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Archives – November, 2010
NOM Opposing civil unions in IL: “We just don’t like the gays”
NOM Exposed
Cross posted at NOM Exposed
By Kevin Nix
illinois
The bill would allow same-sex couples to enter into a legal civil union in the state; it does not provide for same-sex marriages. An overwhelming 2/3 of Illinoisans support either civil unions or marriage equality.
We’ve heard Brian Brown say before he doesn’t support civil unions. But now they’re actively campaigning against them. NOM is hell bent on blocking any and all recognition for LGBT couples.
HRC continues to mobilize our members in Illinois to make sure legislators hear their support for the bill that Representative Greg Harris, Equality Illinois, and others have been working on for years.
116 Comments November 23, 2010
BREAKING: DOJ to appeal Witt reinstatement order in DADT case
by Andy Kelley
New Media Organizer, Courage Campaign
In breaking news, the Department of Justice has filed an appeal to the trial judges order in Witt v. Department of Air Force that Witt be reinstated into the service.
As Chris Geidner at Metro Weekly reports:
On Sept. 24, U.S. District Court Ronald Leighton ruled that the Air Force’s discharge of Witt under DADT violated her constitutional rights. He wrote:
[T]he Court concludes that DADT, when applied to Major Margaret Witt, does not further the government’s interest in promoting military readiness, unit morale and cohesion. If DADT does not significantly further an important government interest … it cannot be necessary to further that interest …. Application of DADT therefore violates Major Witt’s substantive due process rights under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. She should be reinstated at the earliest possible moment.
In October, the Department of Justice opposed Witt’s request for costs, in part, because “Defendants’ time for noticing an appeal of the Court’s September 24, 2010 decision does not expire until November 23, 2010, and, accordingly, this matter has not been finally resolved in plaintiff’s favor.”
This is truly a step in the wrong direction by the Obama Administration, especially in light of the President’s public statements last week renewing his commitment to ending the ban.
The DOJ motion can be viewed in its entirety here:
57 Comments November 23, 2010
FOX News rejects gay troops TV ad
Cross-posted from LGBTPOV.
By Karen Ocamb
Apparently Fox News is afraid of any opinions not their own – especially if they’re – gasp – foreign! How else explain Fox’s rejection of this simple 30 second ad produced by the Palm Center in which two Generals from allied forces say on May 2010 that gay troops do not undermine combat effectiveness.
Major General Semianiw, Chief of Military Personnel in the Canadian Forces,: “There is no negative impact of having men and women of any sexual orientation fighting together, be it in Afghanistan, be it in Iraq.”
Major General Simon VL Willis (ret) former Head of Defence Personnel in the Australian Defence Force: “The lifting of the homosexual ban was a bit like Y2K. It was a non-event, and it continues to be a non-event.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0qAAtLQ8zw&fs=1&hl=en_US
27 Comments November 23, 2010
Got some love? Pam’s House Blend could use your sweetness right now.
If you read Pam’s House Blend, then you know that Pam Spaulding is a gem. And now she needs our help. As Karen Ocamb wrote this morning, “Influential blogger Pam Spaulding of Pam’s House Blend is going into the hospital today to undergo surgery. It is not life-threatening – but it is painful and costly. She is taking unpaid medical leave and she and her wife Kate have to dip into their savings for the next couple of months. Having influence is not the same as having money.”
If you have a few extra coins to help Pam out right now, click here. Meanwhile, check out Jeremy’s post from earlier today, cross-posted at Good As You. — Eden
By Jeremy Hooper
Three or four times a year, this writer is lucky enough to see and spend time with one Ms. Pam Spaulding. Be it a panel, speaking gig, conference, or simply a night out for Indian food in midtown Manhattan, every time Pam and I are lucky enough to get back in the same physical room together, we easily pick up the conversation right where we left it. Because she’s just one of those people — a sincere greeter, active listener, and never-ending idea well with all the makings on an easy, pleasurable conversationalist. To both me and my husband, Pam’s become like that awesome cousin who we don’t get to see nearly enough, but whose every-so-often pop-ins always provide a welcome surprise (kind of the the same way we feel about Amy Farrah Fowler on the current season of “The Big Bang Theory” — a guest star who raises the regular cast’s game).
But today, I’m going to ask you all to help me send some of this good mojo back Pam’s way. Love, thoughts, prayers, Facebook messages, or whatever postive vibe-maker you might use in your own life: Pam’s having surgery this AM, so both she and wife Kate would certainly appreciate any early holiday cheer you can e-blast in their direction.
Or if you’re someone who prefers to put a dollar sign with those vibes, there are certainly a ton of ancillary expenses that Pam and Kate are going to incur while everyone’s favorite blogmistress rests and recuperates. Those wishing to make donations can do so via Paypal, or via the following physical addy:
Pam’s House Blend
105 West Hwy 54, Suite 265,
Box #113,
Durham, NC 27713
Whatever you do, be sure to keep some thought space directed towards North Carolina. Pam’s such a vibrant part of this digital LGBT family that we’ve collectively created. We’re a family that has to stick together through the victories and the setbacks — the champagne toasts and the life annoyances.
*Find more at Pam’s pad (where her fantastic co-bloggers Lurleen, Louise, Autumn, Alvin, Keori and Clarknt67 are holding down the fort):
Open Thread: “Give Our Fave Blogmistress Pam Some Love” Time! [P.H.B]
34 Comments November 22, 2010
“Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights” telling LGBT youth #itgetsbetter passed by New Jersey Senate and Assembly
by Andy Kelley
New Media Organizer, Courage Campaign
NJ state Senate
As Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), one of the bill’s main sponsors tells Matt Friedman at NJ.com:
“In 2002, New Jersey adopted its first anti-bullying legislation encouraging school districts to actively combat bullying. Some districts have done an impressive job in answering that call. Others have not,” said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), one of the bill’s main sponsors. “This legislation makes it clear that preventing and responding to incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying are not optional.”
AB 3466 is an unprecedented effort to ensure that all students in New Jersey are protected from bullying, regardless of what community they attend school in. The bill requires staff to participate in anti-bullying training and for all campuses to form “school safety teams” which would be responsible for investigating and responding to reports of bullying. What is more, teachers would be required to report any incident of bullying they learn of, whether on or off campus, and all such complaints would be forwarded to the state Board of Education, to ensure an appropriate response is initiated. Further, administrators not responsive to reports of bullying would be disciplined and held accountable for their actions, or lack there of.
Though these new measures are certainly historic for their proactive steps forward to reduce bullying, and to provide school children a safe space in which to learn, they are historic for an entirely different reason: The wide margin by which they passed.
According to NJ.com the state Senate unanimously, (30-0) Assembly passed the measure 71-1, with 5 abstentions. Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris) was the only member to cast a no vote in either house.
As the bill moves on to Gov. Christie’s desk for signature, the elected leaders of New Jersey have certainly sent children in their state a strong message: “It Will Get Better.”
30 Comments November 22, 2010
