Obama on the IGLHRC's accreditation at the UN

From the White House:

I welcome this important step forward for human rights, as the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission (ILGHRC) will take its rightful seat at the table of the United Nations. The UN was founded on the premise that only through mutual respect, diversity, and dialogue can the international community effectively pursue justice and equality. Today, with the more full inclusion of the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission, the United Nations is closer to the ideals on which it was founded, and to values of inclusion and equality to which the United States is deeply committed.

Yes, it is a very good thing.

Speaking of "inclusion and equality," we'd like full inclusion and full equality in the United States, too. We're not there. Far from it.

And, I know I'm asking a lot, but since the President is talking about international gay and lesbian rights, how about a statement on the recent steps forward for human rights in Argentina and Ireland? Those countries are demonstrating their commitment to full equality. It's something to which we can only aspire.

(NOTE FROM JOHN: By the way, it's IGLHRC, not ILGHRC - weird that someone gay on the President's staff didn't catch this. Read More...

At Pentagon, DADT repeal process 'becoming a lesson in how not to integrate the military'

In Kerry Eleveld's latest column, we learn that the Pentagon now claims surveys were conducted before Truman integrated the military. Yes, the Working Group's chairs, General Carter Ham and DOD's General Counsel Jeh Johnson, asked the Pentagon's historians to find that info. It makes me realize just how defensive the Pentagon is about this aspect of the DADT repeal process.

But, Kerry Eleveld is worried. And, if Kerry Eleveld is worried, all advocates and activists who want repeal should be worried:

Despite the new revelation from DOD today, I am beginning to worry that the U.S. is quickly on its way to becoming a lesson in how not to integrate the military. Unlike some repeal advocates and LGBT activists, I don’t believe Defense Department leadership is being intrinsically mischievous, yet there’s not a shade of doubt in my mind that the premise of such an extensive survey sent to 400,000 troops to gauge their feelings about repeal is inherently homophobic even if it wasn’t intended to be.

First, it’s not clear the Pentagon has encountered enough concerns that would warrant the type of wide-scale inquiry that Morrell said during the briefing was “costing us an extraordinary sum of money” – about $4.5 million to be exact. (In a subsequent interview, Morrell said the cost of administering the survey alone was closer $850,000, but the fact remains that the DOD’s contract with the polling company, Westat, is about $4.5 million in total.)

During the forums that have been conducted by the working group at about 30 installations across the country, anonymous sources have told me that the first question asked is always, “Do you think you’ve ever served with anyone you believe to be gay or lesbian?” The sources report that about 90% or more of the approximately 250-300 service members present consistently raise their hands. Then soldiers are asked to keep their hands raised if serving with someone they believed to be gay bothered them, and sources said the vast majority of the hands usually drop.

Given this information, one wonders why the working group felt so compelled to assemble the survey and why Secretary Gates strongly recommended that they increase the sampling size from 200,000 to 400,000.

One does wonder why. The last line of Kerry's column should be a wake up call:

Unfortunately, it's increasingly difficult to see how the those who favor repeal at the Pentagon will win the war when they continue to lose the battles.

We've still got a long way to go before DADT is over. There's still a Senate battle and a House-Senate conference committee to get through. Then, the games could really being.

So, be worried. Be very worried. Read More...

The President of Argentina on gay marriage

A rough translation from Rex Wockner:

"It (legalizing same-sex marriage) has been a triumph of society. Which I think some of those who today are against (it) with the passage of time are going to realize, because these things take perspective with the passage of time. If one thinks that 58 years ago I wasn't able to vote and today I'm president, or that before there couldn't be interracial marriages and people were distinguished by the color of their skin; there are people who before had clung to this and surely today if one thought this, they would be ashamed. This is another milestone in the expansion of civil rights. They tried to disguise it as a religious issue, but it is strictly social. It's simply recognizing someone who has chosen to have a sexuality that isn't that of the majority of society (although today I would think with the number of people that have a same-sex partner, they will continue being a minority, but already they are not some 'rare' minority, it's a very common thing). ... I think we should take it very naturally, without dramatics, without fighting. It's the right to choose an option that the person has about his personal life.

... There was debate; one sector tried to dramatize or stigmatize, which is much worse.

... The institution of marriage comes from Roman law, the great organizer of private property. Marriage, inheritance rights and property rights, it all had to do with private property, how to succeed legitimately, on the topic of legitimate and illegitimate children. And it came in a Pagan society which the Roman society was. So to give a religious connotation to the union between two people isn't even historical truth.

... Without a doubt more countries will follow. In fact, I think Holland was the first and today already there are nine countries (besides Argentina with same-sex marriage). The other day the president of Iceland married her (female) partner. The president of Iceland! There are many leaders in Europe, mayors of important cities, who in addition are activists in the cause of equal marriage or the gay cause. This does not prevent them from exercising their political vocation, their professional vocation, their life and to make a family. The cornerstone in the family is love. You can have two heterosexual people and they can be horrible, becoming a bad example for the children...

To agree or disagree about something is normal, but to hear about "God's war" or "the devil's project" -- no. ...

...In a few years this debate is going to be anachronistic. ...

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The Homosexual Menace!

Prepare to laugh. It's obviously U.K. satire, but wouldn't be surprised if conservative groups, Mormons and the Catholic Church adopt this as a training video?

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Truth Wins Out exposes creepy practices of 'ex-gay' therapist

Another "ex-gay" fraud is exposed by Truth Wins Out. And, this one is really disturbing and creepy:

Truth Wins Out (TWO) released an exclusive video statement today from two former clients of “ex-gay” life coach Alan Downing. The clients, Ben Unger and Chaim Levin, alleged that during individual therapy sessions, Downing (pictured) made them undress in front of a mirror and touch their bodies while the significantly older therapist watched. Unger and Levin call the sessions a “psychological striptease” and believe they were harmed by what they consider unprofessional behavior and sexual misconduct.

Downing, who admits he is still attracted to men, is a major player in the “ex-gay” industry and a practitioner of so-called “reparative therapy”. He is the lead therapist for Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH) and is listed on the People Can Change website as a “Senior Trainer” for Journey into Manhood, which is a controversial “ex-gay” backwoods retreat designed to supposedly make gay men more masculine.

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Ireland now 'provides legal recognition for same-sex couples'

This one gives me goosebumps because it's personal. My grandparents emigrated from Ireland 100 years ago. I've got loads of family in Ireland. It's a very Catholic country. And, now, it provides more rights for same-sex couples than the U.S.:

The Civil Partnership Bill, which provides legal recognition for same-sex couples in Ireland for the first time, has today been signed into law.

The Bill was signed into law by President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin this morning

It extends marriage-like benefits to gay and lesbian couples in the areas of property, social welfare, succession, maintenance, pensions and tax.

The act also offers additional rights and protections for other cohabiting couples including a redress scheme for financially dependent long-term cohabitants on the end of a relationship.

Announcing the signing of the Bill today, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern described it as "one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to be enacted since independence."

Dermot Ahern is right. Meanwhile, our Attorney General continues to defend DOMA in the courts. Read More...

On this day in history, DADT was announced

Hat tip, Michael from leonardmatlovich.com about what happened on July 19, 1993.

It's worth a watch to see how the "complicated compromise" evolved. Bill Clinton promised to end the ban on gays serving in the military. He didn't. History does have a way of repeating itself. Barack Obama promised to end DADT. Another "complicated compromise" has emerged that we're told will end the policy. There's still a long way to go before that happens.
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