Salt Lake City's anti-discrimination laws start today

It gives me a certain satisfaction to link to an article about new anti-discrimination laws in Salt Lake City via a news site owned by the Mormon Church:

It remains to be seen what kind of impact the city's nondiscrimination ordinances will have on gay and lesbian residents when the protections, the first of their kind passed in Utah, go into effect Friday.

Only time will tell, says Mayor Ralph Becker, who helped push through the housing and employment protections late last year.

But the importance of the ordinances' message is undeniable, advocates say.

In the five months since the Salt Lake City Council approved the protections, similar ordinances have popped up on agendas in Park City, Taylorsville, Holladay, West Valley City, Salt Lake County and Summit County.

"This has been a game changer," said Valerie Larabee, director of the Utah Pride Center. "We do tend to wait for our big brothers to pave the way for us."

Read More...

Iraq is a very dangerous place to be gay

This article was initially printed in "Pink News" in the United Kingdom. What is our nation, the United States, doing to hold Iraq accountable for the abhorrent treatment and attempted liquidation of gays especially since it was our country who invaded and created this extreme climate of intolerance? Answer: VERY LITTLE

Baghdad played the role that Beirut does now as a sanctuary for Middle Eastern gay life with clubs which men from the Gulf and Saudi Arabia flocked to.

In sharp contrast, for the past six years Iraq has been the worst place in the entire world to be gay. Far, far worse than Uganda or even Iran. Hundreds of gays, lesbians and transgender people have been hunted down and killed in the most vile ways imaginable – and imagination is the right word. Doctors have confirmed reports of men have had their anuses glued shut by militia forces and others have accused the government of being involved.

No one has been prosecuted and the Iraqi government has failed to do anything to stop it. So Iraqi gays have helped themselves. They have created safe houses, although many have been discovered and become a new killing field.

What a proud legacy we have left Iraq, huh? Why does our government refuse to stop the atrocities committed against Iraqi LGBT citizens and a direct result of our invasion? The United Kingdom also needs to help out here, but our nation initiated the Iraq War. Blair joined George W. Bush and friends and brought the U.K. along for the ride. Our government needs to work harder to stop the carnage. It should have been done already. Read More...

NOM attacks pro-marriage Repub. in CA Senate primary

NOM has a "tiny" ad buy on in California against Republican Tom Campbell because he supports marriage equality. Dan Morain explains:

Established in 2007 to combat same-sex marriage, NOM is headed by Brian Brown and Maggie Gallagher. The two were among the most influential backers of Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that reversed the California Supreme Court decision permitting same-sex marriage, and of a 2009 ballot measure in Maine that overturned same-sex marriage in that state.

"It's important that the Republican Party maintain its platform and core beliefs," Brown said, explaining his opposition to Campbell. "Marriage is one of the most critical of these … . We do not want a candidate elected, especially as a Republican, who wants to redefine marriage."

If you blinked, you might have missed the National Organization for Marriage's ad attacking Campbell. The buy was tiny by California standards – $275,000. But it was the start of what could be a wave of ads in California's U.S. Senate campaign by political entities that are under no obligation to disclose the source of their money. And it again raises questions about what it means to be a Republican, and whether the "big tent" has room for social moderates.

Like many political ads, this one is fairly loose with its adherence to the facts.

Being "loose with its adherence to the facts" is a hallmark of NOM. It's an organization built on hate and bigotry. Lies and lying are a critical element of the NOM strategy. It's all they have. Well, they also have a lot of money from undetermined sources, too. But, there are a lot of people working to get to the bottom of that -- even as NOM fights disclosure every step of the way. Read More...

KGO in SF asks: 'Is Obama backtracking on 'Don't Ask'?'

Very interesting segment on San Francisco television station KGO about the recent DOJ DADT controversy. It features the Assistant AG who oversaw both the DOMA and DADT briefs -- and there's an appearance by Speaker Pelosi.
Read More...