Monday, January 31, 2011
Boystown gets Wi-Fi
Chicago's Boystown area has added to its uniqueness now that it boasts free Wi-Fi service, according to ChicagoPride.com.
Engaging young gay adults in the criminal justice system.
How do I more effectively encourage gay young adults in the criminal justice system to engage with the larger gay community? (long question) As a social worker in the criminal justice system I am regularly in contact with young gay men and women who are entering the criminal justice system for the first time as felony drug offenders. Many of the offenders I work with have never encountered the city's larger gay community. They come from extremely small worlds; many have barely ever left their neighborhoods let alone hung out with groups of other young, gay adults. Picture Snoop from the Wire as a typical young lesbian I encounter; rough drug dealer girls who pride themselves on being hard like the corner boys. The young gay men more typically come from tough white working class neighborhoods but have a similarly limited amount of exposure to larger gay culture.
Both groups have limitations in terms of literacy, substance abuse problems, often co-occuring mental health disorders, often histories of sexual abuse. Breaching the subject of sexuality is something I've only done once with a client I was extremely close to, who I felt trusted me enough that I could suggest that she try to plug into the larger gay community by contacting the local gay and lesbian community center to see what kinds of services and programs they have for young black gay women.
She was totally cool with me bringing it up, but seemed...not disinterested, more like the suggestion just didn't make a lot of sense. She clearly didn't understand why she would want to plug in with the larger gay community, or what doing so would do for. I tried to explain what I felt would be the benefits of plugging in with some other young gay women, but wasn't really able to create a spark of interest. At that point I dropped it, because as a social worker I feel it's more important for me to focus on the things my clients feel are important, rather than what I think might be important for them.
The thing is that our program is constantly telling clients about the importance of changing people, places and things, which for many of our clients is next to impossible. They don't know anyone who isn't dealing or using drugs, and usually live on blocks where everyone is dealing and using drugs under their noses all the time. I feel like with my gay clients I have a chance to engage them in this other world of positive support they are completely unaware of if only I could plug them into the gay community. But I'm not sure how to best go about it consindering that my gay clients are often hardened street kids who distrust anyone who doesn't come from their neighborhood and have maybe never even been downtown except to go to court.
I'm hoping for some protips from the gay community here on AskMe. Thanks.
Both groups have limitations in terms of literacy, substance abuse problems, often co-occuring mental health disorders, often histories of sexual abuse. Breaching the subject of sexuality is something I've only done once with a client I was extremely close to, who I felt trusted me enough that I could suggest that she try to plug into the larger gay community by contacting the local gay and lesbian community center to see what kinds of services and programs they have for young black gay women.
She was totally cool with me bringing it up, but seemed...not disinterested, more like the suggestion just didn't make a lot of sense. She clearly didn't understand why she would want to plug in with the larger gay community, or what doing so would do for. I tried to explain what I felt would be the benefits of plugging in with some other young gay women, but wasn't really able to create a spark of interest. At that point I dropped it, because as a social worker I feel it's more important for me to focus on the things my clients feel are important, rather than what I think might be important for them.
The thing is that our program is constantly telling clients about the importance of changing people, places and things, which for many of our clients is next to impossible. They don't know anyone who isn't dealing or using drugs, and usually live on blocks where everyone is dealing and using drugs under their noses all the time. I feel like with my gay clients I have a chance to engage them in this other world of positive support they are completely unaware of if only I could plug them into the gay community. But I'm not sure how to best go about it consindering that my gay clients are often hardened street kids who distrust anyone who doesn't come from their neighborhood and have maybe never even been downtown except to go to court.
I'm hoping for some protips from the gay community here on AskMe. Thanks.
Strange Love
In August a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that
Proposition 8, California?s voter-approved ban on gay marriage,
violates the 14th Amendment?s command that no state may ?deny to
any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.? U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker concluded that the ban?s
justification was so weak that it failed even the ?rational basis?
test, the highly deferential standard used in equal protection
cases that do not involve a fundamental right or a ?suspect class?
such as race (although he also argued that gay marriage bans
implicate both).
In addition to social conservatives, critics of the decision
included supporters of gay marriage who worry about the damage done
by result-oriented jurisprudence. While I share their concerns,
this objection to the equal protection argument for gay marriage no
longer seems decisive to me.
For one thing, I?m not sure it?s possible to prevent a judge?s
policy preferences from influencing his application of the law in a
case like this. No doubt a judge who was more alarmed at the
prospect of gay marriage would have reached a conclusion different
from Walker?s. But wouldn?t that judge also be guilty of letting
his social views shape his legal analysis?
Furthermore, there is a defensible constitutional argument that
the principle of equal protection, which says ?all persons
similarly situated should be treated alike,? means the government
may not discriminate between couples based on sexual preference.
Although the people who wrote and ratified the Fifth and 14th
amendments never imagined they were guaranteeing equal legal
treatment for homosexual couples, that?s because the very notion of
gay marriage would have been incomprehensible to them.
Treating all married couples equally, without regard to sexual
preference, seems like a straightforward application of equal
protection to a situation the Framers could not have foreseen, just
as they did not foresee television (which is nevertheless protected
by the First Amendment) or wiretaps (which are nevertheless
governed by the Fourth Amendment). Is that view a much bigger leap
than using the Equal Protection Clause to overturn bans on
interracial marriage, which persisted for a century after the 14th
Amendment was ratified?
I would much prefer that the government get out of the business
of certifying marriage altogether. But as long as myriad provisions
of state and federal law hinge on marital status, the government
has to decide which couples qualify, and basic fairness demands
that sexual orientation play no role in that determination. What
legitimate government interest can possibly justify preventing a
veteran?s longtime spouse from being buried alongside him, simply
because both of them are men? This sort of policy, which a federal
judge in Massachusetts overturned on equal protection grounds in
July, really is shameful.
I realize opponents of same-sex marriage think they have good
reasons for denying gay couples the rights and privileges that
straight couples enjoy, and they would argue that homosexuals and
heterosexuals are not ?similarly situated.? But you know what?
Screw them. I am tired of defending the constitutional principles
that social conservatives use to restrict liberty, because they so
rarely return the favor by supporting those same principles when
the effect is to expand liberty. When a supposedly principled
originalist like Antonin Scalia can endorse a ridiculously broad
reading of the Commerce Clause because the case involves pot, why
should I stick my neck out by arguing that the original
understanding of equal protection precludes its use in gay marriage
cases?
If there is a plausible constitutional argument for requiring
the government to respect people?s rights, as I think there is
here, those who value the Constitution as a means of protecting
freedom should not be afraid to use it. Without abandoning
intellectual honesty or the rule of law, we should prefer to err on
the side of liberty.
Senior Editor Jacob
Sullum (jsullum@reason.com) is a nationally syndicated
columnist.
Proposition 8, California?s voter-approved ban on gay marriage,
violates the 14th Amendment?s command that no state may ?deny to
any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.? U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker concluded that the ban?s
justification was so weak that it failed even the ?rational basis?
test, the highly deferential standard used in equal protection
cases that do not involve a fundamental right or a ?suspect class?
such as race (although he also argued that gay marriage bans
implicate both).
In addition to social conservatives, critics of the decision
included supporters of gay marriage who worry about the damage done
by result-oriented jurisprudence. While I share their concerns,
this objection to the equal protection argument for gay marriage no
longer seems decisive to me.
For one thing, I?m not sure it?s possible to prevent a judge?s
policy preferences from influencing his application of the law in a
case like this. No doubt a judge who was more alarmed at the
prospect of gay marriage would have reached a conclusion different
from Walker?s. But wouldn?t that judge also be guilty of letting
his social views shape his legal analysis?
Furthermore, there is a defensible constitutional argument that
the principle of equal protection, which says ?all persons
similarly situated should be treated alike,? means the government
may not discriminate between couples based on sexual preference.
Although the people who wrote and ratified the Fifth and 14th
amendments never imagined they were guaranteeing equal legal
treatment for homosexual couples, that?s because the very notion of
gay marriage would have been incomprehensible to them.
Treating all married couples equally, without regard to sexual
preference, seems like a straightforward application of equal
protection to a situation the Framers could not have foreseen, just
as they did not foresee television (which is nevertheless protected
by the First Amendment) or wiretaps (which are nevertheless
governed by the Fourth Amendment). Is that view a much bigger leap
than using the Equal Protection Clause to overturn bans on
interracial marriage, which persisted for a century after the 14th
Amendment was ratified?
I would much prefer that the government get out of the business
of certifying marriage altogether. But as long as myriad provisions
of state and federal law hinge on marital status, the government
has to decide which couples qualify, and basic fairness demands
that sexual orientation play no role in that determination. What
legitimate government interest can possibly justify preventing a
veteran?s longtime spouse from being buried alongside him, simply
because both of them are men? This sort of policy, which a federal
judge in Massachusetts overturned on equal protection grounds in
July, really is shameful.
I realize opponents of same-sex marriage think they have good
reasons for denying gay couples the rights and privileges that
straight couples enjoy, and they would argue that homosexuals and
heterosexuals are not ?similarly situated.? But you know what?
Screw them. I am tired of defending the constitutional principles
that social conservatives use to restrict liberty, because they so
rarely return the favor by supporting those same principles when
the effect is to expand liberty. When a supposedly principled
originalist like Antonin Scalia can endorse a ridiculously broad
reading of the Commerce Clause because the case involves pot, why
should I stick my neck out by arguing that the original
understanding of equal protection precludes its use in gay marriage
cases?
If there is a plausible constitutional argument for requiring
the government to respect people?s rights, as I think there is
here, those who value the Constitution as a means of protecting
freedom should not be afraid to use it. Without abandoning
intellectual honesty or the rule of law, we should prefer to err on
the side of liberty.
Senior Editor Jacob
Sullum (jsullum@reason.com) is a nationally syndicated
columnist.
HIV+ People Need Love Too
So here we are ringing in the New Year for 2011 and people are kissing and hugging in Time square, at private parties and in the privacy of their own homes. Yes some of these relationships are just for the New Year and some last for a lifetime. Which one are you looking for?
BearPodcast 345 ? Uncut in SF, Happy Thanksgiving
Uncut in SF, Happy Thanksgiving
MP3 Audio, Duration ? 45:06, Size ? 43.5MB
Hosts: Nard and Ray
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Nard is making eggrolls for Thanksgiving. Ray watched Harry Potter. SF is going to ban circumcision. Is Truvada going to save us from HIV/AIDS? Listen to the show and enjoy!
Click the pic!
Subscribe via iTunes and leave a review
E-mail: show (at) bearpodcast.com
Call our voicemail line at 206-222-BEAR
read more
MP3 Audio, Duration ? 45:06, Size ? 43.5MB
Hosts: Nard and Ray
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Nard is making eggrolls for Thanksgiving. Ray watched Harry Potter. SF is going to ban circumcision. Is Truvada going to save us from HIV/AIDS? Listen to the show and enjoy!
Click the pic!
Subscribe via iTunes and leave a review
E-mail: show (at) bearpodcast.com
Call our voicemail line at 206-222-BEAR
read more
(48) Glossy Glam Drag Race
Intro from Our Friends at the I’m Going to Kill You Podcast Rupaul’s Drag Race, Bigots From All Walks of Life and/or Opposing Parties Etcetera Can ALL Agree on One Thing: H8 Legislation. PC Polizia, Homogenization, the Fairness Doctrine, Freedom of Speech, Women and Food, Stupidity: the Side Effect of Narcissism and more … www.imgoingtokillyou.podomatic.com [...]
Most Romantic Lesbian Movies
Lesbian Life movie reviewer Stephanie Schroeder is the first to admit that she's no romantic. It takes a lot to pull on her heart strings. And I think that's a good thing when it comes to picking romantic movies. She dug deep into her movie vault, just in time for Valentine's day, to share with us, her top Most Romantic Lesbian Movies....Read Full Post
Maine Coalition Calls on Senators Collins and Snowe to Cast Deciding Votes in Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
Today, ten Maine organizations called on Senators Collins and Snowe to support a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and to lift the military facilities abortion ban. The groups include American Association of University of Women – Maine, EqualityMaine, Family Planning Association of Maine, Greater Bangor National Organization for Women, Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, Maine Civil Liberties Union, Maine Women's Lobby, Mainely Girls, the Religious Coalition Against Discrimination and Women, Work and Community.
"Congress now has the historic opportunity to overturn both policies," reads the letter sent to the Senators offices. "We therefore urge you to oppose any effort to strip language repealing either 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' or the ban on privately-funded abortions on military bases from the NDAA."
Senators Collins and Snowe declined to vote for cloture on the National Defense Authorization Act early in the fall, citing the need to wait for the Pentagon report on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The Pentagon report, released Tuesday, found that 70 percent of service members said they would be able to "work together to get the job done" with a gay service member in their immediate unit.
"Senators Collins and Snowe have an historic opportunity to cast the deciding votes to end discrimination in the military," said MCLU Executive Director Shenna Bellows. "Our military men and women, who risk their lives to protect our Constitutional freedoms, should not be denied their own rights under the Constitution."
In 1993, Congress passed, as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, a requirement that the military discharge any service members found to be gay or lesbian. In 1995, Congress passed, as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996, a ban on privately funded abortions at military hospitals.
More than 365,000 women currently serve in the Armed Forces. A 2003 study [1] found that 30 percent of female U.S. military veterans report having been raped or suffered a rape attempt during their military service, and military officials report that there were 2,374 cases of sexual assault [2] among service members reported to military criminal investigators in 2005 – a 40 percent increase from 2004. Yet, women cannot pay for their own abortions at military-run facilities.
Under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, since 1994, more than 14,000 qualified and committed service members, including hundreds deemed "mission critical," have been fired by the military simply on the basis of their sexual orientation.
[1] "UI, VAC Researchers Study Women's Risks of Rape in Military" The University of Iowa News Service. Available at: www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2003/march/031103military-rape.html
[2] "Executive Summary" Defense.gov. Available at: www.defense.gov/news/Mar2006/d20060316SexualAssaultReport.pdf
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
Today, ten Maine organizations called on Senators Collins and Snowe to support a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and to lift the military facilities abortion ban. The groups include American Association of University of Women – Maine, EqualityMaine, Family Planning Association of Maine, Greater Bangor National Organization for Women, Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, Maine Civil Liberties Union, Maine Women's Lobby, Mainely Girls, the Religious Coalition Against Discrimination and Women, Work and Community.
"Congress now has the historic opportunity to overturn both policies," reads the letter sent to the Senators offices. "We therefore urge you to oppose any effort to strip language repealing either 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' or the ban on privately-funded abortions on military bases from the NDAA."
Senators Collins and Snowe declined to vote for cloture on the National Defense Authorization Act early in the fall, citing the need to wait for the Pentagon report on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The Pentagon report, released Tuesday, found that 70 percent of service members said they would be able to "work together to get the job done" with a gay service member in their immediate unit.
"Senators Collins and Snowe have an historic opportunity to cast the deciding votes to end discrimination in the military," said MCLU Executive Director Shenna Bellows. "Our military men and women, who risk their lives to protect our Constitutional freedoms, should not be denied their own rights under the Constitution."
In 1993, Congress passed, as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, a requirement that the military discharge any service members found to be gay or lesbian. In 1995, Congress passed, as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996, a ban on privately funded abortions at military hospitals.
More than 365,000 women currently serve in the Armed Forces. A 2003 study [1] found that 30 percent of female U.S. military veterans report having been raped or suffered a rape attempt during their military service, and military officials report that there were 2,374 cases of sexual assault [2] among service members reported to military criminal investigators in 2005 – a 40 percent increase from 2004. Yet, women cannot pay for their own abortions at military-run facilities.
Under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, since 1994, more than 14,000 qualified and committed service members, including hundreds deemed "mission critical," have been fired by the military simply on the basis of their sexual orientation.
[1] "UI, VAC Researchers Study Women's Risks of Rape in Military" The University of Iowa News Service. Available at: www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2003/march/031103military-rape.html
[2] "Executive Summary" Defense.gov. Available at: www.defense.gov/news/Mar2006/d20060316SexualAssaultReport.pdf
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Not as hard as coming out, but still not easy
[Queer-filter] How do you cope with the ambient heterosexism of everyday life? I've been out for years and am lucky to have progressive friends and family and live in a progressive city. I don't have to deal with much overt homophobia. But...it still seems like there's an occasion every couple of days when I'm reminded that I don't actually have the rights that straight people have and that some people think that my intimate relationships are wrong or offensive. I feel like it puts me at a distance from other people sometimes, because I start to retreat to protect myself, and I don't like that.
In case some recent examples would help:
- an older friend of my family implied that I shouldn't have kids because it wouldn't be fair to them to be raised by a gay parent
- a dear friend, who's totally pro-gay, posted on facebook about how happy she is to be "married filing jointly" this year. I know that wasn't remotely intended to hurt anyone, but it reminds me that as long as DOMA stands, that's something I wouldn't be allowed to do
- I was getting to know new work contacts the other day and a moment came up when I would normally have mentioned my ex-girlfriend (explaining why I was familiar with a topic of conversation that she had worked on), but I chose not to in case it would make the other people uncomfortable, esp. since I knew one was an ex-Marine
- when I'm in a relationship, it seems like we always get lots of stares for holding hands and mild PDA. (I don't think I read as especially gay unless I'm obviously part of a couple, so being with a girlfriend always makes me feel a little bit like I was passing the rest of the time, and not realizing how others really felt about gay people because they didn't know I was gay.)
I know these examples are all at different levels of seriousness. But they kind of all accumulate. To the point where I hold myself at a little bit of a distance a lot of the time out of worry that straight people will subtly reject me or just not understand me. I know most people don't mean to. And it gets exhausting to constantly be on alert to how people are reading me and reacting to me. Should I just stop worrying about it? (Assuming I'm not in any physical danger.) How do you deal with this kind of stress? How do you deal with the constant question of whether to come out, and even when you're out, whether to downplay your sexual orientation or be more open and vocal about it?
I'm not so much looking for advice on how to handle the particular examples I described as thoughts on how to generally approach being queer in a society with a lot of heterosexism. I've read a little bit about covering and a little bit about minority stress. I think those ideas are both on point and I'd love any reading suggestions you have in those areas, or any other reading suggestions or personal experiences you could share. I have lots of queer friends, but we don't talk about this much. It seems like we often all try to pretend that we're just fine.
In case some recent examples would help:
- an older friend of my family implied that I shouldn't have kids because it wouldn't be fair to them to be raised by a gay parent
- a dear friend, who's totally pro-gay, posted on facebook about how happy she is to be "married filing jointly" this year. I know that wasn't remotely intended to hurt anyone, but it reminds me that as long as DOMA stands, that's something I wouldn't be allowed to do
- I was getting to know new work contacts the other day and a moment came up when I would normally have mentioned my ex-girlfriend (explaining why I was familiar with a topic of conversation that she had worked on), but I chose not to in case it would make the other people uncomfortable, esp. since I knew one was an ex-Marine
- when I'm in a relationship, it seems like we always get lots of stares for holding hands and mild PDA. (I don't think I read as especially gay unless I'm obviously part of a couple, so being with a girlfriend always makes me feel a little bit like I was passing the rest of the time, and not realizing how others really felt about gay people because they didn't know I was gay.)
I know these examples are all at different levels of seriousness. But they kind of all accumulate. To the point where I hold myself at a little bit of a distance a lot of the time out of worry that straight people will subtly reject me or just not understand me. I know most people don't mean to. And it gets exhausting to constantly be on alert to how people are reading me and reacting to me. Should I just stop worrying about it? (Assuming I'm not in any physical danger.) How do you deal with this kind of stress? How do you deal with the constant question of whether to come out, and even when you're out, whether to downplay your sexual orientation or be more open and vocal about it?
I'm not so much looking for advice on how to handle the particular examples I described as thoughts on how to generally approach being queer in a society with a lot of heterosexism. I've read a little bit about covering and a little bit about minority stress. I think those ideas are both on point and I'd love any reading suggestions you have in those areas, or any other reading suggestions or personal experiences you could share. I have lots of queer friends, but we don't talk about this much. It seems like we often all try to pretend that we're just fine.
Gay senator leads Irish president race
A poll has found that openly gay Irish Senator David Norris leads the pack seeking to be the nation's next president.
Pittsburgh Proud: Doug Pamplin wins Mr. MAL 2011 title as weekend makes its debut in a new space
News:Some might say that 2011 was the year Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather took the easy way out. Doug Pamplin, competing at the Mr. MAL contest as ''Mr. D,'' brought down the house when he worked the Staples ''Easy'' button into an off-the-cuff answer during the contest's question-and-answer segment. Asked how he would fulfill the wishes of a contest judge with an office-supply fetish, Pamplin concocted a fantasy involving a blindfold made of Post-it notes, paper-clip nipple clamps, a rubber-band cockring and ...more
Theophilus London has been putting out some majorly hot jamz...
Theophilus London has been putting out some majorly hot jamz lately - but this one just got hotter with Sara Quin.
Voice of America: Playwright and performer Anna Deavere Smith has made a career of telling other people's stories
Feature Story:Although known by many Americans for her portrayal as Dr. Nancy McNally, the national security advisor on NBC's The West Wing, or as Gloria Akalitus, the nursing manager on Showtime's Nurse Jackie, Anna Deavere Smith's lauded stage career has brought many more faces to audiences across the country. Because when Smith, a two-time Tony nominee, takes the stage, she presents the ordinary thoughts and emotions of even the most extraordinary Americans. From Brent Williams, a bull-rider who faced serious injuries ...more
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
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Lesbian News - 21 Jan 2011
GLAAD urges media to cut back Westboro's air time (why isn't the above picture considered child abuse?)The Advocate's 13th Gayest City in America: DenverJudge Reverses Decision in Favor of Lesbian Taking Her Partner's Name LGBT boomers face new challenge Pro-Gay Billboards Cause Stir In New YorkDental hygienist 'organised lesbian romps' for Berlusconi
Constitutional Court Upholds Ban on Same-Sex Marriage in France
France's Constitutional Court, a panel of eight judges, six men and two women, ruled on Friday that the nation's law prohibiting same-sex marriage does not violate the Constiution and directed the issue to parliament, which it said could create new laws regarding same-sex unions.
The AP reports:
Corinne Cestino and Sophie Hasslauer, who have lived together for 15 years and have four children, had challenged the constitutionality of France's law banning the gay marriage.
In its decision, the Council noted that lawmakers had agreed that the "difference in situations of same-sex couples and couples made up of a man and a woman can justify a difference in treatment concerning family rights."
"It is not up to the Constitutional Council to substitute its appreciation for that of lawmakers," the body said.
It noted that its job is to simply rule on whether a measure abides by the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the French Constitution. In this case, it ruled that the articles in question are, indeed, "in conformity with the constitution."
Cestino and Hasslauer have sought the right to wed.
The BBC adds:
An opinion poll suggests most French people are in favour.
The TNS Sofres survey of 950 people suggests that 58% of French people approve while 35% oppose gay marriage.
The idea that the court should rule at all on gay marriage was condemned by the leader of France's far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen.
Hasslauer and Cestino, entered into a civil union known as the Civil Solidarity Pact (PACS) in 2000, which offer tax and financial advantages to same-sex couples but not inheritance rights, or hospital rights, and offers few benefits to children of same-sex couples.
The AP reports:
Corinne Cestino and Sophie Hasslauer, who have lived together for 15 years and have four children, had challenged the constitutionality of France's law banning the gay marriage.
In its decision, the Council noted that lawmakers had agreed that the "difference in situations of same-sex couples and couples made up of a man and a woman can justify a difference in treatment concerning family rights."
"It is not up to the Constitutional Council to substitute its appreciation for that of lawmakers," the body said.
It noted that its job is to simply rule on whether a measure abides by the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the French Constitution. In this case, it ruled that the articles in question are, indeed, "in conformity with the constitution."
Cestino and Hasslauer have sought the right to wed.
The BBC adds:
An opinion poll suggests most French people are in favour.
The TNS Sofres survey of 950 people suggests that 58% of French people approve while 35% oppose gay marriage.
The idea that the court should rule at all on gay marriage was condemned by the leader of France's far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen.
Hasslauer and Cestino, entered into a civil union known as the Civil Solidarity Pact (PACS) in 2000, which offer tax and financial advantages to same-sex couples but not inheritance rights, or hospital rights, and offers few benefits to children of same-sex couples.
(63) Stop the Insanity! w/Susan Powter
Out Three-time New York Times best-selling author and creator of the ?Stop the Insanity!? movement, Susan Powter, like you’ve never heard her before. We talk Wellness, Radical Feminism, Lesbian Culture, her new book The Politics of Stupid and more … http://susanpowteronline.com ____________________________ PS. The Trevor Project crisis and suicide prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender [...]
Girls Next Door?s Lesbian Sex Tape
Girls Next Door star Kendra Wilkinson appeared in a lesbian sex tape that she is now trying to block from publication.
Barber, LaBarbera make insensitive statements in wake of Ugandan gay activist's murder
crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monster(this is a combination of two posts)Some members of the religious right have gone on record about the recent murder of gay Ugandan activist David Kato: And then there is Peter LaBarbera: For the record, many of us never felt that Palin was the blame for what happened in Tucson. I personally felt that she got of the blame - unfair it may have been - because of her gung-ho attitude and reliance on nasty rhetoric. She exploited that image to gain prominence, so subsequently what happened was a classic case of the image backfiring on her. Lively, on the other hand, isn't such a victim of circumstance. He was one of the Americans who came to Uganda to hold anti-gay rallies which pushed all sorts of lies about lgbts. These lies got folks stoked up and led to the infamous "Kill the Gays" bill. The bill sent everything into a fever pitch, culimating with lgbt Ugandans having definite fear for their lives in the backdrop of rabid homophobes holding marches with children, spreading nasty propaganda about gay sex in churches, and publishing people's pictures in a newspaper while advocating their murders simply because they are lgbts. Kato was one of those people whose picture was published. It's sad that Kato's murder is the end result of how one person's hatred can cause a situation that he may not have intended to happen. And what's sadder is the simple fact that those who should learn from this tragedy, i.e. LaBarbera and company, seem to be ignoring the lesson of pushing hate. Related post: Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate - Box Turtle Bulletin's excellent report on the homophobia in Uganda from the beginning to where we are now. One more thing - I know that some folks may feel the need to write LaBarbera and Barber. If you can't do this in a mature way, please don't bother. Hatred only breeds in places where rationality is absent. We know that LaBarbera and Barber have taken up root in these places. There is no need for us to compound their ignorance.
Press the pollies at Mardi Gras
The GLBT community will have an opportunity to press political figures on issues at a new Mardi Gras Festival event
I'm From Driftwood....The Book!
ACCLAIMED I'M FROM DRIFTWOOD WEBSITE RELEASES NEW COMPANION ANTHOLOGY BOOK SHOWCASING TRUE LGBT STORIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
The acclaimed website ?I?m From Driftwood ? which shares true, first-person LGBT stories from around the world, has just published a companion anthology. The new book, also titled I'm from Driftwood, has compiled some of the most moving stories from the website. The book was edited by Nathan Manske, who launched the web site in March, 2009.
The I'm from Driftwood anthology is available exclusively online through the web site . Book price $15.?I originally started the I'm from Driftwood web site to demonstrate the wide variety of LGBT people living in America and across the world, especially in small towns," said Nathan Manske, a native of a small town called Driftwood, Texas. "These honest looks into the lives of LGBT people not only give people a chance to celebrate their lives, but they also inspire others. Since the website began, I've received amazing letters from queer youth, telling me how I'm From Driftwood has made people feel a little less alone and a whole lot stronger. I hope this anthology also empowers queer youth and LGBT adults everywhere with the knowledge that they are not alone."
To promote the 166-page book, Manske and two friends began a 4-month Story Tour this past year, collecting stories and holding readings in every state across America. On January 10, the I'm From Driftwood crew finished visiting all 50 states.
ImFromDriftwood.com offers an astounding variety of true stories and video accounts of LGBT lives, written with candor, humor, tears and bravery. They range from one man's closeted life in Indiana in the 1950s to another man's membership in an underground gay-straight alliance in present-day Indonesia. The web site allows everyone to post their personal stories to inform, educate and encourage others.
So what's next for Nathan and the site? " So much is coming up!" Nathan told me. " We still have over 160 Video Stories to edit and post, and I want to still collect a lot more written stories, more Video Stories down the road, as well as get into podcasts, radio, graphic 'zines, TV, film, etc. We're becoming a non-profit so are really wanting to make this a long-term project."Go buy the book and support this awesome project!The I'm from Driftwood anthology is available exclusively online through the web site . Book price $15.Best Gay News Magazine
The acclaimed website ?I?m From Driftwood ? which shares true, first-person LGBT stories from around the world, has just published a companion anthology. The new book, also titled I'm from Driftwood, has compiled some of the most moving stories from the website. The book was edited by Nathan Manske, who launched the web site in March, 2009.
The I'm from Driftwood anthology is available exclusively online through the web site . Book price $15.?I originally started the I'm from Driftwood web site to demonstrate the wide variety of LGBT people living in America and across the world, especially in small towns," said Nathan Manske, a native of a small town called Driftwood, Texas. "These honest looks into the lives of LGBT people not only give people a chance to celebrate their lives, but they also inspire others. Since the website began, I've received amazing letters from queer youth, telling me how I'm From Driftwood has made people feel a little less alone and a whole lot stronger. I hope this anthology also empowers queer youth and LGBT adults everywhere with the knowledge that they are not alone."
To promote the 166-page book, Manske and two friends began a 4-month Story Tour this past year, collecting stories and holding readings in every state across America. On January 10, the I'm From Driftwood crew finished visiting all 50 states.
ImFromDriftwood.com offers an astounding variety of true stories and video accounts of LGBT lives, written with candor, humor, tears and bravery. They range from one man's closeted life in Indiana in the 1950s to another man's membership in an underground gay-straight alliance in present-day Indonesia. The web site allows everyone to post their personal stories to inform, educate and encourage others.
So what's next for Nathan and the site? " So much is coming up!" Nathan told me. " We still have over 160 Video Stories to edit and post, and I want to still collect a lot more written stories, more Video Stories down the road, as well as get into podcasts, radio, graphic 'zines, TV, film, etc. We're becoming a non-profit so are really wanting to make this a long-term project."Go buy the book and support this awesome project!The I'm from Driftwood anthology is available exclusively online through the web site . Book price $15.Best Gay News Magazine
Studying LesBians: Studies show we are really all the same
Studying LesBians is a monthly column about recent (and not-so-recent) research involving lesBians or the LGBT community as a whole. This time I want to discuss two very different lines of research that both show a similar thing: we are all the same.
The last few months there's been a lot of media attention about gay bullying, gay teens committing suicide, the It Gets Better project and lots of other initiatives focusing on how tough it is to be a queer teen and what can be done to improve things.
Although no one is denying it's hard to be an LGBT teen, recent studies have shown that being a teen is hard for almost everyone!
Apparently, it's not just queer teens that are being bullied, but up to 77% of teenagers in high school report getting bullied. Teens get bullied for being a geek, or fat, or Asian, or small, or tall or anything else you can imagine. In other words, being a teenager sucks!
Other studies show that it might be hard to be a gay teen, but on average gay teens are just as (un)happy, with the same number of friends and just as many/few problems as their heterosexual peers.
These studies were all conducted in the United States, but one can assume it's sort of the same over in Europe. I like to think on average our bullying percentage is lower, but I could be biased. The point of all these studies is that they are basically saying that the teen years are (equally) hard on all teens.
A totally different line of research was pursued in a study that was published this month. It looked into the kind of regions in the brain that are involved with being in love. They came to the very surprising (!) conclusion that the same regions of the brain are involved, regardless of someone's sexual orientation. Can I get a collective 'DUH'?
What they did in this study, conducted at the University College of London and recently published on PLoS One, was do MRI scans of people using special markers, while they were looking at pictures of either their romantic partner or of pictures of their close friends.
The regions of the brain that were active while looking at these photos would light up, showing exactly which part of the brain was used.
They found that different parts of the brain were activated when looking at a romantic partner than when looking at a close friend, and this had nothing to do with either the sexual orientation of the perceiver, or with the gender of the person in the photo.
<!--pagebreak-->
These kinds of studies are interesting, mainly because of figuring out how the brain works and how activation in different parts of the brain are connected to our every day feelings and actions.
However, as far as showing that we're all the same, I can't say it's very earthshattering. After all, had the researchers really expected that gays use different parts of their brains when they are in love?
On the other hand, I guess any research showing the world that we are just the same as heterosexuals, even if it's to say that our feelings of love are caused by the same chemical reactions in our brains, is a good thing.
- - -
What do you think of these studies? Do you think they contribute in any way? Do you think it's a good thing studies show we are just the same or is it better to emphasize how we differ? Let us know in the comments.
Read previous columns here.
The last few months there's been a lot of media attention about gay bullying, gay teens committing suicide, the It Gets Better project and lots of other initiatives focusing on how tough it is to be a queer teen and what can be done to improve things.
Although no one is denying it's hard to be an LGBT teen, recent studies have shown that being a teen is hard for almost everyone!
Apparently, it's not just queer teens that are being bullied, but up to 77% of teenagers in high school report getting bullied. Teens get bullied for being a geek, or fat, or Asian, or small, or tall or anything else you can imagine. In other words, being a teenager sucks!
Other studies show that it might be hard to be a gay teen, but on average gay teens are just as (un)happy, with the same number of friends and just as many/few problems as their heterosexual peers.
These studies were all conducted in the United States, but one can assume it's sort of the same over in Europe. I like to think on average our bullying percentage is lower, but I could be biased. The point of all these studies is that they are basically saying that the teen years are (equally) hard on all teens.
A totally different line of research was pursued in a study that was published this month. It looked into the kind of regions in the brain that are involved with being in love. They came to the very surprising (!) conclusion that the same regions of the brain are involved, regardless of someone's sexual orientation. Can I get a collective 'DUH'?
What they did in this study, conducted at the University College of London and recently published on PLoS One, was do MRI scans of people using special markers, while they were looking at pictures of either their romantic partner or of pictures of their close friends.
The regions of the brain that were active while looking at these photos would light up, showing exactly which part of the brain was used.
They found that different parts of the brain were activated when looking at a romantic partner than when looking at a close friend, and this had nothing to do with either the sexual orientation of the perceiver, or with the gender of the person in the photo.
<!--pagebreak-->
These kinds of studies are interesting, mainly because of figuring out how the brain works and how activation in different parts of the brain are connected to our every day feelings and actions.
However, as far as showing that we're all the same, I can't say it's very earthshattering. After all, had the researchers really expected that gays use different parts of their brains when they are in love?
On the other hand, I guess any research showing the world that we are just the same as heterosexuals, even if it's to say that our feelings of love are caused by the same chemical reactions in our brains, is a good thing.
- - -
What do you think of these studies? Do you think they contribute in any way? Do you think it's a good thing studies show we are just the same or is it better to emphasize how we differ? Let us know in the comments.
Read previous columns here.
Friday, January 28, 2011
National Lampoon?s Subversive Vacation
By sharing these private images, Ellen and Portia make the idea of same-sex marriage and relationships seem less scary. Radical? No. Progress? Definitely. Maybe Ellen wasn't joking about world domination.
(70) What the Hell is Going On?
Miley Cyrus, Tammy & Melissa Lesbalimony, Opinions and what do they really mean?, The Definition of a Lesbian conclusion via Twitter, The Real L Word, Julianne Moore in Kids Are Alright is gonna learn right here and right now that Lesbians are not bisexual. Somebody has to tell us what in the gay hell is [...]
(39) Tatooed Atom Smashers & 13 Bisexual Lesbotrons
Vladimir is Displeased w/the Bing Bang, Aries Discrimination, Lesbian Mafia Tattoos, Sex Addiction, *Guest *Heide* (formerly of Chaos Radio) and Her Dream Life, Houseboy Slaves, Dominatrixes Make Strange Lovers, 13 Types of Bisexuality – Which One Are You? *Guest: *Reap* of Pulse Talk Radio�talks Black Holes & San Fran … Lesbian Mafia Apparel: http://thelesbianmafia.spreadshirt.com Voice [...]
My Two Favorite Bruno Mars Covers
You may be thinking that there's nothing lesbian about today's post. Oh contrare, mon lesbian! I know for a FACT that approx 74% of all lesbians have either sung one of these two songs to another girl at one point in the last few months or have had the song sung to them. According to my research, 80% of these situations have happened off key and under the influence of alcohol or marrygeewanna. Seriously tho, how do these two videos not have more views? Talent out the wazoo. Pass these on to your friends and lets change that...facebook.com/torikellymusicyoutube.com/andggirlterranaomi.com thewellspringmusic.comMakes you wonder how crap still gets on the radio when there's so much talent that hasn't been discovered by the masses, doesn't it??
VIDEO: HRC equality video submission to NOM's "Reel Love" campaign rejected
WASHINGTON ? The Human Rights Campaign?s NOM Exposed project on Wednesday submitted a video on marriage equality to the National Organization for Marriage?s Ruth Institute.
The Institute put out a ?Reel Love? video challenge calling for submissions explaining ?what makes lifelong love possible.? One of the judging criteria the Ruth Institute specifies is that videos must ?convey how lifelong love between one man and one woman is possible.?
In spite of the fact that HRC?s video was posted on the Institute?s website, it was removed an hour later.
?The truth is that LGBT Americans form loving and committed relationships. The Ruth Institute?s discriminatory guidelines reflect NOM?s agenda to stigmatize and minimize loving same-sex relationships.?
read more
The Institute put out a ?Reel Love? video challenge calling for submissions explaining ?what makes lifelong love possible.? One of the judging criteria the Ruth Institute specifies is that videos must ?convey how lifelong love between one man and one woman is possible.?
In spite of the fact that HRC?s video was posted on the Institute?s website, it was removed an hour later.
?The truth is that LGBT Americans form loving and committed relationships. The Ruth Institute?s discriminatory guidelines reflect NOM?s agenda to stigmatize and minimize loving same-sex relationships.?
read more
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Gender nonconformity and sexuality
How strong is the correlation between non gender conformity and homosexuality? Generally gays are portrayed as being feminine, bisexuals as just looking, acting, and sounding straight more or less, and lesbians as more masculine.
I don't seem to fit the mold as I don't act, move, or sound gay (no lisp or gay accent) - at least most of the time.
I'm wondering how common my case is and if sexual attractions have nothing to do with the way that you present yourself then how come a number stereotypically do act, talk, and move in certain ways. And I'm talking about also those who don't act feminine, but who have a certain gay accent. Is there also a biological / environmental explanation for this?
I don't seem to fit the mold as I don't act, move, or sound gay (no lisp or gay accent) - at least most of the time.
I'm wondering how common my case is and if sexual attractions have nothing to do with the way that you present yourself then how come a number stereotypically do act, talk, and move in certain ways. And I'm talking about also those who don't act feminine, but who have a certain gay accent. Is there also a biological / environmental explanation for this?
Get me to the Sea: The World's Best Beach Cities for Gay Travelers
With much of the northern hemisphere in the throes of an unusually brutal winter, I though it might be a nice time to discuss some of the better vacation spots out there for fans of sun and sand. What exactly makes a fine beach city for gay travelers? I'll preface my explanation by first noting that on the list I created, I included only those cities with populations of about 150,000 or more. You can check out my companion article, which I'll blog about in greater detail later this winter, to read about some of the best beach towns and smaller cities for gay travelers, if you're interested in traveling someplace less urban and more leisure-driven....Read Full Post
Can I Test Drive Your Vulva?
Have you ever had sex in a car? Was it uncomfortable or awkward? Was it planned or spur of the moment? Having sex in different places can help keep that special spark alive, but when is it unacceptable? When or how do you draw the line with your partner to tell her, “No I won’t [...]
Digest for April 3rd through April 4th
Here are some of the people writing about some of the stuff I wish I had time to write about, for April 3rd through April 4th:
John Lewis On Martin Luther King Anniversary: The U.S. Lacks A 'Moral Leader' –
Cry Me a River –
To battle Wall Street, Obama should channel Teddy Roosevelt –
Op-Ed Contributors: How Washington Abetted the Bank Job –
Op-Ed Contributor: I Saw the Crisis Coming. Why Didn’t the Fed? –
Op-Ed Columnist: Start-Ups, Not Bailouts –
Creating an incentive to lie –
We Are Not Mirror Images –
In defense of government –
Dr. King’s Economic Dream Deferred –
John Lewis On Martin Luther King Anniversary: The U.S. Lacks A 'Moral Leader' –
Cry Me a River –
To battle Wall Street, Obama should channel Teddy Roosevelt –
Op-Ed Contributors: How Washington Abetted the Bank Job –
Op-Ed Contributor: I Saw the Crisis Coming. Why Didn’t the Fed? –
Op-Ed Columnist: Start-Ups, Not Bailouts –
Creating an incentive to lie –
We Are Not Mirror Images –
In defense of government –
Dr. King’s Economic Dream Deferred –
Curve Auction :: Dani Campbell + the Real L Word Ladies
FW: Curve Magazine Auction: Lunch with Dani Campbell ++ EDEN Party with THE REAL L WORLD CAST!Exclusive eBay Curve Auction....
This is a chance of a lifetime!
Hang out with the smoking hot Curve magazine cover girl... lesbian firefighter DANI CAMPBELL from MTV's A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila!
Now's your chance to hang out with Dani Campbell in San Francisco during Pride Weekend (June 26-27, 2010)
If you are the highest bidder, you and a friend will party with Dani Campbell and the Curve magazine editors in San Francisco during Pride Weekend!
Here's what's included:
? Lunch for you and a friend with Dani Campbell (Saturday, June 26th) in San Francisco
? Two (2) ALL-ACCESS general admission passes to EDEN - All Women, All Weekend.
EDEN: The official women's events at San Francisco Pride: with Dani Campbell and cast members from Showtime's new series, The Real L Word.
Include general admission passes to:
EDEN Welcome Party (Thursday, June 24th)
Lesbian Comedy Show (Friday, June 25th)
Tease Dance Party (Friday, June 25th)
EDEN Signature Dance party (Saturday, June 26th)
Good Times after party in Oakland (Sunday, June 27th)
? One (1) autographed copy of Dani's Curve magazine cover
? One (1) official limited edition Curve magazine 20th Anniversary Tee Shirt
? Two (2) Grandstand tickets for at San Francisco?s Pride Parade (Saturday, June 26th)
FW: Curve Magazine Auction: Lunch with Dani Campbell ++ EDEN Party with THE REAL L WORLD CAST!
*** NOTE: This package does not include hotel, air travel or transportation.
????????
ABOUT EDEN:SIX MONTHS in the making...
Movement Productions and Curve Magazine present in conjunction with Olivia Travel, BoiBlue Events and FullCircle Events
The 1st ANNUAL All Women, All Weekend Pride Event
EDEN is the 1st Annual All Women, All Weekend San Francisco Pride Event co-produced by Movement Productions and Curve Magazine in conjunction with Olivia Travel, BoiBlue Events and FullCircle Events. Welcome to four days of non-stop parties, women and more. For information on ticket prices please click here (http://edensf.eventbrite.com/)
THURSDAY - June 24tn
EDEN Welcome Party
Parc55, SF
7pm-9pm
Only available to ALL ACCESS and ALL ACCESS VIP Ticket Holders
FRIDAY - June 25th
EDEN Comedy Show co-sponsored by Olivia Travel
Parc55, SF
7pm-9pm
Featured Comedians: Dana Goldberg, Sandra Valls, Julie Goldman, Gina Yashere
FRIDAY - June 25th
TEASE
Suite 181
181 Eddy, SF
9pm-3am
Featured DJs: DJ Olga T, DJ C-L.A. DJ Calalo, DJ Campbell, DJ Rockaway
Hosted by: Aysha of Flourish and Miranda of Afterglow
2 Floors
3 Dancefloors
5 DJs
Gorgeous, Hosted VIP areas
Bottle Service (VIP only)
Hot Go-Gos
Hotter Celesbians
SATURDAY - June 26th
EDEN
Taste the Forbidden Fruit
434 Brannan, SF
Inside the historic Olivia Travel Building, 3rd Floor
9pm-3am
Featured DJs: DJ Olga T, DJ Ms. Jackson, DJ Rockaway
Be transported into the Garden of Eden with 180 degree views overlooking the city, Movement Productions and FullCircle Events have created San Francisco's very own Eden inside the historic Olivia Travel building. Come taste of the Forbidden Fruit.
The Flyest Music
Hot Go-Gos
Drink Specials
Meet our Comedians
Special Guest Celesbians from THE REAL L WORD
Hosted VIP section
Hosted Bottle Service
Red Carpet
Valet Parking
SUNDAY - June 27th
GOOD TIMES
The Den, Oakland
7pm-midnight
Featured DJs: DJ Olga T, DJ Rapture, DJ Ryan, DJ Trinity, DJ Jacatac
End your party weekend right at one of the most popular All Women's event in the Bay, GOOD TIMES in the city with the largest lesbian population in the country, Oakland! GOOD TIMES is hosted at one of the most beautifully appointed venues in Oakland, The Den. Right across from the 17th street Bart, it takes less than 20 minutes to Bart over from the city and trust it is well worth the trip!
To bid, go here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300434151013&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123
This is a chance of a lifetime!
Hang out with the smoking hot Curve magazine cover girl... lesbian firefighter DANI CAMPBELL from MTV's A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila!
Now's your chance to hang out with Dani Campbell in San Francisco during Pride Weekend (June 26-27, 2010)
If you are the highest bidder, you and a friend will party with Dani Campbell and the Curve magazine editors in San Francisco during Pride Weekend!
Here's what's included:
? Lunch for you and a friend with Dani Campbell (Saturday, June 26th) in San Francisco
? Two (2) ALL-ACCESS general admission passes to EDEN - All Women, All Weekend.
EDEN: The official women's events at San Francisco Pride: with Dani Campbell and cast members from Showtime's new series, The Real L Word.
Include general admission passes to:
EDEN Welcome Party (Thursday, June 24th)
Lesbian Comedy Show (Friday, June 25th)
Tease Dance Party (Friday, June 25th)
EDEN Signature Dance party (Saturday, June 26th)
Good Times after party in Oakland (Sunday, June 27th)
? One (1) autographed copy of Dani's Curve magazine cover
? One (1) official limited edition Curve magazine 20th Anniversary Tee Shirt
? Two (2) Grandstand tickets for at San Francisco?s Pride Parade (Saturday, June 26th)
FW: Curve Magazine Auction: Lunch with Dani Campbell ++ EDEN Party with THE REAL L WORLD CAST!
*** NOTE: This package does not include hotel, air travel or transportation.
????????
ABOUT EDEN:SIX MONTHS in the making...
Movement Productions and Curve Magazine present in conjunction with Olivia Travel, BoiBlue Events and FullCircle Events
The 1st ANNUAL All Women, All Weekend Pride Event
EDEN is the 1st Annual All Women, All Weekend San Francisco Pride Event co-produced by Movement Productions and Curve Magazine in conjunction with Olivia Travel, BoiBlue Events and FullCircle Events. Welcome to four days of non-stop parties, women and more. For information on ticket prices please click here (http://edensf.eventbrite.com/)
THURSDAY - June 24tn
EDEN Welcome Party
Parc55, SF
7pm-9pm
Only available to ALL ACCESS and ALL ACCESS VIP Ticket Holders
FRIDAY - June 25th
EDEN Comedy Show co-sponsored by Olivia Travel
Parc55, SF
7pm-9pm
Featured Comedians: Dana Goldberg, Sandra Valls, Julie Goldman, Gina Yashere
FRIDAY - June 25th
TEASE
Suite 181
181 Eddy, SF
9pm-3am
Featured DJs: DJ Olga T, DJ C-L.A. DJ Calalo, DJ Campbell, DJ Rockaway
Hosted by: Aysha of Flourish and Miranda of Afterglow
2 Floors
3 Dancefloors
5 DJs
Gorgeous, Hosted VIP areas
Bottle Service (VIP only)
Hot Go-Gos
Hotter Celesbians
SATURDAY - June 26th
EDEN
Taste the Forbidden Fruit
434 Brannan, SF
Inside the historic Olivia Travel Building, 3rd Floor
9pm-3am
Featured DJs: DJ Olga T, DJ Ms. Jackson, DJ Rockaway
Be transported into the Garden of Eden with 180 degree views overlooking the city, Movement Productions and FullCircle Events have created San Francisco's very own Eden inside the historic Olivia Travel building. Come taste of the Forbidden Fruit.
The Flyest Music
Hot Go-Gos
Drink Specials
Meet our Comedians
Special Guest Celesbians from THE REAL L WORD
Hosted VIP section
Hosted Bottle Service
Red Carpet
Valet Parking
SUNDAY - June 27th
GOOD TIMES
The Den, Oakland
7pm-midnight
Featured DJs: DJ Olga T, DJ Rapture, DJ Ryan, DJ Trinity, DJ Jacatac
End your party weekend right at one of the most popular All Women's event in the Bay, GOOD TIMES in the city with the largest lesbian population in the country, Oakland! GOOD TIMES is hosted at one of the most beautifully appointed venues in Oakland, The Den. Right across from the 17th street Bart, it takes less than 20 minutes to Bart over from the city and trust it is well worth the trip!
To bid, go here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300434151013&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123
Can I Test Drive Your Vulva?
Have you ever had sex in a car? Was it uncomfortable or awkward? Was it planned or spur of the moment? Having sex in different places can help keep that special spark alive, but when is it unacceptable? When or how do you draw the line with your partner to tell her, “No I won’t [...]
Conversations with Nicole
None of us should have been surprised at the defeat of our efforts to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”…it’s the usual politics and lack of leadership from the White House and Democratic Party and the new homophobia of two faced Senator John McCain and his fellow Republican Senators…this country needs a new third party!
Tea Party Movement and the Radical Right
This past week MSNBC stated that the “Culture War” is back especially with the growing alliance of the Tea Party movement and the radical Christian (?) Right movement….Now we have Tea Party leaders coming out against gay marriage and some even against condoms and sex education. All the “Tea Party” rallies are 95% white and a majorit…
Read More | View Comments (5 comments)
Tea Party Movement and the Radical Right
This past week MSNBC stated that the “Culture War” is back especially with the growing alliance of the Tea Party movement and the radical Christian (?) Right movement….Now we have Tea Party leaders coming out against gay marriage and some even against condoms and sex education. All the “Tea Party” rallies are 95% white and a majorit…
Read More | View Comments (5 comments)
US judge: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ unconstitutional
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A federal judge said she will issue an order to halt the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, after she declared the ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled Thursday that the prohibition on openly gay service members was unconstitutional because it violates the First and Fifth Amendment rights of gays and lesbians.
The policy doesn’t help military readiness and instead has a “direct and deleterious effect” on the armed services by hurting recruitment efforts during wartime and requiring the discharge of service members who have critical skills and training, she said.
The Log Cabin Republicans sued the federal government in…
Read More
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled Thursday that the prohibition on openly gay service members was unconstitutional because it violates the First and Fifth Amendment rights of gays and lesbians.
The policy doesn’t help military readiness and instead has a “direct and deleterious effect” on the armed services by hurting recruitment efforts during wartime and requiring the discharge of service members who have critical skills and training, she said.
The Log Cabin Republicans sued the federal government in…
Read More
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
SF gay history museum finds home, identity
Long recognized as "one of the great ground zeroes of queer liberation," the Castro becomes the site of the nation's first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history museum today. "Our letters were burned, our names...
Business Spotlight: A Bedder Buy Discount Outlet
5058 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego CA 92115
619-287-2337
Se Habla Español: 619-428-2211
www.abedderbuy.com
ABedder Buy Discount Outlet is a family run business that has been at the same El Cajon Blvd. location for nineteen years. The owner of Bedder Buy has been in the furniture business for forty years and at Bedder Buy the staff just loves to help families find the furniture, beds and mattresses they want for their homes within their budgets.
Bedder Buy has a huge selection of furniture for the bedroom, like innerspring and memory foam mattresses, bedroom sets, futons, kid’s bedroom furniture, bunk beds, wall beds, storage beds and oak furniture - all at discount outlet prices. Brands like Simmons, Tempur-Pedic, Ashley and many more.
Bedder…
Read More
619-287-2337
Se Habla Español: 619-428-2211
www.abedderbuy.com
ABedder Buy Discount Outlet is a family run business that has been at the same El Cajon Blvd. location for nineteen years. The owner of Bedder Buy has been in the furniture business for forty years and at Bedder Buy the staff just loves to help families find the furniture, beds and mattresses they want for their homes within their budgets.
Bedder Buy has a huge selection of furniture for the bedroom, like innerspring and memory foam mattresses, bedroom sets, futons, kid’s bedroom furniture, bunk beds, wall beds, storage beds and oak furniture - all at discount outlet prices. Brands like Simmons, Tempur-Pedic, Ashley and many more.
Bedder…
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Carmilla
Playwright: adapted by Aly Renee Amidei from the novel by J. Sheridan LeFanu. At: WildClaw Theatre at The Storefront, 66 E. Randolph. Phone: 312-742-8497;$20. Runs through: Feb. 20
World News Briefs
UK finds that only 1.5% of population is GLB
The United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics has produced data suggesting that only 1.5 percent of UK adults are gay, lesbian or bisexual.
As part of a yearly data collection effort, ONS questioned 247,623 people about their sexual identity. In the case of face-to-face interviews, respondents were shown a card that said “heterosexual/straight, gay/lesbian, bisexual, other” and told to read out a number beside the word that “best describes how you think of yourself.” In telephone interviews, respondents were read the four categories and told to “please say ‘yes’ when you hear the option that best describes how you think of yourself.”
ONS then applied t…
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The United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics has produced data suggesting that only 1.5 percent of UK adults are gay, lesbian or bisexual.
As part of a yearly data collection effort, ONS questioned 247,623 people about their sexual identity. In the case of face-to-face interviews, respondents were shown a card that said “heterosexual/straight, gay/lesbian, bisexual, other” and told to read out a number beside the word that “best describes how you think of yourself.” In telephone interviews, respondents were read the four categories and told to “please say ‘yes’ when you hear the option that best describes how you think of yourself.”
ONS then applied t…
Read More
Lesbian Challenge?
Hello pinkies, your challenge for this week is to take control and just do something! Don’t ask what your girl wants to do, just do it! Whether its watch a movie or going out to eat, instead of the two of you debating what sounds good, just decide! I know things like this make me [...]
Is 2011 the year that changes Maryland?s legislative landscape?
Civil marriage and gender identity are main concerns for LGBT community
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
GAO: Discharging gays cost Pentagon $200 million
A government analysis says that discharging gay service members cost the Pentagon nearly $200 million from 2004 to 2009. The money went mainly to recruit and train replacements.
The Government Accountability Office report says it cost an average of $52,800 per discharge. The totals are estimates because of differences in how the military services compile and report budget data.
Congressional investigators say that of the 3,664 service members dismissed for being gay, more than 1,400 held critical jobs or spoke an important foreign language.
President Barack Obama signed a new law in December ending the Pentagon's 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy and allowing gays to serve openly for the first time in history. That change is not expected to take effect for several months.
The Government Accountability Office report says it cost an average of $52,800 per discharge. The totals are estimates because of differences in how the military services compile and report budget data.
Congressional investigators say that of the 3,664 service members dismissed for being gay, more than 1,400 held critical jobs or spoke an important foreign language.
President Barack Obama signed a new law in December ending the Pentagon's 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy and allowing gays to serve openly for the first time in history. That change is not expected to take effect for several months.
Making LGBT Equality Key to the Age of Civility
"Civility" has become a bipartisan buzz word in the wake of the Tucson shootings, with diametrically opposed political leaders making symbolic gestures in the name of national propriety.
Republicans and Democrats, for example, will sit together during President Obama's State of the Union, where the commander-in-chief will reportedly tell that nation that we can overcome collective challenges "as long as we focus on what binds us together as a people, [and] as long as we?re willing to find common ground even as we?re having some very vigorous debates." And House Republicans kept last week's vote to repeal health care reform relatively cool and collected.
Yet for all this talk about legislative decorum and working together, the United States clearly still has some trouble with the concept of civility: both liberals and conservatives continue to point fingers for "fault" over accused gunman Jared Loughner's rampage.
Perhaps the key to political congeniality isn't playing what some are wryly describing as State of the Union "musical chairs," even restricting bombastic rhetoric, although those certainly help. Maybe the actual catalyst for lasting civility lies in supporting LGBT equality.
The campaign for national civility began to bubble up even before Arizona, when the States finally saw, in the gruesome form of numerous suicides, the damage inflicted by anti-gay bullying. People's eyes were suddenly opened to a truth LGBT people have known for decades: hate hurts all of us.
"This is a moment where every one of us -- parents, teachers, students, elected officials, and all people of conscience -- needs to stand up and speak out against intolerance in all its forms... it is time we as a country said enough. No more. This must stop." said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the time.
The bullying conversation, the Tucson tragedy and other developments, like the "Coffee Party," have helped establish respect-based programs across the country, like the "Civility Initiative" inaugurated last week in Utah.
"The simple message of the Civility Initiative is one we believe everyone can get behind and benefit from as we all strive to treat those around us with respect,? said the state's lieutenant governor, Greg Bell. ?The best solutions and results for our community come from collaborative efforts, and true collaboration demands civility and respect for one another.?
Certainly that message pertains to ongoing conversations about equality, conversations that, like all civil rights matters, aren't about rules and regulations; they're about people's lives and passions, passions with which almost everyone can identify, therefore providing the perfect launching pad for humanistic bridge building.
The most emotional -- and therefore most universal -- argument for injecting courtesy into the LGBT debates can be boiled down to what singer Huey Lewis so eloquently called "The Power of Love." Humans all need love, and everyone has the right to love. No one should be prohibited from celebrating or cementing their relationship because others think their relationship is "less-than." Certainly even the most conservative among us can agree on that point, right? But maybe this cuddly, huggy-kissy perspective doesn't appeal to everyone. Let's look at civility, then, at a more mundane, pedestrian level.
Michael Shermer, the publisher of 'Skeptic Magazine,' last week offered his secular take on what's loosely called the "purpose of life," and in this piece, Shermer quoted a 1993 essay by Helen Keller called "The Simplest Way to be Happy." Here's what Keller, the deaf and blind activist and author, thought about achieving contentment: "It all comes to this: the simplest way to be happy is to do good."
A great first step to doing good? Simply recognizing your fellow man with acts of common courtesy: saying 'please' and 'thank you,' holding the door for those behind you and, yes, even that old Boy Scout cliche, helping an elderly person across the street.
As for the debates around gay equality, civility starts in the same way: showing respect for our opponents and avoiding direct attacks, insults or invective.
There's already evidence LGBT activists and their ideological opposites can indeed find common ground: Exodus International, an organization dedicated to "curing" homosexuality, has previously celebrated gay blog Good As You's consistent dedication to respect. "When anyone attempts to humanize anyone on either side of polarized issues I believe that reveals some level of civility, maturity and care.� I pray this dynamic multiplies and we must be intentional to recognize that type of mature civility when it occurs," wrote one of the group's bloggers."
And the gay rights group Equality Utah has worked with the traditionally heterocentric Mormon Church to bring about small wins, such as pushing the Church to endorse a gay rights ordinance in Salt Lake City. The Church also extended an olive branch of sorts by inviting filmmaker Dustin Lance Black and activist Troy Williams, both of whom are gay and Mormon, to their Christmas concert last December.
Williams saw the gesture as politically beneficial, writing, "We are (I hope) helping them to see the humanity of LGBT individuals (and in turn we also need to recognize the humanity of LDS members even when we fiercely disagree)."
Neither the Church nor Exodus are fighting for progressive politics, but both have been persuaded in some capacity to see LGBT people's humanity. There's no reason why other organizations and political blocs can't be won over, too.
We've already seen that simple human interactions can help spark progressive change. As gay people have become more open, honest and downright common, approval ratings for their rights, such as marriage equality, have increased in kind.
If we can continue building momentum in that regard, we can slowly but surely win over right-wing stalwarts who refuse to recognize our rights.
The struggle for sustainable civility won't be smooth -- although newly emboldened Republicans in New Hampshire and Iowa could help get the ball rolling by ending their assaults on marriage equality -- but we all have to share this nation of ours, so we might as well try to get along.
Photo credit: Jenlen's Flickr
Republicans and Democrats, for example, will sit together during President Obama's State of the Union, where the commander-in-chief will reportedly tell that nation that we can overcome collective challenges "as long as we focus on what binds us together as a people, [and] as long as we?re willing to find common ground even as we?re having some very vigorous debates." And House Republicans kept last week's vote to repeal health care reform relatively cool and collected.
Yet for all this talk about legislative decorum and working together, the United States clearly still has some trouble with the concept of civility: both liberals and conservatives continue to point fingers for "fault" over accused gunman Jared Loughner's rampage.
Perhaps the key to political congeniality isn't playing what some are wryly describing as State of the Union "musical chairs," even restricting bombastic rhetoric, although those certainly help. Maybe the actual catalyst for lasting civility lies in supporting LGBT equality.
The campaign for national civility began to bubble up even before Arizona, when the States finally saw, in the gruesome form of numerous suicides, the damage inflicted by anti-gay bullying. People's eyes were suddenly opened to a truth LGBT people have known for decades: hate hurts all of us.
"This is a moment where every one of us -- parents, teachers, students, elected officials, and all people of conscience -- needs to stand up and speak out against intolerance in all its forms... it is time we as a country said enough. No more. This must stop." said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the time.
The bullying conversation, the Tucson tragedy and other developments, like the "Coffee Party," have helped establish respect-based programs across the country, like the "Civility Initiative" inaugurated last week in Utah.
"The simple message of the Civility Initiative is one we believe everyone can get behind and benefit from as we all strive to treat those around us with respect,? said the state's lieutenant governor, Greg Bell. ?The best solutions and results for our community come from collaborative efforts, and true collaboration demands civility and respect for one another.?
Certainly that message pertains to ongoing conversations about equality, conversations that, like all civil rights matters, aren't about rules and regulations; they're about people's lives and passions, passions with which almost everyone can identify, therefore providing the perfect launching pad for humanistic bridge building.
The most emotional -- and therefore most universal -- argument for injecting courtesy into the LGBT debates can be boiled down to what singer Huey Lewis so eloquently called "The Power of Love." Humans all need love, and everyone has the right to love. No one should be prohibited from celebrating or cementing their relationship because others think their relationship is "less-than." Certainly even the most conservative among us can agree on that point, right? But maybe this cuddly, huggy-kissy perspective doesn't appeal to everyone. Let's look at civility, then, at a more mundane, pedestrian level.
Michael Shermer, the publisher of 'Skeptic Magazine,' last week offered his secular take on what's loosely called the "purpose of life," and in this piece, Shermer quoted a 1993 essay by Helen Keller called "The Simplest Way to be Happy." Here's what Keller, the deaf and blind activist and author, thought about achieving contentment: "It all comes to this: the simplest way to be happy is to do good."
A great first step to doing good? Simply recognizing your fellow man with acts of common courtesy: saying 'please' and 'thank you,' holding the door for those behind you and, yes, even that old Boy Scout cliche, helping an elderly person across the street.
As for the debates around gay equality, civility starts in the same way: showing respect for our opponents and avoiding direct attacks, insults or invective.
There's already evidence LGBT activists and their ideological opposites can indeed find common ground: Exodus International, an organization dedicated to "curing" homosexuality, has previously celebrated gay blog Good As You's consistent dedication to respect. "When anyone attempts to humanize anyone on either side of polarized issues I believe that reveals some level of civility, maturity and care.� I pray this dynamic multiplies and we must be intentional to recognize that type of mature civility when it occurs," wrote one of the group's bloggers."
And the gay rights group Equality Utah has worked with the traditionally heterocentric Mormon Church to bring about small wins, such as pushing the Church to endorse a gay rights ordinance in Salt Lake City. The Church also extended an olive branch of sorts by inviting filmmaker Dustin Lance Black and activist Troy Williams, both of whom are gay and Mormon, to their Christmas concert last December.
Williams saw the gesture as politically beneficial, writing, "We are (I hope) helping them to see the humanity of LGBT individuals (and in turn we also need to recognize the humanity of LDS members even when we fiercely disagree)."
Neither the Church nor Exodus are fighting for progressive politics, but both have been persuaded in some capacity to see LGBT people's humanity. There's no reason why other organizations and political blocs can't be won over, too.
We've already seen that simple human interactions can help spark progressive change. As gay people have become more open, honest and downright common, approval ratings for their rights, such as marriage equality, have increased in kind.
If we can continue building momentum in that regard, we can slowly but surely win over right-wing stalwarts who refuse to recognize our rights.
The struggle for sustainable civility won't be smooth -- although newly emboldened Republicans in New Hampshire and Iowa could help get the ball rolling by ending their assaults on marriage equality -- but we all have to share this nation of ours, so we might as well try to get along.
Photo credit: Jenlen's Flickr
Lesbian assault help
My first lesbian experience quickly became assault. What do I do to take care of myself now? While I'm a queer female, I've never actually been with a woman before. I was at an event that promoted safe exploration of female sexuality. I'd sussed out the org for a while and did research before going in; they had a long list of rules and procedures and had a history of organising such events so I figured I'd be OK.
I spent most of the night observing what was going on before jumping in. Unfortunately I happened to get the one psycho of the group - a crazy hyperactive (later I found out she was drunk) girl who didn't know what she was going, was rough to the point of pain and bleeding, and was very insistent. Despite me begging her to stop and be gentle (she knew it was my first time), she kept going, or she'd change up and then go back to being rough and painful.
I was in near shock and it didn't hit me that it was assault until I got into the taxi home and started crying. Ever since then I've been having flashes of memories, the smell of people's bodies would set me off, and I just feel so lost.
I've been talking to some friends (esp those active with the queer community here) and they've been fantastic with support and resources. But I'm not sure where I can go for help. Looking up "lesbian assault" on Google gets me porn. A lot of the abuse/assault resources are for women attacked by men; not so much for women attacked by women.
I've emailed the organiser (though I think she knew what happened already, just emphasising the gravity of the situation) and I have a doctor's appointment today to check that there hasn't been terrible damage. I did use to see a psychologist for other things, but I'm not sure if queer sexuality is an area she's experienced in. But where to now? I'm going to a big family event overseas in a couple of weeks and they're really conservative (even my very liberal sister was a little bit judgemental when I told her) and I don't want to start breaking down halfway through the event. My boyfriend has been really supportive of everything, but I don't want to rely on him alone for help.
What can I do to take care of myself? Where can I go? (I live in Brisbane) I seem to go from feeling OK to feeling like crap as a yoyo. I keep feeling like I should apologize to someone but I don't know who. I don't want to press charges - I don't want to go through that whole process and I hardly remember the other girl's name. I just want to be able to heal.
Emails can be sent into agirlinpain@care2.com
I spent most of the night observing what was going on before jumping in. Unfortunately I happened to get the one psycho of the group - a crazy hyperactive (later I found out she was drunk) girl who didn't know what she was going, was rough to the point of pain and bleeding, and was very insistent. Despite me begging her to stop and be gentle (she knew it was my first time), she kept going, or she'd change up and then go back to being rough and painful.
I was in near shock and it didn't hit me that it was assault until I got into the taxi home and started crying. Ever since then I've been having flashes of memories, the smell of people's bodies would set me off, and I just feel so lost.
I've been talking to some friends (esp those active with the queer community here) and they've been fantastic with support and resources. But I'm not sure where I can go for help. Looking up "lesbian assault" on Google gets me porn. A lot of the abuse/assault resources are for women attacked by men; not so much for women attacked by women.
I've emailed the organiser (though I think she knew what happened already, just emphasising the gravity of the situation) and I have a doctor's appointment today to check that there hasn't been terrible damage. I did use to see a psychologist for other things, but I'm not sure if queer sexuality is an area she's experienced in. But where to now? I'm going to a big family event overseas in a couple of weeks and they're really conservative (even my very liberal sister was a little bit judgemental when I told her) and I don't want to start breaking down halfway through the event. My boyfriend has been really supportive of everything, but I don't want to rely on him alone for help.
What can I do to take care of myself? Where can I go? (I live in Brisbane) I seem to go from feeling OK to feeling like crap as a yoyo. I keep feeling like I should apologize to someone but I don't know who. I don't want to press charges - I don't want to go through that whole process and I hardly remember the other girl's name. I just want to be able to heal.
Emails can be sent into agirlinpain@care2.com
Booking Early for New Orleans Mardi Gras
As life in New Orleans has improved steadily since Hurricane Katrina more than four years ago, tourism numbers continue to climb, especially during the winter months, when the Big Easy ...Read Full Post
National Call-In Day to Protect Social Security on Tuesday, Nov. 30
http://www.now.org/issues/economic/social/113010callinday.htmlPeople of all ages and from all political parties oppose cutting Social Security benefits by raising the retirement age or any other means. Make your voice heard by taking part in the National Call Congress Day on Tuesday, Nov. 30.
Pink In The Crib!
I feel like my obsession with my pregnancy has overcome my brain and has taken all of my ideas. There are things that I want to write about, but I am just so side-tracked. I know, I know I need to get over it, but if I’m not so exhausted that I can’t even stay [...]
Northern Trust starts LGBT practice
Northern Trust realized about two years ago that more and more LGBT clients and perspective clients were seeking answers to the growing complexities of their financial situations. Due to the increasing phone calls the company was receiving and the rapidly altering legal landscape, the organization recognized a need for a dedicated practice group focused on LGBT and alternative families. Today, the Chicago-based company has launched the first dedicated LGBT-practice group in the nation.
Q The Series - Online Video Show From Columbia Students
"Q" is a comedic miniseries, which is to be aired online, about a queer group of friends in college and the antics they get into. It's a comedy about queer life on campus that addresses a wide range of topics in the LGBT community and how our generation deals with them -- the main characters include trans, bisexual, pansexual, and homosexual guys and girls. Being a comedy, the show focuses on the positive aspects of living in a community and generation that's closer to accepting queer lifestyles, but also addresses the natural tensions that can arise.Currently, it is still in production (for an online release and advanced screening next spring), but they are trying to get awareness out now and already have a trailer for the series up online. The show is produced completely by students in the city, mostly from Columbia University, and is a non-profit endeavor. Funding has been generously provided by the Gatsby Foundation (providing many on-campus arts grants), and equipment has been donated by Columbia University Film Productions (an undergraduate film club). The remaining funding will hopefully be raised through our Kickstarter account.It's the aim of the cast and crew to spread awareness of the different lifestyles that exist in our generation -- we really want to show the fun side of being a young adult in this new cultural era. Our production team is working to make the best show out of everything we've got.The show will be shooting over the month of January, and is planned for release over the months of March and April. The first few episodes of the show will be screened to our supporters and crew in New York City before the release of the series.Check out Q The Series ! Also join them on Facebook !Best Gay New York
Monday, January 24, 2011
GLAAD's What to Watch Monday night
(This post was originally published at GLAAD Blog.)
ABC Family is the place to be this Monday night with all-new episodes of Pretty Little Liars and Greek, both nominated for GLAAD Media Awards this year!Also, 90210 drama continues, Tabatha takes over a Massachusetts salon, the Drag Race is on and MTV?s new series Skins hits the airwaves
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ABC Family is the place to be this Monday night with all-new episodes of Pretty Little Liars and Greek, both nominated for GLAAD Media Awards this year!Also, 90210 drama continues, Tabatha takes over a Massachusetts salon, the Drag Race is on and MTV?s new series Skins hits the airwaves
read more
BearPodcast 345 ? Uncut in SF, Happy Thanksgiving
Uncut in SF, Happy Thanksgiving
MP3 Audio, Duration ? 45:06, Size ? 43.5MB
Hosts: Nard and Ray
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Nard is making eggrolls for Thanksgiving. Ray watched Harry Potter. SF is going to ban circumcision. Is Truvada going to save us from HIV/AIDS? Listen to the show and enjoy!
Click the pic!
Subscribe via iTunes and leave a review
E-mail: show (at) bearpodcast.com
Call our voicemail line at 206-222-BEAR
read more
MP3 Audio, Duration ? 45:06, Size ? 43.5MB
Hosts: Nard and Ray
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Nard is making eggrolls for Thanksgiving. Ray watched Harry Potter. SF is going to ban circumcision. Is Truvada going to save us from HIV/AIDS? Listen to the show and enjoy!
Click the pic!
Subscribe via iTunes and leave a review
E-mail: show (at) bearpodcast.com
Call our voicemail line at 206-222-BEAR
read more
Sticks and Stones: Outrageous political speech needs to be countered with words, not laws
Opinion: ''Words can never hurt me.'' That's one of the comforting lies we learn in childhood, along with ''cheaters never win,'' ''you can be whatever you want to be,'' and ''there are no real monsters.'' But then we grow up and discover the truth of life: that it's not fair, that we all have limits to our talents and abilities, that monsters are far too real. ... (more)
Nashville Politician Says LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws Choke Businesses
This week, Nashville's Metro Council held a marathon of a meeting. And though a big chunk of it was dedicated to debate over whether to destroy a racetrack at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds (an issue that brought out one of the biggest crowds in years, proving that racing fans aren't afraid to get their politics on), a major LGBT issue factored into the meeting as well.
That issue is whether the Metro government of Nashville should extend an anti-discrimination ordinance inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity to vendors and contractors in the city. If passed, it would mean that no business could contract with the city, unless they agreed to protect LGBT employees from discrimination.
What fueled debate on this issue is the controversy that emerged at Belmont University late in 2010, after a lesbian soccer coach was terminated suspiciously. Her players argued that she was fired because she was a lesbian and because she was getting ready to have a baby with her partner, and they pointed to the fact that Belmont doesn't have a policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The incident got the entire community of Nashville talking about discrimination. Several Metro Council members, wanting to take a bold stand for equality and root out all forms of anti-gay discrimination, suggested legislation that would expand Nashville's anti-discrimination ordinance to apply to vendors and contractors.
Seems like a fine move, right? Yet anti-gay activists are fighting hard to put the kibosh on the measure.
So here's the good news: the bill moved forward this week after the Council voted 22-13 in favor it. Now the bad news: the vote was largely procedural, and the bill faces two more votes in front of the council before becoming law. And several anti-gay activists in the area, as well as folks on the Metro Council who think businesses should have the right to discriminate against LGBT people, are vowing to stop the measure.
Take Councilman Robert Duvall, who thinks it's wrong for Nashville to make vendors and contractors agree to protect LGBT people from discrimination. Not sure whether he feels that way about race, religion, gender, age, or disability, of course.
"?We shouldn?t be imposing on private business,? Duvall said. ?We shouldn?t be imposing the guidelines that a private business is supposed to operate out of. They all have their own work rules. They all have to follow federal and state laws. We, at the Metro level, shouldn?t be setting another layer of regulation. It's just crazy. This country is choking to death on regulation."
So telling businesses that want contracts with the city that they can't discriminate somehow chokes them and imposes on them? Councilman Duvall, how 1920s of you.
Councilman Jamie Hollin, one of the lead Metro Council members behind expanding the city's anti-discrimination ordinance, noted that there's a tough road ahead for the bill, but that many businesses that work with the city are down with rooting out discrimination. And indeed, the Nashville Business Journal has a print edition out today that covers a number of business leaders who are a-OK with the city expanding the anti-discrimination ordinance.
"As everyone knows, part of the government's job is (to) promote and protect the welfare of its citizens," Hollin said a few weeks ago, discussing this bill. "This is just a way to ensure that occurs for all classes of citizens, not just some."
Exactly. And that's exactly the reason why this expansion of Nashville's non-discrimination ordinance should happen. Send these Metro Council members a message that Nashville should be a place where discrimination is never welcome or tolerated, at least when it comes to those doing business with the city.
Photo credit: Dave Newman
That issue is whether the Metro government of Nashville should extend an anti-discrimination ordinance inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity to vendors and contractors in the city. If passed, it would mean that no business could contract with the city, unless they agreed to protect LGBT employees from discrimination.
What fueled debate on this issue is the controversy that emerged at Belmont University late in 2010, after a lesbian soccer coach was terminated suspiciously. Her players argued that she was fired because she was a lesbian and because she was getting ready to have a baby with her partner, and they pointed to the fact that Belmont doesn't have a policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The incident got the entire community of Nashville talking about discrimination. Several Metro Council members, wanting to take a bold stand for equality and root out all forms of anti-gay discrimination, suggested legislation that would expand Nashville's anti-discrimination ordinance to apply to vendors and contractors.
Seems like a fine move, right? Yet anti-gay activists are fighting hard to put the kibosh on the measure.
So here's the good news: the bill moved forward this week after the Council voted 22-13 in favor it. Now the bad news: the vote was largely procedural, and the bill faces two more votes in front of the council before becoming law. And several anti-gay activists in the area, as well as folks on the Metro Council who think businesses should have the right to discriminate against LGBT people, are vowing to stop the measure.
Take Councilman Robert Duvall, who thinks it's wrong for Nashville to make vendors and contractors agree to protect LGBT people from discrimination. Not sure whether he feels that way about race, religion, gender, age, or disability, of course.
"?We shouldn?t be imposing on private business,? Duvall said. ?We shouldn?t be imposing the guidelines that a private business is supposed to operate out of. They all have their own work rules. They all have to follow federal and state laws. We, at the Metro level, shouldn?t be setting another layer of regulation. It's just crazy. This country is choking to death on regulation."
So telling businesses that want contracts with the city that they can't discriminate somehow chokes them and imposes on them? Councilman Duvall, how 1920s of you.
Councilman Jamie Hollin, one of the lead Metro Council members behind expanding the city's anti-discrimination ordinance, noted that there's a tough road ahead for the bill, but that many businesses that work with the city are down with rooting out discrimination. And indeed, the Nashville Business Journal has a print edition out today that covers a number of business leaders who are a-OK with the city expanding the anti-discrimination ordinance.
"As everyone knows, part of the government's job is (to) promote and protect the welfare of its citizens," Hollin said a few weeks ago, discussing this bill. "This is just a way to ensure that occurs for all classes of citizens, not just some."
Exactly. And that's exactly the reason why this expansion of Nashville's non-discrimination ordinance should happen. Send these Metro Council members a message that Nashville should be a place where discrimination is never welcome or tolerated, at least when it comes to those doing business with the city.
Photo credit: Dave Newman
Man Infected With HIV Cured in Germany with Stem Cell Transplant
ON the heels of World AIDS Day comes a stunning medical breakthrough: Doctors believe an HIV-positive man who underwent a stem cell transplant has been cured as a result of the procedure.
Timothy Ray Brown, also known as the "Berlin Patient," received the transplant in 2007 as part of a lengthy treatment course for leukemia. His doctors recently published a report in the journal Blood affirming that the results of extensive testing "strongly suggest that cure of HIV infection has been achieved."
Brown's case paves a path for constructing a permanent cure for HIV through genetically-engineered stem cells.
Last week, Time named another AIDS-related discovery to its list of the Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2010. Recent studies show that healthy individuals who take antiretrovirals, medicine commonly prescribed for treating HIV, can reduce their risk of contracting the disease by up to 73 percent.
While these developments by no means prove a cure for the virus has been found, they can certainly provide hope for the more than 33 million people living with HIV worldwide. Alongside such findings, global efforts to combat the epidemic have accelerated as of late, with new initiatives emerging in the Philippines and South Africa this week.
Timothy Ray Brown, also known as the "Berlin Patient," received the transplant in 2007 as part of a lengthy treatment course for leukemia. His doctors recently published a report in the journal Blood affirming that the results of extensive testing "strongly suggest that cure of HIV infection has been achieved."
Brown's case paves a path for constructing a permanent cure for HIV through genetically-engineered stem cells.
Last week, Time named another AIDS-related discovery to its list of the Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2010. Recent studies show that healthy individuals who take antiretrovirals, medicine commonly prescribed for treating HIV, can reduce their risk of contracting the disease by up to 73 percent.
While these developments by no means prove a cure for the virus has been found, they can certainly provide hope for the more than 33 million people living with HIV worldwide. Alongside such findings, global efforts to combat the epidemic have accelerated as of late, with new initiatives emerging in the Philippines and South Africa this week.
DA to look into suicide of bullied teen Asher Brown
HOUSTON (AP) – Prosecutors said Friday they will look into what led to the suicide of a 13-year-old Houston boy whose parents say was relentlessly bullied at his middle school for two years because of his religion and sexual orientation.
Asher Brown’s parents, who claim school officials ignored their pleas for help, said they hope “justice will be served” by the investigation by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
“Once they find out what’s been hidden, we would want the people responsible to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Asher’s stepfather, David Truong.
Asher shot himself in the head with his stepfather’s handgun on Sept. 23 at his family’s home.
Truong sa…
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Asher Brown’s parents, who claim school officials ignored their pleas for help, said they hope “justice will be served” by the investigation by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
“Once they find out what’s been hidden, we would want the people responsible to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Asher’s stepfather, David Truong.
Asher shot himself in the head with his stepfather’s handgun on Sept. 23 at his family’s home.
Truong sa…
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SIMPLY BARBRA returns to the Metropolitan Room January 8th
Steven Brinberg makes his long awaited return to the Metropolitan Room on January 8th! He brings his latest SIMPLY BARBRA show to the posh cabaret for one night only. This latest edition celebrates Barbra's grammy-nominated album LOVE IS THE ANSWER, her return to the big screen in LITTLE FOCKERS and the release of her first book MY PASSION FOR DESIGN. Gifted singer and actor Franc D'Ambrosio(PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, GODFATHER III) makes a special guest appearance with "Barbra"."When you first hear Steven sing , for the first brief moment, you almost think, 'My God! Is that really her?' [Streisand] It's so captivating! Not only does he have a wonderful take on her -- not at all mean-spirited -- and this ability to imitate her, he also captures a lot of moments and nuances that are terrific. It was very impressive." - Marvin HamlischSteven does not lip-sync his performances but accurately portrays Streisand with his own voice! With over a decade of performing experience, his amazing show has Steven in demand literally worldwide! Steven has performed across the globe singing live as the legendary Barbra Streisand. From London's West End to Hong Kong.....Seattle to Florida....in Canada, Mexico...in concert with Marvin Hamlisch...appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center....he has released two acclaimed CDS....and was hired by Miss Streisand's management to perform at her best friend Donna Karan's birthday party! We have some great interviews with Steven from last year !SIMPLY BARBRABUY TICKETS today Best Gay New York.com
School homophobia plan welcomed
The State Government has announced a new $250,000 program aimed at tackling homophobia in schools
Sunday, January 23, 2011
2010's events predict more—and less—in 2011
If past is prologue, 2011 should turn out to be a fairly decent year for the LGBT community. It's not that everything turned out so rosy for the community in 2010, but the gains registered more powerfully than the losses.
(45) Asexual Lesbian
Ordering bibles, Religious blobs, Chat w/Lale re: Rehab, Gays, Marriage, Relationships, Sex, an Asexual phase
Re: Couple of Questions (starting HRT)
Hi,Firstly let me start by saying that I totally understand you wanting to start your transition ASAP. But, let me also say that this is a life altering decision. Once you ring that bell it cannot be un-rung. The fist major step is being honest with yourself and those who this change will affect, IE family, spouse etc. I cannot tell you how important it is to be under a physicians care for this process. Hormones are very powerful and have a bevy of serious and sometimes life threatening side effects. Every person is different, your not going to regrow the hair on your head, the anti-androgens will stop the loss. Voice pitch will not change, and your breasts and other feminine feature development vary depending on your genetics. It takes years for these changes to happen and sadly sometimes not very successfully. Please sit down and write out goals for yourself and what you want to achieve. Your "ace in the hole" is that your are still fairly young and your body may adapt to the changes more readily. I wish you all the best and I would give you a big hug if I were there.I wish you a blessed and happy lifeKya
(31) But Do You Have Gas?
Fill-er-Up, Stem Cells, Where In The World Are Our Senators?, St. Clare’s the Molesters, Andy Can Kiss What I Twist and I Don’t Mean My Wrist, Schools Out, Sinus Dreams, Out With The Netti-Pot and In with Hydro Pulse … http://www.hydromedonline.com
Gibbs: ENDA Still a Priority
Robert Gibbs says the White House is working to "make progress" on making it illegal for
employers to discriminate against workers based on gender
identity or sexual orientation.
employers to discriminate against workers based on gender
identity or sexual orientation.
(37) She Fills In Cause WhatsHerFace Is On Hiatus
Guest Host Nikki Fills In While Sandi Is On Brief Hiatus, (go easy on her) Most of this is nonsense but it’s stuff was laying around the hard drive from a few weeks ago so we figured we’d post it, why the Hey not?! “Elegant” Farm Dinners?, Irrational War Mongers, Aussies Tear Into Sandi with [...]
The Moennig Files: In Case You Missed It...
Kate Moennig was on "Dexter" tonight. Here's her face and her body moving on screen (pace yourselves, ladies) :
No one can say we don?t have a good time together. A good...
No one can say we don?t have a good time together. A good lesbian time.
chick-habit:
Oh man, we got a little too crazy before recording and all of us were a little embarrassed to even have to listen to this the next morning. Still, while editing, I laughed at myself out loud more than a few times. I hope you do as well.�
This is a very special holiday podcast and our friend Jamie Murnane from Girlfriendisahomo.com joined us again. We discuss some of our favorite�lesbian�topics of the year and listen to Christmas and Hanukkah songs from some of our favorite queer artists (too bad most of them were bummers).
You?re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (feat. k.d. lang)
Lady Gaga - Xmas Tree
Girl in A Coma - Blue Christmas
Tegan and Sara - Chipmunk song
Indigo Girls - Happy Joyous Hanukkah
Venus Envy - Silent Dyke
Jill Sobule - Jesus Was A Dreidel Spinner
Melissa Ethridge - Christmas (baby please come home)
Happy holidays everybody!
chick-habit:
Oh man, we got a little too crazy before recording and all of us were a little embarrassed to even have to listen to this the next morning. Still, while editing, I laughed at myself out loud more than a few times. I hope you do as well.�
This is a very special holiday podcast and our friend Jamie Murnane from Girlfriendisahomo.com joined us again. We discuss some of our favorite�lesbian�topics of the year and listen to Christmas and Hanukkah songs from some of our favorite queer artists (too bad most of them were bummers).
You?re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (feat. k.d. lang)
Lady Gaga - Xmas Tree
Girl in A Coma - Blue Christmas
Tegan and Sara - Chipmunk song
Indigo Girls - Happy Joyous Hanukkah
Venus Envy - Silent Dyke
Jill Sobule - Jesus Was A Dreidel Spinner
Melissa Ethridge - Christmas (baby please come home)
Happy holidays everybody!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Asexuals leave the closet, find community
When she wasn't drawn to boys as a teenager, Cathy Roberts figured she was just shy. As she steered men away from her college bed, she convinced herself she wasn't ready. Later, when a therapist coaxed her along a path...
Urgent Action Required: CEDAW Senate Hearings Planned
http://action.now.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2754Tell your Senators to urge Senator Kerry to hold a vote on CEDAW! After 8 years without movement, this is a significant step forward in our ongoing push to recognize women's rights as human rights. Your action is needed NOW!
Merry Christmas, sorry I'm gay!
How can I come out to my extended family without it being a holiday "surprise" or confessional atmosphere? I'm 25 and have been dating another woman for 10 months. We live together and are planning long term. I've known since high school that I was more-gay-than-straight, but never came out to my immediate family until I had a serious girlfriend.
I generally only go home during Christmas and a bit in the summer. Last year, I told my mom and brother, and my GF came up to visit for a few days. This went pretty smoothly. My mom isn't exactly Super Pride Mom, but she seems ok with it and was friendly with my GF.
I still haven't told my small extended family - my grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousin. They will probably be quite surprised since in high school/college they met some boyfriends of mine, and my mom hasn't said anything. My family is conservative, but not driven by religious ideology. I am pretty sure they won't disown me or think I'm going to hell, but they will probably think it's 'abnormal', I'm going through a phase, or I was brainwashed by liberal arts college.
I want to tell them soon, since I don't want to be a Secret Lesbian forever. So I need to figure out how/when to tell them, but I really want to avoid:
a) springing it on them at Christmastime and dealing with the awkwardness on top of holiday stress
b) I don't want to style it at all as a "confessional" - as in "I know this might shock/upset you, and I'm sorry, but...". I don't want to apologize for being who I am and I don't want to begin with them by framing it as something that's Weird and Shameful to admit to. I want them to know that I'm with someone, and I'm happy, and that person happens to be a woman.
The best idea I've come up with is writing a short note, perhaps with a general Life-Update letter, and mailing it before Christmas so they have time to process it. I've thought about calling them, but I don't talk to any of them on the phone normally, so a "Hey I'm Gay" call out of nowhere would be almost as awkward as the Christmas surprise.
Are there any options I'm not considering? How have others come out to family that they are close with, and don't want to upset, but are not willing to treat it as something that SHOULD be upsetting? If I write a letter, what else might you include beyond a short explanation?
I generally only go home during Christmas and a bit in the summer. Last year, I told my mom and brother, and my GF came up to visit for a few days. This went pretty smoothly. My mom isn't exactly Super Pride Mom, but she seems ok with it and was friendly with my GF.
I still haven't told my small extended family - my grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousin. They will probably be quite surprised since in high school/college they met some boyfriends of mine, and my mom hasn't said anything. My family is conservative, but not driven by religious ideology. I am pretty sure they won't disown me or think I'm going to hell, but they will probably think it's 'abnormal', I'm going through a phase, or I was brainwashed by liberal arts college.
I want to tell them soon, since I don't want to be a Secret Lesbian forever. So I need to figure out how/when to tell them, but I really want to avoid:
a) springing it on them at Christmastime and dealing with the awkwardness on top of holiday stress
b) I don't want to style it at all as a "confessional" - as in "I know this might shock/upset you, and I'm sorry, but...". I don't want to apologize for being who I am and I don't want to begin with them by framing it as something that's Weird and Shameful to admit to. I want them to know that I'm with someone, and I'm happy, and that person happens to be a woman.
The best idea I've come up with is writing a short note, perhaps with a general Life-Update letter, and mailing it before Christmas so they have time to process it. I've thought about calling them, but I don't talk to any of them on the phone normally, so a "Hey I'm Gay" call out of nowhere would be almost as awkward as the Christmas surprise.
Are there any options I'm not considering? How have others come out to family that they are close with, and don't want to upset, but are not willing to treat it as something that SHOULD be upsetting? If I write a letter, what else might you include beyond a short explanation?
(73) Karma by Dog Leash
Mark Dadoff; Feminazis who are just as man-hating as misogynists are woman-hating; Liberal Nimbyism; Reactionary righty pundits who play the game and believe w/o bothering to thoroughly examining their beliefs… Mark Madoff, oldest son of Bernie Madoff, hangs himself with dog leash in SoHo apartment http://is.gd/iDPAZ Music: All I Want For Christmas Is You – [...]
(14) Halloween Swinging! (1hr)
Questionable prank; Alix Olson?s, ?Cute For a Girl;? Lale complains about the prank, Some talk about swingers, Brit catches one of Tila Tequila’s TV suitors out at the local Halloween party, Loa sings ABBA and inhales second hand maryjane, Shelzy apparently wears too much costume at her local Halloween party
Enforcing 'DADT' Cost the U.S. Military $200 Million Over Five Years
Discrimination turns out to be very expensive.
The Stars and Stripes reports on new numbers from the GAO:
The figure includes roughly $53,000 for each of the 3,664 gay servicemembers dismissed from fiscal 2004 through fiscal 2009.
According to the report, the majority of the expense came from recruiting replacements and retraining the new troops. More than a third of the discharged troops held ?skills in critical occupations.? That included 23 language experts, whose training included years of language proficiency work prior to their dismissal.
But GAO researchers also estimated that the ban on openly gay troops also cost almost $8 million in administrative expenses. That includes legal work, commanders? inquiries, pastoral counseling of servicemembers, and processing of separation paperwork.
The Stars and Stripes reports on new numbers from the GAO:
The figure includes roughly $53,000 for each of the 3,664 gay servicemembers dismissed from fiscal 2004 through fiscal 2009.
According to the report, the majority of the expense came from recruiting replacements and retraining the new troops. More than a third of the discharged troops held ?skills in critical occupations.? That included 23 language experts, whose training included years of language proficiency work prior to their dismissal.
But GAO researchers also estimated that the ban on openly gay troops also cost almost $8 million in administrative expenses. That includes legal work, commanders? inquiries, pastoral counseling of servicemembers, and processing of separation paperwork.
Secretary of Defense and Service Chiefs Testimony Questioned by New Legislation
Yesterday, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) introduced the so-called Restore Military Readiness Act (H.R. 337). This legislation requires that all four military service chiefs certify that implementation of ?Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell? (DADT) repeal does not impact military effectiveness before final repeal of the DADT law can occur.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Social Cons Who Heart the Pledge
The
GOP's PDF is earning applause from some on the right who think
"strengthening the family" is a pressing federal policy issue in
2010. Ralph Reed,
come on down!
Significantly, House Republicans rejected the false choice
between tea-party issues like cutting spending and delimiting
government and pro-family issues like honoring marriage and
protecting unborn life. For some strange reason, the media and some
in the GOP think the two agendas are incompatible. Nothing could be
further from the truth. Indeed, the exact opposite is true.
Pro-family candidates are the most likely to be fiscal
conservatives, and tea-party candidates are most likely to be
pro-life. Witness Sharron Angle, Joe Miller, Marco Rubio, and
Christine O'Donnell. How come every time we scratch a tea-party
candidate we find a social conservative and a person of deep faith?
Could it be that the notion of limiting government and maximizing
freedom presupposes a citizenry animated by virtue, faith, and
reliance on God? That's certainly what the Founders believed. How
refreshing that the House GOP agrees.
Can I get a Newt "don't-cut-entitlements"
Gingrich?
[T]he reform Republicans offer a choice between the job killing,
big government, high tax agenda of the Democratic Party and a
Republican Party agenda to reverse out-of-control spending, restore
fiscal accountability leading to a balanced budget, create
confidence in the private sector to spur new job creation, and
strengthen the family.
How about
Marjorie Dannenfelser, of the Susan B. Anthony List?
Today, in its 'Pledge to America' the pro-life Republican House
leadership has echoed the voices of pro-life Americans calling for
a Congress that will protect Life. The pro-life legislative
priorities included in their Pledge reinforce Republican Party
unity as we approach these critical mid-term elections.
American Principles Project founder
Robert P. George:
What we demanded of the GOP was a firm and clear commitment to
marriage, life, and the free and full participation of faith-based
institutions in our public life. We got it. Our goal was not to
shift the focus of the "Pledge" to social issues, but to make sure
that the GOP's longstanding pro-life and pro-marriage commitments
were not abandoned, compromised, or passed over in silence.
Yuval Levin:
The first thing that strikes me (especially in comparing this
Pledge to the Contract With America) is how much progress
pro-lifers have made both in the arena of public opinion and the
intra-Republican debate on the abortion question. The Contract
avoided the subject like the plague. This document speaks plainly
of a commitment to human life several times, lists abortion funding
as a key reason for repealing Obamacare, and promises a
government-wide Hyde Amendment.
Related Timothy P. Carney: "Tea
Partiers Oppose Abortion, Not Just Deficits." And Rep. Paul
Ryan: "The
Cause of Life Can't be Severed from the Cause of Freedom." And
to be sure,
not all social cons are jazzed.
I am pretty much the opposite of a social conservative, and will
never forget the nadir that was Terri Schiavo conservatism, so none
of this exactly tickles my ivories. On the other hand, as awkward
as it is for me to admit,
some of the most social of cons tend to be the most fiscal of cons,
too.
But I think the big takeaway here is the yawning chasm between
the Pledge to America and the Contract From America.
The latter document, which is a product of Tea Party concerns
instead of electoral
coalition management, is short, sweet (if on the vague side),
and marriage-strengthening-free:
1. Protect the Constitution
2. Reject Cap & Trade
3. Demand a Balanced Budget
4. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform
5. Restore Fiscal Responsibility & Constitutionally Limited
Government
6. End Runaway Government Spending
7. Defund, Repeal, & Replace Government-run Health Care
8. Pass an "All-of-the-Above" Energy Policy
9. Stop the Pork
10. Stop the Tax Hikes
I hope, but don't know, that the restive, Democrat-repudiating
mood in the country reflects the Contract much more than the
Pledge. But the disparity between the two is an always-welcome
reminder that the two major parties are reliably incapable of
translating strong grassroots sentiment into public policy that
acts on it. Democrats are finding that out the hard way this fall,
in the various "hippie
punching" wars between the snippy White House and a base
dissatisfied with pot, Gitmo, war, ObamaCare, and more. Republicans
will likewise rediscover the phenomenon if they don't start taking
government-downsizing seriously.
Bonus self-linking: Me in 2005 on "The
Gingrich Legacy," in which I detail the serial libertarian
disappointments with the 1994 GOP revolution, and conclude:
The Republicans
located and attracted a new base of voters with bomb-throwing
rhetoric that only happened to include some
limited-government ideas (hardly surprising, considering the party
had been out of government for so long).
The key to maintaining that base, besides the usual vote-buying
that every governing party engages in, has been to keep the bombs
coming, not to follow up on any of the limited-government
promises (with the notable exception of welfare reform). [...]
This, finally, might just be the fruit of '94?a base mobilized
not to reduce the scope of government, but to jeer at domestic
enemies, conflate opposition to war with treason, and vote
decisively against Michael Moore.
That self-described libertarians spend more time on these
pursuits than noticing how their ideals continue to be mocked by
the party they vote for is a testament to the alluring power of
party-based populism. That Democratic activists seem eager to
emulate key parts of this approach is a reason to curb your
enthusiasm about the day when the Gingrich legacy gets the whipping
it so richly deserves.
GOP's PDF is earning applause from some on the right who think
"strengthening the family" is a pressing federal policy issue in
2010. Ralph Reed,
come on down!
Significantly, House Republicans rejected the false choice
between tea-party issues like cutting spending and delimiting
government and pro-family issues like honoring marriage and
protecting unborn life. For some strange reason, the media and some
in the GOP think the two agendas are incompatible. Nothing could be
further from the truth. Indeed, the exact opposite is true.
Pro-family candidates are the most likely to be fiscal
conservatives, and tea-party candidates are most likely to be
pro-life. Witness Sharron Angle, Joe Miller, Marco Rubio, and
Christine O'Donnell. How come every time we scratch a tea-party
candidate we find a social conservative and a person of deep faith?
Could it be that the notion of limiting government and maximizing
freedom presupposes a citizenry animated by virtue, faith, and
reliance on God? That's certainly what the Founders believed. How
refreshing that the House GOP agrees.
Can I get a Newt "don't-cut-entitlements"
Gingrich?
[T]he reform Republicans offer a choice between the job killing,
big government, high tax agenda of the Democratic Party and a
Republican Party agenda to reverse out-of-control spending, restore
fiscal accountability leading to a balanced budget, create
confidence in the private sector to spur new job creation, and
strengthen the family.
How about
Marjorie Dannenfelser, of the Susan B. Anthony List?
Today, in its 'Pledge to America' the pro-life Republican House
leadership has echoed the voices of pro-life Americans calling for
a Congress that will protect Life. The pro-life legislative
priorities included in their Pledge reinforce Republican Party
unity as we approach these critical mid-term elections.
American Principles Project founder
Robert P. George:
What we demanded of the GOP was a firm and clear commitment to
marriage, life, and the free and full participation of faith-based
institutions in our public life. We got it. Our goal was not to
shift the focus of the "Pledge" to social issues, but to make sure
that the GOP's longstanding pro-life and pro-marriage commitments
were not abandoned, compromised, or passed over in silence.
Yuval Levin:
The first thing that strikes me (especially in comparing this
Pledge to the Contract With America) is how much progress
pro-lifers have made both in the arena of public opinion and the
intra-Republican debate on the abortion question. The Contract
avoided the subject like the plague. This document speaks plainly
of a commitment to human life several times, lists abortion funding
as a key reason for repealing Obamacare, and promises a
government-wide Hyde Amendment.
Related Timothy P. Carney: "Tea
Partiers Oppose Abortion, Not Just Deficits." And Rep. Paul
Ryan: "The
Cause of Life Can't be Severed from the Cause of Freedom." And
to be sure,
not all social cons are jazzed.
I am pretty much the opposite of a social conservative, and will
never forget the nadir that was Terri Schiavo conservatism, so none
of this exactly tickles my ivories. On the other hand, as awkward
as it is for me to admit,
some of the most social of cons tend to be the most fiscal of cons,
too.
But I think the big takeaway here is the yawning chasm between
the Pledge to America and the Contract From America.
The latter document, which is a product of Tea Party concerns
instead of electoral
coalition management, is short, sweet (if on the vague side),
and marriage-strengthening-free:
1. Protect the Constitution
2. Reject Cap & Trade
3. Demand a Balanced Budget
4. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform
5. Restore Fiscal Responsibility & Constitutionally Limited
Government
6. End Runaway Government Spending
7. Defund, Repeal, & Replace Government-run Health Care
8. Pass an "All-of-the-Above" Energy Policy
9. Stop the Pork
10. Stop the Tax Hikes
I hope, but don't know, that the restive, Democrat-repudiating
mood in the country reflects the Contract much more than the
Pledge. But the disparity between the two is an always-welcome
reminder that the two major parties are reliably incapable of
translating strong grassroots sentiment into public policy that
acts on it. Democrats are finding that out the hard way this fall,
in the various "hippie
punching" wars between the snippy White House and a base
dissatisfied with pot, Gitmo, war, ObamaCare, and more. Republicans
will likewise rediscover the phenomenon if they don't start taking
government-downsizing seriously.
Bonus self-linking: Me in 2005 on "The
Gingrich Legacy," in which I detail the serial libertarian
disappointments with the 1994 GOP revolution, and conclude:
The Republicans
located and attracted a new base of voters with bomb-throwing
rhetoric that only happened to include some
limited-government ideas (hardly surprising, considering the party
had been out of government for so long).
The key to maintaining that base, besides the usual vote-buying
that every governing party engages in, has been to keep the bombs
coming, not to follow up on any of the limited-government
promises (with the notable exception of welfare reform). [...]
This, finally, might just be the fruit of '94?a base mobilized
not to reduce the scope of government, but to jeer at domestic
enemies, conflate opposition to war with treason, and vote
decisively against Michael Moore.
That self-described libertarians spend more time on these
pursuits than noticing how their ideals continue to be mocked by
the party they vote for is a testament to the alluring power of
party-based populism. That Democratic activists seem eager to
emulate key parts of this approach is a reason to curb your
enthusiasm about the day when the Gingrich legacy gets the whipping
it so richly deserves.
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