Rep. Nadler responded to Barney Frank's concerns about the DOMA repeal bill

I included this in the post below about Barney Frank's refusal to sponsor the DOMA repeal bill, but it really warrant its own post. After the Washington Blade posted the original article, reporter Chris Johnson updated his piece to include a response from Rep. Nadler:

Nadler defended the legislation in a statement, saying that claims made by repeal opponents shouldn't prevent the bill's introduction.

"Mr. Frank knows better than anyone that our opponents will falsely claim that any DOMA repeal bill 'exports marriage' in an effort to generate fear and misunderstanding," Nadler said. "But the dishonest tactics of our opponents should not stop us from aggressively pushing to end this horrific discrimination now, as is the consensus of the nation's top LGBT groups who all support this approach."

Nadler emphasized that the proposed bill wouldn't force any state to marry gay couples or recognize same-sex couples under state law.

"Our bill allows states to continue deciding those questions, while ensuring uniform access to critically important federal responsibilities and rights that hinge on marriage and upon which all married couples should be able to rely," he said.

Thanks, Jerry Nadler. You're right. Read More...

More on Atlanta Eagle raid, police liaison to gay community says investigation warranted

Good. And see, complaining helps. Read More...

Barney Frank won't not sponsor DOMA repeal -- updated with response from Rep Nadler

Great. This is not what we need as the story on the issue of greatest concern to many in the community.

Barney has a "strategic difference" with the DOMA repeal sponsors, so he's not sponsoring the DOMA repeal bill. Now, we all know Barney is wicked smart. Many people on the Hill and in the media look to Barney for perspective on LGBT-related legislation, so this sends a bad signal:

Frank said in an interview Friday with the Blade that he's not a co-sponsor of the legislation because he has a "strategic difference" with people supporting the repeal legislation.

"It's not anything that's achievable in the near term," he said. "I think getting [the Employment Non-Discrimination Act], a repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and full domestic partner benefits for federal employees will take up all of what we can do and maybe more in this Congress."

Frank also said that advocacy for the "certainty provision," as described by Nadler, would create "political problems" in Congress.

"The provision that says you can take your benefits as you travel, I think, will stir up unnecessary opposition with regard to the question of are you trying to export it to other states," he said. "If we had a chance to pass that, it would be a different story, but I don't think it's a good idea to rekindle that debate when there's no chance of passage in the near term."

The Human Rights Campaign, which is lobbying for DOMA repeal, declined to comment on Frank's statements.

Frank said the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders lawsuit against DOMA, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, stands a better shot of overturning DOMA than congressional action. The lawsuit specifically targets the portion of DOMA that prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

"That's very thoughtful, very well done," Frank said. "That's the way we'll win this."

Maybe. But, I also want to see who in Congress is on our side and who isn't. I'm glad Nadler is introducing a bill -- and a very strong bill at that. I had a great conversation with Nadler about this issue at Netroots Nation last month. He's a very savvy guy. It's also good to see Reps. Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis on board already.

Repealing DOMA is an issue that warrants Congressional attention. Enough politicians sure tell us over and over that they support such a move. I want to see who really shows up. In the post-Prop. 8 world, this has become a critical issue for many in the community and there's no reason not to get the legislative process started. Also, as for the concern about the "certainty provision," there may be reason to negotiate at some point, but why start negotiating with ourselves now? That's what progressives often do.

I'm sure many people will defend Barney, because Barney is so smart and wise and he's been in Congress for so long. Most of the time I love Barney. But, sometimes, we really need our allies to be our allies, not just the smartest people around. This is about politics, too, not just policy.

UPDATE: Read Nadler's response to Frank after the break.

The Washington Blade's Chris Johnson, who wrote the original article, has updated his piece to include a response from Rep. Nadler:

Nadler defended the legislation in a statement, saying that claims made by repeal opponents shouldn't prevent the bill's introduction.

"Mr. Frank knows better than anyone that our opponents will falsely claim that any DOMA repeal bill 'exports marriage' in an effort to generate fear and misunderstanding," Nadler said. "But the dishonest tactics of our opponents should not stop us from aggressively pushing to end this horrific discrimination now, as is the consensus of the nation's top LGBT groups who all support this approach."

Nadler emphasized that the proposed bill wouldn't force any state to marry gay couples or recognize same-sex couples under state law.

"Our bill allows states to continue deciding those questions, while ensuring uniform access to critically important federal responsibilities and rights that hinge on marriage and upon which all married couples should be able to rely," he said.

Read More...

Atlanta Eagle raided

The reporters coming in are pretty nasty. Read More...

There's a "disturbing lack" of truth in email from Maine Bishop's spokesman about Maine marriage law -- and the Bishop is funding the lies

This weekend, Maine's Catholic Bishop, Richard Malone, has ordered a second collection in parishes around the state (the ones that haven't been closed down yet) to fund the anti-marriage referendum. The Bishop's p.r. guy, Marc Mutty, is running the campaign. So, what is the Bishop funding?: Lies. That's the strategy the Bishop's consultant, Schubert-Flint, utilized to pass Prop. 8 in California as Karen Ocamb documents in a post at DirigoBlue.

Today, Bill Nemitz at the Portland Press Herald, in a column titled, "Gay marriage critic's e-mail fails the test," deconstructs Mutty's recent fundraising letter for the anti-gay campaign. (Louise posted the text of Mutty's letter over at Pam's House Blend.) Nemitz walked through of all Mutty's claims and found they could not be substantiated -- by anyone. Nemitz concludes:

Which brings us back to the truth – or disturbing lack thereof – in Mutty's misguided fundraising appeal.

In a statement issued via e-mail Thursday, Jesse Connolly, campaign manager of No on 1/Protect Maine Equality, predicted that Maine voters will "see through these cynical campaign tactics" by Mutty & Co. as the debate heats up in the coming weeks.

"This is an attempt to divert attention and raise unfounded issues," said Connolly. "Question 1 has nothing to do with schools and no one is voting on curriculum in November."

Connolly is right – and anyone who's taken the time to carefully read Maine's same-sex marriage law knows it.

Including, of all people, Marc Mutty.

Marc Mutty and Bishop Malone. They lie. Of course, as we know, "lying for the lord" is a tenet of the Mormon faith. In their obsessive quest to fight gay equality, the Catholic Bishop and his minions have adopted that strategy and are lying, too.

We need to take up our own second collection for the Maine campaign. If the Catholic Church is going to collect money for lies, we'll need more money to overcome those lies. Donate to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality here via ActBlue. It's safe, secure and the campaign gets all the money. We can win in Maine. We have to win. But, we have to counter the lies. Thanks to everyone who has donated already (but think about that second collection...) Read More...

CA effort to protect traditional marriage by banning divorce

Now that I'd give money to. Read More...

PEW Poll: Americans say gays face the most discrimination; far more than Evangelicals face

More from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (it's their chart too). Read More...

Marriage equality bill in DC could be moving soon

Of course, when something moves in the District of Columbia, it has the potential to become a national issue. Congress can veto our laws. From today's Washington Post:

The District is poised once again to become the battleground for a divisive social issue as the D.C. Council moves a step closer to legalizing same-sex marriage, an action that could force Congress and White House to take sides in the debate.

After months of buildup and behind-the-scenes lobbying, a bill by David A. Catania, one of two openly gay members of the council, has been drafted and is ready to be introduced in the coming weeks. Catania (I-At Large) expects a final vote before the end of the year. On Thursday, Catania said he had 10 co-sponsors, all but assuring that the measure will be approved by the council. The bill would have to survive congressional review before it could become law.

The bill, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, would change the law to say that "marriage is the legally recognized union of two people" and that "any person who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements . . . may marry any other eligible person regardless of gender.".

A couple weeks ago, I posted this video with DC for Marriage co-chair Michael Crawford. He's been at the forefront in the marriage equality battle here in D.C. Michael's advice is even more important now:

If you live in DC, call your City Councilor today. And, next week. And, the week after. Read More...

British government apologizes for chemical castration of gay man who helped break Enigma code & was father of Computer Service

Wow, and this was in response to an online petition. Just incredibly cool. It's a very sad story, and worth a read. From the Guardian:

Gordon Brown issued an unequivocal apology last night on behalf of the government to Alan Turing, the second world war codebreaker who took his own life 55 years ago after being sentenced to chemical castration for being gay.

Describing Turing's treatment as "horrifying" and "utterly unfair", Brown said the country owed the brilliant mathematician a huge debt. He was proud, he said, to offer an official apology. "We're sorry, you deserved so much better," Brown writes in a statement posted on the No 10 website.

Turing is most famous for his work in helping create the "bombe" that cracked messages enciphered with the German Enigma machines. He was convicted of gross indecency in 1952 after admitting a sexual relationship with a man.

He was given experimental chemical castration as a "treatment". His criminal record meant he was unable to continue his work for the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) because his security privileges were withdrawn. Two years later he killed himself, aged 41....

In 1999 Time Magazine named him as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.

You can read the entire statement from the British government, after the fold...

Statement of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown:

2009 has been a year of deep reflection - a chance for Britain, as a nation, to commemorate the profound debts we owe to those who came before. A unique combination of anniversaries and events have stirred in us that sense of pride and gratitude which characterise the British experience. Earlier this year I stood with Presidents Sarkozy and Obama to honour the service and the sacrifice of the heroes who stormed the beaches of Normandy 65 years ago. And just last week, we marked the 70 years which have passed since the British government declared its willingness to take up arms against Fascism and declared the outbreak of World War Two. So I am both pleased and proud that, thanks to a coalition of computer scientists, historians and LGBT activists, we have this year a chance to mark and celebrate another contribution to Britain’s fight against the darkness of dictatorship; that of code-breaker Alan Turing.

Turing was a quite brilliant mathematician, most famous for his work on breaking the German Enigma codes. It is no exaggeration to say that, without his outstanding contribution, the history of World War Two could well have been very different. He truly was one of those individuals we can point to whose unique contribution helped to turn the tide of war. The debt of gratitude he is owed makes it all the more horrifying, therefore, that he was treated so inhumanely. In 1952, he was convicted of ‘gross indecency’ - in effect, tried for being gay. His sentence - and he was faced with the miserable choice of this or prison - was chemical castration by a series of injections of female hormones. He took his own life just two years later.

Thousands of people have come together to demand justice for Alan Turing and recognition of the appalling way he was treated. While Turing was dealt with under the law of the time and we can’t put the clock back, his treatment was of course utterly unfair and I am pleased to have the chance to say how deeply sorry I and we all are for what happened to him. Alan and the many thousands of other gay men who were convicted as he was convicted under homophobic laws were treated terribly. Over the years millions more lived in fear of conviction.

I am proud that those days are gone and that in the last 12 years this government has done so much to make life fairer and more equal for our LGBT community. This recognition of Alan’s status as one of Britain’s most famous victims of homophobia is another step towards equality and long overdue.

But even more than that, Alan deserves recognition for his contribution to humankind. For those of us born after 1945, into a Europe which is united, democratic and at peace, it is hard to imagine that our continent was once the theatre of mankind’s darkest hour. It is difficult to believe that in living memory, people could become so consumed by hate - by anti-Semitism, by homophobia, by xenophobia and other murderous prejudices - that the gas chambers and crematoria became a piece of the European landscape as surely as the galleries and universities and concert halls which had marked out the European civilisation for hundreds of years. It is thanks to men and women who were totally committed to fighting fascism, people like Alan Turing, that the horrors of the Holocaust and of total war are part of Europe’s history and not Europe’s present.

So on behalf of the British government, and all those who live freely thanks to Alan’s work I am very proud to say: we’re sorry, you deserved so much better.

Gordon Brown

Read More...