s video is just one of thousands of videos submitted by people across the country to inspire and encourage LGBT youth who are struggling. You can watch more videos at ItGetsBetterProject.com.For even more information and resources visit or call:
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)Matthew Shepard FoundationParents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)National Suicide Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255)
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