Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 99

Wikileaks controversy exposes wanton homophobia of those on the right

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

At the center of last year's Wikileaks controversy (which is still ongoing) was a solider by the name of Bradley Manning.

It was speculated that Manning provided Wikileaks the classified information it put out.

There was one more about Manning which you should know. He is gay.

This little fact got many members of the right extremely giddy as they attempted to make Manning the poster child of why Don't Ask, Don't Tell shouldn't be repealed. Many of them, especially the religious right, presented Manning  as a "radical angry homosexual"  who, when he was not considering sexual reassignment surgery (an untrue claim), was striking at the military for its anti-gay policy:

It turns out that Manning is an extreme homosexual activist, whose fury over the services' homosexual policy may have led him to publicize highly classified documents about the wars. According to the U.K.'s Telegraph, Manning has an extensive history of campaigning for gay, lesbian, and transgendered causes and sources say he may have even been considering a sex change when he leaked military secrets on the Internet. - Family Research Council

"The key point -- which is starting to get some more attention now -- is that not only was he openly homosexual, but he bore a grudge against the Army for apparently not letting him be completely open about his perverted sexuality." - Cliff Kincaid, Accuracy in Media

Even if DADT was Manning’s excuse: This isn’t about DADT – this is about an individual who was unfit for military service. Gays served before Clinton introduced DADT (is that what makes liberals so mad? That they have to address that their own party created this legislation therefor compromising their narrative about being so pro-gay rights?) and gays will still serve, regardless the outcome of the ruling. The emotion in the real world doesn’t match the perspective self-importance and no one cares about your sexual orientation. . . The only thing that matters is whether or not you can be stripped down by your commanders, rebuilt, and operate as part of one cohesive unit is strictly prohibited. The military does one thing and they do it well: fight. - Dana Loesch, Big Journalism.

The out-of-the-mainstream media has collaboratively kept the focus on the sex criminal, Julian Assange, and off the guy who has committed actual treason, the homosexual soldier Bradley Manning, who sold out his country in what may turn out to be fit of gay pique. - American Family Association's Bryan Fischer

As much as I hate to rain on the parade of homophobic nonsense (oh who am I kidding), news has just come down from MSNBC that the U.S. military has not been able to link Manning with Wikileaks:

U.S. military officials tell NBC News that investigators have been unable to make any direct connection between a jailed army private suspected with leaking secret documents and Julian Assange, founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks. 
The officials say that while investigators have determined that Manning had allegedly unlawfully downloaded tens of thousands of documents onto his own computer and passed them to an unauthorized person, there is apparently no evidence he passed the files directly to Assange, or had any direct contact with the controversial WikiLeaks figure.

Granted, I am not defending Manning because speculation is still out there in regards to just what happened.

But that is the point. Everything is pure speculation to this point. No one knows what exactly Manning did or why he did it. The only thing that we knew was that he was a possible suspect.

To spin a theory that simply because Manning was gay  he leaked secrets in order to attack the military's DADT policy is an irresponsible stretch. And to demonize the lgbts, who have served and continue to serve bravely, for Manning's alleged actions - without even waiting to confirm his guilt -  is beyond irresponsible. It's disgusting.

But it's business as usual with these folks. And that's even sadder. Those who bear the standard of  decent journalism (Loesch) or the standard of "true Christian values" (Family Research Council, Kincaid, Fischer) should aspire to higher ground rather than to the level of pigs in the mud.

Related posts:

One News Now and Cliff Kincaid demonstrate homophobia, ability to lie

Family Research Council distorts British article in attack on gay soldier

Pope Benedict launches atheist outreach initiative to 'turn back tide of Western secularism'

It's a "you've got to be kidding #FAIL": Benedict is calling his new outreach to atheists " Courtyard of the Gentiles " as a means to stem the tide of increasing secularism under the guise of improving communication with non-believers.

The Vatican announced a new initiative aimed at promoting dialogue between theists and atheists to be launched with a two-day event this March in Paris.

The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture will sponsor a series of seminars on the theme of "Religion, Light and Common Reason," at various locations in the city, including Paris-Sorbonne University.

...The initiative, called "Courtyard of the Gentiles," takes its name from a section of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem accessible to non-Jews, which Pope Benedict XVI has used as a metaphor for dialogue between Catholics and non-believers.

One of the commenters at HuffPost noted:

"The best way for the Pope to reach out to the atheist community is to turn himself in to the authorities for the crime of systematically obstructing justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, racketeering, and crimes against humanity."

More U.S. servicemembers committed suicide than died in combat in 2010

It's the shame of a nation -- endless tours of duty, PTSD -- and  whatever programs that are in place clearly aren't able to provide sufficient intervention to prevent the tragedy of suicide.

For the second year in a row, more American soldiers-both enlisted men and women and veterans-committed suicide than were killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Excluding accidents and illness, 462 soldiers died in combat, while 468 committed suicide. A difference of six isn't vast by any means, but the symbolism is significant and troubling. In 2009, there were 381 suicides by military personnel, a number that also exceeded the number of combat deaths.

Earlier this month, military authorities announced that suicides amongst active-duty soldiers had slowed in 2010, while suicides amongst reservists and people in the National Guard had increased. It was proof, they said, that the frequent psychological screenings active-duty personnel receive were working, and that reservists and guardsmen, who are more removed from the military's medical bureaucracy, simply need to begin undergoing more health checks. This new data, that American soldiers are now more dangerous to themselves than the insurgents, flies right in the face of any suggestion that things are "working." Even if something's working, the system is still very, very broken.

Guest column by Rev. Irene Monroe: Finally, the Black Civil Rights Movement is dying

The headline alone should stimulate discussion!

Finally, the Black Civil Rights Movement is dying

By Rev. Irene Monroe

Last week, Martin Luther King tributes were taking place across the nation. And the spirit of MLK and the courageous acts of our foremothers and forefathers of the civil rights movement are etched indelibly in many of our hearts.

But the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King's era of the 1960's, many would say, is dying a slow and necessary death.

And for many African Americans of younger generations, who are now the beneficiaries of the racial gains from the Movement, feeling the Movement's' slow death is like a welcoming boulder gradually being lifted from their shoulders, especially for those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.

With many key African American organizations and institutions of the civil rights movement of the 1960's still resistant to address this generation's outwardness about their sexual orientations and gender expressions as a civil rights issues, these organizations and institutions have not only lost their mantle as part of a prophetic justice movement for this day and age, but many of our present day key African American organizations and institutions of the Movement have also lost the moral high ground that was once so easily associated with them.

For example, the bedrock institution in the African American community, we all know by now, is the Black church. And it was also the bedrock of the civil rights movement. In March of 2010, African American Princeton's Eddie Glaude Jr. published an obituary for the black church in the Huffington Post titled, "The Black Church is Dead." Glaude talked about several of the problems facing the African American community, but no where in his piece did he talk about anti-gay ministers and homophobic congregrations.

According to the PEW Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life, 87 percent of African Americans identify with a religious group and 79 percent say that religion is very important in their lives. The Pew report also showed that since 2008, African-American Protestants are less likely than other Protestant groups to believe that LGBTQ people should have equal rights. And since hot-button issues like gay adoption and marriage equality have become more prominent, support for LGBTQ rights among African-American Protestants has dipped as low as 40 percent.

A groundbreaking study in July 2010 came out titled, "Black Lesbians Matter" examining the unique experiences, perspectives, and priorities of the Black Lesbian Bisexual and Trans community. One of the key findings of the survey revealed that there is a pattern of higher suicide rates among black LBTs. Scholars have primarily associated these higher suicide rates with one's inability to deal with "coming out" and the Black Church's stance on homosexuality.

But with various pockets within a community homophobic, clerics closeted and a church on the "down-low" about sexuality it cannot save itself from itself. And perhaps as many of us LGBTQ Christians in the Black Church have known but Glaude finally stated it: "The Black Church is Dead."

But with a dead church so, too, will follow important historic organizations that were birthed out of the civil rights movement and headed by black homophobic ministers.

One example is the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

More below the fold.

"We should've closed it down years ago,'' Andrew Young, who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr., said after Rev. Bernice King announced to the Atlanta Journal Constitution this week that she will not be taking her oath as SCLC's president. "I saw this as a lost cause a long time ago.''

But many in the LGBTQ community felt, with Rev, Bernice King at the helm of the organization, queer justice was certain to be a lost cause.

In 2009, Rev. Bernice King was bestowed the honor to be the eighth president and first women to head SCLC, co-founded by her father, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While it isn't clear if Bernice King was a legacy pick for SCLC, it is, however, very clear to many of us in our LGBTQ communities that she would not be carrying out her father's legacy.

And having been rumored for years, on the "chitlin' circuit," to be a lesbian, her track record concerning LGBTQ civil rights has been less than humane and antithetical to the legacies of both her parents.

For example, Rev. Bernice King's most audacious sign of desecrating her father's legacy was the December 2004 march titled, "Stop the Silence," promoting an anti-gay agenda.

Beginning the protest march by lighting a torch at her father's grave site and then passing it on to her spiritual mentor and the march organizer, Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, who has recently been embroiled in a sex scandal for molesting pubescent boys from his church, whom he calls "spiritual sons," King stated that "I know in my sanctified soul that he (Dr. King) did not take a bullet for same-sex marriage." Therefore, given the homophobic vitriol Rev. Bernice King has spewed out over the years, the LGBTQ community is always braced to see what next she'll say and do, and especially if given the bully pulpit she would have had as president of SCLC.

Comprised mostly of conservative clergy and parishioners, our churches and historic justice institutions remain in an intentional time warp. With its refusal to speak on present-day issues not only plaguing the African American community but plaguing all Americans, these churches and organizations exist as a visiting museum tethered to the 1960's civil rights era rather than exist as an organization faced toward the challenges of today.

Like the many who gathered last week to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, I, too, am committed to the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I not only miss King's wisdom, I miss the sound of his voice, the things he said with that voice, and the choir that resounded within him with that voice.

King once told a racially-mixed audience that "Eventually the civil rights movement will have contributed infinitely more to the nation than the eradication of racial injustice."

If King were alive today he would want us to look at homophobia.

DOJ Stay Request Denied, Log Cabin DADT Case Goes forward

With the not-quite-repeal bill passed and signed, and the policy due to end, well, sometime, we don't really know when (plus 60 days), the Department of Justice argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that it wasn't really necessary to go forward with the Log Cabin Republicans successful court challenge of the Constitutionality of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. It's OK, they're on it, they assured the Judges.

The judges didn't buy it. They've denied the Department of Justice their request for a stay. Filed from the Ninth Circuit moments ago.

The opposed motion to hold these appeals in abeyance is denied. The briefing schedule is reset as follows: the government’s opening brief and excerpts of record are due February 25, 2011; Log Cabin Republicans’ answering brief and supplemental excerpts of record are due March 28, 2011; and the government’s reply brief is due 14 days after service of the answering brief. The pending motions filed by proposed intervenor Joseph Zernik shall be addressed by separate order.

 

This bumps the case back a bit from the original argument dates. Looks like the military, which Keori pointed out didn't have a target date for implementing repeal, just got a kick in the pants.

Today's Winners and Losers: Hawaii 2, New Hampshire 0

Days like today I wonder why I left Hawaii for New Hampshire. Today in Honolulu was sunny and 81F. Today in New Hampshire was 34F and snowing. Today in Hawaii civil rights got a boost. Today in New Hampshire civil rights came under attack.

First, the good news. In the state of Hawaii, SB232, a bill for Civil Unions, passed out of the State Senate by a vote of 19-6. SB232 is virtually identical to the text of HB444, which was the bill introduced last year by Rep. Blake Oshiro. For those who remember last year's fight, the Senate passed HB444 by a vote of 18-7. Now, on to the House, where it is expected to pass. Governor Neil Abercrombie has publicly stated that he will sign a Civil Unions bill when it gets to his desk. Governor Abercrombie, who resigned from the House of Representatives to run for Governor, defeated anti-gay mormon Dem candidate Mufi Hannemann in a tough primary last year, and went on to win in the general election by a landslide.

In other good news from the Aloha State, HB546, which would add "gender identity or expression" to Hawaii's employment nondiscrimination laws, passed out of the House Labor Committee today by a unanimous vote. Now it goes to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. (Hawaii includes gender identity or expression as a protected class already in housing and public accommodations, but not yet in employment.)

Neither of these bills would have a chance of becoming law if we hadn't worked so hard during the primaries to bring Neil Abercrombie to victory. Primaries matter. Elections matter. The LGBT residents of New Hampshire know that very well after today, when our established right to marry came under attack.

More under the fold.

 

This past November the voters of New Hampshire elected a supermajority of Republicans to the General Court (state legislature). Our marriage law, which took effect on January 1, 2010, hadn't even seen a year before the promise of repeal was made public. Today GOP Rep. David Bates (R-Windham) introduced HB0437, which would eliminate marriage equality for same-sex couples, despite reassurances of GOP House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt that repeal of marriage equality is not a priority this year. In fact, prior to the start of the legislative session, all indicators were that marriage wouldn't be touched. But if there's one thing we've all learned here at the Blend, it's never trust the Teabaggers. And sadly, it seems that the old school New England libertarian-leaning GOP has been taken over by christian fascis-- **cough cough** -- I mean, Tea Partiers.

Mo Baxley of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry had this to say:

"Since when did we start taking away freedoms in New Hampshire, like the option to marry the person you have a lifelong commitment with? And why are we talking about marriage equality during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression? Gay marriage is the last thing on anyone's mind right now."

Not if you're a Republican trying to score points with a hateful wingnut base, apparently. A public hearing is expected on this, and a lot of time spent having to defend marriage from those who want to destroy ours.

 

 

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal: There Is No Target Date

cross-posted at Daily Kos

This afternoon USMC Gen James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Clifford Stanley, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, held a press briefing to discuss the implementation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal. They outlined the certification process, talked about training requirements, and clarified some issues of concern.

First, and most important, there is no set target date for repeal implementation. Gen Cartwright stated that leadership believes it can be done by the end of 2011, but reiterated that there is no set target date. He did not clarify whether "the end of 2011" includes the additional 60-day waiting period mandated by the repeal law. 

Second, there will be no partner benefits granted to LGB servicemembers. Undersecretary Stanley was very clear that the DOD must follow DOMA, and thus could not list same-sex spouses as dependents for purposes of family benefits. One of the questions raised was whether the DOD was looking at policy changes akin to those in the State Department which allow some partner benefits, such as accompanied overseas tours. At the moment, the DOD is not considering such policies.

Third, sexual orientation will not be a protected class for Equal Opportunity programs in the same way that race, gender, ethnicity, and religion are. Command Managed Equal Opportunity (CMEO) policies will not change Any issues of discrimination will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the unit commander. Gen Cartwright stated, "There is no special policy needed." So if a gay soldier has a fundamentalist christian commander who believes that s/he should be discriminated against, that soldier had better be prepared to go above that commander's head. We'll see how this plays out the first time someone is passed over for promotion due to sexual orientation, or is harassed by his or her fellow troops and has no legal recourse.

Fourth, objections from the Chaplains' Corps are of no consequence. The question was raised about concerns from the Chaplains' Corps. USD Stanley stated that all chaplains are there to serve the force, that they will abide by their own faith guidelines as they always have, and that no special policies are expected. Boy, these guys sure do have a lot of confidence in professed bigots in the ranks.

Details on the training and certification process below the fold.

SECDEF Robert Gates wants to implement a three-step process for repeal implementation. First, change the policies. Second, develop appropriate training and make necessary changes to current training. Third, deliver the training to the force. Each service is responsible for delivering the training to its personnel because each service conducts training a little differenlty depending on the unit and type of training. Pentagon leadership anticipates that this whole process will take most of 2011, because training has to be delivered to the active duty force, and Guard and Reserve troops, as well. Certification by ADM Mullen, SECDEF, and President Obama will not happen until the majority of the force has received the training, although it will not require that 100% of the units be trained. Gen Cartwright stated that one of the things leadership is keeping in mind is that moving along quickly is better than dragging it out. That has been the case for all the services and nations that have done this. For now, the unofficial goal is the end of 2011, because that is considered attainable.

Initially, the services will focus on training at the unit level for the force, but the DOD will mandate that each individual person be responsible for certifying that they have received the training. It may or may not become an annual training requirement, but each individual must certify that they have received the training in order to better enforce the new law and policies. Such a certification will supposedly make it easier to discipline those who violate the law because they will be accountable.

One of the major concerns by advocacy groups is that, since sexual orientation will not be covered under EEO regs, that servicemembers will have no legal recourse when they are discriminated against or harassed. USD Stanley kept repeating that it was a matter of leadership, of basic professionalism. Time will tell how it all plays out.

Fred Karger takes on Brian Brown and NOM

Watch this new slam-dunk commercial from Rights Equal Rights founder (and possible GOP Presidential Candidate) Fred Karger:

A brand new television commercial begins airing today entitled "The Battle of Concord - 2011" throughout New Hampshire. The 60 second spot will run for a full week in seven cable markets all over the Granite State.

Rights Equal Rights founder, Fred Karger said, "Brian Brown, NOM's President, threatened in a video on November 3rd -- the day after the election last fall -- that NOM was going to repeal gay marriage in New Hampshire just like it has done in California and Maine. WATCH IT Brown also said that NOM was going to qualify a Constitutional Amendment in New Hampshire to end marriage equality by writing a ban into the state Constitution."

"NOM is relentless and stops at nothing to hurt and demean people," added Karger. "I want to let the citizens of New Hampshire know exactly what they are up against. This is the group that spent $1.5 MILLION to try and defeat Governor Lynch in the November election with their nasty commercials. NOM spent millions more in direct mail, robo calls, radio and TV commercials to overthrow the statehouse. NOM recently hit a roadblock, however, when Republican House Majority leader D. J. Bettencourt said that the Marriage issue would have to wait until 2012. NOM's response: a direct mail piece viciously attacking him to all the voters in his district."

"NOM plays hardball and will not stop. I know better than anyone, I have been tracking the National Organization for Marriage since they began in California in 2008 to qualify and pass Proposition 8." New York Times Story - July 17, 2008

You can help Rights Equal Rights continue to air this ad by clicking here. Also: check out Joe Sudbay's post.

Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination bill introduced in Maryland House

The Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination bill was officially introduced on Thursday by Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk (Dist. 21) and Delegate Ariana Kelly (Dist. 16). The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the areas of employment, housing and credit.  From the Equality Maryland press release:

"All hardworking people in our state, including transgender people, should have a chance to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families. Nobody should have to live in fear that they can be legally fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance," said Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk.

Delegate Ariana Kelly of Montgomery County has joined the fight as a lead sponsor this year. "Montgomery County has had an anti-discrimination law since 2007. It has been implemented successfully, with no problems. It is time for all residents of our state to be treated fairly and equally under the law," said Delegate Kelly.

"Equality Maryland is thrilled to see the growing momentum behind this critical legislation," said Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Executive Director of Equality Maryland.

"Discrimination against the transgender community is rampant in Maryland. Data show that 1 in 5 transgender people in Maryland have lost a job because they are transgender, and 12% have become homeless. This law is a matter of life-or-death for many Marylanders," added Ms. Meneses-Sheets.

"There is no Maryland state law or a federal law providing these basic protections, but 12 states and more than 100 cities across America have already passed similar non-discrimination laws-and implemented them successfully," said Ms. Meneses-Sheets. "The time for this bill is now."

Marylanders, you can help get the gender identity anti-discrimination bill and the marriage equality bill passed by urging your legislators to support the bill and by participating in Why Equality Matters Day on January 31st at the Maryland Statehouse.  The event starts at 5 pm.  For details and to sign up, click here.

And with your help, we can quickly pass these bills through the House and Senate this legislative session. But your elected officials need to hear your voice before they take these historic votes that affect our community.

Friday Coffeehouse Open Thread

Chat and share headlines you've seen today.

* First, to my fellow North Carolina LGBTs - Have you registered to meet with your state reps at Equality NC's Day of Action 2011? Sign up here. The event is Feb 15, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. If you can find the time to go to NC Pride, you can surely spare one day to meet with lawmakers who have the power to actually affect your civil rights. With a GOP-controlled Gen Assembly, we could face not only a marriage amendment, but the possibility of a roll-back of the hard-fought anti-bullying law. I hope to see you there!

* From the "you're sh*tting me" dept: House Republicans Consider Privatizing Medicare. Oh please try this Repubs; you'll lose the soon to be senior vote too. I love this grandfathering clause so they don't get punished right away: "current Medicare recipients would get to stay in the program. People within 10 years of eligibility - ages 55 to 64 - would also go into Medicare. But those now 54 and under would get a fixed payment from the government when they become eligible at age 65."

* Chick-fil-A Booted from Indiana University South Bend's Campus Over Anti-Gay Work.

According to South Bend television station WSBT, an LGBT group on campus petitioned IUSB to remove Chick-fil-A as a vendor after word broke that Chick-fil-A was supporting an event hosted by the Pennsylvania Family Institute, an affiliate of Focus on the Family and one of the leading anti-gay organizations in Pennsylvania. LGBT students and straight allies on campus wanted to send the message that if you support homophobia and anti-gay politics, you don't belong on the campus of IUSB.

* Meghan McCain: Michele Bachmann 'A Poor Man's Sarah Palin': Meghan McCain, daughter of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), had some choice words Wednesday for Minnesota GOP Rep. Michelle Bachmann's secondary, Tea Party-sponsored State of the Union rebuttal, calling it the action of a "rogue," "poor man's Sarah Palin."

* This AfterElton post garnered a lot of reaction on my Facebook page - Brannon Braga on "Star Trek"s Lack of Gay Characters: "Not a Forward Thinking Decision". I loved TNG, but the reticence to deal with a gay character was ridiculously obvious in several eps. "This despite the fact that in 1991 Gene Roddenberry told The Advocate that the fifth season of The Next Generation would at least show gay crewmembers as part of ship life. Unfortunately, Roddenberry died that year and none of the subsequent episodes featured gay people at all."

* BBC: UK based lesbian says she is not safe in Uganda after the death of a gay rights activist. A great radio report/interview with Brenda Namigadde with her reaction to the murder of David Kato. She reiterated that if she is forced to return to Uganda she will be persecuted. Also see this report on LezGetReal.