August 1, 2009

August Provost Murder Suspect Jonathan Campos Commits Suicide

Buffy touched on the death of August Provost earlier this month; now, reports OnTop:

Suspect In Gay Sailor’s Death Commits Suicide

The seaman being held in the brig of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton charged with the death of a gay sailor was found unresponsive Friday, the ‘Houston Chronicle’ reported.

Petty Officer Jonathan Campos was charged last month with the death of August Provost, a gay sailor found dead on June 30 in a Camp Pendleton guard shack near San Diego. …

Campos was taken into custody on July 1 but military prosecutors officially charged with him the death of Provost last week.

Provost of Houston, Texas was found dead about 3:30AM on June 30…

More at the link.

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July 31, 2009

U.S. Troops Executing Gay Iraqis?

U.S. military accused of atrocities
against Iraqi gays

Refugee tells stunned audience that soldiers
detained, executed gay civilians

A fundraising event to benefit an LGBT community center in Lebanon last week took a surprise turn when stunned audience members were shown graphic photographs of beheaded corpses and images purportedly depicting U.S. soldiers preparing to execute gay Iraqis.

Two gay Iraqi refugees, who declined to use their real names, delivered a presentation at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters July 24 in which they detailed alleged abuses of fellow gay Iraqis while calling on their audience to donate funds to Helem, a Lebanon-based center that works to address the plight of LGBT people in the Middle East.

One of the Iraqis, who goes by the name “Hussam,” showed the audience of about 80 people gruesome images, including shots allegedly of a beheaded man who was gay and another of the victim’s twin brother grieving over the severed head.

While asserting that anti-gay violence in Iraq is often committed by Iraqis, Hussam also said U.S. service members were involved in anti-gay hostility. …

More shocking details at the link.

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July 29, 2009

Flash! All Points Bulletin Issued to Find Alcee Hastings’ Missing Liver!

Because it’s obvious Alcee’s own liver has been replaced by that of a chicken.

“Due to pressure from some of [his] Congressional colleagues and from the White House,” Alcee Hastings withdraws “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” amendment to defense appropriations bill…?!

“Pressure”? “Pressure”? What’d they do, leave a horse’s head in his bed?

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July 5, 2009

If Only Colin Powell Would Start Pushing Obama on DADT…

Oh, wait, he is:

Time to review policy on gays
in U.S. military: Powell

American attitudes have changed and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays serving in the U.S. military should be reviewed, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Colin Powell said on Sunday. …

“The policy and the law that came about in 1993, I think, was correct for the time,” Powell said on CNN’s State of the Union.

“Sixteen years have now gone by, and I think a lot has changed with respect to attitudes within our country, and therefore I think this is a policy and a law that should be reviewed.” he added.

Current Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, the United States’ highest ranking officer, said the military will continue to carry out the policy until it is changed. …

A bit more at the link.

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July 1, 2009

Dan Choi’s Bad News — And a Request

Via email from the Courage Campaign:

Dan Choi, a native of California and an Army Lieutenant, asked us to share the news of the verdict from his military trial with the Courage Campaign community.

Your overwhelming response to Lt. Choi’s requests for support has touched him deeply. In the last five days, 162,741 people signed Lt. Choi’s letter to the Army. And, a few weeks ago, 141,262 people signed Lt. Choi’s letter to President Obama. Combined, more than 300,000 signatures were collected and submitted to the Army by Lt. Choi as “Exhibit E: Courage Campaign.”

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June 30, 2009

Yes, Of Course They Voted to Discharge Dan Choi. What Did You Expect?

Must-watch — especially as Olbermann and Savage exchange thoughts about the way Obama is beholden to the Radical Religious Right:

More:

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Gates: Make Discrimination “More Humane”? Why Not Just Euthanize Us?

Talk about your Freudian slips:

Gates: ‘More humane’ enforcement
of gay ban studied

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday that the Pentagon is looking into “more humane” ways to comply with a law that bans openly gay people from serving in the military.

Gates said that the Pentagon’s general counsel is exploring ways of making the law, known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” more flexible until it is eventually changed, according to the Pentagon’s news service. …

Geez! I can’t remember the last time a phrase rankled me this way.

“More humane”? “More humane”?

That’s the kind of talk you use when you’re referring to euthanizing animals, or choosing lethal injection over the electric chair when killing people.

Of course, they don’t see us as human beings to begin with.

Which is my point, exactly:

Gates doesn’t even realize how clearly he just expressed that.

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Overheard

At AmericaBlog, “zoltankemeny” responding to an Obamapologist defending the DOJ brief, and scolding the LGBT community at large for “getting it wrong”:

“Good god, it’s like watching someone blame the miniskirt-clad coed for getting date raped.”

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June 29, 2009

Oh, Yeah, And That Whatshisname Made Pretty Talk Today

Here’s the transcript:

“Obama urges lesbian, gay patience overturning ‘unjust laws’.”

My reaction is one big whatever. Talk without action is garbage. Get back to me when you actually do something, Barry. Make me eat my words, every last one of them.

And you can thank me later for not ripping your pretty speech apart, line by line.

Or asking you if Dan Choi is going to be discharged tomorrow.

For starters.

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June 28, 2009

Headline Says All: “Irony alert: Obama to ignore law he doesn’t agree with”

“The Obama administration announced in the statement it would disregard provisions of the legislation…”

What’s this about?

DADT?

DOMA?

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June 27, 2009

Where’s Our Harvey? Or Do We Need One?

Jeremy W. Peters makes some good points re: Why the Gay Rights Movement Has No National Leader:

Gay people have no national standard-bearer, no go-to sound-byte machine for the media. …

One explanation is that gay and lesbian activists learned early on that they could get along just fine without one.

Well, yes, that’s been true, but only as long as “gay activists pursued a different approach, focusing on issues pertinent to their local communities”:

City councils and state legislatures are where domestic partnership laws and legislation extending anti-discrimination protections to gays and lesbians originated.

That’s the way it’s always been — until now. Now, we’re on the national stage.

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When They Call You A “One-Issue Voter”

It’s annoying enough to hear the “You’re just a one-issue voter!” line (what do they do, issue a list of talking points at Bigot Central?) from an openly hostile Anti-Gay, but when you’re on the receiving end of the same thing from someone who’s supposed to be LGBT, or an ally… it’s downright maddening.

That said, here’s an excellent response (particularly the first paragraph), by gayjaybird, overheard at Pam’s:

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June 26, 2009

Biden Tries to Run Damage Control at DNC’s Gay ATM Fundraiser

Joe Biden reaches out to gay community

Vice President Joe Biden told gay and lesbian Democrats that he doesn’t blame them for their impatience and promised that the Obama administration will begin to push more strongly on the issues they care about, including the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Speaking at a LGBT fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee, Biden acknowledged the anger many gays and lesbians have toward the White House, and he pledged to “put some pace on the ball.”

“I don’t blame you for your impatience,” Biden said. “I hope you don’t doubt the president’s commitment.”

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June 23, 2009

Big Whoop: Obama Allows Unnamed Queers to Sneak In Back Door of White House for an Evening

No doubt more token pats on the head before sending the whiny little ‘mos on their way again. I wish the ‘Phobe-in-Chief would prove me dead wrong, but I won’t hold my breath:

Obama Invites Gay Rights Advocates
to White House

As advocates for gays and lesbians intensify their criticism of the White House, President Obama has invited some of their leaders—

Stop. What “leaders”? We have “leaders”? Who appointed these “leaders” (certainly no one elected them), and who decided what miserable little queers were worthy of setting foot inside Obama’s Hallowed Halls?

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77 Members of Congress Urge Obama to Suspend DADT and Initiate Bilateral Repeal Process

From Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.-23):

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) and 76 Members of Congress sent the following letter to President Barack Obama urging him to suspend the investigation and discharge of service members in the Armed Forces because of their sexual orientation. Under the discriminatory law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” openly gay and lesbian service members and those suspected of “homosexual conduct” may not serve in the military.

By taking leadership of the important issue of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, President Obama would allow openly gay and lesbian service members to continue serving their country and send a clear signal to Congress to initiate the legislative repeal process. A bilateral approach would demonstrate the United States’ lasting commitment to justice and equality for all. This letter comes at a time when a majority of Americans favor allowing gay and lesbian service members to serve openly. (Please find below and attached a copy of the letter)

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June 19, 2009

Wockner Round-Up On Gay Anger

“You could fill 10 pages of a newspaper with stories and essays on how upset the gays have gotten with Barack Obama,” Rex writes — and he nearly does. Good read (as always), beginning with:

Where to start? What has he done that’s good? He issued a nice proclamation for pride month and he extended a few spousal benefits to federal employees’ same-sex partners — sick leave and long-term care insurance, for example, but not health coverage, which he said June 17 is not within his power. That’s the good news — all of it.

What hasn’t he done? Anything about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, anything about the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), anything about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. He’s done nothing about any of the stuff he promised the gays before they rushed to the polls en masse last November to make sure he won that election.

And, then, Mr. Obama’s Justice Department filed a brief June 11 in a federal same-sex marriage case that used nearly every nasty homophobic argument in the book to argue against letting gays get married. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back and unleashed a flood of harsh criticism from gay VIPs. …

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Karen Ocamb Asks: “Will Gays Divorce the Democrats?”

Will gays divorce the Democrats? Will they stay home and withhold funds or actively get involved with a local progressive for whom equality is as essential as breathing instead of a social issue about which they must be “educated?”

One thing is certain: gay people want our voice and our vote to count. Otherwise, the democracy this republic espouses is just as much a sham as those rigged elections we decry in other countries.

Righteous (and fact-filled) rant you’ll want to read in its entirety — which also takes note of Robin Tyler’s forthcoming DivorcetheDemocrats.org (which isn’t live yet), “where she is mounting an online pledge to take money that LGBTs and allies might have given to the DNC and re-distribute it to LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations that need help, as well as efforts in California and Maine to deal with marriage ballot initiatives. The site would also call for a ‘comprehensive’ LGBT civil rights bill, instead of the incremental pieces of legislation for which the LGBT community has had to beg and wait until it is deemed convenient for consideration.”

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June 17, 2009

Hey, If Death-Row Serial Killers Can Get Married and We Can’t, Why Not Choose Neo-Nazis Over Gays in the Military?

Military accepting neo-Nazis,
white supremacists, probe finds

The US military has effectively adopted a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy concerning white supremacists and neo-Nazis in an effort to bolster recruiting and retention, an article published Monday says. …

[T]he Army’s recruiting difficulties have opened the floodgates to those who’d otherwise be turned away: neo-Nazis, white supremacists and gang members.

Writing in Salon, reporter Matt Kennard says the decision to open the military’s doors has had “drastic consequences.”

“Some neo-Nazis have been charged with crimes inside the military, and others have been linked to recruitment efforts for the white right,” Kennard writes. “Many white supremacists join the Army to secure training for, as they see it, a future domestic race war. Others claim to be shooting Iraqis not to pursue the military’s strategic goals but because killing ‘hajjis’ is their duty as white militants.” …

Well, at least they’re not gay!

More at the link, and a fascinating, if stomach-turning piece at Salon: “Neo-Nazis are in the Army now: Why the U.S. military is ignoring its own regulations and permitting white supremacists to join its ranks.”

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June 16, 2009

Rachel Maddow with Howard Dean on DoMA Brief

Dr. Dean starts to bristle a bit when Rachel says gays have been left empty-handed by both parties (of course he does; it’s true, and we certainly made no gains — and in fact, lost a lot of ground — during his watch as DNC head), and he does make a half-hearted attempt to defend Obama with the ol’ a-lot-on-his-plate excuse, but overall, it’s a very good exchange.

And Dr. Dean does not mince words: The DOJ brief went way over the line, and Obama has got to do something about it. He even thinks this may force Obama to shift priorities, bringing, say, DADT further up the list. (We’ll see about that. Nice thought, ‘though.)

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June 15, 2009

U.S. Mayors Do What POTUS Doesn’t Have the Guts to Do

NEW YORK, June 15, 2009 — The U.S. Conference of Mayors today passed a resolution in support of ending the exclusion of gay couples from marriage. The resolution, titled “Equality and Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans,” included support for the freedom to marry along with endorsement of federal bills such as Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

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June 8, 2009

Rachel Maddow on Barack “Fierce Advocate” Obama & DADT

Rachel echoes much of what we’ve said about Obama’s meaningless promise of “a full repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that would start when he took office, then interviews Rush Holt (D-N.J.), co-sponor of H.R. 1283, aimed at repealing DADT, who agrees that Obama could wipe out DADT with a penstroke this minute. Worth the watch:

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SCOTUS Rejects Latest DADT Challenge

Why? They wouldn’t say:

Court upholds US military gay ban

The highest court in the US has decided not to hear an appeal from a soldier who was dismissed from the US army for being openly gay.

Under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, people who are openly homosexual are barred from service.

Capt James Pietrangelo II appealed to the Supreme Court to rule that the policy was unconstitutional.

President Barack Obama promised to overturn the policy before the 2008 election, but has yet to do so.

Capt Pietrangelo’s appeal was opposed by the US government, which argued in papers submitted to the court that the ban was “rationally related to the government’s legitimate interest in military discipline and cohesion”.

By refusing to hear his appeal, the court is effectively agreeing with the administration’s position. …

More at the link.

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June 7, 2009

Wonder(ful) Woman Speaks

“You just can’t pick what it is you want to be the truth. If you want to be a televangelist, fine. You want to talk about faith and glory of God and all the rest of it, great. That’s freedom of religion. But taking my freedom away by moralizing and judging, if that’s the God they believe in, I don’t want any part of it. It’s astonishing to me that the most judgmental people seem to be those who think they speak for God.”

Lynda Carter talks to Metro Weekly — and you’re going to love what she says. You’re also going to be knocked out by the gorgeous pictures:

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June 3, 2009

Anna Eshoo Keeps Our Hopes Up

Yes, Virginia, there are a few good congresscritters out there — and since we’re much more prone to zinging the bad ones, we’re long overdue in recognizing one of the very best.

The perfect opportunity to do just that came with Anna Eshoo’s remarks to gay and lesbian California last night.

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May 30, 2009

So, When Do You “Evolve” Into Action, Bill?

We should live so long to see Big Dog actually do something to right his own wrongs against us:

Presidents Bush, Clinton Team Up in Toronto; Clinton Says His View on Gay Marriage Is ‘Evolving’

This afternoon in Toronto, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush shared a stage for a “conversation with presidents” at Toronto’s Convention Centre, in a ticketed event (with a hefty payday for both ex-presidents) that was open to the general public. …

…while President Clinton mostly kept to his promise to “thwart” efforts to get 42 and 43 to tangle with each other, he offered an interesting insight into his thinking on gay rights.

On the issue of gay marriage — which Clinton, like President Obama, personally opposes — Clinton said of his position: “Frankly, it’s evolving” as he sees more committed gay couples raising kids. …

Christ on a crutch, Bill, will you puh-leeeze ditch that right-wing crap — that marriage is about nothing but children?

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