07/28/2010
Activists from GetEQUAL staged a protest in the Capitol rotunda today over inaction on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
Kerry Eleveld reports:
"The group of about 20 LGBT activists entered the Capitol as part of a routine tour through the Capitol. Upon reaching the rotunda, they sat down and pulled out signs reading, 'Pass ENDA Now!' and 'This Is Your Reminder.' Meanwhile, they began their signature chant, 'I am ... somebody ... I deserve ... full equality.' Eight to nine people were risking arrest in the action, according to Cronk, with the other half present to provide support including a couple legal observers. [Nancy] Pelosi told attendees of last weekend’s Netroots Nation conference for progressive bloggers that they should hold her accountable, though she stopped short of promising a vote on ENDA...Cronk said the group chose the rotunda because it symbolizes 'America’s commitment to justice, equality, and freedom.' At the beginning of the tour, she noted they had been shown a film with narration proclaiming, 'This is the core – the center – of our experiment with political freedom.'"
According to posts on Twitter, several activists were handcuffed and taken away in a police van.
More photos, AFTER THE JUMP...
(images via @chrisgeidner and GetEqual)
Continue reading "Gay Activists Arrested at Capitol Rotunda in ENDA Protest"
Posted 12:42 PM EST by Andy Towle in Activism, ENDA, GetEQUAL, News | Permalink
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The Family Research Council, in addition to putting out fraudulent pamphlets in Holland, Michigan, is ramping up its attacks on gays in the military in advance of the Senate debate on the Defense bill. Last week they put out a podcast with an all-star cast of right-wing nutjobs and dangerous crackpots to try and give credence to their distorted statements about gay people.
On Tuesday, they released a clip of that podcast featuring the American Family Association's Dr. Robert LaButta, a retired U.S. Army Col., who suggested that allowing gays to serve openly would somehow put the military at greater risk of HIV, STDs, and psychological disorders.
Says LaButta:
I think as I look at the health implications, I look at the medical risk. So I look at the medical risk for the military and that’s – that was my job as a military medical officer, was to look at the medical risk.
And when there’s an individual who’s a practicing homosexual, there’s no question that they are at a significant medical risk. They have an increased risk of HIV, they have an increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases and they have an increased risk of psychological disorders.
Between 1993 and now, actually, there’s well over a decade more of information to actually highlight those risks, to define them. They’re still there...
...As a military physician, I’m guided by two things. Was guided by two things: The military oath and the military mission. Most of the times, the military mission and the medical oath coincide with each other almost perfectly. Very rare circumstances, say, in combat triage where they don’t. But mostly, they go hand in hand.
I think that the military that – the health of the services, the health of the forces would be decremented. I also think the care of the person, if we said that people could come into the military and openly practice a homosexual behavior, we’re not caring for that person. So for both of my – the oath that I took, it actually violates both of them.
Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP...
The entire podcast. with transcript, is here.
(via
LGBT POV)
Continue reading "FRC: Military at Greater Risk of HIV, STDs if Gays Serve Openly"
Posted 12:25 PM EST by Andy Towle in AIDS/HIV, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Family Research Council, Health, Military, News, Tony Perkins | Permalink
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Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak interviews Howard Bragman about the show he's developing with A&E about helping celebrities go public with their homosexuality.
Asks Slezak: "Are you envisioning this as a live show, where people pop out from behind a curtain and say 'Hey, I’m gay!'?"
Says Bragman:
"It’s going to be very documentary-esque. We’re going to be telling people’s stories, and you have to do that with a certain amount of sensitivity. You know as well as I do, none of us gets out unscathed from coming out and growing up gay. I don’t care if you’re the best looking kid in the world and go to the most liberal school and have the best parents: It still screws your head up to some extent, and we all get a little damaged as a result of it. And hence we get stronger and more creative, and lots of good comes out of it, but it’s not easy...Every person who comes out is a unique and beautiful creature, who does it for whatever reason they want, and God bless ‘em. I have to say there are “wows” and “duhs.” Meredith Baxter probably qualifies as a “wow.” Clay Aiken might’ve been more of a “duh.” But they’re all important, and they’re all courageous. Because realistically, the cumulative number [of major celebs who've come out] ain’t that big. We’re talking a couple dozen people, not hundreds. It’ll be interesting when the show’s not needed, and everybody’s out, but we’re certainly not at that day."
The show is scheduled to premiere on A&E in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Posted 11:55 AM EST by Andy Towle in Howard Bragman, I'm Gay, News | Permalink
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What's the best way to get people to watch a three-minute video of Zac Efron talking about filming underwater in Charlie St. Cloud? Make sure he's still wearing his swimsuit.
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Continue reading "Watch: Half-Naked Zac Efron Talks About Shooting Under Water"
Posted 11:28 AM EST by Andy Towle in Film, News, Zac Efron | Permalink
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A counter-protester at the National Organization for Marriage's rally in Indianapolis earlier this week says she was "hit in the stomach" by a NOM supporter.
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
This counter-protester, named Alice, says the pro-equality group there was very peaceful, which is a good thing, because some are saying that the only reason NOM is holding this tour, given its abysmal attendance, is to draw counter-protestors out so they can prove intimidation in their court battles.
HRC Back Story:
NOM isn’t touring the country to tout “traditional marriage.” What they’re really trying to do is attract counter-protesters, in hopes that those counter-protesters – fair-minded people who stand up for equality – will create scenes and be disruptive. They’re doing this so they can pepper ongoing lawsuits challenging public disclosure laws with made-up stories of harassment.
NOM and their allies suffered a tough loss last month when they argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court that they didn’t have to follow public disclosure laws like everyone else. While rejecting NOM’s request to shield petition signatures on an anti-LGBT equality measure on the Washington state ballot, the Court did allow for re-evaluation in cases of clear intimidation or harassment. That’s where the Summer for Marriage tour comes in. Unable to face reality and admit defeat, NOM wants fair-minded people to harass and intimidate anti-equality protesters at these rallies so they can go back and ask a federal court if they can hide once again.
Said HRC's Fred Sainz: "Let’s add it all up: NOM and its allies are making a last-ditch legal stand in Washington and Maine that they should be specially entitled to hide their political activities, and they’re saying that harassment and intimidation should provide them this cover. At the same time, Brian Brown schedules a series of virtually unattended weekday afternoon events hoping for counter-protests that they can then use as evidence of harassment and intimidation. Why else would NOM execute such half-hearted non-events and then completely subjugate its so-called ‘pro-marriage’ message in favor of devoting its energies almost exclusively to condemning lawful protesters?"
Watch the NOM Tour Tracker with counter-protester Alice, AFTER THE JUMP...
Continue reading "Watch: Lesbian Claims Assault by NOM Supporter at Indy Rally"
Posted 10:52 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Indiana, News, NOM | Permalink
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Pro-equality minds want to know.
Posted 10:23 AM EST by Andy Towle in New York, News, Ruben Diaz Sr. | Permalink
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