You can have marriage, but please don't have a parade

Canada's conservative government takes an apparent swipe at gay pride. Read More...

Scientists find HIV's 'missing link' in sick chimps

From the Guardian:

Scientists believe they have found a "missing link" in the evolution of the virus that causes Aids. It bridges the gap between an infection that does no harm to most non-human primates and one that kills millions of people.

The suspected link is a virus that is killing chimpanzees in the wild at a disturbingly high rate, according to a study in tomorrow's issue of the journal Nature. Chimpanzees are the first primate shown to get sick in the wild in significant numbers from a virus related to HIV. They are also humans' closest relative among primates.

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Congressional candidate/Iraq Vet Tony Woods, discharged under DADT, endorsed by HRC and Victory Fund

This is great news. Tony Woods, who is running for Congress in the special election for Ellen Tauscher's seat, was endorsed today by the Human Rights Campaign and the Victory Fund. Via Kerry Eleveld (again):

Anthony Woods, a gay candidate for California's 10th congressional district seat, earned the endorsement Wednesday of the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

Getting the nod from HRC and the Victory Fund was coup for the 28-year-old Woods, a two-tour Iraq war vet who impressed some observers recently by raising more than $100,000 for the quarter ended June 30th -- a solid showing for a first-time candidate. Gay groups don't automatically endorse LGBT candidates unless they demonstrate an ability to execute a campaign strategy and compete financially.

"Anthony Woods is an exciting candidate with a tremendous record of accomplishment," said Chuck Wolfe, president of the Victory Fund. "He's also running an impressive campaign. Anthony has assembled a solid campaign team that understands what it will take to win this extremely competitive race."

Joe Solmonese, president of HRC, added, "Anthony hasn’t just shown his support on issues of LGBT equality, he’s lived them." Woods was discharged under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which bans gay people from serving openly.

For those who don't know Tony, he really is an amazing person. When he was in DC a couple weeks ago, I did an interview with him:

Tony's ActBlue page is here. He'll be a great leader in Congress. We have to help him get there. Read More...

The roots of homophobia in the black community

BlackTsunami over at Holy Bullies says the argument that "the black community has a problem with gays because of their religion" is bull.

We hear that the black community opposes homosexuality because of religious beliefs.

That's a dodge.

There are too many folks in the black community who break other Biblical commandments without pause. There is too much sex before marriage, too many illegitimate births, and too many off-the-shoulder dresses, fake hair, and fake nails at black gospel awards shows for so-called sanctified people to start pointing fingers at lgbts.

There are also too many gays and lesbians in the church and the pulpit for homosexuality to be considered the so-called sin of the ages. Everyone knows it but as long as no one "names it," no one has to "claim it."

Some in the black community feel that homosexuality is a threat because it threatens the gender roles that many in the black community have staked out for our men and women.

You know what I'm talking about. The strong brother who is supposed "to help the sista out." Or the hot and sexy black woman who "is fixing her hair to go out and scope at the club for a man."

This perceived idea is ridiculous. It reduces the black man and woman to plastic objects or commodities. Lgbts in the black community are considered a threat because by our very existence we question these ridiculous roles. We make some in the black community question themselves. And apparently they don't like what they see.

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Hate Crimes could be on the path to enactment, finally

From Kerry Eleveld, who covers D.C. for The Advocate:

Despite numerous ups and downs, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act remains in tact and stands a reasonable chance of making it to President Barack Obama’s desk for a signature later this year.

The biggest hurdle to hate crimes becoming law is that while it passed the House as a stand-alone bill, it was not included in the House version of the Department of Defense authorization bill. Because the Senate passed hate crimes as an amendment to DOD legislation, the two versions of that bill must be reconciled in conference during August and September.

A spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign said all parties involved in that discussion have expressed support for including the hate crimes provision in the final DOD bill.

“We have strong commitments from the leaders and our allies on the Hill and in the White House that they want to see the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes measure remain in the bill and get to the president's desk for signature,” said Allison Herwitt, legislative director for HRC.

One major roadblock to enacting Hate Crimes was removed Tuesday when the Senate voted 58-40 to strip $1.75 billion in funding for F-22 fighter jets that President Barack Obama vehemently opposed.

Keep in mind, the Hate Crimes bill already passed in both houses of Congress back in 2007. This is supposed to be the easy one.

While not at the top of everyone's priority list for LGBT legislation in 2009, enacting the legislation is important. And, the process has shown us what we're still up against in the U.S. Senate when it comes to LGBT-related legislation. The Senate is a far, far different beast than the House. In the House, the process is rigid and tightly controlled by leadership. For example, amendments can't be added from the House floor during unless approved in advance by the House Rules Committee. The Senate is the opposite. Every Senator has the power to thwart progress. And, Senate Republicans use every legislative and procedural trick to obstruct bills they oppose.

We've got our work cut out for us. And, to pass ENDA, repeal DADT and repeal DOMA, we're going to need our "fierce advocate" in the White House to fight hard for us. Very hard. So far we've heard words, but no action. We'll know the White House is serious when the President convenes one of his high-level strategy sessions to discuss LGBT legislation. That's the pattern with this White House. When they really want something, Team Obama lets everyone (meaning the Hill, the media and the advocates) know it. On gay issues, that hasn't happened yet. Read More...