If gays were poker chips....

We've been told that "time is our enemy" on getting DADT repealed because the Senate has so many other crucial issues to focus on during this lame duck session - issues more important than the national defense bill, apparently.

We've already learned that one of those issues is the impeachment of a judge that probably none of you have ever heard of, and can wait until next year. Well, another crucial issue has arisen that is also more important than our national defense (and our civil rights) - online gambling.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing behind the scenes for lame-duck legislation that would allow poker games over the Internet but restrict initial licenses to casinos and racetrack operators that have been in businesses at least five years.

Some of the biggest casino operators in Reid's home state of Nevada are eager to get a piece of the online gambling industry, which generates an estimated $5 billion a year for offshore operators.

I'm sure the ability to gamble online will be comforting to all the gay kids thinking of killing themselves because our government continues to tell them that they're not equal. Read More...

Elated McCain kisses generals at DADT hearing

More from Satirewire. Read More...

Prop 8 court case watching party in LA Monday

UPDATE: We'll be hosting a live chat during the arguments before the Ninth Circuit. We will be joined by our own Liz Newcomb and USC Law Professor David Cruz. The arguments begin at 10:00 AM PT. We'll start at 12:30 PM ET/9:30 AM PT.

Televised Viewing of 9th Circuit Prop 8 Challenge to be Hosted by
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Lambda Legal on Dec. 6

(Los Angeles, November 30, 2010) — On Monday, Dec. 6, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the federal lawsuit challenging the validity of California’s Proposition 8.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, together with Lambda Legal, will host a free viewing of the televised proceedings, on a large screen in the Center’s Renberg Theatre, for all who are interested in watching.

Following the arguments, LGBT leaders will be available for interviews with the media, including: Jon Davidson, Legal Director of Lambda Legal who will provide legal analysis, and the Center’s Senior Policy Counsel, Sky Johnson. Francisco Dueñas, coordinator of Lambda Legal’s Proyecto Igualdad,will be available for Spanish-language interviews.

WHEN: 9:30 a.m., Monday, December 6, 2010

Hearing begins at 10 a.m. and is expected to last approximately two hours

WHERE: L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
The Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038

WHO: Sky Johnson, Senior Policy Counsel, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

Jon Davidson, Legal Director for Lambda Legal

Francisco Dueñas, Lambda Legal Proyecto Igualdad

**Limited street parking available**
###

Contact: Jason Pérez Howe/Lambda Legal, Office: 213-382-7600 ext.247; Cell: 415-595-9245
Stevie St. John/L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Office: 323-993-7622

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Sargent: What about the gay service members?

An excellent point, and piece, by Greg Sargent over at the Washington Post:

One thing that's been oddly missing from the debate in the Senate over repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell is any discussion of the moral and human dimensions of this story. The discussion has mostly been bone dry: It's all about what the statistics in the Pentagon report actually reveal and whether Robert Gates will implement repeal on a sufficiently flexible timetable.

Indeed, when Senator James Webb today asked the Service Chiefs a simple question about the human beings impacted by this discriminatory policy, everyone at the hearing acted a bit startled. Webb asked: What should we do with patriotic Americans who have already served our country for years, and want to lead free and open lives? Everyone looked uncomfortable, as if Webb had gone way off topic,

Greg has a lot more. Read it. Read More...

IL State Senator blasted the hypocrisy of opponents of the civil unions bill

This video has been making the rounds for the past couple days. It's amazing.

I would love to hear someone in Congress give this speech. Because, there's a ton of hypocrisy on Capitol Hill, too.

Senator Rickey Hendon knows voting for the civil unions won't send him to hell.
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GOP Senator Scott Brown will support DADT repeal

This is great news, and it helps shift momentum our way. Specifically, it puts more pressure on other GOP moderates like Snowe and Collins, and also on Dem conservatives. What remains to be seen is whether Brown supports cloture on the defense bill itself (there are various cloture votes). He could support cloture on DADT but not support it on the bill, thus taking DADT down anyway. So more details need to come out. But still, this is good news.

"I have been in the military for 31 years and counting, and have served as a subordinate and as an officer. As a legislator, I have spent a significant amount of time on military issues. During my time of service, I have visited our injured troops at Walter Reed and have attended funerals of our fallen heroes. When a soldier answers the call to serve, and risks life or limb, it has never mattered to me whether they are gay or straight. My only concern has been whether their service and sacrifice is with pride and honor.

"I pledged to keep an open mind about the present policy on Don't Ask Don't Tell. Having reviewed the Pentagon report, having spoken to active and retired military service members, and having discussed the matter privately with Defense Secretary Gates and others, I accept the findings of the report and support repeal based on the Secretary's recommendations that repeal will be implemented only when the battle effectiveness of the forces is assured and proper preparations have been completed."

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Live chat for Day 2 of Senate hearings on the Pentagon's DADT report

UPDATE from John: While you're watching this hearing, and watching Marine Corps Commandant James Amos spew an incredible amount of homophobia, and undercut his own commander in chief on national television, keep one thing in mind. President Obama just appointed this guy. He took over the Marine Corps a whopping 6 weeks ago. And he's already undercutting one of the President's alleged top priorities, and more generally, is making a fool of the commander in chief.

So, the question is, who exactly in the White House came up with the idea of picking a new Marine Commandant who was violently opposed to the repeal of DADT? Not to put too fine a point on it, but are you people stupid or something? Shall we buy you a "My First Presidency" doll for Christmas, so you can learn how to be the leader of the free world?

Sarcasm aside, how the hell do you pick someone for a job and not pay attention to the fact that he is violently opposed to a top priority of your boss, to the point that he's willing to publicly embarrass you, not just six weeks after he takes the job, but actually his second week on the job.

Either the White House is filled with the Keystone Cops of politics, or the President simply didn't give enough of a damn about the repeal of DADT to pick a new Marine Corps head who was for repeal, or even just loyal enough to keep his F'g mouth shut.

This is why the President Obama has overseen an absolute meltdown in relations between the gay community and Democratic party. Not because he's been 99% ineffective at accomplishing anything significant with regards to our civil rights, but rather that he repeatedly seems to not even be interested in trying. This was a huge gaffe, picking Amos. An idiotic, sophomoric gaffe. Or worse, the President knew exactly what he was doing.

Just an astoundingly stupid decision. Was this your doing, Jim Messina?

PS One final point. Does the White House not understand how weak this makes the President look, having all of his service chiefs publicly rebuking him, like he's some child? Why reinforce that meme, that the President is weak, that you can undermine him with impunity? This was an incredibly dumb decision on so many levels, far beyond its impact on DADT.

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Jon Stewart on DADT and John McCain

The second round of Senate Armed Services Committee on the Pentagon's DADT report begin at 9:00 AM ET. We'll set up another livechat. Today's hearings could be intense. Secretary Gates has said several times that the expects the Service Chiefs to be more "sanguine" about the report. And, the Service Chiefs are John McCain's last line of defense. Which brings me to Jon Stewart. Watch him eviscerate McCain. It will help you get through today's hearing.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Gaypocalypse Now
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor The Daily Show on Facebook

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