'In the Life' September episode about Obama and equality

From 'In the Life':

In 2008, President Barack Obama secured the LGBT vote, promising full equality for the community. Two years later, many are critical of the pace of change. This month on IN THE LIFE, we ask if the man in the White House is an advocate for gay rights, and service members talk to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’

They interview a number of people, including me, Robin at GetEequal, Richard Socarides, Brian Bond at the White House, and more.

Here's a teaser:
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Pam weighs in on the White House's frustration with gay bloggers

Mediaite covered the story, broken here, about the White House having expressed its "frustration" about gay bloggers. Pam got in some nice quotes, and then Mediaite raised the somewhat odd question as to whether the blogs can truly cause any harm, and whether they truly have a constituency.

The larger question for LGBT bloggers, and the White House, is how much harm is there in complaining about activists. While big-name bloggers are now hosting fundraisers for candidates, its unclear how much they speak for mainstream LGBT voters or how large their constituency really is. While bloggers may have an outsized-role with other activist groups that the White House wants support from, there may be little downside in questioning the role of activists/bloggers and touting the administration’s perceived successes outside of the LGBT blogosphere’s echo chamber-like voice.

The question they raise is a bit muddled, having several parts really. One, can we cause damage. Yes we can. And we've proven it, time and again. The media and the community listens to us. The reason they listen to us is because we're usually right. We analyze the news, we tell them what's actually going on, we predict what's coming, and again, we're usually right. That's why we have an impact, and it's why we have a following. It's why 300,000 unique visitors read AMERICAblog every month. And that answers the second part of the query, do we really have a constituency. If we didn't, no one would have ever heard of the infamous DOMA incest/pedophilia brief - we'd have written about it, and our writings would have simply disappeared into the ether. They didn't. Read More...

Socarides on how gay marriage has become a pro-gay litmus test, and on why Obama has to endorse marriage equality now

From Richard Socarides, a former top aide to President Clinton, who has guest blogged on AMERICAblog Gay before.

[W]here you stand on the issue of marriage has become a kind of political litmus test for gay voters on whether you support full or partial equality. It is now seen as a proxy for whether you believe gays and lesbians are entitled to full dignity, respect and inclusion in every aspect of American society. And whether, in essence, our struggle for equality is worthy as a civil rights movement. Just saying you are for equal rights will no longer cut it.

Chad Griffin, president of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which brought the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case in California, said immediately after the ruling: “Today we begin the process of saying to the millions of people who are made to feel ostracized, besieged, bullied and ashamed of how God made them — be who you are, love who you love and marry who you wish to marry.”

That is not someone talking about just a marriage license...

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Dr. Laura to drop her radio show over criticism of her use of the n-word

From Media Matters:

In an interview this evening on CNN's Larry King Live, Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced that when her radio contract expires at the end of the year, she will not seek to renew it. Schlessinger said that she was ending her show in order to "regain my First Amendment rights." According to Schlessinger, in the wake of her racial screed last week, highlighted by Media Matters, "my First Amendment rights have been usurped by angry, hateful groups."

On August 10, Schlessinger launched into a racially charged rant, during which Schlessinger -- in herown words -- "articulated the 'n' word all the way out -- more than one time." Schlessinger also told an African-American caller that she had a "chip on [her] shoulder," and suggested that "If you're that hypersensitive about color and don't have a sense of humor, don't marry out of your race." The next day, Schlessinger apologized.

On August 12, Media Matters posted full audio and transcript of Schlessinger's rant, which had apparently been expunged from her website. We also documented her history of incendiary remarks. Schlessinger became the subject of a firestorm of media coverage. She responded by slammingthe media that "rebroadcast" her rant.

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Barney to USAF: 'it would be an unbelievable travesty of justice to discharge' Fehrenbach

Let's hope someone at the Pentagon -- and the White House -- is listening:

The day after the U.S. Air Force agreed to temporarily block the discharge of Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, Rep. Barney Frank is asking [pdf] the U.S. Air Force secretary to put an end to discharge proceedings altogether.

Frank writes, “Under any circumstances, the decision to discharge Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach would be not only completely unfair, but a distortion of The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Now that we have agreement among The President, The House and the Senate Armed Services Committee that the policy should be abolished, it would be an unbelievable travesty of justice to discharge him. I strongly urge you to end the proceedings against Lt. Col. Fehrenbach.”

End the proceedings against Fehrenbach and every other servicemember facing discharge under DADT.

Here's an idea: Instead of bitching about bloggers, the White House LGBT liaison Brian Bond should be working to prevent this "unbelievable travesty." That would be a productive use of his time. And, at this point, if Fehrenbach gets discharged, it's Obama's responsibility. Read More...

Join the Blend's live chat with Katherine Miller who left West Point over DADT

Tonight, beginning just about now, at 7:30 PM, Pam is hosting a live chat with Katherine Miller, the former West Point cadet, who resigned because she's a lesbian. Last week, she appeared on the Rachel Maddow show in a piece titled, "America's Best and Brightest discouraged by DADT." That video is here. Under DADT, her "integrity has been compromised." Pam has more here.

This is a very impressive woman -- and Katherine's resignation is a loss for the U.S. military. Her letter, Written Statement of Resignation and Formal Disclosure of Homosexual Orientation, is here.

UPDATE: The chat is over, but can be viewed here. Read More...

Barry Winchell's parents write: End DADT and urge Senators 'be on the right side of history'

Very powerful op-ed today from Pat and Wally Kutelles, the parents of Barry Winchell:

The coffee was brewing and we were just starting our day when the telephone rang the morning of July 5, 1999. It was a call that every parent prays never will come.

The Army colonel was calling from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where our son was based in the U.S. Army. A fellow soldier had attacked our son, Barry Winchell. He had been taken to a civilian hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.

We raced to the Kansas City airport. When we arrived at the hospital, Barry was clinging to life. His face was unrecognizable. Contrary to what the colonel had said on the telephone, Barry had not been kicked in the head by the other soldier. He had been beaten with a baseball bat as he slept in the barracks. The doctor said he had irreparable brain damage and recovery was unlikely.

Barry had been a victim of constant, vicious harassment after another soldier -- one of two involved in his murder -- started a rumor that he was gay.

Several of Barry's superiors were witnesses to the harassment, yet did nothing about it. Some of those superiors not only did nothing to stop the escalation of violence that would lead to our son's death, they also took part in the harassment.

Barry's parents have been stalwart allies in the campaign to end DADT. We're at a pivotal point in the debate. So, they've spoken out again:

The attitude of society toward gays serving in the military has changed in the 17 years since DADT went into effect. It's no longer the divisive issue it used to be. When we go to Capitol Hill, we talk about the change we've witnessed in our lifetimes on LGBT -- lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered -- issues. It's clear to us that the younger generation of service members couldn't care less about sexual orientation. But they couldn't care more about integrity and honesty, serving one's country and being supportive of their comrades.

Our work to repeal the law that contributed to our son's death has given us focus. We look forward to the day when this law is repealed and when the armed forces adopt a policy that demonstrates clearly that all service members, including those who are gay or lesbian, are worthy of serving our country with dignity and integrity.

Only then can our sons and daughters feel safe in reporting harassment. Only then will their superiors, up the chain of command, be held fully responsible for protecting our sons and daughters equally, no matter what their sexual orientation.

Soon, members of the U.S. Senate will have an opportunity to ensure that Barry's death was not in vain, that no other young man or woman will be denied the chance to serve the country they love simply because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen has said it is the right thing to do. We urge senators to stand with Admiral Mullen and be on the right side of history.

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Colbert on marriage equality in Mexico

Stephen Colbert explains the threat posed to the US by the Mexican Supreme Court ruling that all Mexican states must recognize same-sex marriages performed in Mexico City.

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A pill to cure the gay?

I don't need to be cured. I just need to be pampered. From the LA Times:

Each year in the United States, perhaps a few dozen pregnant women learn they are carrying a fetus at risk for a rare disorder known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The condition causes an accumulation of male hormones and can, in females, lead to genitals so masculinized that it can be difficult at birth to determine the baby's gender.

A hormonal treatment to prevent ambiguous genitalia can now be offered to women who may be carrying such infants. It's not without health risks, but to its critics those are of small consequence compared with this notable side effect: The treatment might reduce the likelihood that a female with the condition will be homosexual. Further, it seems to increase the chances that she will have what are considered more feminine behavioral traits.

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Woman in Germany faces trial for having sex without warning partners she was HIV+

An interesting case. I'm one who believes that if you're HIV positive, if you have hepatitis, if you have a really bad cold, you really ought to tell your sexual partner(s) before doing the deed. Especially the first two, since you'll get over a cold. I've talked with people who disagree with me - they think it's the duty of the other person to ask if you're HIV+. But even then, there's nothing to stop you from lying.

Who has the duty? And should they be charged with a crime if they don't tell you (without asking) or if they don't tell (and you did ask)?

Interesting argument from the BBC:

Edwin Bernard, a writer and advocate specialising in HIV prosecutions, believes that prosecutions and laws on HIV transmission may do more harm than good in terms of reducing the spread of infections.

He told BBC World Service that studies in the US had found that they have had no real impact on new infections.

When the 24 US states which have disclosure laws were compared with those that do not, there was no impact on the rate of transmission or the level of unprotected sex people engage in, he said.

"By singling out HIV, it really promotes fear and stigma," Mr Bernard added.

Then again, it's not just about incentives. Laws exist to also punish. But, if such laws promote a stigma around AIDS, they could make it harder to educate and treat people, so that's another issue you have to consider.

Your thoughts? Read More...

White House frustrated with gay bloggers

Feeling's mutual.

From an account by Michael Kenny, executive director of Florida Together, of a White House meeting last week with state-based equality groups.

Marriage Equality In the meeting's closing stages, Brian Bond, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and liaison to the LGBT community, took questions from the audience. Given recent statements reaffirming President Obama's opposition to same-gender marriage in the wake of a decision striking down California's Proposition 8, Equality Federation members pressed him on the contradictions posed by the president's call for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and his support for civil unions instead of full marriage equality.

Bond asserted, "There is still a lot of work to do" before DOMA will be repealed. "Look at the trouble we're having with ENDA." he added.But Bond conceded that there are inconsistencies in President Obama's positions. In response, Morgan Meneses-Sheets, executive director of Equality Maryland, stated, "Respectfully, we need President Obama to push for full inclusion of the LGBT community on ENDA, on marriage- we need the full get, not the lesser get. The highest office in the land sets the tone for the whole country." Bond agreed, but expressed frustration at the often intense criticism levied, particularly by bloggers, against an administration that is "99 percent supportive of your issues." [emphasis added]

It's great that you're "supportive." But it's the same argument gay Republicans used to describe George Bush. He was secretively supportive of us, they'd say, even if he didn't help us a whole lot legislatively. I'm not saying you're George Bush, but the empathy thing is wearing thin. We don't want your support in words, we want you to keep your promises. And you're not. Read More...

Ed Meese cites Obama and Hillary as siding with him against marriage quality

It's time for Obama and Hillary both to stop giving aid and comfort to our enemies. They are being quoted, left and right, by today's modern day segregationists, and it needs to end.

[A]ccording to the federal district court, Americans such as President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the majority of members of Congress and the 7 million Californians who voted for Proposition 8 are all bigots who have "no rational reason" to oppose gay marriage.

The court didn't say they're bigots. The court said they're endorsing bigotry. And they are. The same way the majority of Americans endorsed bigotry against blacks decades ago. Didn't make it right then, doesn't make it right now.

I do, however, get a kick out of the argument that the majority simply can't be wrong about a matter of civil rights. Yeah, becaus that's never happened.

PS This op ed makes me glad I snorted once as Ed Meese walked by me on a Washington sidewalk in the late 80s, earl 90s. Read More...

Obama is in L.A. tonight (don't expect any comments on Prop. 8 or marriage equality)

Today, in California, the Ninth Circuit issued its stay, which means no marriages for awhile. It's the state where same-sex couples lost rights. That never happens in America, but it did. Tonight, the President is in California doing fundraisers. Yes, Hollywood is rolling out the red carpet for Obama tonight -- and whipping out their checkbooks. Pam has a post with some background on tonight's events via the Hollywood Reporter (replete with some inside-the-beltway "wisdom" from Jonathan "I'm such connected insider that I wrote a book about Obama" Alter). Pam also wonders why the Hollywood elite, especially the gays, won't ever challenge Obama to deliver on his promises. They like the access -- and don't get it:

The only player quoted in the piece has feet grounded in reality about the complete PR mess coming out of the WH on marriage equality and even then, Bruce Cohen has no grasp pf common sense regarding the political time squandered by administration's foot-dragging.

The area in which Hollywood expresses its dissatisfaction most clearly is over Obama's track record on gay rights. Activist Bruce Cohen, the "Milk" and "American Beauty" producer now working on next year's Oscars telecast, insists that "it's not time to grade him yet -- we haven't even gotten to the midterm exams" but still feels some administration stands are conflicted.

"We've not had presidential support on gay marriage itself, though Obama said that (California's) Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, which we appreciated," he said. Still, "we're hoping one of the things the case does is make people realize you can't be against Prop. 8 and be against gay marriage."

If only these Hollywood deep pockets would join "Don't Ask, Don't Give" instead of enabling this party and President, the admin and Congress would sit up and take notice.

Perhaps it's time to have protests at these tony private fundraisers as well; stopping the cash flow is apparently the only way to make them see the need to get our sausage packaged and out of the factory.

Um, I know Bruce Cohen is probably really busy, but he might want to watch this video of David Axelrod on MSNBC. The interview took place the day after the Prop 8 decision. Despite Cohen's hopes, that case isn't making Team Obama understand that people can't be against Prop. 8 and against gay marriage. The President doesn't support marriage equality. His administration is defending DOMA in the courts. Same for DADT. Dig a little and you'll find that he hasn't done much to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Servicemembers are still being discharged -- and, even if Congress passes the DADT repeal compromise concocted by Jim Messina and Winnie Stachelberg, we still have no idea when the discharges will end. And, ENDA? Um, there's no sign of ENDA moving in either the House or Senate.

We're not going to be equal until we stop acting like doormats and an ever-available ATM. That's why we launched Don't ask, don't give.

Give to candidates who are strong and good on the issues, yes. Do that. There are plenty. For starters, in California, there's the openly gay, married dad, Steve Pougnet, who is running against GOP incumbent Mary Bono Mack (she voted against DADT repeal.) It would be great to have a married dad whose life is impacted by DOMA in Congress. That's why we've got an ActBlue page for Pougnet here.

(We're going to be spotlighting some of our allies. We'll be doing live chats with candidates over the next several weeks to give some attention to supporters of equality.) Read More...

AFER responds to stay, gratified by 'extremely expedited briefing schedule'

From the key players at the American Foundation for Equal Rights:

“We are very gratified that the Ninth Circuit has recognized the importance and pressing nature of this case and the need to resolve it as quickly as possible by issuing this extremely expedited briefing schedule. As Chief Judge Walker found, Proposition 8 harms gay and lesbian citizens each day it remains on the books. We look forward to moving to the next stage of this case,” said Attorney Theodore B. Olson.

“Today’s order from the Ninth Circuit for an expedited hearing schedule ensures that we will triumph over Prop. 8 as quickly as possible. This case is about fundamental constitutional rights and we at the American Foundation for Equal Rights, our Plaintiffs and our attorneys are ready to take this case all the way through the appeals court and to the United States Supreme Court,” said Chad Griffin, Board President, American Foundation for Equal Rights.

Given the expedited schedule, we could be at the Supreme Court sooner than we ever imagined. Read More...

BREAKING: Ninth Circuit grants stay of Walker's decision pending appeal

Just received this notice via email from the Ninth Circuit:

Filed order (EDWARD LEAVY, MICHAEL DALY HAWKINS and SIDNEY R. THOMAS) Appellants’ motion for a stay of the district court’s order of August 4, 2010 pending appeal is GRANTED. The court sua sponte orders that this appeal be expedited pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 2. The provisions of Ninth Circuit Rule 31-2.2(a) (pertaining to grants of time extensions) shall not apply to this appeal. This appeal shall be calendared during the week of December 6, 2010, at The James R. Browning Courthouse in San Francisco, California. The previously established briefing schedule is vacated. The opening brief is now due September 17, 2010. The answering brief is due October 18, 2010. The reply brief is due November 1, 2010. In addition to any issues appellants wish to raise on appeal, appellants are directed to include in their opening brief a discussion of why this appeal should not be dismissed for lack of Article III standing. See Arizonans For Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 66 (1997). IT IS SO ORDERED. [7441574] (JS)

So, the motion to stay is granted, pending appeal. That means marriages won't begin on Wednesday or anytime soon.

The appeal has been expedited. Arguments will be held in early December. One other thing: This order states that Ninth Circuit Rule 31-2.2 does not apply, meaning no extensions. Under Rule 31-2.2 (a), "If good cause is shown, the clerk or a designated deputy may grant an oral request for a single extension of time of no more than 14 days to file an opening, answering or reply brief. Such extensions may be applied for and granted or denied by telephone." No one gets the 14 days extension. Sounds like the judges want this case to move ahead without delay.

And, the appellants, meaning the pro-Prop. 8 side, have to explain why they have standing. That remains a major issue for them moving forward. For more on this issue, see Prof. David Cruz's post: Do the Prop. 8 proponents have Standing to Appeal?

I'm sure we'll have more on this soon. Read More...